[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

ohnonotgmail · 12-12-2017 5:34pm

I get my GP to renew my prescription and he doesnt charge.

CramCycle · 12-12-2017 5:36pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

I get my GP to renew my prescription and he doesnt charge.

I was going to say, your GP can do it, mine often would take it via phonecall and I would collect at a good discount ( I think about 20euro), most of the time I just get it at my hospital check ups though.

ebbsy · 13-12-2017 3:08pm

California Dreamer wrote: »

Do you have to get your scripts updated every 6 months? I am on the LTI for the past 13 years and this is the first time that the pharmacy has told me that I needed an updated script as the one they had was 6 months old.

I usually do it when I am getting me bloods done at thesame time.

thehorse · 15-12-2017 5:37pm

I got a libre through Clonmel hospital in the past few weeks free of charge as Abbott are pushing it very hard atm. It seems that this device may be approved by the HSE before the end of this year as an announcement is imminent. Thats what been told by the Abbott rep and also the diabetes Team in clonmel.

I like the scan capability it has but I have to say that it’s not particularly accurate at times. It depends if your sugars are going up/down as scanning has a 5/10 min delay in accuracy compared to finger pricking. This is due to the scanning being done via the IST fluid.

It’s a really nice device but if you use it to scan most of the time, make sure that if the scan says your sugars are 5 or less, make sure you do a finger prick.

Also keep in mind that your car insurance company may not accept scanning due to the NRA driving guidelines so you may need to run it by them that your using the libre.

Just things to keep in mind

Buford T. Justice XIX · 15-12-2017 5:42pm

thehorse wrote: »

I got a libre through Clonmel hospital in the past few weeks free of charge as Abbott are pushing it very hard atm. It seems that this device may be approved by the HSE before the end of this year as an announcement is imminent. Thats what been told by the Abbott rep and also the diabetes Team in clonmel.

I like the scan capability it has but I have to say that it’s not particularly accurate at times. It depends if your sugars are going up/down as scanning has a 5/10 min delay in accuracy compared to finger pricking. This is due to the scanning being done via the IST fluid.

It’s a really nice device but if you use it to scan most of the time, make sure that if the scan says your sugars are 5 or less, make sure you do a finger prick.

Also keep in mind that your car insurance company may not accept scanning due to the NRA driving guidelines so you may need to run it by them that your using the libre.

Just things to keep in mind

I got my prescription for CGT yesterday from my Doc in Limerick. Apparently, she has a lot of Kerry patients approved and mentioned something about the Healy-Reas pushing for it for Kerry.

So good news for Diabetics in Kerry but I'm assuming it will be rolled out for large numbers next year if not all.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 25-12-2017 6:15pm

Well that's me full of Christmas pudding, brandy cream, mince pies (and more cream) and half bottle of Baileys.. I won't dare touch my glucometer for at least another 24 hours lol.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and thanks for all the advice earlier on in the year. So far I've lost 35kgs (I'll run off todays excesses lol) and everything has been really positive.

Happy & healthy 2018

arybvtcw0eolkf · 27-12-2017 12:10am

Following on from my last post.

I let down the guard yesterday, and straight back at it today.

10km done.. Keeping my eye on the All Ireland Judo championships 2018 at -100kg ~ I took silver in the Irish Open in the -100kg (a new, lighter category for me).

Again thanks for all the help earlier this year.

Although my 'status' now is 'Pre Diabetes' I realize its a progressive illness without the help of the forum and the PM's I received, things would have been so much worse.

Just posting this as a way of 'thank you' for the help and advice I received earlier this year. And to helpfully show that a diagnoses is not the end of the world and can be a very positive thing.

Putting a face to the username

thehorse · 29-12-2017 12:17pm

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I got my prescription for CGT yesterday from my Doc in Limerick. Apparently, she has a lot of Kerry patients approved and mentioned something about the Healy-Reas pushing for it for Kerry.

So good news for Diabetics in Kerry but I'm assuming it will be rolled out for large numbers next year if not all.

I was on the phone with Abbott today ordering a replacement sensor for my libre and they said that there’s no chance the libre will be approved in the short term here in ireland. Like has been said, you may be able to get individual approval from the HSE if it can be justified.
I had been told at beginning of Dec by the diabetes Team in STGH clonmel and by the Abbott rep that it would be approved by the HSE within a month or so but no word on this yet and my chat on the phone with Abbott makes me doubtful.

From my own perspective, if it’s not approved by end of Jan, I’ll go back to using my accu-chek mobile which is a brilliant device as I’m not prepared to buy the sensors.

thehorse · 29-12-2017 12:20pm

ebbsy wrote: »

I usually do it when I am getting me bloods done at thesame time.

Yes, it has to be updated/renewed by you GP every 6 months as the HSE won’t approve payment to the Chemist if your LTI book isn’t showing recent prescription.
This is something that has been brought in to effect in the past 2-3 yrs I think

banjobongo · 29-12-2017 4:03pm

hi guys. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about 1.5 yrs ago. I have not flown anywhere since then. Im due to fly out to Germany mid January. Its a short visit, a weekend stay. As I inject every day I guess I will need to be able to bring my diabetes stuff with me on the flight, including my needles etc, do I need a letter from my doctor? Anything else I need to be aware of when flying?

B00MSTICK · 29-12-2017 4:22pm

banjobongo wrote:

hi guys. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about 1.5 yrs ago. I have not flown anywhere since then. Im due to fly out to Germany mid January. Its a short visit, a weekend stay. As I inject every day I guess I will need to be able to bring my diabetes stuff with me on the flight, including my needles etc, do I need a letter from my doctor? Anything else I need to be aware of when flying?

I have a letter (dated 2003 or something) but am never asked to produce it, I just tell the security people when sticking it on the conveyor and have all my bits in those clear plastic bag(s).
It's a nice safety net to have I suppose - if you don't have a letter I'm sure a prescription would satisfy them too

I usually have back-up everything in my coat too on the off-chance my carry on luggage gets swiped

To avoid double posting:

Mortgage protection insurance for Diabetics
Who will quote us and what documentation etc. do I need?

Alanstrainor · 05-01-2018 3:36pm

banjobongo wrote: »

hi guys. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about 1.5 yrs ago. I have not flown anywhere since then. Im due to fly out to Germany mid January. Its a short visit, a weekend stay. As I inject every day I guess I will need to be able to bring my diabetes stuff with me on the flight, including my needles etc, do I need a letter from my doctor? Anything else I need to be aware of when flying?

I never have any issues, and like the previous poster I do have a letter from 10 years ago that I have never produced. All security knows the drill. For the most part I do not declare I'm diabetic (I don't believe there is any requirement to do so). And just go through as normal. Supplies are definitely hand luggage items. Insulin goes into the clear plastic bags as any other liquid would and that's it.

I'm a pumper too, and I do not put my pump through the X-Ray machine. I tend to disconnect it from my body in the security queue and just leave it in my pocket. It never trips the metal detector and if they ask I just show them. I travel frequently and never have issues.

In other news my order for a new Minimed 640g and CGM has just gone through. This is an upgrade to my 530g and CGM which I received 4 years ago now. How time flies!

CramCycle · 05-01-2018 5:41pm

B00MSTICK wrote: »

Mortgage protection insurance for Diabetics
Who will quote us and what documentation etc. do I need?

i got quoted a good bit extra loading for me (50%), done it through Irish Life as it was a preferred crowd of my mortgage provider (AIB). But now that I have the mortgage I am free to switch, I was recommended a specialist by the Diabetes Federation so will dig it out of emails and post later.

No documentation needed, just declare it and there doctor will note it. You can bring stuff from your doctor but the assessor will ignore it and do their own blood tests so its all useless. My HbA1c was not great at the time so maybe lower if you have a good one.

calfmuscle · 05-01-2018 9:49pm

Is anyone going to the diabetes Ireland conference and expo in Croker in February? I don't work in the field of diabetes per say but am a "health professional" and t1 so would be very interested in going. Anyone else attending?

CramCycle · 06-01-2018 7:40pm

calfmuscle wrote: »

Is anyone going to the diabetes Ireland conference and expo in Croker in February? I don't work in the field of diabetes per say but am a "health professional" and t1 so would be very interested in going. Anyone else attending?

Never even heard of it, have you a link to the programme?

calfmuscle · 06-01-2018 11:10pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Never even heard of it, have you a link to the programme?

https://www.diabetes.ie/dice-2018/

I think it looks very interesting...

CramCycle · 07-01-2018 12:44am

calfmuscle wrote: »

https://www.diabetes.ie/dice-2018/

I think it looks very interesting...

Regrettably, as a diabetic, I would be the opposite, reminds me of those junket conferences I used to get invited too. nothing tremendously interesting or important happens at them. Just a CPD box to tick for many attendees.

This said, I am biased in that I am looking at the talk titles and the time allowed and thinking, nothing new or interesting, and everyone attending should know this already (although admittedly, some won't).

The renal markers talk is possibly the only one I would not be read up on.

calfmuscle · 07-01-2018 2:25pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Regrettably, as a diabetic, I would be the opposite, reminds me of those junket conferences I used to get invited too. nothing tremendously interesting or important happens at them. Just a CPD box to tick for many attendees.

This said, I am biased in that I am looking at the talk titles and the time allowed and thinking, nothing new or interesting, and everyone attending should know this already (although admittedly, some won't).

The renal markers talk is possibly the only one I would not be read up on.

It's funny how we all differ in what interests us! I'd be really interested in the psychology talks on food choices and depression. A huge part of physio is motivating clients to help themselves but it's not easy! So seeing what other professionals are doing to motivate their clients would be really interesting. But you couldn't pay me to go to a talk on renal markers!

CramCycle · 07-01-2018 11:18pm

calfmuscle wrote: »

It's funny how we all differ in what interests us! I'd be really interested in the psychology talks on food choices and depression. A huge part of physio is motivating clients to help themselves but it's not easy! So seeing what other professionals are doing to motivate their clients would be really interesting. But you couldn't pay me to go to a talk on renal markers!

I suppose it is not the renal markers that interest me, though anything sciencey peaks my interest, it is just that all of the other talks, their titles alone say to me, you have heard this all before. I like talks, regardless of the subject, not to be college lectures, I want them to bring something new, recent or simply different to the current train of thinking.

if I was better read on renal markers, it would not interest me either.

I like to think that i am well read on food and depression, suffering bad times with both and failing miserably to practice what I preach. Psychology again, fascinating area, one that is often treated unfairly in its research by other scientific fields, but one I myself am fascinated by, but none of those titles scream anything more than, this is what i have done for 10 years and no one has complained.

Eurovisionmad · 10-01-2018 8:17pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

In other news my order for a new Minimed 640g and CGM has just gone through. This is an upgrade to my 530g and CGM which I received 4 years ago now. How time flies!

Exciting stuff, I'll be at the end of my 4 years in April as well! Was the 640g the one that was offered to you or did you request that specifically? And did you go for the Medtronic Enlite CGM? Last time I asked in my hospital they said Medtronic were having serious supply problems with it!

Alanstrainor · 11-01-2018 3:51pm

Eurovisionmad wrote: »

Exciting stuff, I'll be at the end of my 4 years in April as well! Was the 640g the one that was offered to you or did you request that specifically? And did you go for the Medtronic Enlite CGM? Last time I asked in my hospital they said Medtronic were having serious supply problems with it!

I was pretty certain I was going to go with minimed, but as far as I could gather there weren't any other options really. I hadn't heard about CGM supply issues, I'm currently using their Enlite sensors and have never really had an issue. Although I think this new model has new sensors.

I'm having an absolute disaster trying to get my LTI card address updated. I had a mail from my diabetes nurse saying that I need to update the address on my LTI card to the current address. Grand I thought, so I called the HSE yesterday in their Coolock offices and was given a number of the person who deals with LTI queries. Called about 20 times with no answer, called through to another department and I'm told that this person is off for the day.

This morning comes around, I call again and no answer. I call non-stop from 11am until lunch with no answer. Call other numbers in that office and I'm told that the person is just away from their desk. So I continue calling their extension non-stop. Again I was forced to call another department, "Oh they took a half day at 12:30...". BUT THEIR PHONE WAS RINGING NON STOP FOR 2 HOURS! Feck sake.

Alanstrainor · 16-01-2018 12:08pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'm having an absolute disaster trying to get my LTI card address updated. I had a mail from my diabetes nurse saying that I need to update the address on my LTI card to the current address. Grand I thought, so I called the HSE yesterday in their Coolock offices and was given a number of the person who deals with LTI queries. Called about 20 times with no answer, called through to another department and I'm told that this person is off for the day.

This morning comes around, I call again and no answer. I call non-stop from 11am until lunch with no answer. Call other numbers in that office and I'm told that the person is just away from their desk. So I continue calling their extension non-stop. Again I was forced to call another department, "Oh they took a half day at 12:30...". BUT THEIR PHONE WAS RINGING NON STOP FOR 2 HOURS! Feck sake.

Would you believe that this took until this morning to resolve. I called 4 HSE centres trying to just change an address and all said that I had to deal with Coolock. I ended up calling the manager of this person who would not answer my calls and asking what the story was. She said that the LTI person was on sick leave and had been for 2 weeks. So all LTI queries just had to wait until this person was back, I asked?! It took another day to get this address updated. What a disgrace.

pew · 16-01-2018 7:28pm

I finally got my app for my local diabetes clinic, I've been waiting for a year and a half for it.

I'm a little afraid as I've been fairly lax with it.

RobbingBandit · 16-01-2018 7:35pm

Was put on a new set of meds recently changing from Janumet 850mg to metformin 850mg, I was able to tolerate the combo but the sole metformin just does not agree with me i'm also on victoza so I think that ruled out the januvia.

I am due to have my hba1c tomorrow hopefully it is on target as my sugars have come down significantly in the past two weeks. I feel a little better about things but my vision is still a little off ( had a right vitrectomy done in October)

Buford T. Justice XIX · 16-01-2018 7:40pm

pew wrote: »

I finally got my app for my local diabetes clinic, I've been waiting for a year and a half for it.

I'm a little afraid as I've been fairly lax with it.

You can't change the past, just work on the future. We've all been there at one time or another, just pick yourself up and start again:)

I just been put on iodine supplementation due to an underactive thyroid which is, apparently, a side effect of Diabetes. I'm hoping for good things as I've put on a bit of weight in the last year and generally very lethargic all the time.

And I thought I was just getting lazy:pac:

pew · 16-01-2018 8:03pm

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

You can't change the past, just work on the future. We've all been there at one time or another, just pick yourself up and start again:)

I just been put on iodine supplementation due to an underactive thyroid which is, apparently, a side effect of Diabetes. I'm hoping for good things as I've put on a bit of weight in the last year and generally very lethargic all the time.

And I thought I was just getting lazy:pac:

Ive copped on since the new year and have been going to the gym and eating mainly veg and a vegan diet. I reintroduced pasta into my diet but eating in small amounts so I think I'm on the right path.

CramCycle · 17-01-2018 12:04am

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Was put on a new set of meds recently changing from Janumet 850mg to metformin 850mg, I was able to tolerate the combo but the sole metformin just does not agree with me i'm also on victoza so I think that ruled out the januvia.

I am due to have my hba1c tomorrow hopefully it is on target as my sugars have come down significantly in the past two weeks. I feel a little better about things but my vision is still a little off ( had a right vitrectomy done in October)

Once the bloods are on the right path, all I have to say is well done. Will they switch you back or what will happen next?

pew wrote: »

Ive copped on since the new year and have been going to the gym and eating mainly veg and a vegan diet. I reintroduced pasta into my diet but eating in small amounts so I think I'm on the right path.

Put on a lot of weight over christmas myself, and January so no improvement, about a kilo a week. This week I decided to just kick the habit, eat a bit better and cut out as much processed sugary foods as possible. Dropped a kilo in a few days, hopefully it will continue. Bloods have also been damn near perfect as well.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 17-01-2018 4:25pm

My fasted tests where up in the first week of January, I'm putting it down to Christmas or the flu shot.

Although I used to get gout in the first weeks of January before being put on Allopurinol.

Put on a few Kgs too, which doesn't bother me as I'm fighting in March and camp training will begin soon enough, I'm also coaching a few lads for competition in Feb so I'm up'd the pace anyway.

calfmuscle · 17-01-2018 6:56pm

Just back from my apt, Iv drop my hba1c from 67 to 54. Very happy with that but also very aware its the tresiba /degludec and the cgm that is responsible for the change. Bad news is my weight is flying up as a result.

diet starts tomorrow...

mutedtempest · 19-01-2018 6:41pm

Hi all! New to the forum, I've been type one for 33 years and just moved to Limerick in September to attend the University here. I'm from America and am hoping to stay permanently.

Having some issues with medication costs, though. I'm not on a pump and have no CGM, but the Lantus and Novorapid along with all the other supplies (and non-diabetes medication) is adding up fast. Paid over 300 euro last month and I've used up all the insulin I brought over with me, so that amount is only going to go up.

I realize most people here are Irish so it's not an issue, but I've been fighting the red tape for months. Citizens Information told me to get a letter from my GP to apply for a PPS number so I can get an LTI book. Had the appointment, they said I needed a specific form. Filled that out and had the GP fill her bit and took it back, they said it wouldn't work as I hadn't entered my PPS number on the form. I left shaking my head.

Was told PPS numbers are only for work. Which is fine, but I'm blind due to retinopathy and am limited to 20 hour workweeks on the student residence permit, so I'm not very appealing to employers. Tried to get a referral to the local Employability office and was told I need a PPS number for that too.

Just really not sure what to do, diabetes prescriptions cost as much as my rent does and my funding is rather limited. I do want to work, but can easily see why takeaways and shops wouldn't want to hire someone with a blind cane they'd need to accommodate when they can hire plenty of full visioned people.

Just babbling out of frustration, sorry!

[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

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