Hello, my user name is Kalisa. I am a registered nurse and a baccalaureate nursing student. I am interested in learning more about your experiences. This will help me understand the real life challenges of patients, and I will use this information to better care for my future patients.
Thank you
Hello, I hope you will find my experience useful even though its rather a negative one. I was diagnosed as pre diabetic a year and a half ago. At the time I was experiencing some sort of neuropathy and after my own research found it can be linked to this condition. I admit I was shocked at the time but particularly so as I was given very little further information at the time. I was just told to watch my diet and avoid carbohydrates. Now, a year or so later I have had no follow up appointment from my surgery. Is this normal? Shouldn't I be having another blood test? I am very disappointed and concerned as with hindsight I feel there is a gap here that could be used to inform and help people like me which could prevent us becoming fully fledged diabetics and another burden on our NHS.I wish you luck and hope you continue to gain satisfaction in your studies.
RoadRunner44, Your post hits home for me as well. Because of my kidney disease, my nephrologist requires lab work every 6 mos. Through those lab results and because of my own individual research on pre-diabetes and kidney disease, I've been able to improve my scores for both conditions through a specific diet plan for the combined conditions from my dietitian.
It is shocking that I've learned from other patients in reputable forums that many docs do not regularly prescribe follow-up labs for chronic conditions until those conditions deteriorate severely.
I urge any chronic health condition patient to do their own research and then press their docs for systematic follow-up through tests and insistence on treatment. Of particular help for me was learning to interpret my lab scores.
How I so agree with your reply. Interpreting those numbers are dreadful. Seeing these numbers when members post them is so alien. I dont believe my surgery has a specialised diabetic clinic either to access advice. Trying to get information is nil at the moment and as you say, doing my own research has helped but is not ideal. A family member of mine live in Holland and is delighted with the system they have there. There is definite scope for improvement in the UK. Have you bought a meter to self test? When I suggested using one when I was first told I was pre diabetic I was told it wasn't necessary until I was diagnosed as fully diabetic. . Like you, I just want to be able to help myself in whatever way I can.Cheers.
Hi, Kalisa, Congratulations on your studies and interest in learning more from diabetic patients' experiences. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes a year ago and my pcp immediately prescribed Metformin.
I soon became very nauseated and began losing weight. My pcp ran many tests and from one I learned I had kidney disease but showed no "cause" for the possible continuing weight loss.
My own research indicated that using ginger helped with nausea and by taking that, the nausea stopped but loss of appetite and weight loss continued until I realized that the only "new" med I was taking was Metformin. Learning that nausea was a primary side effect of Metformin, I immediately stopped taking the Metformin, continued with more exercise and a diet for diabetes and 3 subsequent lab tests showed my prediabetes A1c had reverted back to "normal".
Already slender and having had a stable weight for years, I lost 30 lbs over the course of this past year. While my prediabetes is under control, I am saddened that my pcp didn't recognize Metformin as the culprit early on. Regaining the weight has been very difficult and I am still 20 lbs under my normal of 125 lb.
With the pre-diabetes and kidney disease diagnoses, I have become very disappointed that neither pcp nor nephrologist have offered dietary guidance. It took 4 requests to obtain a dietitian referral which really made a wonderful difference in both A1c and kidney scores.
U.S. docs don't seem to receive much training in diets for specific chronic conditions and that lack provides a woeful gap in treatments. I hope you will encourage your patients to become patient advocates for their health and pay particular regard to the importance that an appropriate diet can make to improve their condition.
Wishing you the best in your career and appreciate your post. Be safe and well.
Thank you for you post. I too in the past was given metformin by my PCP. She gave it to me because she said, “it would help me lose weight.” Not all doctors know what is best. My sister always said that not all doctors were at the top of their class. Not to say that you shouldn’t trust a doctor, but you need to know and fight for what your body is telling you is right. I am a strong believer in advocating for my patients. Not every patient has a personality like mine and they sometimes accept things without question. I always say to myself, “ what would I want for me if I was the patient.” From personal experience I trust how I feel more than how someone tells me I’m suppose to feel when taking medication. You know yourself and your body best. Keep advocating for yourself and never give up no matter if you need to see 100 doctors to find the right one.
To snack or not to snack 😳
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I wish I wasnt the only one in the world :-(
