Am I missing something?

[Jaclyn]

Hi Everyone Question....Upon Diagnoses what should the Dr check you for? My Dr has had my eyes,feet,and liver checked. Is there anything else that she should of checked me for? I'm still a little new to all this and I ve read about diffrent things people are gettting tested for. Thanks!

Jaclyn :lollypop:

[Simon]

Although in theory you could have problems with kidneys, leg ulcers or neuropathy you would have symptoms for those so the doctor won't have done any testing unless you report a problem.

[DesertDiabetic]

This where the differences in treatment for type 1 and 2 show up. For type 2's those test are standard, or at least recommended. With type 1's the chance of those problems is less because you cannot go many years with the disease. With type 2 it can be 10 years before you get diagnosed, and the complications might already be started. The complications might be what drove you to the dorctor in the first place. It is recommeded these test be done to establish a medical history and see where you are at in you progression.

The current state of the medical profession is sadly like Simon said, again for type 2's. If you don't complain about it they don't care or don't even know to check for it. It is getting more and more talked about that doctors, as well as the diabetic, must take a very aggressive approach to the treatment. The old lets wait and see approach just does not get good results. Enough has been learned for them to know what will happen next.

In Bernstein's book he has an entire chapter on what tests should be run and what they mean. I mention him because you don't hear much about this from other people in the field, other than the eyes and feet, and dental.

[HelenM]

You didn't mention cholesterol, thats important as the recommended limits are usually lower for people with diabetes.
My log book says

every 3-4 months
weight
feet(pressure test for neuropathy)
blood pressure
HBA1c

Once a year
Eyes
Electrocardiogram (I have a stress test every 2 years)
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
creatinine/microalbuminurie (French spelling)(thats for early detection of kidney problems)

[Jaclyn]

You didn't mention cholesterol, thats important as the recommended limits are usually lower for people with diabetes.
My log book says

every 3-4 months
weight
feet(pressure test for neuropathy)
blood pressure
HBA1c

Once a year
Eyes
Electrocardiogram (I have a stress test every 2 years)
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
creatinine/microalbuminurie (French spelling)(thats for early detection of kidney problems)




What is the pressure test for feet?how do they do it? I told her that I had some tingling in my 4th toe and she looked over it and mentioned neuropathy but also mentioned that it could be my shoes, and new to exercising. Told me that if it didnt feel better in 2 weeks to come back and it has felt better no more pain but I wonder why she didnt do the pressure test. Im courious to what it is.

[rzrbks]

What is the pressure test for feet?how do they do it? I told her that I had some tingling in my 4th toe and she looked over it and mentioned neuropathy but also mentioned that it could be my shoes, and new to exercising. Told me that if it didnt feel better in 2 weeks to come back and it has felt better no more pain but I wonder why she didnt do the pressure test. Im courious to what it is.

Basically, they poke your feet with monofiliment fishing line to see if you can feel the minute touch on different parts of the soles of your feet.

[Penny]

Basically, they poke your feet with monofiliment fishing line to see if you can feel the minute touch on different parts of the soles of your feet.
In the 40 years or so, doctors have been "keeping an eye on my sugar", none have ever done that! Mine just say "How's your feet?" For a long time, I wasn't sure what they meant and just said "OK". Since being on the forum, I say "I have tingling and some pain in my left foot." Still he has never done more than check to see if my ankles are swollen. I take that back, he offered to send me to a foot doctor, but acted like he didn't think it was really necessary.

[jen_slc]

What is the pressure test for feet?how do they do it? I told her that I had some tingling in my 4th toe and she looked over it and mentioned neuropathy but also mentioned that it could be my shoes, and new to exercising. Told me that if it didnt feel better in 2 weeks to come back and it has felt better no more pain but I wonder why she didnt do the pressure test. Im courious to what it is.There are several tests for neuropathy: the monofilament poke like rzrbks mentioned, the pin prick test (self explanatory), the tuning fork test (vibration sensation), plus quite a few scoring systems where they score your symptoms (pain, numbness, tingling, unsteadiness, etc). I have the monofilament, pin prick or tuning fork test done every 3 months and though I'm T1, I thought these would be just as or more important for T2s, especially newly diagnosed T2s.

[DesertDiabetic]

You are right about it being important for a newly diagnosed type 2. I have been with my doctor for 18 months and he has never told me to come back for further test and surely did not order an eye test or foot examinations. I did request the eye test, but he had to test them himself with the office eye chart. I do have some vision problems, though not related to diabetes, but enough for him to think maybe he could justify the referral to a specialists. I have read enough posts where others have had similar experiences, and perhaps even worse. It really seems evident that the state of the art in the US at the GP level is very poor. Just 90 days into my treatent one of the older doctors saw me to give me the lab test results (they only give you the results after a doctor has seen you). They had come down so much that he declared me cured. No further treatment necessary. I call and make the appointments, they don't ever talk about when I should come back. Frankly they just don't care. Why don't I change doctors? I would if I could. I cannot afford to pay for it myself and there is only one doctor in the valley my HMO accepts. Actually, I keep up on my treatment and I really only need the doctor to write prescriptions and make referrals.

[Jaclyn]

My doctor never checked my feet until I brought it to her attention, same with the eyes, I had to tell her after being DX's I had blury vision and I learned that here lol.When I DX'd I was told to not eat sugar and salt and pushed out the door. I didnt get a booklet, what type I was, nothing. While I was waitng the blood test to come back I looked up alot of info in the internet so when I got the news about Diabetes and she didnt give me insulan I figured on my own I was T2. I also had to wait 2 months to see a diabetic educator so I learned alot of what to eat off the net and here. I really was mad at my Dr for not informing me of all these things and not spending at least 5 min me but I'm glad I found a forum like this or I'd still be clueless.!!!


THANKS ALL

Jaclyn

[Cinnabon]

I have been told that DIabetics shoud try to keep their "good" cholesterol a bit higher than normal.

[HelenM]

I did request the eye test, but he had to test them himself with the office eye chart.


The eye check is not just a vision check but one where they dilate your eye with drops in order to examine the retina.

[DesertDiabetic]

The eye check is not just a vision check but one where they dilate your eye with drops in order to examine the retina.

I know, totally stupid approch to treating a diabetic......

[rzrbks]

Penny
rzrbks
Basically, they poke your feet with monofiliment fishing line to see if you can feel the minute touch on different parts of the soles of your feet.

In the 40 years or so, doctors have been "keeping an eye on my sugar", none have ever done that! Mine just say "How's your feet?" For a long time, I wasn't sure what they meant and just said "OK". Since being on the forum, I say "I have tingling and some pain in my left foot." Still he has never done more than check to see if my ankles are swollen. I take that back, he offered to send me to a foot doctor, but acted like he didn't think it was really necessary.


The Footsie Dr. I go see, does this Every Time I visit(3 times a year minimum), the PCP does it once a year. the CDE does it once a year.

So, Penny, you're telling me that all these people have some sort of fetish for My:eviltongu feet?

Gah-Ross

[Penny]

The Footsie Dr. I go see, does this Every Time I visit(3 times a year minimum), the PCP does it once a year. the CDE does it once a year.

So, Penny, you're telling me that all these people have some sort of fetish for My:eviltongu feet?

Gah-Ross

I haven't seen your feet.:hmmmm: Submit a photo of them and I will give you my opinion.:laugh:

[rzrbks]

They are beautiful, yet well aged feet. A wine of feet you might say.

I have never had any real problems.

Really though, the CDE and PCP made a HUGE deal of getting my feet checked regularly and they used a device:

To detect and monitor loss of sensation in the feet, Federal health authorities suggest that doctors, nurse specialists and others who give primary care to diabetics routinely use a simple tool called a monofilament. The device, developed at the Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, La., by Dr. Paul Brand, consists of an inch-and-a-half-long nylon bristle mounted on a four-inch acrylic plastic handle.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D07E6DA1739F936A35752C1A963958260

[Penny]

They are beautiful, yet well aged feet. A wine of feet you might say.

I have never had any real problems.

Really though, the CDE and PCP made a HUGE deal of getting my feet checked regularly and they used a device:



http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D07E6DA1739F936A35752C1A963958260

OK you have persuaded me. Next checkup, I will make a stink, until he looks at my feet! From your description though I am going with the foot fetish, in your case.

[rzrbks]

From your description though I am going with the foot fetish, in your case.

I was wondering.

Sort of a variation of

Just because you think they're out to get you doesn't mean they aren't.