[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

Harry Palmr

Hi all,

I've been off the road as I didn't need a car for the last few years, however I how need to get a mobile again and that means insurance - can anyone steer me towards a company or broker that you've found good to deal with? (also as a side issue - I used to have a full NCD I take it that will no longer count for anything as I took a prolonged break).

cocker5

uli84 wrote: »

Wow, what does he eat? Any special diet? While my pre-meal sugars are fine, after meals i often go too high like into 11-12 range.

As for pumps, in every country children get the priority in getting them free, I still think we're quite lucky here in Ireland. Also pump therapy is not suited to everyone.
I do agree that medical staff knowledge is poor, anyone knows nurse or doctor that is diabetic themselves? They're the best for sure. I personally was thinking of going this way myself but then decided it's not for me for various reasons.

I 100% agree with you on that one a nurse or Doctor with type 1 would be faaaaaar better at giving advice than the one's without - I've yet to meet one! but he is only diagnosed 2.5 years so here's hoping!

For breakfast he eats the same thing each morning... a nutri bullet (i weigh everything out / carb count) ... two boiled eggs...he takes his insulin 15 minutes before he drinks the Nutribullet this helps stop him from spiking.

For dinner each day (again i weigh / carb count everything) - again takes his reduced insulin 15 mins before he eats - reduced as we always do 6k after dinner with the dog etc... keeps him pretty level. The key for him is very strict carb counting (both of us on board) and exercise.

IF he is eating pizza (high fat content meal), as the body deals with the fat first and carbs second he takes his insulin after he eats.. this helps coinside with when the carbs kick in etc.

In fairness he does has a very healthy diet so he sticks to the above rules 98% of the time. He doesn't snack so that helps... he's pretty keen on fitness so does a good bit of running, exercise is a great way to keep bloods level.. as i did mention in my previous posts it did take us a year to get things running very smoothly etc but we got there in the end. However as we all know the body changes from time to time and when the above routine stops working for him we will re-look at everything then.

Plus having the CGM from a month after he was diagnosed - this helps him keep even tighter bloods - taking corrections when needed even if running a small bit high (ie 9 or so). The pump also helps ..

Buford T. Justice XIX

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been off the road as I didn't need a car for the last few years, however I how need to get a mobile again and that means insurance - can anyone steer me towards a company or broker that you've found good to deal with? (also as a side issue - I used to have a full NCD I take it that will no longer count for anything as I took a prolonged break).

I'm with Allianz, Harry. No difficulties once I informed them (late in the questioning process) after moving from FBD where I had to sign a form to declare my control was good so no loading there either.

Harry Palmr

I have actually have a copy of my doctors cert from a year ago when I renewed my licence, so it'll help no doubt.

Did you do that online or in person or on the phone

Meauldsegosha

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been off the road as I didn't need a car for the last few years, however I how need to get a mobile again and that means insurance - can anyone steer me towards a company or broker that you've found good to deal with? (also as a side issue - I used to have a full NCD I take it that will no longer count for anything as I took a prolonged break).

I've been with FBD for the last three years. Had to give them a letter from the hospital to say my control was good. It was simple and straight forward to sign up with.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I have actually have a copy of my doctors cert from a year ago when I renewed my licence, so it'll help no doubt.

Did you do that online or in person or on the phone

On the phone because I ended up getting another bit off by talking to the rep because I wanted to be sure there was a record of me having mentioned it but got the original quote online.

shnaek

I was just reading the business section of the Sunday Times when I came across this little nugget.

"Merrion Pharmaceuticals, a promising drug development group, rolled up its tent late last year after struggling to commercialise its system for delivering injectable drugs in tablet format. It sold off its intellectual property to Novo Nordisk for $13m"

Does this mean Novo Nordisk may be coming out with tablet insulin, or that Novo Nordisk are going to bury this intellectual property so nobody will be able to develop it?

Interesting times.

cocker5

shnaek wrote: »

I was just reading the business section of the Sunday Times when I came across this little nugget.

"Merrion Pharmaceuticals, a promising drug development group, rolled up its tent late last year after struggling to commercialise its system for delivering injectable drugs in tablet format. It sold off its intellectual property to Novo Nordisk for $13m"

Does this mean Novo Nordisk may be coming out with tablet insulin, or that Novo Nordisk are going to bury this intellectual property so nobody will be able to develop it?

Interesting times.

Not sure how this could even work to be honest... your insulin requirement is dependant on your carb count per meal and so many other daily issues so cant see how a pill could work even for time term insulin (every few weeks my OH has to make slight adjustment to his... depending on the weather, exercise levels etc) so cant see how this would / could help Type 1's

gctest50

Long-acting insulin they're at

http://www.merrionpharma.com/content/investors/archive/2015/020915.asp

Dublin, Ireland - 2, September 2015: Merrion Pharmaceuticals plc (ESM:MERR), today announces that its licensee Novo Nordisk has initiated the first Phase 2a proof-of-principle clinical trial with the long-acting insulin analogue OI338GT (NN1953) using Merrion's proprietary absorption enhancer, GIPET.

http://www.pharmafile.com/news/183385/novo-nordisk-unveils-plans-100m-api-plant

Novo Nordisk says it will invest around $100m in a new pilot facility to make the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for its pipeline of diabetes drug candidates.

The 2,700 sq. m. purification facility - based at the Danish drugmaker's main Bagsvaerd site that lies around 10 kilometres northwest of Copenhagen - is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2016 and will eventually employ around 35 staff.

The pilot facility will be used to produce candidates in the company's early-stage diabetes pipeline, which includes long-acting basal insulin analogue NN1436 as well as a series of long-acting orally-active GLP-1 analogues (NN9926, NN9927 and NN9928) and oral insulins NN1953, NN1954 and NN1956).

CramCycle

cocker5 wrote: »

Not sure how this could even work to be honest... your insulin requirement is dependant on your carb count per meal and so many other daily issues so cant see how a pill could work even for time term insulin (every few weeks my OH has to make slight adjustment to his... depending on the weather, exercise levels etc) so cant see how this would / could help Type 1's

There are several methodologies it could use. If the insulin itself was tied to a molecule that underwent a confrontational change at certain pH levels, it could be a crude adjuster as it release insulin in reaction to high glucose levels. The obvious issues here are to large a spontaneous release.

I worked with a guy who was looking at inhaleble insulin for ages, the issue was never the inhaler but the delivery system. Making it permeable but forming a dosage system that was independent of the inhaler.

There certainly is the potential but it is a long way off, but there are huge possibilities if they can find the right root of attack.

uli84

Ok so, anyone knows a GP in Dublin or Louth that will sign me NDLS medical report for 10 years?

CramCycle

uli84 wrote: »

Ok so, anyone knows a GP in Dublin or Louth that will sign me NDLS medical report for 10 years?

Your diabetes consultant or nurse if your control has been good, that is who signed mine.

uli84

CramCycle wrote: »

Your diabetes consultant or nurse if your control has been good, that is who signed mine.

They signed it for 3 years, my control is beyond good, hb1ac hasn't been higher than 6.5 in the last 8 years (!) im on the pump, I don't get it, maybe the law or whatever changed, what a painnnnn, i bet insurance will query this /

CramCycle

uli84 wrote: »

They signed it for 3 years, my control is beyond good, hb1ac hasn't been higher than 6.5 in the last 8 years (!) im on the pump, I don't get it, maybe the law or whatever changed, what a painnnnn, i bet insurance will query this /

I would go back to your consultant and query why you cannot get it signed off for 10 years, mine did.

This said, the only GP who will (or should) really touch it is your own, or whoever your linked to, even if you rarely visit. I cannot see a reason why your GP wouldn't. Just go in, ask to sign the form, point out the 10 years if they go for the three. If they ask why your consultant didn't, say you forgot and appointments are 6 months apart.

Bring in your readings etc. to reassure them.

uli84

Right, this was issued April 2016 and states 3 years regardless of control must check ehat is wrotten in the previous version, it's ridiculous

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/Medical_Issues/Sláinte_agus_Tiomáint_Medical_Fitness_to_Drive_Guidelines.pdf

CramCycle

uli84 wrote: »

Right, this was issued April 2016 and states 3 years regardless of control must check ehat is wrotten in the previous version, it's ridiculous

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/Medical_Issues/Sláinte_agus_Tiomáint_Medical_Fitness_to_Drive_Guidelines.pdf

Must check when mine is up next. I like the way they refer to the UK but my understanding is that the UK have revised this, this year, to allow a full length license when signed off. (From memory so could be wrong).

uli84

For the first time in my life I felt disadvantaged I have to say, if at least there was some issue with my diabetes but no (!)

shnaek

Got a toddler (2 1/2 years old) who was diagnosed with Type 1 a couple of months ago. Giving her injections and checking blood has become a nightmare. Both my wife and I haven't been able to work since the diagnosis as it takes the two of us to give the injections and check blood. This morning we've been trying for an hour and a half and haven't been able to give the injection. Has anyone got any tips as to how we could encourage her or how we can give her the injections? We're both getting very low. She's here beside me bawling crying.

ElBarco

Sorry to hear that shnaek. I'm afraid I don't have any direct experience with it but it does sound like you need to get help. First of all the team in the hospital you are attending can be very helpful so reach out to them. I do know there is a very active facebook group for parents with diabetic kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/217346238337444/

I've heard good things about the group and they may be able to offer some advice or support. I hope things get better for you all!

shnaek

ElBarco wrote: »

Sorry to hear that shnaek. I'm afraid I don't have any direct experience with it but it does sound like you need to get help. First of all the team in the hospital you are attending can be very helpful so reach out to them. I do know there is a very active facebook group for parents with diabetic kids https://www.facebook.com/groups/217346238337444/

I've heard good things about the group and they may be able to offer some advice or support. I hope things get better for you all!

Thanks for that - I joined that group just now and am awaiting admission from a moderator there. Rang the hospital too but they said it's probably just a phase that she'll get over. Pure torture at the moment but I know it can take 6 months or more to come to terms with it. Thanks for getting back to me.

cocker5

shnaek wrote: »

Got a toddler (2 1/2 years old) who was diagnosed with Type 1 a couple of months ago. Giving her injections and checking blood has become a nightmare. Both my wife and I haven't been able to work since the diagnosis as it takes the two of us to give the injections and check blood. This morning we've been trying for an hour and a half and haven't been able to give the injection. Has anyone got any tips as to how we could encourage her or how we can give her the injections? We're both getting very low. She's here beside me bawling crying.

the poor pet i cant even imagine going through that so young.

How many months ago was she diagnosed? at 6 months she should be applicable for the insulin pump.

with the injections there is a cooling spray for kids you can buy which freezes the area so she wont feel any pain.

http://www.flemingmedical.ie/Medicare-Cold-Spray-200ml

this cannot be used for the fingers prick as it may distort the readings... get the smallest needles you can and make sure its room temperature, if its comes straight from the fridge it will sting


what hospital is she attending, what options have they discussed?
I would enquire a pump and a CGM as soon as i can to be honest


https://www.myomnipod.com/explore-omnipod/omnipod-system/

http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/about-diabetes/kids-diabetes/insulin-pump-therapy-for-kids/

http://www.dexcom.com/en-IE


http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/en/resourcecentres/diabetes/treatmentofdiabetes/givinginsulininjections/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.parents.com/health/diabetes/giving-insulin-to-your-child-with-type-1-diabetes/

The links above should help somewhat

shnaek

Thanks, cocker5 - that's a lot of great reading.
She was diagnosed two months ago, so we've a while to go for a pump from what you are saying. Been reading a bit about them, I really hope she gets a chance to try one and that it works for her.
She's attending CUH - they've been great in there.
Thanks for your help.

cocker5

shnaek wrote: »

Thanks, cocker5 - that's a lot of great reading.
She was diagnosed two months ago, so we've a while to go for a pump from what you are saying. Been reading a bit about them, I really hope she gets a chance to try one and that it works for her.
She's attending CUH - they've been great in there.
Thanks for your help.

OP you really do need to push for everything when it comes to T1 - the hospitals are slow with everything... and if im totally honest while they know the text books inside out they are not very knowledgeable when it comes to T1.. the best information you will get is from other people not the actual hospitals... that's just my experience (My OH was diagnosed at 35 2.5 years ago and in Vincents) - we researched a lot on the internet and the hospital we SLOW with his pump and CGM but we pushed and pushed etc, and eventually we got it. IMO the hospital staff while nice etc do not actually understand what its like to live as a T1 - the books are great but its not exact science all bodies are different etc.

def take a look at the UK forums - lots of great posters on there.

they have a thread for parents:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/forums/parents.18/

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/type-2-diabetes.25/

This book is excellent - heavy going at times but its a definite must read IMO

https://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Pancreas-Practical-Insulin-Completely-ebook/dp/B005XQ97FK

gctest50

Theresa May set to become the first world leader with Type 1 diabetes

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/theresa-may-how-soon-be-prime-minister-manages-her-type-1-diabetes-1570238

.

Yakuza

shnaek wrote: »

Thanks, cocker5 - that's a lot of great reading.
She was diagnosed two months ago, so we've a while to go for a pump from what you are saying. Been reading a bit about them, I really hope she gets a chance to try one and that it works for her.
She's attending CUH - they've been great in there.
Thanks for your help.

My daughter was diagnosed at 2y8m over 3 years ago, we went on the list for the pump from the outset but they (Temple St - fantastic crew there too) wanted us to use MDI (multiple Daily injections) for 6 months at least so we could go back to it if the pump failed. Get on the list if you aren't already, it makes a huge difference. You can start giving snacks / treats again, you don't have to stick rigidly to the MDI regimen.

Are you using pens or syringes? Pens with 4mm needles worked for us, but with 5-6 injections a day, her ar5e ended up like a pincushion. Use aloe vera to restore the skin to something like normal. With the pump, we went from 35-40 injections a week to 3, it's much better and less stressful all around.

Aeternum

After finishing a DAFNE course recently I'm definitely feeling more positive about learning to control my BG better! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to do it. I was very hesitant before hand and a bit peeved about having to takes a weeks holiday from work, but hopefully it will be worth it when I get my next HBa1c!

Buford T. Justice XIX

I'm diabetic for 24 years today, maybe I'll have a bit of chocolate to celebrate:pac:

Meauldsegosha

You should definitely have some chocolate to celebrate.

Chocolate doesn't have much effect on my BG level so I don't see it as a treat really. Pizza on the other hand, always spikes my BG so I avoid it as much as possible.

CramCycle

Are Diabete-versarys a big thing. I never thoguht about it until social media eg twitter pointed them out. I remember very little before I was a Diabetic and never think about it.
Do alot of people celebrate/remember them?

30+ years myself, I don't think I have ever stopped to take it in and remember in a birthday style event.

this said I was born a grumpy old sh1t and didn't celebrate my birthday until my kids started doing that for me.

Meauldsegosha

I don't remember the exact date just that it was the week before Easter. My boyfriend at the time complained that he had wasted money on buying me an Easter Egg.:mad: I kicked him to touch as soon as I got out of intensive care.