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[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

tbh

Hey guys - I've created a single "chat" thread for all the diabetics for any topics of conversation that don't fit in the existing threads.

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Roberto_gas

Folks what is the process to get checked for diabetes and have medicines etc ? Do you goto your GP or HSE ? Asking on behalf of a friend who has recently moved to ireland. Thanks in advance.

Dick Dastardly

Hi. Wondering if anyone can give a steer please. Currently on a medtronic pump which is about to be out of warranty. Diabetes nurse is suggesting upgrade to 640g which looks fine - just wondering if 670g is available in Ireland - to buy or on LTI or any timescales for it please? Some of the features in the 670g look really good so I’d consider delaying the upgrade if I could jump up to it. Asked Medtronic with no response.

Thanks

DD

arybvtcw0eolkf

imfml wrote: »

Hi all,

A quick question. I am T1D. I got a small cut on my foot last Wednesday and it is slow to heal.

I’ve been minding it but it started to appear infected. I contacted my health insurer nurse on call and have started antibiotics as a precaution.

I am now on antibiotics and am keeping it clean, dry, covered and monitoring it. I haven’t visited my GP.

I’ve done some online researcher and I am now very concerned about this. Am I over reacting to scaremongering online? Am I doing enough or should I visit my GP ASAP and get their opinion?
Or should I just continue as I have been for 24-48 hours and visit my GP if still not happy.

The cut is in an awkward location and wearing shoes irritates it, no doubt setting back healing. Didn’t wear shoes today and will try to avoid for 48 hours.

It is pretty inconvenient but it’s my first cut since diagnoses and I am concerned.

Any advice? Thanks

You're right to be concerned about any cuts or broken skin on your feet.

Last October I got a blister on a toe while I was preparing for a Judo competition. But because my feet are numb I wasn't feeling any pain so I kept cleaning it, dressing it and continues my competition prep.

After the comp I asked a girl who is both a Judoka, member of the club and a nurse in the diabetes dept in Beaumonth hospital.. To put it mildly, she freaked at me and made me go in for immediate treatment.

I won't put a photo of it here, but by that time I had a grade II-III ulcer and started treatment. I'm a very active person so off loading my foot was the real killer for me.

Thankfully recovery was relatively quick for me, I have excellent circulation. I think it took about six weeks before I was back jogging again.

Since then its the point has been labored to me over and over how cuts or blisters on a diabetic persons foot has to be taken very seriously.

If you're concerned, and you obviously are since you're posting here then I'd have it seen by a medical professional.

Why am I reading this, well I've done it again. Done a 5km run on Saturday, went home and took the dog out for a walk. I stupidly wore sandals (no socks) and walked 7km. It wasn't until Sunday morning that I discovered I've ripped the skin from the entire pad of my right big toe. My sis-in-law is a community nurse so she got treatment started immediately, but I can tell you I'm really anxious about it now.

Don't leave it to chance. I posted a photo of my ulcer in this thread last year, its nasty so I won't post it here but if you want to see how a tiny blister turned into an ulcer so easily do a search.

Best of luck.

imfml

Hi all,

A quick question. I am T1D. I got a small cut on my foot last Wednesday and it is slow to heal.

I’ve been minding it but it started to appear infected. I contacted my health insurer nurse on call and have started antibiotics as a precaution.

I am now on antibiotics and am keeping it clean, dry, covered and monitoring it. I haven’t visited my GP.

I’ve done some online researcher and I am now very concerned about this. Am I over reacting to scaremongering online? Am I doing enough or should I visit my GP ASAP and get their opinion?
Or should I just continue as I have been for 24-48 hours and visit my GP if still not happy.

The cut is in an awkward location and wearing shoes irritates it, no doubt setting back healing. Didn’t wear shoes today and will try to avoid for 48 hours.

It is pretty inconvenient but it’s my first cut since diagnoses and I am concerned.

Any advice? Thanks

Buford T. Justice XIX

A "ground-breaking" drug that helps people with diabetes re-grow insulin-making cells has been developed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-45473636
Interesting developments but I'll not throw away my meter just yet.

calfmuscle

Thanks all, I got a member of the team who said to take corrections as normal and if small keatones take 2, medium 4, high 6 units and repeat every 2 hours. It's not easy!

gerrybbadd

calfmuscle wrote: »

How long did it last Gerry?

It hit me Saturday night, just as I was cooking up a nice fillet steak for myself & the wife's 5th Anniversary. managed some of it before having to run to the bathroom to get sick.

Between that and the runs, it fairly hit me.

All yesterday, I had runs, but no vomiting. Much better today, still have runs mind!

Buford T. Justice XIX

CramCycle wrote: »

You can do it with a fingerprick test now, I think alot of glucometers act as a ketone tester as well (though not the contour ones) AFAIK

Ah grand, herself says I used to check with urine strips but I don't have them on my prescription list anymore. I must ask my doc when I head in next time, might be handy if I was ever sick:)

CramCycle

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

What do you guys use to measure ketones? I've never measured ketones or had anything to measure them with that I can remember anyway.

You can do it with a fingerprick test now, I think alot of glucometers act as a ketone tester as well (though not the contour ones) AFAIK

Buford T. Justice XIX

What do you guys use to measure ketones? I've never measured ketones or had anything to measure them with that I can remember anyway.

CramCycle

calfmuscle wrote: »

Hi all, I'm at home with a vomiting bug, I went straight to the gp this morning and got semitill to help to stop the vomiting, but the keatones are on the rise and sugars are creeping up despite a few units of novorapid. Anyone any advice what to do? Havnt been sick for about 90 minutes now. I rang my team but got the voicemail.

Check with your team but mine always said not to increase insulin, depends on the illness but anything i have had my bloods run higher regardless. Keep an eye on the ketones, I get them as well when sick but never to a dangerous level.

calfmuscle

How long did it last Gerry?

gerrybbadd

calfmuscle wrote: »

Hi all, I'm at home with a vomiting bug, I went straight to the gp this morning and got semitill to help to stop the vomiting, but the keatones are on the rise and sugars are creeping up despite a few units of novorapid. Anyone any advice what to do? Havnt been sick for about 90 minutes now. I rang my team but got the voicemail.

Had the bug myself over the weekend.

Couldn't eat, but kept an eye on the sugars. Luckily I didn't need to use any insulin other than my Tresiba, they stayed steady enough. Didn't check the ketones though (of course I never even thought to)

calfmuscle

Hi all, I'm at home with a vomiting bug, I went straight to the gp this morning and got semitill to help to stop the vomiting, but the keatones are on the rise and sugars are creeping up despite a few units of novorapid. Anyone any advice what to do? Havnt been sick for about 90 minutes now. I rang my team but got the voicemail.

CramCycle

Moyglish wrote: »

However looking online a lot of people say that 5.8 would actually indicate prediabetes?

Alot of people online (and I realise the irony of my statement) don't know jack sh1t. Everyone is different, and staggeringly so, hence why there is a fairly wide range.

You may have been fasting but you could also have been stressed or agitated, leading to a slight increase, some people run higher at certain times of the day due to hormone levels and so on. 5.8 is pretty much bang in the middle of the ranges given.

As said above, you HbA1c is pretty damn perfect (if your remembering the number right), there is nothing in your post that indicates diabetes.

banie01

Moyglish wrote: »

I had a full set of bloods taken during the summer and my Random Glucose came back at 5.8 mmol/L the guide for lower and upper levels states 3.90 - 7.8 so I appear to be within the "normal range" and my doctor said it was fine.

However looking online a lot of people say that 5.8 would actually indicate prediabetes?

I would have been fasting overnight when the blood tests were taking.

I don't have my HbA1c to hand, but I believe it was around 38 or so.

Is a level of 5.8 mmol/L fasting high for the Random Glucose test?

If your HbA1c was 38, put any worry about diabetes or pre-diabetes out of your mind.

As for the 5.8, it could be any number of factors that cause it but most likely your body's normal circadian rhythm releasing glucose from your liver at its "usual" time and it's not a concerning level.
My advice would be to discuss your concerns with your GP.
Write up a list of questions/concerns and have him lead you through them.

Fasting glucose is used as an indicator, HbA1c would be a much more reliable diagnostic test and you are nowhere near a diabetic range.

Moyglish

I had a full set of bloods taken during the summer and my Random Glucose came back at 5.8 mmol/L the guide for lower and upper levels states 3.90 - 7.8 so I appear to be within the "normal range" and my doctor said it was fine.

However looking online a lot of people say that 5.8 would actually indicate prediabetes?

I would have been fasting overnight when the blood tests were taking.

I don't have my HbA1c to hand, but I believe it was around 38 or so.

Is a level of 5.8 mmol/L fasting high for the Random Glucose test?

arybvtcw0eolkf

uli84 wrote: »

Ooh what are they called? Will i get it in Newry?

Here's a photo;

It costs me €1:50 in Pounds World, and I'm almost positive I've bought it in Dealz too.

Like I said, I find it great and comparable with similar products many times its price. Better in so far as its so cheap I just slobber on the stuff morning and evening.

One thing I've found with Diabetes and off the shelf products is there's a massive industry making a mint off us. This makes foot care very cheap.

silverharp

went on a low calorie 5 day fat fast this week essentially ~800 calories based mainly on eating 2 avocados for the day, its meant to be a bi-monthly thing, i normally have a fasted blood sugar in the morning of 5.9 but never had a lower reading unless i'd gone out for a long walk first. Checked this morning and it was 5.6 . i'd be interested if after doing a few of these would it create a longer lasting effect.

uli84

Adalyn Big Numeral wrote: »

I went to all sorts of expense getting all the recommended moisturizers which were recommended to me (my feet were terribly dry and cracked), and honest I found the best and by far the very cheapest were the tubs in Pounds World.

Ooh what are they called? Will i get it in Newry?

gok

What Pumps are allowed under the LTI scheme?
- I'm particularly interested in the Omnipod (which is available in the UK) as its tubeless and works well for more active people.
Anyone know how to get an Omnipod funded here? Their newer pump, the Omnipod Dash has received FDA clearance in the US though I know things move a bit slower here...was kind of hoping with the Animas pumps no longer being supported, the HSE might add support for newer models.

CramCycle

Adalyn Big Numeral wrote: »

I'm particularly hard on my feet between wearing army boots all day (I'm a soldier), running 5k most days and training Judo on rough mats in my bare feet and this cheap stuff is working just as well (if not better, because its so cheap I'm not afraid to really slap it on) if not better than creams many times more expensive.

Do you mind me asking where you diagnosed before you became a soldier or after. I went for it years ago and passed everything I needed to but on one of the forms I was in two minds about putting down the Diabetes. Figured I would never be able to hide it so wrote it down and then all of a sudden I failed my medical but no explanation given (even though upto this I appeared to be ahead of the curve). Years later I was told by a person I knew in the army I wouldn't be allowed even if I had been diagnosed after as I wouldn't be OK for sending abroad.

Any of that true or was I just fed BS? You can just ignore my question if it is too personal.

arybvtcw0eolkf

uli84 wrote: »

What cream for feet are you (guys with long term diabetes) using? There used to be a very good one available via contour stripes loyalty programme but I cannot remember the name and the loyalty thing is gone too so can’t check
Thanks

I went to all sorts of expense getting all the recommended moisturizers which were recommended to me (my feet were terribly dry and cracked), and honest I found the best and by far the very cheapest were the tubs in Pounds World.

I was back with my Podiatrist on Monday and he commented that its the first time he hasn't had to remove any dead or hard skin.

But I'm religious at checking and moisturizing my feet morning and evening.

I'm particularly hard on my feet between wearing army boots all day (I'm a soldier), running 5k most days and training Judo on rough mats in my bare feet and this cheap stuff is working just as well (if not better, because its so cheap I'm not afraid to really slap it on) if not better than creams many times more expensive.

uli84

Guys i have a question-Has anyone received GP VISIT CARD being above threshold on the basis of being diabetic?

uli84

What cream for feet are you (guys with long term diabetes) using? There used to be a very good one available via contour stripes loyalty programme but I cannot remember the name

and the loyalty thing is gone too so can’t check
Thanks

Wanton

hi folks,

has anyone tried to order a Libre sensor through their local Pharmacy lately??

Been reading Pharmacy's in the UK are selling them over the counter, in the case of Superdrug they are cheaper than ordering direct.

I have rang my local and they are going to call me back, she remembers a email recently and needs to look into it.

**************************

edit to above. you can indeed now purchase the libre sensor in many pharmacys, and most are selling at cost it would appear (€55).

pew

Got my hba1c down to 48 I'm delighted with that. It is a massive improvement from my first visit!

ebbsy

Gel insoles in Aldi for €2.99.

Fantastic for my feet.

ebbsy

Mind you, I am not saying that is due to the mask. But I want to give it more time.

ebbsy

So I was back in Newcastle on Wednesday regarding the eye mask. Had an eye scan, no changes since the last time I was there.

This time I took 6 months supply, £500.

See how it goes.