[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

gerrybbadd · 13-10-2020 11:41am

An interesting article here about removing the insulin dependency from T2 diabetics, by inserting a balloon into the small intestine to destroy cells there. Apparent;y a 75% success rate...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8832881/Simple-treatment-free-diabetics-insulin.html

Harry Palmr · 14-10-2020 2:51pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Just got a notification of a phone consultation. To have ready blood sugar dairy, med list, any questions. But they also included a bloods dept document, presumably they just put that in by rote rather than expect me to get bloods taken.

Just had my chit chat Blood tests pretty good, nothing in the depths of the sample to raise concern with 3 month HBA1C of 51/6.8 (old money), the only change is to flatten the curve (ahem) overnight. So that'll be my programme from tonight so that 6.8 comes down to 6.2/3

calfmuscle · 15-10-2020 12:06am

Type 1s are we getting the flu vaccine? I'm not interested in a vaccination debate but more that I don't want to take a vaccine that someone else might need as we seem to be short on flu vaccines here. What are you guys doing?

Meauldsegosha · 15-10-2020 5:07am

I got mine two weeks ago.

CathyMoran · 15-10-2020 7:21am

I have other unrelated health issues apart from Type 1 daibetes but I got my flu jab last Minday I had the flu once many years ago and it really messed my control of my dabetes.

CramCycle · 15-10-2020 7:36am

Got mine through work about 2 weeks ago.

Harry Palmr · 15-10-2020 8:53am

Will get mine next Tuesday

banie01 · 15-10-2020 8:56am

I'm in for mine this afternoon. The shortages really do seem to have been resolved. I only rang yesterday for an appt and there was immediate availability.

Xofpod · 15-10-2020 9:29am

Got mine 2 weeks ago. I always aim to get it early and this year, with Covid lurking, it was doubly important.

ddarcy · 15-10-2020 9:41am

calfmuscle wrote: »

Type 1s are we getting the flu vaccine? I'm not interested in a vaccination debate but more that I don't want to take a vaccine that someone else might need as we seem to be short on flu vaccines here. What are you guys doing?

I got it last weekend. They are getting more supply in daily etc. I do know if you don’t have an LTI or are in other at risk categories, they were postponing it a bit to cover these first. Out sounds to me like there is more than ample supply to cover the at risk groups as they are starting allowing people not in those gross to go ahead

kippy · 15-10-2020 3:26pm

Got a flu jab for the first time ever in the past few days. The supply issues, at least round Galway, seem to be resolved from what I can see.

banie01 · 15-10-2020 3:35pm

banie01 wrote: »

I'm in for mine this afternoon. The shortages really do seem to have been resolved. I only rang yesterday for an appt and there was immediate availability.

Just on the supply issues. Was speaking to my GP today as I was getting mine.
Still serious issues.
Their 1st delivery was 220 versus last few years being 1000.
Their 2nd was 200 and their 3rd delivery this week was only 80.

This would be for a very busy multi-doctor surgery.
There was a bit of dissatisfaction expressed regarding the HSE starting their Flu ad campaign in August but not securing sufficient deliverable stock to support a campaign starting in mid September.

I usually get my jab mid October anyway so it's not an issue for me but there are still shortages of vaccine at GP level at least.

Slime Princess · 15-10-2020 4:56pm

We usually get ours end of September. Our doctors surgery couldn't get us in until first week of November. Only the 4 year old has had his because they were running a nasal vaccine clinic for kids but they told us the standard vaccine is still experiencing supply issues. Both myself and OH have a number of conditions which would deem us high risk as well.

No pharmacies in the area had availabilities until mid-end Nov.

calfmuscle · 16-10-2020 9:02am

Thanks all

seems like everyone is going for it and I'll book mine soon. Just don't want to be taking a dose that an elderly person might want. I'll chat to my pharmacy!

calfmuscle · 16-10-2020 9:02am

Thanks all

seems like everyone is going for it and I'll book mine soon. Just don't want to be taking a dose that an elderly person might want. I'll chat to my pharmacy!

davork · 25-10-2020 7:16pm

Sorry, just saw this...

The GP usually forgets about me (i.e. puts me at the bottom of the list, unless they left the vaccine out and are panicking

) but my OH always gets jabbed

I ended up searching the local independent pharmacy's website (the life crowd), then boots.. in the end, got my jab at Boots (covered by the LTI scheme too) in the jervis center in Dublin a couple of weeks back...

Work will be doing their jabby session in mid November... but... I may have to be elsewhere at that time... and I've been WFH since March due to the OH's issues...

banie01 · 28-10-2020 12:55pm

I hope noone is too put out by my crossposting this?I know Graflynn has posted this survey earlier in the thread.
But uptake on the survey has been slow and it may help in providing insight in to T2 specific needs.

Valann123 wrote: »

Yes it is Grainne. Our findings will be shared with Diabetes Ireland but we are doing this as a community project. Response is very slow..35 so far.. so I am trying to give it a push along. We want to raise the Type 2 profile and try to create more of a community. Please can you reshare the link for me!

https://bloodsugartrampoline.com/type-2-diabetes-100-voices

pew · 28-10-2020 2:47pm

banie01 wrote: »

I hope noone is too put out by my crossposting this?I know Graflynn has posted this survey earlier in the thread.
But uptake on the survey has been slow and it may help in providing insight in to T2 specific needs.

I just completed it there

Royal Legend · 29-10-2020 12:16am

pew wrote: »

I just completed it there

Completed as well

Eircom_Sucks · 29-10-2020 11:50am

hey

is anybody seeing a diabetic specialist and not just their gp

granted gp would be ok , but i feel i want to see a specialist who will follow my progress , bloods etc

im in north dub and type 2

any dedicated places i can make an appointment and for them to request me back at certain times etc

CramCycle · 29-10-2020 12:02pm

Eircom_Sucks wrote: »

hey

is anybody seeing a diabetic specialist and not just their gp

granted gp would be ok , but i feel i want to see a specialist who will follow my progress , bloods etc

im in north dub and type 2

any dedicated places i can make an appointment and for them to request me back at certain times etc

Your GP should refer you to a Diabetes Clinic directly, and as good as some GPs are, they are not experts and a clinic would be far more beneficial. I am with James who I find very good but any specialist clinic is better than none.

ohnonotgmail · 29-10-2020 12:02pm

Did your GP not refer you to an endocrinologist? If not ask them to do that. Depending on where you are in north dublin they may refer you to the diabetic unit in Beaumont.

Eircom_Sucks · 29-10-2020 12:46pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Did your GP not refer you to an endocrinologist? If not ask them to do that. Depending on where you are in north dublin they may refer you to the diabetic unit in Beaumont.

he's done sweet fa tbh , also why should i have to ask him and pay for the privilege , can i not just make an appointment myself ?

i want to be in the care of people who actually know what to do etc

ohnonotgmail · 29-10-2020 1:16pm

Eircom_Sucks wrote: »

he's done sweet fa tbh , also why should i have to ask him and pay for the privilege , can i not just make an appointment myself ?

i want to be in the care of people who actually know what to do etc

I dont believe you can self-refer.

calfmuscle · 29-10-2020 1:50pm

Eircom_Sucks wrote: »

he's done sweet fa tbh , also why should i have to ask him and pay for the privilege , can i not just make an appointment myself ?

i want to be in the care of people who actually know what to do etc

You can only self refer if going private. To access a public service you're gp needs to refer you. Just ring ng him

Harry Palmr · 29-10-2020 7:28pm

This "lockdown" is starting to piss me off. My typical blood reading is about 2 mmol higher as I'm not working. Trying to decide if I should inject more basal, or the short acting for best effect. I'm also bored but that's another matter!

ebbsy · 10-11-2020 7:07pm

Just for anybody that's interested, I've been using a podatrist that is working out of Lloyds Pharmacy in Ringsend.

She is very good.

Xofpod · 11-11-2020 10:56am

Harry Palmr wrote: »

This "lockdown" is starting to piss me off. My typical blood reading is about 2 mmol higher as I'm not working. Trying to decide if I should inject more basal, or the short acting for best effect. I'm also bored but that's another matter!

My blood readings are also running higher, and I guess this is probably a fairly common thing, but with a strange pattern in my case - my afternoon levels (2 - 5 pm) are through the roof in the last month or so, despite my diet being pretty the same as since March, when I started working from home.

I'm aware of some of the obvious reasons:
- less exercise (no football, no gym), although I'm keeping reasonably active with cycling, walking and pilates
-less movement during the day, being much more stationary than I would be in the office

Nonetheless, the particular highs in the afternoon, as opposed to other times of the day, are something I can't put my finger on. Grateful for any thoughts folks might have.

philten · 11-11-2020 11:25am

I am the same, boredom and snacking more often has meant my readings are slightly higher. Also change in daily patterns from pre lockdown. Just tweaked my basal rates a bit to try and manage it. But also my total daily dose of insulin is higher cause of the snacking.

Think its all part of the lockdown phenomenon for T1D's.

I also get high readings after my lunch which I have learned to ride out rather than treat as they eventually come down later in afternoon. Also in my case have to make a conscious decision to go easy on the carbs for my lunch otherwise will spike. You could try bolusing well in advance of your lunch meal?

calfmuscle · 14-11-2020 10:21am

Happy diabetes day all!!

I'd it wrong to celebrate with cake?

kippy · 14-11-2020 10:30am

https://thriveabetes.ie/
Event on today - just in case anyone missed it.
Agenda:
10:30 Welcome & Opening remarks

10:45 Carb Counting and Beyond with Cathy Breen

11:30 Life with Diabetes as a professional Athlete with Stephen Clancy

12:15 Breakout Sessions Explained
12:25 1st Sponsored Breakout Session with:
Abbott - Living with diabetes in a COVID world with Eoghan Quinn FreeStyle Libre Ambassador
Ascensia - “How Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) Accuracy Can Influence The Decisions You Make”
BD - Managing the Highs and Lows of injecting insulin
YpsoPump My Life Diabetes Care Ypsopump System

12:40 2nd Sponsored Breakout Session with:
Dexcom - “‘Getting to know Dexcom Basics with Team Ireland’.
Medtronic - Minimed 780G Self Adjusting Basal with new Auto Correction Dosing Insulin Pump System
Roche - Let’s Chat Apps - Make it H”App”en MySugr App

1pm Lunch and extended Breakout sessions

1:45pm An Update from the Diabetes Ireland Advocacy Group with Cormac Gollogly

2:25 Diabetes Seeing the Whole Person with Sara Lasker

3:05 Living with Hypo Anxiety & The OPEN Project with Shane O’Donnell

3:50 Closing Remarks

CramCycle · 14-11-2020 12:42pm

calfmuscle wrote: »

Happy diabetes day all!!

I'd it wrong to celebrate with cake?

I had Lemon Drizzle at about 10:30am

kippy wrote: »

https://thriveabetes.ie/
Event on today - just in case anyone missed it.
Agenda:
10:30 Welcome & Opening remarks

10:45 Carb Counting and Beyond with Cathy Breen

11:30 Life with Diabetes as a professional Athlete with Stephen Clancy

12:15 Breakout Sessions Explained
12:25 1st Sponsored Breakout Session with:
Abbott - Living with diabetes in a COVID world with Eoghan Quinn FreeStyle Libre Ambassador
Ascensia - “How Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) Accuracy Can Influence The Decisions You Make”
BD - Managing the Highs and Lows of injecting insulin
YpsoPump My Life Diabetes Care Ypsopump System

12:40 2nd Sponsored Breakout Session with:
Dexcom - “‘Getting to know Dexcom Basics with Team Ireland’.
Medtronic - Minimed 780G Self Adjusting Basal with new Auto Correction Dosing Insulin Pump System
Roche - Let’s Chat Apps - Make it H”App”en MySugr App

1pm Lunch and extended Breakout sessions

1:45pm An Update from the Diabetes Ireland Advocacy Group with Cormac Gollogly

2:25 Diabetes Seeing the Whole Person with Sara Lasker

3:05 Living with Hypo Anxiety & The OPEN Project with Shane O’Donnell

3:50 Closing Remarks

Completely missed this, this year. Are any of the talks being recorded?

kippy · 14-11-2020 12:45pm

CramCycle wrote: »

I had Lemon Drizzle at about 10:30am

Completely missed this, this year. Are any of the talks being recorded?

Yeah, the main events are being recorded and will be up on Youtube at a later date.
The breakoutsessions with the sponsors aren't being recorded however.

I'd say you could still register and get the access code to join, if you were interested in those sessions specificilly.

banie01 · 14-11-2020 1:04pm

Happy international diabetes day then folks!
Not gonna lie, I actually am celebrating with cake

Still have some bday cake left over that is going to be finished later.

calfmuscle · 15-11-2020 12:55pm

I'd never really read up much on Frederick Banting but did this morning. What an absolute hero. Mad to think we wouldn't be here but him and the other scientists of his time.

Harry Palmr · 16-11-2020 12:49pm

This morning I felt "low" but the machine said NO - 8.7 About an hour later the machine said YES 2.3!

I hate it when that happens and should have trusted myself, not the machine.

banie01 · 17-11-2020 1:26pm

Nice to see the DRS back up and running.
I have an appt for 3rd Dec and given the gap between my being discharged from the Opthalmic clinic back to the DRS, I'm hoping that my eyes are still stable.

The clinic is being held in a hotel rather than the usual local primary care centre so there may even be a coffee

robinph · 17-11-2020 3:29pm

Excellent segment on the main evening news on the BBC yesterday regarding type 1 diabetes and mental health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Mq429VY3g

calfmuscle · 18-11-2020 12:02am

robinph wrote: »

Excellent segment on the main evening news on the BBC yesterday regarding type 1 diabetes and mental health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Mq429VY3g

Love that

banie01 · 24-11-2020 10:33am

Does anybody on here suffer with paronychia and hyper-granulation as a complication?
My fingers are suffering from regular bouts of a combo of ingrown nails, Whitlow's and lots of infection on the lateral nail fold.

It's a small complaint, put one that builds up when you do a lot of typing.

Dub Ste · 25-11-2020 4:18pm

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with type 2 a couple of years ago.
I'm on metformin, diaclide MR(gliclazide) and also use Ozempic.
Overall I feel fine even though I know I need to lose weight.
My GP isn't the most pro-active, and to be honest I know I could and should do more to help get myself into better shape, but one thing is killing me, one of the side effects no-one really talks about in men.

ED......This has made me feel like half a man, not even that to be honest, it makes me feel as though I am nothing.
I can't get it up anymore, and the little blue pills don't work and I'm at my wits end.
There's nights when I've attempted to make love to my wife, and of course having failed to do so, I just wish to myself that I don't wake up in the morning.

I've taken levitra, which is supposed be the strongest tablet available, and still nothing.
Is this at all reversible, or is that it for me. Sex used to be such an important thing for me and not being able to do it anymore is killing me and I know that even though my wife says she undertands, I know it is really affecting her.

Is there a specialist I can go to, I've asked my GP, but got no help there.

I read about a place in Dublin that sends electric shocks through your nuts, but I'm not sure if I want a bag full of ESB's finest..

Any help would be so welcome........

Thanks in advance.

CramCycle · 25-11-2020 4:38pm

Dub Ste wrote: »

My GP isn't the most pro-active,

Here is the first issue, your GP isn't a specialist and this requires one, are you linked to a diabetes clinic?

and to be honest I know I could and should do more to help get myself into better shape, but one thing is killing me, one of the side effects no-one really talks about in men.

100% and fair play for opening up about it. Undoubtedly better shape and (presuming, I could be wrong) better control is possible, this undoubtedly will help immensely. Speaking as a scientist better control, and losing weight will all contribute to stopping and potentially reversing any blood vessel damage done.

ED......This has made me feel like half a man, not even that to be honest, it makes me feel as though I am nothing.
I can't get it up anymore, and the little blue pills don't work and I'm at my wits end.
There's nights when I've attempted to make love to my wife, and of course having failed to do so, I just wish to myself that I don't wake up in the morning.

And this is the more dangerous prospect, even if you fix the physical issues, psychologically it can be hard to overcome even if you are physically capable again. I am not a psycologist but maybe consider talking to one while you are getting the physical stuff in order (you might not need too hopefully).

Is this at all reversible, or is that it for me. Sex used to be such an important thing for me and not being able to do it anymore is killing me and I know that even though my wife says she understands, I know it is really affecting her.

Almost certainly but you need to talk to a diabetes expert and the sooner you do it, the better

Is there a specialist I can go to, I've asked my GP, but got no help there.

Has your GP not linked you to a clinic yet?

I read about a place in Dublin that sends electric shocks through your nuts, but I'm not sure if I want a bag full of ESB's finest..

Any help would be so welcome........

Thanks in advance.

I don't care how life goes for me, everyone has their kinks but I am with you, I will pass on the shocks to my testicles.

Dub Ste · 25-11-2020 4:45pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Here is the first issue, your GP isn't a specialist and this requires one, are you linked to a diabetes clinic?

100% and fair play for opening up about it. Undoubtedly better shape and (presuming, I could be wrong) better control is possible, this undoubtedly will help immensely. Speaking as a scientist better control, and losing weight will all contribute to stopping and potentially reversing any blood vessel damage done.

And this is the more dangerous prospect, even if you fix the physical issues, psychologically it can be hard to overcome even if you are physically capable again. I am not a psycologist but maybe consider talking to one while you are getting the physical stuff in order (you might not need too hopefully).

Almost certainly but you need to talk to a diabetes expert and the sooner you do it, the better

Has your GP not linked you to a clinic yet?

I don't care how life goes for me, everyone has their kinks but I am with you, I will pass on the shocks to my testicles.

Hi Cram,

Thanks a million for that.

No my GP hasn't linked me to a clinic, I'm back with him next month for my tri-monthly check up, I'll ask to be referred then, is there one in north Dublin, and do you have to pay to see someone.

Sorry I'm not with it...

ohnonotgmail · 25-11-2020 4:54pm

Dub Ste wrote: »

Hi Cram,

Thanks a million for that.

No my GP hasn't linked me to a clinic, I'm back with him next month for my tri-monthly check up, I'll ask to be referred then, is there one in north Dublin, and do you have to pay to see someone.

Sorry I'm not with it...

Tell (not ask) your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist and to a diabetic. I can't believe they have not done that already. If you are in north dublin then beaumont hospital might be nearest to you.

CramCycle · 25-11-2020 5:02pm

Dub Ste wrote: »

Hi Cram,

Thanks a million for that.

No my GP hasn't linked me to a clinic, I'm back with him next month for my tri-monthly check up, I'll ask to be referred then, is there one in north Dublin, and do you have to pay to see someone.

Sorry I'm not with it...

What ohnonotgmail said, don't ask, tell them. Should have happened instantly upon diagnosis. Your specialist team can then monitor your bloods, meet an endocrinologist regularly, test nerve ending, have a chiropodist and also will have experience with a few 1000 other people who have been in the same place you are in and came out of it, pardon the pun, all guns blazing.

ohnonotgmail · 25-11-2020 5:12pm

CramCycle wrote: »

What ohnonotgmail said, don't ask, tell them. Should have happened instantly upon diagnosis. Your specialist team can then monitor your bloods, meet an endocrinologist regularly, test nerve ending, have a chiropodist and also will have experience with a few 1000 other people who have been in the same place you are in and came out of it, pardon the pun, all guns blazing.

not forgetting the retinopathy checks.

Dub Ste · 25-11-2020 5:15pm

Thanks again Cram and ohnonotgmail, I really appreciate your help.

Will let you know how I get on after my next check up with the GP.....

ohnonotgmail · 25-11-2020 5:20pm

Dub Ste wrote: »

Thanks again Cram and ohnonotgmail, I really appreciate your help.

Will let you know how I get on after my next check up with the GP.....

unless your next checkup is before the end of the week make an appointment today and ask for the referral. no sense in waiting.

davork · 27-11-2020 10:39pm

And make sure they stamp the retinopathy form - your optician (okay not the correct name) will do the checks - but really you need the HSE folks to do their jobs!

ElBarco · 28-11-2020 11:40pm

I see the recordings from Thriveabetes are up now. https://thriveabetes.ie/thriveabetes-wdd-2020 Some interesting ones to watch I think.

[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

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