i think i have diabetes and my doctor won’t listen

Redordeadhead wrote: »

cmsienk wrote: »

yirara wrote: »

missysippy930 wrote: »

I guess I’ve never had an instance that I was unable to make an appointment when I call to make one. Sure, I’ve had to hold when call volumes are high, but I’ve never been told that they would call me back to schedule an appointment. I certainly would call them back within a reasonable amount of time (24 hours maximum) if they didn’t call. I wouldn’t let it go for weeks.

If I remember correctly, TO is in the UK. Not being able to make an appointment, not being called back, etc sounds very much like the NHS. One really has to be very insistent there, call back if a call-back doesn't happen, make things a bit worse than they are to be taken seriously. The NHS has a very long history of ignoring complaints by women, and things have gotten even worse since covid. And no, annual physicals don't really exist either. Heck, many of my friends from all over the world asked for an annual physical. If they got to see the doctor they were first asked if they are worried about something, maybe feel anxious or depressed. The physical, as they know it from home never happened.

Why would someone disagree with this? 👆

I didn't disagree, but just chiming in to say in 20 years in the UK I was never unable to book an appointment if I called to make one or not contacted when I should have been.However it has indeed gotten more difficult during covid, and I fully agree we don't have the concept of annual physicals, which I think is great in other countries.

Nonetheless, if OP only made one single call to reception, didn't receive a call back, and then waited 6 weeks without following up, my first reaction would be to give the benefit of the doubt and say the message may have been misplaced or the assistant forgot to call back and just try again.

I think it depends a lot on where you live of course. I lived in such an area, and many of my friends did as well. Heck, even before covid the waiting time for a standard gallbladder removal was 1.5 years, and specialists were so oversubscribed that you didn't even get an appointment even with pancreas complications. If you didn't call your gp right at 8 or whatever it was in the morning you didn't get an appointment, and even then it was a lottery. It was impossible to call at a later time and make an appointment for another day.

There are so many other things that could cause a numb foot. I have diabetes, btw. With just one foot numb and not both, I would worry about a pinched nerve behind the knee before I would think about diabetes. Especially in a young person of normal weight.

I’m wondering whether the doctor’s office maybe has a file on the OP for being a hypochondriac. When that happens, especially in a system like the one in the UK where you can’t just swap doctors easily, it can be really troublesome - because even hypochondriacs sometimes get sick! Regardless you should call back and push for an appointment. And if you are worried about diabetes in the meantime, order an inexpensive testing kit online, or buy one at the drugstore. Test first thing in the morning before eating. If the result is 100 or lower, relax, your feet are not going to fall off from diabetes. If it’s higher than that, you have something to tell the doctor’s office to make them take you seriously. BTW your auntie is wrong, plenty of people have undiagnosed diabetes and don’t realize it. But she is right that it’s probably not that in your case.

I don't know where you live, but in America we have walk in clinics and can get simple tests done easily. How frustrating to not have a doctor respond. Take action and go to a new doctor.

Sounds like you could be a bit paranoid. But, you need to put your mind at rest and at least you are watching out for your health. It can't hurt to have it checked out.

Fitforevermore wrote: »

missysippy930 wrote: »

If they don’t give you a call back from the doctors office to schedule an appointment because of your concerns about having diabetes, find another doctor. This isn’t normal procedure for a clinic/dr office.

Um, I'm assuming op is in the UK. This is usual...

I did not realize clinics/doctors ignore patients concerns in the UK. I’m sorry to hear that. We’re talking about a very, potentially, serious health problem, which can be diagnosed quickly, and easily. Six weeks is not acceptable anywhere, and wouldn’t happen here. Advocating for yourself, and your health, should be your priority. If they aren’t returning calls, follow up daily until you get results. Posing a question to random people on the internet, doesn’t seem like a logical thing to do.

BTW, my husband was at an eye doctor appointment in September. During the exam, his eye doctor detected my husband as pre-diabetic. This already had been detected by his primary doctor, and he’s adjusting his diet to try to get it under control.

When I’ve felt my GP might dismiss my hypochondriac fears or that they’ve been really busy I’ve used home testing kits. They are available in the UK - I’ve used Forth (for liver, kidney and hormones) and Let’s Get Checked (cholesterol and diabetes). Both were very easy, very quick and reasonably cheap (around £30-40 - worth it to me for the reassurance). If you have abnormal results a nurse calls you and talks you through what it means and next steps.

Some reassurance though - there are many things that can cause a numb foot or a darker patch on the skin and you’d probably have noticed other symptoms before these if you had diabetes. Try not to worry, call your GP back and look at the tests online.