When I went to the local GP to get a referral to see my ophthalmologist, the local doctor suggested I have a check up and a series of blood tests.  Blood pressure was very good, kidney function excellent, Thyroid good, Cholesterol 3.6 – all good.  But my blood sugar level was up and another blood sugar test has shown that I have diabetes 2.  I have to go on medication and, of course, watch my diet and have a regular checkup every 3 months.  The doctor tells me that I have nothing to worry about since it can be controlled and some people have had it for 30/40 years.  She also said that it can run in families so iI have let my daughters know what h happened and suggested to them that they tell their own doctors that their Mum has diabetes 2.

After sympthising with me, Kelly's comment was – does this mean I can have all the licquorice now ?

Bliddy kids !!!

I posted on this a few minutes ago and then couldn't find the post !!!

Sorry to hear that Hazel, but as Shazza said it is controllable without too much disruption of life.

Hazel, does this mean I can have all the choklit??

Oh well, I should have been faster.

Good luck with the label reading Hazel, I'm sure in time you'll be telling us all what's in everything and the best things to avoid.

I bet you've already read the Bailey's bottle.

I'll swop Graham for a bottle of Baileys and a ton of choclit. What a bargain!

Well, I'm not going to tell him, I'll just coax him into a crate and ship him off.

You can ship the choclit back to me in the crate, that way if you're not satisfied and want to send him back, you won't have anything

to put him in so I'll be safe.

Fish, Hazel.  I know that it seems I'm drumming up business, but sardines, kippers, mackerel and the like are very good.  A dear friend of mine has recently received the same news and is managing it with his diet alone.  Our doctors are constantly calling us in for Tests for various diseases:  there's Government funding for every one they can manage to capture.  I went for the cholesterol one and it was found that I had a high reading.  I was put on Statins and felt absolutely cr*p from the first one I took.  After a month I went for a further test and saw a different (and older) doctor, who looked at my results after I told him how ill I felt.  He told me that there was no way that he'd take the tablets!!!  I stopped and have felt better ever since.  I'm refusing all further investigative and random tests.

I find it very strange that one of the main discussion points here in the UK in the run up to a General Election is the cost of Care for the Elderly in the future.  There are all sorts of suggestions being put forward, one of them being a charge of £25000 across the board for everyone, regardless of whether they ever need care or not.  If they are so worried about this growing band of elderly and dependent people, why on earth are they pushing for us all to have these tests to prolong our lives?  It doesn't add up to me.  They might save on NHS Bills but will end up paying out on the State Pension for longer.

As you can guess, I'm in my 'black dog' periods

I agree wholeheartedly with you Lucy.  I had never bothered to have my cholesterol checked until now and if I could avoid going to see the doctor I would.  Unfortunately I had to get the referral to have my eyes checked for glaucoma and the tests followed on from there.  I suppose it was fortunate because I could have been in serious trouble otherwise.