Diabetes and Vision Station Flashcards
Name
Alex
Age (2)
- 31
- DOB: 4/12/1990
Medical situation (4)
- Poorly controlled Type 1 Diabetes
- On insulin to control sugar levels
- No other medication
- Hospital diabetes team worried about my sugar levels being high and want to me with me in a few weeks to discuss this
Last week consultation (4):
- Ophthalmologist told me my vision is not good enough to drive, even with glasses.
- It is unlikely to get better.
- My vision at 6m = average vision at 12m
- Binocular visual field refers to my peripheral vision with both eyes open
Where do I live:
Just outside of Bristol
How often do you drive? (4)
- Every day for school run
- Weekly grocery shop
- Sober driver for nights out with partner
- Never encountered any problems
Concerns (3):
- About what the ophthalmologist said
- What the results of my vision tests actually mean
- How they compare to what they should be
Recent treatment (3):
- Recently had laser treatment for diabetic eye disease
- Laser treatment has not improved my vision
- Don’t understand why I needed the laser vision in the first place
What sort of insulin (2)?
- Novorapid with each meal
- Long-lasting insulin twice a day
High blood pressure?
No
How do you monitor blood sugars, and what are they at (4)?
- Check them every time I give myself insulin.
- Results often 10-16
- I like to run them on the high side because I’m worried about having a hypo (I had several hypos when younger and lost consciousness)
- Haven’t had a hypo in at least two years
What is your HbA1c? (2)
- Think it was 90 something when last checked.
- Doctor told me this was not good.
Mental health?
Good, never had any mental health problems.
Who I live with and where?
- Live with partner in a rural area
Work (2)
- University HR Administrator
- Work from home
Children? (2)
- Six year old daughter
- Take her to school every weekday morning and pick her up in the afternoon
Smoke? (2)
- Stopped ten years ago
- Used to smoke 10/day
Drugs / Alcohol
- Don’t drink alcohol
- Don’t use illicit drugs
Vision? (3)
- Noticed that vision in both eyes has become gradually worse over the last few years
- Didn’t think it was that bad
- I was a little concerned, but not overly as it’s been gradual
Students input on my eye test: (3)
- I believe the ophthalmologists talk about not driving was a recommendation for me to consider.
- I thought this was just a consultation to talk about the vision tests in more detail.
- Surprised when the students explains I MUST stop driving and MUST inform the DVLA
Questions/reactions to student: (8)
- Be surprised but not angry
- What if I decline to stop driving / contact the DVLA?
- My life would be impossible without driving
- Need to drop/off pick up my daughter
- Weekly grocery shop
- Being sober driver for when my partner and I go out in the evenings
- No train station nearby
- Don’t know anything about local buses
Plan to be agreed with student (6)
- Eventually agree to stop driving
- Accept reasonable suggestions for dealing with this, eg
- a friend who drives helping with school run
- online shopping and delivery
- partner drink less on nights out or get a taxi
- local bus services and taxis
