The Practice Nurse talks to Mary about her annual diabetes review
- Nurse: Your heart rate and blood pressure are fine and within normal limits and I’ve had your blood results back – they too are all within target
- Mary: That’s great, I’ve even lost a couple of pounds in weight
- Nurse: That sounds encouraging, keep up the good work, that will help keep your diabetes under control. Looking at your last review, it seems that you weren’t having any chest pain or breathless symptoms, how have things been over the last 6 months?
- Mary: Well, funny you should say that, I wasn’t going to mention anything but when I think about it, I have started having that chest pain again. It used to be just once per month but lately its probably once or twice per week.
- Nurse: What brings it on?
- Mary It is generally when I’m rushing around a bit more than usual.
- Nurse: Ok I think we’ll get the 1st available appointment with the GP.
- Nurse though bubble: (red flag) Mary has had an increase in frequency of her symptoms. I will need to get her to see the GP for a review as soon as possible.
Pulse point
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke) WHO reference: World Health Organization
Page last reviewed: 02 Jun 2020
