Bitter Sweet - C4 Sat/Sun - Long term Illness

Vexorg

Anyone watch Bitter Sweet on Channel 4 on Saturday and Sunday. Although it is from a UK perspective, the same problems exist here in Ireland.

I find it amazing that the National Health Service can close all discussion on whether or not to pay for early detection of this illness for 3 years. I mean they will not not even dicuss it for another 3 years, then if its agreed that something should be done about it, how many more years will it take to actually put something in place to start testing, and then how long will it take to test all people who are at risk.

Its only takes 5 to 7 years of undetected diabetes to cause early complications in some people. Delaying the inevitable "early detection testing" simply means that a number of people will have to go through unneccessary pain and suffering.

Does anyone know what the situtation regarding early testing for illness like diabetes is here in Ireland?.

If you suffer from a long term illness like diabetes, or know someone who does and are familier with the illness and its treatment, what is your opinion of the level or care and support given in this country at the moment.

I am particularily interested in the level of education people get about their illness, what day care support there is, what out patient support there is, do people form support groups, to assist and educate each other, or do people just keep it to themselves as something that is personal and should not be discussed.

I must admit to being pretty annoyed at the whole situtation but dont have much information apart from personal experience so Im pretty interested to hear back from anyone with thoughts on the this.


Vex.

mike65

I'm a diabetic and have been so since 1978 when I was just into teenagerdom. My own experiences as regardes the health
system here have'nt been too bad, but then I live about 2 miles from one of the countries largest hospitals. Many parts of the country are very poorly serves and partients have to make epic journeys for short consulations.

As regardes education, I was well supplied with the information and doctrines of the era, which it should be said have changed considerably in the last 20 years. In the old days the attitude was
pretty tough now its better understood you can actually eat
sweet foods without it killing you or making you go blind!

The importance of regular blood testing and the like was also rammed home, so on the whole I dont feel like I was ever left high and dry by the system. It should be noted that like every
teenager I did'nt do what I was told, but a also had the quiet pleasure of being proved right in my own views, which were
that diabetics did'nt have to live like Calvinests and that you could
live a pretty normal life.

I have never been part of a support group and to be honest have never felt the need for one. I'm a lousy joiner of groups anyway...

I realise that to most peeps lnjecting yourself several times a
day does not seem normal!

The issue of early detection is vital and every country really should have a screening programme.


Hope thats of some help Vexorg.

Now what about the rest of you, what do you know of diabeties?.

Mike.

Terminator

For the past year or so I've been feeling tired and run down. If I eat a sweet in the morning it seems to have a pretty fast energising effect. Is this an early sign of diabetes type 2?

Vexorg

Terminator

The classic symptoms of diabetes are:

Lack of energy
Tiredness
Excessive thirst
Frequent passing of urine
Weight loss - in the region of 7-14 pounds (can be more or less)
Blurring of vision
Recurrent infection

These symptoms apply to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you are in any doubt make an appointment with your doctor and request a blood test.

Terminator

Just have the tiredness which usually goes away when I avoid dairy food / take aways.

So hopefully it isn't diabetes.

Thanks for the info.

Vexorg

Mike65

I was diagnosed as a type 1, almost 2 years ago. I ended up in
Beaumont with severe DKA, (is there any other sort) and the first hint I got was when the Doctors and nurses kept asking me how long I had been suffering from Diabetes, I of course said that I didnt suffer from it....

Anyhow, had I been aware of diabetes, I probably would have gone to the doctor before DKA.

In my case, as a type 1, early screening would not have helped, and the fact that no one in the family has it means I was probably not a high risk for type 1, but if there was more info available, I might have caught it earlier.

However since diagnosis, I was called to the clinic to see my consultant once, which was about 3 months after I was in hospital. No blood tests, just a finger prick glucose test and in fact a chat with one of the junior doctors.

6 months later, I heard nothing back, so I phoned them and asked for an appointment. Eventually got one, 3 months later, again no blood test, I insisted on seeing the consultant as I had a lot of questions, including how to cope with my needle phobia problem, and high early morning glucose and some questions about the pump, which I thought would suit me. Anyhow - the needle phobia was in my mind and I would propbably get used to it, no one like needles.... and yes i could try a pump, if i wanted to "Die".

I could not believe my ears. I asked about being called back and he said 6 months to a year was fine.

When i got home, I decided to find a doctor who had a different attitude to diabetes care, which I luckily did. Now I get my hba1c quarterly, and am getting treatment for proteins spilling from my kidneys, that could have been spotted over a year earlier.

Regarding the pump, I have an appointment with a different consultant to assess my suitability, so fingers crossed.

So my own experience has left a nasty taste in my mouth over diabetes care, I think if I had found a support group, I could have been better able to deal with my consultant. However, now I look after it myself in so far as I see my GP monthly and pay these costs myself.

Since the first appointment I got from my consultant, I still have not been called back.... What do people who cant afford to get their own doctor to monitor them, do, or have I just managed to fall between the cracks? I wonder if my experience is the norm.

mike65

I think our posts reflect both how confident we are or are not
regarding our conditon and just how hit and miss care is, as an old hand little about diabeties worries me beyond the obvious.
I also have a pretty good diabetic nurse who I can see provided I arrange beforehand on an out-patient basis. After the meeting I'll have my bloods done and the chat is fairly routine with checks for the usual stuff - blood pressure, weight etc and once a year a 24 hr urine test to check for kidney damage.

What was that comment about the pump "Die"?
Did the consultant say that, what did he mean?! I'm not using a pump and I suspect as a "good" diabetic that I would be near the bottom of the list of those who might be given one.

I'm surprised that you're seeing your doctor so frequently, usless
there are good resons to, I think you should move to 6 monthly
visits to your diabetic nurse if you have access to one.

BTW where are you?

Mike.