Can I self diagnose???

[Catch222]

I have tried for the last 5 working days (since last Thursday) to get an appointment with our GP or Nurse Practitioner.

In our surgery we ring from 8:30 and once the appointments are gone you are to ring back the following day

Every morning by the time I get through (constantly redialing) the slots are all filled. This morning I explained how
Long I'd been trying and the receptionists had no alternative than to try again tomorrow (not her fault I appreciate that)

So, I have had symptoms of Dianetes for a while some becoming more noticeable.

If I bought a blood sugar monitor. Could I see if I have diabetes using that then email results to doc and maybe they would see me then?

Has anyone any advice?

There are lots of at home tests you could try. Monitor my health have one.

Oh really? Can I order online? I'll look at that now. Thanks.

https://monitormyhealth.org.uk/full-health-screen-test/

Monitor my health is a NHS lab. This test checks several health issues but there is a diabetes one too. The prices are very reasonable.

Hmm not really, a blood sugar monitor would give an indication but unless very high unlikely to diagnose from that alone and if the sugars are very high it becomes a medical emergency. Diabetes is more likely to be diagnosed on the basis of a blood test: the hba1c. Whilst buying a blood sugar monitor might be helpful on some level it depends on your personality as testing and worrying about blood sugar readings can become obsessive. Do you not have an online consult at your surgery? Alternatively can you ring the surgery and ask the receptionist to pass a message to the GP and just say you are concerned you may have developed diabetes and would they recommend a period of blood sugar monitoring and if not what your next step should be as no appointments available. My surgery definitely do this.

Boots also do an in-store diabetes test if you have a participating store near you?

https://www.boots.com/healthhub/living-well/diabetes-support/diabetes-in-store-service

Just to make sure you know, if you test your blood sugar at home (and make sure to have clean hands as that can contaminate the glucometer readings) and it comes back high, that would be considered a medical emergency - you'd need to seek help straight away. High blood sugars (especially prolonged ones) can lead to ketones and ultimately diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be really dangerous if untreated

Type 2 diabetes is usually asymptomatic at diagnosis.

Disgusting that you can't get seen.
Mine have this policy but are really good tbh. If you call after 8.30, depending on what it is, you still get put on the list and a Dr calls you that same day to chat about your symptoms, then invite you in for a f2f same day if they want to see you.
Can you not walk in at 8am and go to the reception desk?

I agree. People queue outside from approx 7:30. Then when the doors open everyone is given a number. And called to the desk in order to they only have 35 slots for "walk ins"

So yes I think tomorrow il go down at 7:30 and hopefully wil get a slot.