Diabetics are treated badly by the public and healthcare staff

I've had similar. Went to the GP about something random and mentioned an aching knee. Apparently it was because I was overweight and prediabetic and if only I could lose a couple of stone my knee would get better. Er no, it won't. Nothing is going to make my snapped knee ligament grow back. The one damaged in a horseriding accident years ago and which has caused me knee issues ever since. Cue some checking of my records. Ah. GP still didn't apologise though.

Lots of people get T2 when they are treated with steroids for other conditions, so it is grotesquely unfair to just imply it is a lifestyle disease

I also know a couple of super healthy people who have developed T2 -.just genetics/random bad luck I guess.

Exactly, I know so many people who developed T2 diabetes after being on a heavy dose of steroids (because it's a common treatment for my condition).

It's also common knowledge that there are lots of genetic risk factors

And it's a big over simplification anyway to just refer to T1 and T2 diabetes - see attached screenshot

Yabu for feeling the need to perpetuate stereotypes about type 2 diabetes when there is a significant genetic link and it is not always self inflicted

First of all, lookluv, can I say "well done" for getting this far as a Type 1 Diabetic. (Have you applied for a Alan Nabarro medal (50 years survival))? My husband (69) has been a Type 1 since he was 13 in 1970 - 5 years before we met). He got his Nabarro medal after reaching 50 years during lockdown. His experiences of early controls for the condition are the same as yours -glass syringes kept in surgical spirit, needles as big as lances, urine/water caustic soda tablets sugar tests but things have progressed nicely since through quick blood sugar finger pricks and ultimately CGMs to much smaller needles and insulin pens with better insulin varieties etc. Up until a few years ago his diabetes care was carried out at various hospitals in the various places we have lived under the guidance of specialist endocrinologists many of whom were of Professor status. But since then the care has been outsourced to the local GP surgeries and even those with diabetes specialist GPs have delegated the job of diabetes care to non trained and unconcerned school-leavers who see the job as a tick-box exercise. After each review he comes home with several bruises because they are hopeless at taking blood but wont involve the treatment room nurses. He complains that when he walks into the cupboard they assume he's a Type 2 diabetic because he's old and overweight and ask him how long he's been Type 2 because they don't refer to his notes. They give him advice on how to give up smoking even though he;s not smoked for 25 years - over half his life ago and tell him to up his insulin a couple of units without checking his HbA1c. Last time he went the teenager told him all his results were fine but when he said "Even my HbA1c?" she looked at her screen and said "Oh that's very high but it's the only one". He despairs at being called in because it's just a tick-box exercise by which the surgery gets a lot of its funding. He's always worked and gone all over the world to support us and our children -India, Australia,Spain and several places in the USA and we both feel he'd be better off back under the care of a proper hospital but they won't refer him saying "they can't do anything we can't do". But like you, lookluv, he's still going so you must be doing something right. "Well done" again.

It sounds as though the nurse doesn’t know the difference between a type 1 diabetic and a type 2 diabetic. The management of them is not the same at all . She was obviously speaking to you as if your diabetes was caused by lifestyle choices . I’m glad you put her straight .

GLP-1 medications don’t just stop you eating as much food, they specifically work to increase insulin production, increase sensitivity to insulin and reduce the amount of glucose produced by your liver. That’s why they help T2 diabetics with blood sugar control.

I was on fast acting and slow release insulin and full daily dose of Metformin last year. I was also low carb and had no way to reduce carb intake anymore that I already had because I was only eating carbs in green veg had even given up fruit, but my readings were crap. I went on Mounjaro and within 6 weeks I had dropped the insulin, 6 weeks after that I was able to stop the metformin. I went from HbA1C of 11% to 5.2% in a year.

How GLP-1 Medications Work GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide): • Mimic natural GLP-1 to enhance glucose-dependent insulin release. • Trigger the pancreas to produce insulin only when blood sugar is elevated, reducing hypoglycaemia risk. • Lower post-meal glucose spikes by slowing digestion. • Reduce appetite, indirectly supporting weight loss.

Impact on Insulin Levels
• Dynamic response: GLP-1 drugs do not add insulin externally; they stimulate your own pancreas to release insulin when needed.
• Glucose-dependent mechanism: Insulin secretion occurs only above a certain glucose threshold (around 70 mg/dL), unlike injected insulin which works regardless of glucose level.
• Combination therapy: In some cases, GLP-1 drugs are combined with insulin to reduce overall insulin dose and improve HbA1c, while mitigating insulin-related weight gain.

What the hell do Muller do to their yoghurts that make them so very very awful? Worst sugar reading I ever got when I had GD 12 yrs ago was one of their yoghurts. Other low fat yoghurts were still not great but no where near as bad.

My son (24) is T1. He was diagnosed at 15 after developing DKA and falling into a coma. We had no clue at all.

he spent a week in hospital and since then has been pretty much left to his own devices. I know that he doesn’t carb count and doesn’t really look after himself but he’s an adult now and I can’t do much about it, but the diabetes team at the drs and hospital are useless.
when he didn’t comply they just discharged him! As if it’s going to go away or something. Instead of trying to educate him they just wiped their hands.

Unfortunately, I would say that the truth applies for any department…nurses can be amazing or horrible. Doesn’t look like there is any middle nurse woman.

I think you are judging people who are type 2 like me. Mine is steroid induced diabetes as I was given steroids to control a bowel condition
Not lifestyle or laziness. The doctor didnt warn me I could get diabetes by taking steroids or I would have never taken them and would have put up with my condition and thefe are lots of type 2 diabetics because of medication.

OP I completely agree with you. My mother was diagnosed Type 1 in 1948 and both my sons are Type 1. Rudeness and lack of knowledge from so called medical staff enrage me.

Most cancers are diet and lifestyle related, people pick and choose what health conditions they judge. My DP has a stoma, he now has no way of avoiding diabetes. We went to a health open day type thing and cyclists were filling the diabetic clinics post Covid. As do other people involved in sport who use carbs to bulk and for energy.

I was recently rejected for a pump, and the despair this has sent me into has made me almost suicidal. If I didn’t have my kids I would be in a very different place with all this mentally. I have to live on, but the bleakness I feel at living with this until I’m dead is hard to describe. It’s just despair. It’s every second of every day.

They are starting to make noises about T3 diabetes. We're not there yet, but new info comes up all the time.

Theres more than just typw 1 and type 2. I have MODY diabetes. Try explaining that to people 🤣 its neither 1 or 2 its both.

I have been diabetic sinve I was 14 and I am 36 now and never experienced anything at all like this?

@lookluv I'm sorry you have met so many stupid nurses 🙄.

I used to work as a renal nurse and have had to care for many type 1 diabetics and I hear you!

Sometimes blood sugar doesn't do what is predicted or what would be 'logical'. Sometimes shit happens. Respect to you for getting thru 53 years.

You have been judgemental, don't kid yourself. My colleague with type two wasn't overweight, didn't have a poor diet, exercised and after many attempts at other treatments was on insulin. His condition was still impossible to manage as his hospital stays confirmed. He died within a few short years.

It isn't a competition, my friend having such a difficult time with type two in no way diminishes your own issues. It seems a shame you can't acknowledge that but clearly you can't. You condemn people for not understanding type one while not understanding type two.

Do show me where I have been critical of how you managed your condition as a teenager.

I knew three people who were diagnosed with Type 1 in childhood. They were kids in school with me.

All three of them are dead now. As a result of their diabetes. They’d be in 35-42 age bracket.

It’s a very scary thing.

My colleague with type 2 was also injecting insulin. We had another colleague with type 1 who had fewer complications. You don't know everyone, you dont know their issues and yes you are judgemental.

OP I agree. T1 here for decades. My GP practice nurse who runs my clinic is, quite frankly, providing information which is against NICE guidelines and asked if after 30 years I know to carb count. If I didn’t I’d be dead. So I bypassed her and did a self referral to local hospital and the nursing care there is excellent and I see a young male nurse who has been T1 since a toddler. Despite being male he even has good advice for menopausal diabetics - I was thrilled that someone was listening. It was such a disappointment to hear from a 55 yo female nurse that was repeatedly saying menopause and fluctuating hormones have no impact on BG control. What a crock of rubbish. And that nurse also did the pregnant diabetic clinic too. Worrying.

@NeverDropYourMooncup the nhs supposedly empower patients to have choice and take control of their treatment. Whilst also promoting patient centred care and bespoke care plans. I am engaged in my diagnosis and a healthcare practitioner myself.

it’s hard to take seriously when they do not show these values at consultations. And it’s a tick box so I can get my meds reviewed. After being told to eat low carb, I asked what low carb should be. Told to stop eating cake and bread and start with more fruit. I pointed out the high carb and sugar count in fruit. Said would help me lose weight and eat healthy. Both I do not need.

my diabetic consultant was not pleased with my practice nurse advice. He said to continue what I was doing as I had researched what to avoid and what to limit.