Question:
I was diagnosed [6 months ago] with
type 2 diabetes,
and was devastated.
My GP and endocrinologist aren't forthcoming in diabetes information.
In fact my GP did not want me to buy a monitor and test daily.
When you encounter a newly diagnosed patient, what do you advise? An
appointment with the dietitian, a support group, etc.?
Answer:
All of the above!
You're lucky that you had access to an endocrinologist: many people with Type 2 diabetes aren't seen by specialists for their diabetes, and in your case, you might not have become aware of the need to check your own blood sugar.
Among other things, I'll probably advise a new patient with Type 2 diabetes to:
-
Home blood sugar monitoring
regularly;
and use the information to adjust your program (don't just write
down the numbers to show the doctor months later!)
- Meal plan review by a diabetes dietitian (the cook should be present, if a spouse or someone else is preparing the meals!)
- More
exercise
(sometimes difficult to do due to fatigue when the sugar is high)
- Involvement of the family (see meal planning, for example)
- Support groups: call the local ADA or hospital's diabetes nurse educator to find them!
- Join the
American Diabetes Association
- Read
everything
you can find (that's current: if it's over 10 years old, it's likely to be severely out-of-date!)
- Glycohemoglobin testing every 3 months
- Eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist annually
- Lab tests, including cholesterol,
kidneys,
heart, etc.
- One aspirin every day, unless there's a reason not to take it
- Keep in touch with your GP for routine health matters
- Return visits, including a
double-check of your meter, and downloading its memory, every 3 months
- Quit smoking!
- Start an
ACE-inhibitor
if blood pressure is high or if urine has protein (microalbumin)
- Start a
statin
if any problem with cholesterol (and maybe if none?)
- Referral
to a diabetes doc and diabetes team if things get confusing
Also see
Advice to newbies
At the
DiabetesMonitor
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