[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

CramCycle

P_1 wrote: »

Really? I used to work in insurance (albeit in the customer care department of a call center where training was minimal and you were generally given the mushroom treatment) and I never heard of that. Also I've always been told "no that's grand" when declaring my diabetes taking out insurance (of course that's probably a case of salespeople being salespeople). Must dig out the fine print.

It has occurred to me that my blanket statement of insurance policies saying that may be wrong as I have no idea TBH. I know that your recommended to check every 45 minutes and below 6 you shouldn't drive. I was basing my statement on what my nurse and the AA told me on my second last renewal. I do wonder what the legal implications are though if your bloods were low and you knew and then caused a serious accident, it has to be at the very least careless driving if not driving without due care and attention.

P_1

5live wrote: »

How long is that requirement to test your blood sugar before driving in?

The reason I ask is I had a hypo and crashed 11 years ago and never heard anything at all about that either before or after the claim. I assume there would be some onus on insurance companies to highlight that requirement at least once to any applicant?

February from what I was told

CramCycle

5live wrote: »

How long is that requirement to test your blood sugar before driving in?

A nurse told me it was a requirement adn TBF after a close call in my youth, I do it anyway. Maybe I missed what she said technically but I imagine it it the without due care and attention is where you would be caught legally. Insurance companies may or may not have it in your terms, that would be easy enough to see on your cert/conditions. Sorry for the misleading post earlier, I actually believed it was a requirement but can't prove it.

Meauldsegosha

I was on DAFNE a few weeks ago and they spoke about this and gave us a leaflet (I'll try to find it). But from what I remember if you are in an accident, regardless of fault, the onus is on you to prove that you were fit to drive. That could be testing your BG or having a CP before driving.

P_1

Pardon my ignorance but what does 'having a CP' mean?

gctest50

CramCycle wrote: »

Maybe I missed what she said technically but I imagine it it the without due care and attention is where you would be caught legally. ....

Driving under the influence of drug afaik - i think thats why you're told to pull in, take out fob/keys from ignition and sort out your hypo

Meauldsegosha

P_1 wrote: »

Pardon my ignorance but what does 'having a CP' mean?

No worries, it stands Carbohydrate Portion. 10 grams of carbohydrate is 1 CP.

lollpop

I just renewed my insurance recently and there was no mention of this. Have never been asked for a medical report or anything in relation to my diabetes, in fact there is no reference to it whatsover on any of my paperwork (have confirmed with them they have the info).

As it happens I think it's a good idea and I always check before I get into the car. I imagine it would be difficult to prove in the event of an accident though.

Meauldsegosha

lollpop wrote: »

I just renewed my insurance recently and there was no mention of this. Have never been asked for a medical report or anything in relation to my diabetes, in fact there is no reference to it whatsover on any of my paperwork (have confirmed with them they have the info).

As it happens I think it's a good idea and I always check before I get into the car. I imagine it would be difficult to prove in the event of an accident though.

I suppose your monitor will have the time you tested your BG and you can show through your medical records that you have good control. It would be hard for the other party to disprove that.

graflynn

P_1 wrote: »

Hi all, type 1 since 94. Ashamed to admit that I had my first clinic visit in about 9 years today. Thankfully there was no fire and brimstone approach from the good folk there. Anyway something I was told there was that there's a new law coming in that means that you'll have to test your BM before you drive. Anyone else heard about this?

Hello P1, I was diagnosed with type1 in 93. Thankfully, the doctors & nurses attitutes to people with diabetes has come a long way. Well done you on making that appointment! It was so awful up to the early noughties. I left Ireland between 2002 & 2006, so when I came back I shopped around for a more understanding approach and less judgemental. It took me a couple of years but I did find it:)

New rules came into effect in 2013 with regards to driving and insulin. It's not a law but if you were to have a hypo while driving and caused an accident you could be prosecuted for driving under the influence.

On the other hand, if you are driving, no hypo and are involved in an accident you need to be able to prove that you tested your bg to be exonerated. There was a court case that I can't find any details about right now but the chap could not prove that he has tested and I think he was prosecuted for dangerous driving?

There is more information available here.

Lot of things have changed in relation to type 1 diabetes in the last few years and this might help you out with the more practical, every day living stuff.

Worztron

Hi.

A relative was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes recently. Is it safe for him to drink over a bottle of wine in one sitting? Is 1 or 2 glasses the safe limit per day?

CramCycle

Worztron wrote: »

Hi.

A relative was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes recently. Is it safe for him to drink over a bottle of wine in one sitting? Is 1 or 2 glasses the safe limit per day?

About as safe as anyone else. No one should drink that much in one sitting (although I do). I suppose the best way to put it is all that healthy eating "advice" your relation has heard. Now its closer to a warning.

The_Conductor

Worztron wrote: »

Hi.

A relative was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes recently. Is it safe for him to drink over a bottle of wine in one sitting? Is 1 or 2 glasses the safe limit per day?

Wine with an abv of 12% has 12 units of alcohol, per litre of wine. A typical bottle of wine is 750mls- which is 9 units of alcohol. Current medical advice for men is that no more than 21 units of alcohol should be consumed per week, no more than 4 units per day- and in any given week, you should have at least 2 days where you do not consume alcohol.

Alcohol should be consumed in moderation- knocking back a bottle (or more) in a sitting- means you are drinking 9 (or more) units of alcohol- which is over double the recommended daily limit (for a man- or triple for a woman- women having a weekly advisory of not more than 15 units, 3 units or less per day- with at least 2 days of non-indulgence).

A bottle of standard strength wine is 9 units of alcohol............

Meauldsegosha

Worztron wrote: »

Hi.

A relative was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes recently. Is it safe for him to drink over a bottle of wine in one sitting? Is 1 or 2 glasses the safe limit per day?

Check out the Diabetes Ireland website, lots of useful info about living with Type 2 Diabetes http://www.diabetes.ie/living-with-diabetes/living-with-type-2/ Click on the Food tab for info on alcohol.

robinph

Hba1c previously 72 (8.7)
Test a couple of weeks ago 40 (5.8) - brief moment of joy, then think that's not quite right it can't have moved that much in six months with me not doing that much different. Then get told some other numbers are out of whack and I'm also anemic.
Some more test done on the blood they just took for anemia and it's causes, nothing strange shows up, other than there is no obvious reason for the anemia.
Re-do the initial hba1c test and full blood count, that then comes back normal for full blood count and at 66 (8.2) for the hba1c.

Now I'm all confused again. Don't know if I'm glad of the slightly improved hba1c, or pissed that they were getting the wrong persons blood tested under my name. Don't know if I'm glad I'm not anemic, or pissed that I now don't know what my TSH is and if that could be the reason that I currently feel crappy (since before these blood tests were done).

Have to sleep on this now and then decide where to go and crack some heads together for getting my blood tests mixed up. Need to get them to delete the dodgy results from the computer records as well as it will just cause confusion when looked at again in a few years by another doctor who will then wonder why my results are so erratic.

CramCycle

Bad hypo this morning, got out of bed finally after struggling to get my head straight. Got some food and tested my bloods which were at 2.1 (and this was on the way up). Felt like I had been in a head on collision all day. Work was not enjoyable. Headache is only lifting now.

CramCycle

Anyone else get unusual aches/pains after a hypo? It's been so long since I had a bad one that I don't quite remember, still feel rubbish and bloods seem to be bouncing up and down, legs feel horrendous as if I ran a marathon with no training.

C-Shore

CramCycle wrote: »

Anyone else get unusual aches/pains after a hypo? It's been so long since I had a bad one that I don't quite remember, still feel rubbish and bloods seem to be bouncing up and down, legs feel horrendous as if I ran a marathon with no training.

I find I'm very tired the next day if I have one during the night.

Typically it's just not a clear mind so to speak.

I wouldn't so much call it aches and pains, but I do get a feeling of soreness in my calves as if I've done a long run sometimes after a low.

Maybe the leg pain is just the thrashing from Wednesday night? :P

CramCycle

C-Shore wrote: »

I wouldn't so much call it aches and pains, but I do get a feeling of soreness in my calves as if I've done a long run sometimes after a low.

Same here

Maybe the leg pain is just the thrashing from Wednesday night? :P

I wish I had that excuse, ended up dropping out of two races, were you there? So many boardsies I don't know who was and wasn't there. Although I only know only one other Diabetic down there.

C-Shore

CramCycle wrote: »

Same here

I wish I had that excuse, ended up dropping out of two races, were you there? So many boardsies I don't know who was and wasn't there. Although I only know only one other Diabetic down there.

That's probably me!

I guessed it was you based on your posting in the Sundrive thread, and here, and us discussing diabetes at the track last week.

Do you think the Thursday Hypo was from the previous night?

CramCycle

C-Shore wrote: »

That's probably me!

I guessed it was you based on your posting in the Sundrive thread, and here, and us discussing diabetes at the track last week.

Do you think the Thursday Hypo was from the previous night?

I don't think so, I think I am just under the weather, felt pretty sh1tty in the first race and my bloods never went above 8.5 whereas when I spin out they normally jump to 16 for awhile.

C-Shore

CramCycle wrote: »

I don't think so, I think I am just under the weather, felt pretty sh1tty in the first race and my bloods never went above 8.5 whereas when I spin out they normally jump to 16 for awhile.

That is quite strange yes, something viral perhaps.

Were you measuring your heart rate? Typically I find that when I'm sick, my heart rate can be a bit higher, and if I'm over trained then it seems to stay quite low.

CramCycle

C-Shore wrote: »

That is quite strange yes, something viral perhaps.

Were you measuring your heart rate? Typically I find that when I'm sick, my heart rate can be a bit higher, and if I'm over trained then it seems to stay quite low.

Alas no, I have a HRM but never put it on anymore, used to use it for college projects. I will brring it along next week just to see what happens. I couldn't feel my HR and I never blew up but I also wasn't capable on Wednesday so I presume it stayed low. I generally don't mind the bad hypos (I know I should) but now there is a baby in the house I am freaked I would drop him or hurt him in some way. I was looking after him the other morning when it set in and I really struggled to hold my mind in the right place.

We can have sprints to see who can get their bloods to spike highest next week, or set up our own team type 1 track team :cool:

C-Shore

CramCycle wrote: »

Alas no, I have a HRM but never put it on anymore, used to use it for college projects. I will brring it along next week just to see what happens. I couldn't feel my HR and I never blew up but I also wasn't capable on Wednesday so I presume it stayed low. I generally don't mind the bad hypos (I know I should) but now there is a baby in the house I am freaked I would drop him or hurt him in some way. I was looking after him the other morning when it set in and I really struggled to hold my mind in the right place.

We can have sprints to see who can get their bloods to spike highest next week, or set up our own team type 1 track team :cool:

Sorry I'm only replying now, was working in the sticks for the weekend!

Perhaps yeah it was low and you're tired from looking after a new baby! So that would all play a part in your blood glucose too.

Yeah I know the feeling, and while not a level with as much responsibility, it's tough maintaining concentration for important tasks sometimes.

A Team Type 1 for the track would be immense!

Intensive Care Bear

Hey, first time poster here, i got a phone call from my doctor yesterday telling me i have diabetes, he is referring me to a specialist to find out which type i have (i'm a skinny 31 year old so it came as a surprise). I'm totally feeling sorry for myself today so any advice on dealing with a new diagnosis will be gratefully accepted.

hadepsx

hi im a long term diabetic. went for the diabetic retino eye scan a few months ago in kilkenny, now ive another in waterford, have noticed a small dot in my left eyes vision. anyone else gone through this, whats the process etc, is my vision gonna be badly affected by this in a few years. thanks

CramCycle

1210m5g wrote: »

Hey, first time poster here, i got a phone call from my doctor yesterday telling me i have diabetes, he is referring me to a specialist to find out which type i have (i'm a skinny 31 year old so it came as a surprise). I'm totally feeling sorry for myself today so any advice on dealing with a new diagnosis will be gratefully accepted.

First things first though. Its not that bad. It can and probably will be infuriating but its really not that bad. My own feelings on the matter are that without Diabetes I would be more unhealthy and in far worse shape so for some it has benefits. Once you get into the rhythm and find what works for you (after some training and words of wisdom from your nurse) it will be alot easier. There is a thread on here for meetings if you want to talk to some other Diabetics and the diabetes federation of Ireland can be a great resource if you go to their website.

hadepsx wrote: »

hi im a long term diabetic. went for the diabetic retino eye scan a few months ago in kilkenny, now ive another in waterford, have noticed a small dot in my left eyes vision. anyone else gone through this, whats the process etc, is my vision gonna be badly affected by this in a few years. thanks

Depends on if it is diabetes related or not. I have had similar sounding things when my control was bad but it disappeared when my control improved. Personally wait for the ophthalmologist to have a look and diagnose it as there are a multitude of things it could be, most are minor and alot reversible.

robinph

hadepsx wrote: »

hi im a long term diabetic. went for the diabetic retino eye scan a few months ago in kilkenny, now ive another in waterford, have noticed a small dot in my left eyes vision. anyone else gone through this, whats the process etc, is my vision gonna be badly affected by this in a few years. thanks

Same as CramCycle said, I've had some spots in the eye come and go so far and it means that you hopefully just need to tighten up your control a bit. It generally works as a bit of a wakeup call to start doing things right again.

There are things like this that we are more prone to than the general population, but we need to take note of when we are being told things need to be sorted out with better control and any of these diabetic "side effects" can be avoided.

Rucking_Fetard

Progress on detecting glucose levels in saliva

CramCycle

Rucking_Fetard wrote: »

Progress on detecting glucose levels in saliva

Interesting and the tech has huge applications way beyond glucose level readings. I fear though that the Diabetes angle is for funding. Any studies on the correlation between saliva glucose concentration and blood glucose levels?