aibu or was my doctor having a sly dig at my weight

[Foamybanana93]

so basically had an allergic reaction to a fabric plaster, it started weeping so went to the GP yesterday to check if i needed antibiotics, didn't even examine the area just looked at it and said i'll just give you 5 days antibiotics, she then asked if id ever been checked for diabetes and i said no i hadn't, she mumbled on something like because i have an infection i need to be checked for diabetes, can only assume this is a sly dig at my weight as i am a size 16-18, never had any issues before with my GP but this was someone completely new, aibu to feel a bit pissed off with this or am i over reacting

i understand she is looking out for my health, i have hs and put a plaster on the inside of my thigh my hs had flared up, took the plaster off the next day and had a plaster shaped raised area on my thigh, if she had said we just want to check because your weight could cause an issue no bother, but my weight was never mentioned once during the appointment

Diabetes that isn’t under control can cause serious issues including amputation actually include death in the list of serious affects of T2.

My dh died five weeks ago from complications due to T2 diabetes. It is deadly serious.

If you are touchy about your weight then you must know you are overweight.

A GP I know says he wishes he could say to people with knee and other joint pain "well you are carrying a child/small person around with you. No wonder your knees are knackered". He doesn't though.

What's the problem? You know you're overweight, you know being overweight means you're more prone to diabetes. Maybe she was trying not to offend you by being blunt.

You sound ungrateful towards someone who's trying to help you.

@TroysMammy

I say exactly that "imagine you were carrying a 7-year old on your shoulders all day, your knees would soon start to hurt."

I'm not sure what your issue is. If she never mentioned your weight what led you to believe it was a dig at your weight? Either it was purely the infection that was the issue that required a diabetes check or your weight was a factor too but neither seem to be unreasonable. Perhaps you felt their manner in general was offhand and impatient and you think your weight may have been a factor in them not being attentitive?

YABU

She did mention your weight. She could see you were overweight. Presumably you know that you are overweight?
It’s great you have free access to a gp. You need to take responsibility for your physical health. You know over eating and being over weight can cause all sorts of health issues.

Look, your doctor was perfectly reasonable. She’s trying to look after your health. You’re touchy about your weight. That’s your problem to solve.

Jesus, get over yourself! You obviously need to lose weight, if you are that touchy about it, make some lifestyle changes. I say this as someone who is also (significantly) overweight. Being overweight is a huge factor in a LOT of health problems. I think it is so depressing that people are now so easily offended that doctors and HCPs sometimes feel worried about giving health promotion advice.

I saw a gastroenterologist last week after several months of slightly odd liver function. He was clearly terrified of suggesting that my weight could be the cause. The sense of relief when I asked if it could be related to the amount of fat I’m carrying was palpable!

Your being very precious, sometimes diabetes is an indicator if wounds are not healing properly. They don't know which one until they test. Maybe you do need to look at your weight and lifestyle, you probably know it, hence being quite sensitive about it.

GPs don't have time or reason to be making 'sly digs' they can sometimes be blunt when it concerns your health but passive aggressive digs, no.

Yip, they do it with smoking too.

I have type 2 diabetes. It was picked up in blood tests. I have no symptoms. I am overweight and trying to address this, but other medical conditions complicate the picture.

Slow healing of wounds, or failure to heal properly can be indicative of a blood sugar problem, most commonly type 2 diabetes.

I don't think your GP was having a sly dig. I too am sensitive about my weight. I do appreciate though that these are subjects that GPs often need to broach, and finding a tactful way around must be difficult to impossible. I don't envy them that.

@Foamybanana93 it's common for them to ask, especially with the HS
I get reactions from the dressings too, try a low adhesive dressing from the chemist

my weight was never mentioned once during the appointment

So, to recap.

1. Your GP never mentioned weight
2. When presented with a symptom that MAY indicate diabetes, she suggested testing for diabetes
3. You have found this offensive because you think she was calling you overweight, even though she didn't mention weight.

I think that you are being unreasonable and a bit paranoid.
You are being offered a test because of your clinical symptoms. Wound healing can be a significant issue in diabetics.
It may be nothing to do with your weight at all.

DeadZed I am very sorry to hear about your DH 💐

OP you’re being a plank. GP’s won’t hestitate to tell you your weight is a problem if they feel the need. Trust me. Diabetes is getting very very common and thus frequently tested for. I had my appendix out recently, all in for various different things, 10/12 on the split ward all had diabetes. It’s hardly surprising they’re testing when you show up with such a strong reaction from an overnight plaster.

OP, it's possible that the GP felt the unusual infection was sufficient reason to check for diabetes, irrespective of your weight. After all, some slim people have Type 2 - it's not found exclusively in overweight people.

Are you overweight?

I'm a size 16 when my BMI is 24.

Being overweight increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Recurrent or non healing infections are a symptom of diabetes.

Your GP was being thorough.

So your GP suggested getting a test for diabetes and you check Dr Google instead and based on that decide your GP is wrong?

Bloody hell OP.

Get the blood test.

Is this also your thread, OP.........

'AIBU to be a bit ticked off after being 'told off' by GP?'???

Don't take it so personally. You're visibly overweight and have a possible symptom of diabetes. I'm also overweight and when my GP brought up my weight when I had a sore foot it was a bit embarrassing but I also realise that I'm carrying more weight than my poor feet should have to lug around.

My MIL died last year due to diabetic complications. It's not a condition that you want to fuck around with.

you can have type 2 diabetes "silently" without apparent symptoms but she picked up on an apparent indicator & decided to exclude this diagnosis for your sake. If caught early enough ie prediabetes it can be held at bay for longer. instead of complaining be grateful. The new tests they do can diagnose people at earlier stages so it is a good thing -