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

God forbid health professionals try and do their job.

@mortofiedmama are you very tall or a bodybuilder? That is very unusual!

Doctors don't usually do 'sly digs' in the surgery do they? Aren't they more likely to ask you to step onto the scales and then give you some 'advice'?

Think you said you have HS OP, that has been associated with type 1 diabetes

If the doctor had wanted you tested for diabetes purely because of your weight, they would have just said that. They don’t have to be sly about it.

It’s a good idea to be tested if you’re overweight, even if you have no symptoms. As it is you do have a possibly symptom, so it would be irresponsible not to bring it up.

Doctors mention weight at every opportunity. I'm 5ft 4in and weigh 55kg. I have been told to lose whatever weight I can in order to help with OA in my knees - no suggestion that I am overweight, more that "every little helps".

More generally I've also been told to make sure that I don't gain any weight as that happens so often post-menopause (I'm 55). This is all sensible advice and it wouldn't occur to me to think of it as a "sly dig".

Diabetes is an awful condition that can have terrible consequences, as everybody others have said on this thread. You need to work with your doctor to protect your health and this means doing the things that only you can do such as eat less and move more.

@Deadzed I am so sorry for your loss.
I didnt mention the worst case as I thought the OP would just give an eye roll and dismiss it as me being hysterical.
A relative had neuropathy and ended up losing sight etc etc.
It can be devastating. I’m so sorry.

My DM has had type 2 diabetes for 25 plus years. She wasn't overweight when she developed it.

She had a sore area under her boobs a couple of years back that very quickly went to blisters. The GP said it was because the sugars exuded from her body cause fungus to develop which eats into the skin.

That's why a GP is going to recommend a check for diabetes if a wound looks infected or if they suspect a fungal infection is to blame. Nothing to do with being overweight - that's your own paranoia about your weight creeping in.

The OP went to the doctor about an allergic reaction to a plaster. I assume she is an adult who is aware of being overweight and doesn't need it pointing out when she goes in on a totally unrelated matter.

But it isn’t unrelated!!!

Sorry to hear about your DH DeadZed

I think people are being a bit harsh on the OP here...of course she's a bit sensitive about her weight (who isn't?!), so perfectly understandable to be a bit hurt when it's mentioned or hinted at.

The GP of course is just doing their job, but some pp seem to have taken great delight in telling the OP she's obese. She clearly knows that already.

Hope it doesn't turn out to be diabetes OP.

So you wanted her to blame it on your weight rather than what it actually was. An unexplained infection which is a symptom of diabetes. If your paranoid about your health with regard to your weight than do something about it.

And like a pp said. Doctors don’t tend to make sly digs about weight I know firsthand they will tell you straight.

I am amazed all these drs wanting to test for diabetes, being concerned when a patient is overweight etc.

Wait till you get to 50. You get a print out from the internet and if you want to be tested for anything then they sit there and tell you that test doesn’t exist.

It’s like they got you to half a century now piss of and die.

I have HS and have never been tested for diabetes

Yeah they don’t tend to take dr google too seriously oliversmumsarmy

i understand she is looking out for my health

From reading your replies, I don’t think you do understand this at all.

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

This could be a symptom of diabetes.

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.

She can see you are overweight but you don’t need to be overweight to have diabetes; she come to her surgery with a issue that could be caused by diabetes. Diabetes is a very serious illness that a significant number of us have or will have in the future. She was doing her job and that is presumably why you went to see her.

If you had gone in and said you felt tired all the time and had a BMI of 20. Would you have felt insulted if she suggested testing your thyroid levels to see if everything was ok because you were presenting a symptom or would you have assumed it was because of your weight even though your BMI was in the normal range?

Feefeetrixabelle

Are you being sarcastic and have a good dr or are you under 50.

My friend totally different area has the same thing.

obesity is bringing the nhs to its knees, she was right to address your weight, being obese carries so many risks and she has a duty to address it

HS does increase the diabetes risk. You are lucky you have a thorough doctor. Stop being so defensive and look after your health, and take on board what the doctor has said.

A GP wouldn’t have a “sly dig”. They tell it like it is. She is looking after you. As others have said this is 2 indicators and you are lucky she is thorough. I think you know yourself that you need to lose weight for your health, if not now it may come. Diabetes is a killer.

How old are you OP? A diabetes check is recommended at the age of 40 and every five years thereafter. Maybe she checked your records and saw you were eligible and hadn’t been tested yet. See here for the NHS Health Check

I think you're overreacting. I would assume the diabetes check was to do with the wound, or - depending how old you are - they suggest one anyway once you're 40 or so when they see you. It's good to be checked anyway. Hope the results are ok (...skulks away, thinking I should really get tested to be on the safe side too....)

In my experience doctors never have a sly dig about anything! They tell you it straight

They weren't having a dig, they were trying to treat you as a whole person not just a contact sensitivity.

If you are overweight then you should be told by your doctor regardless if you do know it. What would they gain by having a sly dig

Oh yes, you're totally right OP, doctors have huge budgets and put people in for unnecessary tests the whole time as a way of getting a 'dig' in without dumb people realising, you're so smart to have worked it out.

This is what you wanted to hear, right?