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[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭ebbsy




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    Mr. B

    Have you ever investigated any possible treatments outside Ireland ?

    As I found out with the Noctura, we live in a small country.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    As Ebbsy has alluded to. Was your finger clean? The smallest bit of sugar laden debris can affect the BG reading.

    At the time you 1st started posting about Noctura and your visits to Newcastle I had taken an initial look. In the interim though, other health issues conspired to cause early retirement and it's been on the back burner since.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail




  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,447 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    I don't know why but as a T1DM this cracked me up considering some of the stupid stuff I have said while having hypos:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/I23S9zouSac?si=brAvjXbXlQCxJ3Kq



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭ebbsy




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    Ah, my mistake. I have, I've even travelled to the UK. I was waiting on an appt with a renowned guy in London and he actually recommended a guy in Cork. I saw him 1st in Feb and went ahead with surgery. It was a 70/30 chance of success.

    Unfortunately, I'm in the awkward 30%. I'm back in with the surgeon at the end of July and there are additional options. It's been hard to take, the initial 10 days after the op were the longest in 5yrs I've not needed pain meds. It was great while it lasted.

    But? I'm confident that it at least underscores the surgeon is on the right track.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭ebbsy




  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin


    Hi all. I have been put on Ozempic after metformin basically stopped working. My post meal numbers were pretty awful and now are really good on 0.5mg of Ozempic. However, I feel shaky and weird a lot, especially after breakfast. Also, I have a kind of "hungry but not hungry" feeling where I am thinking about food a lot but if you put a meal in front of me I wouldn't actually want it. I feel full, yet I am thinking about food in a way I wasn't when my blood sugar was higher. It's very odd.

    Is this just an adjustment period while my body is getting used to lower blood glucose levels?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    If you are on 0.5 then you are probably only on month 2. Nothing you describe is out of the ordinary. Expect the weight to start falling off you. I'm down from 110kg to less than 75kg.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭Rulmeq


    How difficult was it for you to get a pharmacist to supply you? I was prescribed last year and I still can't get it filled.



  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin


    Do you mean it's normal to have this weird mental hunger when my blood sugars are now excellent? Why is that?

    I can only dream of weight loss. I lost 3 lbs on 0.25, gained 2 back on 0.5, and feel terrible to boot. I hope 1mg will bring me better results in terms of how I actually feel.



  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin


    My pharmacy have me on a list for their long-term illness clients. However, there are other pharmacies in my town that have it. Most supply issues are with the starting dose, so if you can get the .25 even for one month, then you can keep moving up. The 1mg and 2mg doses are easier to source.

    Where are you based?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    yeah it kinda f*cks with your head a bit. surprised you managed to gain weight. Has the nausea kicked in yet?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭Rulmeq


    I'm in Dungarvan at the moment. I've rang around all the local pharmacies (and the neighbouring villages as well). I'm due to go back to the consultant this month, I might see if there's anything he can do.



  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin


    Would be worth trying further afield. Might also be worth asking your normal pharmacy if they tend to get a supply of the higher doses.



  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin


    I had nausea, reduced appetite, and small weight loss after a month of 0.25mg. .5mg has given me amazing BG numbers, but is like taking water otherwise and as I said I gained back two of the three pounds I had lost. I looked online and many people report this strange phenomenon. Apparently, the therapeutic dose is between 1 and 2mg and these are the doses used in clinical trials. Lower doses are not considered therapeutic for most people.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail




  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin




  • Registered Users Posts: 404 ✭✭Romero


    Hi folks type 1 diabetic here just wondering if people are getting regular appointments with their diabetic clinics? I used to be seen once every 6 months in Tallaght type one clinic but that went out to 12 months and now after Covid I'm 18 months and still haven't got called in for a checkup. Also lost the once a year podiatrist check up.

    Just wondering if anyone in Dublin clinics has the same delays or are seen more regularly?

    I had a chat with my GP about going on Ozempic as I've a terrible habit of snacking in the evenings and have a put in a good bit of weight, he has prescribed me Trulicity for me, I'm going on holidays in a few weeks so based on the side effects I think it wise to wait until I return



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  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,447 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    I presume its that your body was used to being high, correct me if I misread your situation, so the body sets a new "normal". Happens with type 1s who have been running high for awhile. Get back in range and the hunger is crippling until you adapt. Apologies if this is not what you are referring too.



  • Registered Users Posts: 363 ✭✭Galbin


    This weird hungry but not hungry feeling came back when I got up to 1mg and it is making me very anxious. Off to see my doctor tomorrow, but wonder if the problem is that I am still on metformin x 2 a day. The pharmacist said most people are only on one metformin pill when on Ozempic. The Ozempic has massively reduced my thirst, frequent urination, and heat intolerance (although LOL not that I need that now) as well as my blood sugar, but this feeling is awful. I also am feeling pretty down and unmotivated.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    i am still on 2 1000mg metformin a day alongside the ozempic. the hunger thing is weird alright. some days i had to force myself to eat. 2 years on though and its fine and i've lost a third of my body weight and my blood sugars are normal.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    a question for those on ozempic (or any weekly injection) and other medications. What is your schedule for getting refills? before the ozempic it was straighforward. i would refill it every month. with the ozempic they dispense 4 weekly doses at a time. so i need to get that refilled every 4 weeks. so i have been getting everything refilled on a 4 week basis to save me a trip to the pharmacy. the pharmacist pulled me aside yesterday and said i should only be getting refills every month. for the ozempic it will be the same schedule except one month in the year i will get 2 4-week doses. is this how everybody else does it?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    My pharmacy tries to ensure 28day prescription dispensing as it's far more efficient and negates the need to open & split boxes as per 30/31 day scripts.

    The only one of my diabetes repeats it really affects is my G7 sensors. They claim rebate on those via community prescribing scheme and it's done as you describe. It shouldn't really affect the patient but, the pharmacy needs to ensure their admin for claim is on a 1 script per month basis which can catch you out if your on a strict 28 day cycle.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    thee pharmacy insist they can only claim for one script a month. it is all a bit annoying



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,803 ✭✭✭Ezeoul


    No ozempic in my pharmacy again… it was going okay for a few months. 🙁



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    So today I was in the Eye and Ear for an eye scan. I have not been there for a few years but the Opticians in Newcastle where I get the Noctura 400 mask asked me to go back as they wanted to know that their opinion matched Dublin's.

    Anyway the scans today turned out to be stable. They still do a great job in that hospital.

    Only problem is that they have no plans yet to dispense the mask here. Apparently it is in all UK hospitals and saving the NHS £3,000 per patient.

    Oh Well.



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,328 ✭✭✭sunbabe08


    I've been diabetic type 2 since 2010 and there was a time i felt sorry for my self and was in denial. i actually gained 3 stone and ended up back in hospital and got a lecture from my doctor which saved my life. There was a period where i felt sorry for my self and there was times i was scared, diabetics have all these feelings without having family members feeling sorry for us. Because to be honest as much as it sucks, it has been a blessing because I've managed to keep the weight off.

    my suggestion instead of feeling sad for ur sister research type 2 diabetes encourage her and research it.



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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,142 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Messed up with the replacement of a Dexcom G7 yesterday. Was getting notification of the old one about to expire, thought it was towards the end of the 12 bonus hours so stuck in the new sensor. Wasn't the bonus, was just the regular 10 days expiry.

    But unlike how the Libre used to work with the time starting from when you first scan, the G7 knows when it was actually inserted... So lost my bonus 12 hours.

    Mild annoyance, but as they only give 3 sensors per month those bonus hours can be important to keep the closed loop running.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 128 ✭✭Slick666


    my consultant applied for the Dexcom g7 for me yesterday after I had asked him numerous times about it. You’d think he would be suggesting it to me seeing as I pay him €400 for the appointment!!! Anyways I’m excited to get it. Also prescribed me ozempic as my bmi is obese but I can’t get the 0.25 dose anywhere 😵



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭Rulmeq


    I was prescribed ozempic in November 2023, I got my first dose last week. I think the only reason I got it was because the pharmacist got sick and tired of me asking. That's the only advice I can give you, keep pestering them (I know it's not their fault, but whatever chance you have, you need to be on their minds when they do get that spare supply)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 128 ✭✭Slick666


    so the chemist in the end gave me a 0.5 dose pen and I adjust my dose to 0.25. Not sure why the 20 other chemists I rang wouldn’t do that, odd.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 128 ✭✭Slick666


    I have another question guys sorry. So I’ve got my dexcom g7 sensors yesterday and I’ve synced with my iPhone and the dexcom app. It would be way better with a smart watch, does dexcom provide watches does anyone know or will I need to buy an apple smart watch myself?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭ebbsy


    I would like to give a recommendation to Lyles Shoes in Portarlington. Fantastic service with the specialist shoes. There is also a podatrist working from there and he is amazing.

    My feet used to be in chaos and I can thank these people for turning it all around.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,175 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    You most likely do not need a specific dose pen, so no need to wait months if the higher dose pens are the only ones available. You can dial a 0.25 dose from a 1.0 or 0.5 dose pen by counting the clicks that represent a quarter of the number of clicks needed to dial in the 1.0 dose, if the lower dose in not actually marked specifically on the scale.

    If you look at Ozempics own video on the dosing page of their website, you can clearly see the person demoing a pen wind it past 0.25 to get to 0.5 dose being demoed.

    https://www.ozempic.com/how-to-take/ozempic-dosing.html

    There is at least one Youtube videos on this topic:

    Obviously check with a pharmacist first and ask their advice.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭uli84


    anybody in the know when will simplera sensor be available for use with 780 pump in Ireland?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,878 ✭✭✭jeffk


    Has anyone in here been on or are on trulicity 1.5?

    I started two weeksago and its been nothing but misery, I cant remember a time mystomach wasn’t at me or Diarrhea (doubled down on fibre diet sotheres more in there to stop it or I thought)

    Been pushed into itby St.Marys in Phoenix park, said I would try Metaformin again (hadsimilar stomach issues a week after been diagnosed with type 2) andthey refused

    When the script went in my doc questioned was was it not 0.75 to start off and againSt.Marys refused, they knew best

    Booked my first sunholiday for next week and the best the nurse could tell me was tobring Imodium and do the needle when you come back (and the Diarrheawill likely start again and sure we will ring in a month)

    HbA1c is in the 50s,I do walk/hike/cycle and eat right (dietician signed me off), but getup on the scales your overweight end of

    I know people onOzempic and its not as bad as this (and its meant to be stronger), Idid say I would find it hard to do a needle so trulicity would help,but if i was going to end up on Ozempic to start now, again they knewbest



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    Not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. Don't do anything with any advice anyone here gives you regarding your trulicity dose other than to use it to frame a question to whomever manages your Diabetes care.

    On all the GLP-1 medications there is a fairly high rate of uncomfortable gastric side effects. That is usually managed by a titration regime when starting out. An initial low dose for a short period before gradual increase to the full therapeutic dose. It's how Eli recommend that trulicity be administered

    Talk to whomever is prescribing your trulicity and ask them if titration will make it easier for you to get on top of your side effects.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    I've posted before about neuropathic and other pain issues impacting my BG control and my mobility. Unfortunately there's been no improvement for me on the pain front. I had surgery in May and after an initial improvement, the surgery was a failure.

    Despite that, a bit of stubbornness and support from the Mrs has gotten me out with the dog on a daily basis and it's paying a dividend for me in a few different ways. My BG is improving, my insulin requirement has dropped by 25%, my stamina is improving and getting out around our neighbourhood with the dog and meeting people out and about and even kids deciding they have to play with the dog 🐕 it's done my overall mood the world of good.

    I've been diabetic for 20yrs or so and suffering from chronic acute pain for the past 5yrs. Dealing with the pain, has and I don't say this lightly, been amongst the hardest things in my life.

    It permeates everything you do and becomes a real struggle. I'm lucky that my wife has been a rock, despite having a cancer diagnosis herself in 2022, meaning she has had plenty on her plate apart from me. My son too, and my friends have really been great support for me aswell.

    The 5yrs so far and the effect that pain has had on my BG control has been stark. The affect of pain as a stressor on your insulin response, on your cardiovascular system and on your mental health are massive.

    A side effect of my pain, was/is fairly constant tachycardia. It was initially though to be incipient cardiac disease but, after multiple ECGs, echo and a couple of stress tests. It turned out I was a bit fitter than I thought and that my CV system was fine! Which was great news given my diabetes.

    I'm still suffering from severe pain, managed by neuropathic and opioids but, I'm coping better. My GP has been great. What I really think is missing though? Is that holistic approach from healthcare professionals. Apart from my GP, every medical professional is focusing on their specialty. Be it Endo, Urologists, Pain specialists or cardiology. They all work away in their silo, with no actual interaction with each other or single care plan.

    My GP does try to be that, but fragmented record systems don't help either.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,878 ✭✭✭jeffk


    Thanks for the reply and information (very well laied out and easy to understand), its as I, the doc and everyone else said, start low and build up



  • Registered Users Posts: 404 ✭✭Romero


    Type one here and my Doctor started me on the lower dose of .75 for a month, which they should have started you on to let your body get used to the medication. I held off starting the medication as wanted to enjoy my summer holiday so started the .75 when I got home. Didn't have much side effects with it, didn't really stop me eating, only issue I had was constipation. It did improve my sugars and I found i didn't need to take as much fast acting insulin. But the only thing I found was after the 4th weekly injection it seems to have lost the effect on giving me better bloods. I start on the 1.5 this Sunday so will see how that goes. One thing that did happen and luckily caught it was the pharmacist gave me a box of 1.5 instead of .75 in error, luckily as I delayed starting it due to holiday they spotted it when I went to collect the 2nd month and were all apologies about their cock up. So I would say you should have had the .75 starting off and you wouldn't have had as bad the side effects.



  • Registered Users Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Xofpod


    Had my appointment in the diabetic clinic this week (St. James, Dublin) and I have to say they do a great job, barring a couple of little glitches over the years. A few interesting things worth sharing:

    -they're offering the new Dexcom One Plus CGM, to some patients at least. Smaller again than the G7 but like that, no separate transmitter needed, so no potential for gaps in service when transmitters don't arrive. I'll update on performance when I start to use it

    -even better, it's purely on the prescription. No need for the HSE to approve it each year, so no potential for gaps in service due to paperwork not being processed (happened to me two years in a row).

    -also great, the general prescription has moved to 12 months' duration rather than six, so less chance of it running out between appointments

    These are good, sensible moves and made for a happy visit for me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,597 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    I was in with my GP month ago getting my prescription renewed and he said he would give me a 12 month renewal. I didn't question him on it in case he changed his mind. About time they started issuing them.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    I've been using Dexcom CGM, initially G6 since Jan 22 and switched to G7 in 2023. Had a quite a few failed G7s in the 1st 3/4 months, almost a 40% fail rate but since abandoning my arms as placement location? I've had only 4 failed units in the last 14 months.

    Dexcom's replacement service is really top notch. I just use the support tab in the app, fill out the questionnaire and the replacement is delivered within a couple days. In the early days of using it, Dexcom would ask for a failed unit to be returned every once in a while but even that has abated now.

    It's great to see the admin burden around HSE approvals, prescriptions and just plain old access to CGMs being lightened.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,878 ✭✭✭jeffk


    What sugar level machine are people using?

    Ive been give a Onetouch Verio Reflect and this morning it took 5 attempts to get a reading

    The mother has the same issues with her one, would it be a bad batch of strips as from the same chemist



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,155 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    The production/batch numbers of the strips will be on the side of the version tub, are they the same on both tubs? If they are it may a batch issue.

    If not, then the usual culprits for my one touch failing are, battery starting to fail, I always get a few failed tests before the low battery icon flashes. The other is dirty hands, contaminated sample which usually results in an error 2 or error 4 message. Is your machine giving an error code?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,878 ✭✭✭jeffk


    I was asking the brother who does it a lot for the ma as shes is in her 80s and he says you have to hold the test strip to the side of the bubble of blood and it goes across it

    Yeah they are from the same batch code

    Error 4-strip fill problem

    My machine is about a week out of the box and the mothers batteries are not long changed and made sure to get the good duracell ones

    I did go into Mccabes to see and told thats the only brand as thats the only rep that calls, did ring the company as instructed by Mccabes and option 1 was hang up on the person and then option 2 was very very busy try live chat or email. Ill try the nack my brother has said and see, ive to do it 2 or 3 times a week so not as bad as people doing that in a day



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,587 ✭✭✭✭Goldengirl


    Mine always comes up error strip fill if I don't direct the blood to the side of the line . Think it sucks it in by capillary action or something and it can't if it doesn't go in at that point .

    However I did get a bad batch recently that I gave back to the pharmacist, 5 bad tests in a row doing everything right ..told them I wasn't putting up with repeated fingerpricks . No problem getting replacement tub .



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,447 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    FIELD SAFETY NOTICE from Medtronic, copy and paste from an email:

    Urgent Field Safety Notice
    MiniMed™ 600 and 700 series series pump systems
    Battery status alerts and alarms
    Notification

    Insulin Pump 
    MiniMed™ 620G Insulin Pump
    MiniMed™ 630G Insulin Pump
    MiniMed™ 640G Insulin Pump
    MiniMed™ 670G Insulin Pump.
    MiniMed™ 700G Insulin Pump
    MiniMed™ 720G Insulin Pump.
    MiniMed™ 740G Insulin Pump
    MiniMed™ 770G Insulin Pump.
    MiniMed™ 780G Insulin Pump.

     
    Model Number
    MMT-1710, MMT-1750
    MMT-1714, MMT-1715, MMT-1754, MMT-1755
    MMT-1711, MMT-1712, MMT-1751, MMT-1752
    MMT-1760, MMT-1761, MMT-1762, MMT-1780, MMT-1781, MMT-1782
    MMT-1801, MMT-1805, MMT-1850, MMT-1851
    MMT-1809, MMT-1810, MMT-1859, MMT-1860, MMT-1867
    MMT-1811, MMT-1812, MMT-1861, MMT-1862
    MMT-1880, MMT-1881, MMT-1882, MMT-1890, MMT-1891, MMT-1892
    MMT-1884, MMT-1885, MMT-1886, MMT-1894, MMT-1895, MMT-1896

     

    October 2024
    Medtronic Reference: FA1435
    EU Manufacturer Single Registration Number (SRN): US-MF-000023100
    Dear Medtronic Diabetes Community member,
    Medtronic is contacting you to reinforce the importance of following the pump’s built-in alerts and alarms for battery status, to always carry extra batteries as outlined in the User Guide, and to inform you about situations that may result in shortened pump battery life with the potential for the pump to stop insulin delivery significantly sooner than expected.
    Issue Description:In some instances, pumps that have been dropped, bumped, or experienced physical impact, may experience damage to internal electrical components, which may result in reduced battery life, causing the battery alerts to occur when less battery life remains than the User Guide states.
    Even a single drop could result in reduced battery life, either immediately after the drop, or over time, and will continue to affect the pump even after replacing the battery. Affected pumps will still show “Low Battery Pump” alert which is intended to signal that there are up to 10 hours of battery life remaining, however the actual amount of battery life may be significantly shorter. Following the “Low Battery Pump” alert, escalating alerts and sirens may activate. When the “Replace Battery Now” alarm appears, insulin delivery stops. Extended time without insulin delivery can lead to health risks like hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), potentially requiring medical intervention.
    Medtronic has received 271 reports of hyperglycemia >400mg/dL or >22.2mmol/L and 22 reports of diabetic ketoacidosis from January 2023 to September 2024 globally potentially related to this issue. There have been no confirmed serious injuries associated with this issue.
    Actions Required: 

    Ensure you carry an extra set of new AA lithium or alkaline batteries or fully charged NiMH batteries should you need to replace your pump battery sooner than expected. Always pay attention to alerts and alarms displayed on your pump and be prepared to replace the battery as soon as you receive the “Low Battery Pump” alert. Do not wait for the later battery alerts as these may occur when less battery life remains than the User Guide states. Refer to your pump’s User Guide for instructions on how to replace the battery.  If you notice any significant decrease in battery life, regardless of whether your pump has been dropped, bumped, or has experienced physical impact, contact our Helpline on Tel No: 01 5111 444 option 2 then option 0 for troubleshooting support to determine if a replacement pump is needed.Ensure you have back-up insulin therapy available at all times in your emergency kit in case it's needed. 

    Post edited by Spear on


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