Anyone got new shielding letter? TYPE 1

[AJLang]

When the original diabetes risk paper was written last year risk factors included HBA1C too high/too low - if I remember correctly my HBA1C would be considered too low, BMI too high/too low etc. i can’t remember the link to the original paper but there are links to it somewhere on the forum.

 

[Bexlee]

I got a letter today too. To be honest I’m ok about it. Selfish maybe but got this far would like my jab(S) as soon as.

 

[Becka]

What has suddenly changed is a new way of identifying those at a much higher risk of serious ilness if infected. When shielding was introduced in March it was still only three months since the first reported case of Covid-19, so there was very little experience to draw upon. Therefore the initial shielding list was based on medical conditions and medications which were known to put someone at a very high risk for respiratory infections. This therefore was heavily based on people with serious respiratory conditions and compromised immune systems.

As knowledge increased the risk could be assessed in a more glandular way. In particular where conditions which do not pose a serious on their own, put someone at a much higher risk when combined. So an algorithmic tool was developed to combine this factors last year, which then needed testing and refining to be clinically approved.

As that is now ready to use, the medical records of everyone not already shielding has been put through this algorithm, with those identified as being at a much high risk flagged, then asked to shield.

Some people seem to be suggesting that with vaccines available, what is the point of asking people to shield now. But how many would seriously think it okay if one of their loved ones were to now be infected and die, yet despite the N.H.S. and government knowing they were at a greater risk they had decided it was not worth telling them?

Even protecting someone for one day is better than not protecting them at all. It can still save lives, because it only takes one day to become infected.

You also cannot tell how "healthy" someone is by looking at them, including yourself. Can you just stand on a High Street and know which people are diabetic? It is not about how far or how fast you can run, but how your immune system works when faced with a particular virus it has never seen before. It is potentially about undiagnosed diseases. It is about cells. Older age may make people more vulnerable on its own, but it does not prevent younger people with invisible health conditions from being at risk. People who have been identified as being at risk are not based on how fit they are, but on what evidence suggests makes them less able to fit the virus.

It will certainly be the case that some people asked to shield will not actually be that vulnerable, but you cannot individually scrutinize over 60 million medical records. Because people can die in the time it takes to do that, and it also takes clinicians away from the work they need to be doing in looking after patients. But it is better that a few people be asked to shield needlessly than a larger numebr of people being left at risk. And shielding has always only been guidance, if you truly feel you are not at risk then you can choose to ignore it.

 

[redshaw]

Yes I have gastroparesis. My friend in her 40’s has been asked to shield but she doesn’t have any diabetes complications. To make the decisions they are taking a wide range of factors into account.

Thank you for replying. I hope you stay well.

 

[AJLang]

Thank you for replying. I hope you stay well.

Thank you. Two months today is the 50th anniversary of me being officially diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I intend to celebrate it well even if we’re still in lockdown.

 

[redshaw]

That still won't include everyone, so you are only seeing a snapshot of data. In any case, details on shielding are available online, eg: https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/population#patients-not-added-to-the-spl
So if you think you should be on the list, then please ask your GP for a review.
All T1D are eligible for a free flu vaccine, but I thinkyou do still need to contact the GP to make the appointment each year, they don't call you for it.

I'll look at that list. Thank you.
I was sent an over 65 reminder for my mother twice, and asked if they were doing the under 65s. i was told NO, but they would text when they were and I wasn't to phone to ask. So I went to the pharmacy in the end. I checked with the nurse last week, and they don't have a record from the pharmacy of me having it, and they never sent me a reminder. So i will bring that up with the GP too.

 

[Spozkins]

Being young doesn't necessarily decrease the risk here.

I for one am only 30 but have had diabetes for 29 years and that is a huge factor that you wouldn't know if I just said "type 1". I have complications and the thyroid issue to have been asked to shield though.

It is a bit frustrating that so many people have have to die for the sake of research but hopefully now we can prevent further loss of lives.

 

[redshaw]

Thank you. Two months today is the 50th anniversary of me being officially diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I intend to celebrate it well even if we’re still in lockdown.

I think that's amazing. I hope you get your medal too.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Completely untrue I’m 52 and have been asked to shield this week. Type 1’s from a wide range of ages have received this letter.

You also have a multitude of other problems though, hence your letter.

 

[Robin]

Some people seem to be suggesting that with vaccines available, what is the point of asking people to shield now. But how many would seriously think it okay if one of their loved ones were to now be infected and die, yet despite the N.H.S. and government knowing they were at a greater risk they had decided it was not worth telling them?

My thoughts exactly. How could the government, armed with this new knowledge, not put it into place.

 

[redshaw]

Being young doesn't necessarily decrease the risk here.

I for one am only 30 but have had diabetes for 29 years and that is a huge factor that you wouldn't know if I just said "type 1". I have complications and the thyroid issue to have been asked to shield though.

It is a bit frustrating that so many people have have to die for the sake of research but hopefully now we can prevent further loss of lives.

Yes just inputting Type 1 doesn't mean anything. I am sure time since diagnosis is a key factor. Over 37 years must have done some damage to my cardiovascular system at the very least. I don't think the tool asks for those details though. I could be wrong.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I think that's amazing. I hope you get your medal too.

If it's anything like mine it will arrive in a grotty torn envelope with a large gorge on it. Not sure what happened to it possibly went out with the recycling.

 

[AJLang]

If it's anything like mine it will arrive in a grotty torn envelope with a large gorge on it. Not sure what happened to it possibly went out with the recycling.

That is a real shame for you. My consultant is excited about me getting the medal and, Covid permitting, hopes to present it to me.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Had now't here and doubt I'll get one.

 

[Warbird]

So, I am Tech support in a secondary school, I am type 1 and have high blood pressure ( I take meds for that ). My blood sugar is somewhat controlled, I have ups and downs like everyone. since the beginning of this pandemic I have panicked about catching COVID-19 and passing it to my family thought my line of work. Touching nearly every child's laptop and working in an office has put me on edge from day one. I have been telling my manager that for my own safety I would like to work from home for a long time but have been denied and even forwarded to O.H.
So what I'm wondering is, with this new information could I now shield and still work from home.
If anyone has any advice or information that could help me, please let me know. thank you.
Stay safe all.
xxx

 

[Mickeyminime]

I was identified for the first shielding due to high HBA1C results as i was recently diagnosed and wasn't given any much help or support. The second minor lockdown in decemeber, i was told i should shield, but never got a letter for it despite the nurse saying i should be at home as people less worse than me are being asked to stay at home. The current lockdown, i heard everyone who was asked to shield during the first one, should and must shield during this one. However i heard it changed, but spoke to one of the GP's about it and he said i should shield and a letter will be given to me in a few days to a week. However, nearly 2 months later, no letter, text or email arrived and i've been working ever since. I got the high risk letter a few days ago, but i will simply ignore it and go to work if i'm allowed too.

As far as i know, i was asked to shield due to high HBA1C levels being over 70/75. Royal Mail has been very slow with only like 2 letters being sent to me since the start of Jan. I saw something on Twitter about royal mail cutting back on high areas or something due to the Tier 4 being in place, not sure if its true though.

One nurse seems to think i'm type 2, the specialist consultant doesn't even know what i am while everyone else says i'm type 1 despite those in my family who have diabetes are type 2. I have had ketones in my system since the first shielding and have struggled to get them down ever since. To be honest, i've lost interest now, i wont shield, not again unless my manager forced me to do so. I will find out on Monday when i see him about if i can continue to work.

 

[Mickeyminime]

So, I am Tech support in a secondary school, I am type 1 and have high blood pressure ( I take meds for that ). My blood sugar is somewhat controlled, I have ups and downs like everyone. since the beginning of this pandemic I have panicked about catching COVID-19 and passing it to my family thought my line of work. Touching nearly every child's laptop and working in an office has put me on edge from day one. I have been telling my manager that for my own safety I would like to work from home for a long time but have been denied and even forwarded to O.H.
So what I'm wondering is, with this new information could I now shield and still work from home.
If anyone has any advice or information that could help me, please let me know. thank you.
Stay safe all.
xxx

This is what it says on my email about work.

This is from the NHS website https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/population

It might not be much, i'm still going through it, but as far as i know, diabetes has been moved to high risk.

 

[Warbird]

I was identified for the first shielding due to high HBA1C results as i was recently diagnosed and wasn't given any much help or support. The second minor lockdown in decemeber, i was told i should shield, but never got a letter for it despite the nurse saying i should be at home as people less worse than me are being asked to stay at home. The current lockdown, i heard everyone who was asked to shield during the first one, should and must shield during this one. However i heard it changed, but spoke to one of the GP's about it and he said i should shield and a letter will be given to me in a few days to a week. However, nearly 2 months later, no letter, text or email arrived and i've been working ever since. I got the high risk letter a few days ago, but i will simply ignore it and go to work if i'm allowed too.

As far as i know, i was asked to shield due to high HBA1C levels being over 70/75. Royal Mail has been very slow with only like 2 letters being sent to me since the start of Jan. I saw something on Twitter about royal mail cutting back on high areas or something due to the Tier 4 being in place, not sure if its true though.

One nurse seems to think i'm type 2, the specialist consultant doesn't even know what i am while everyone else says i'm type 1 despite those in my family who have diabetes are type 2. I have had ketones in my system since the first shielding and have struggled to get them down ever since. To be honest, i've lost interest now, i wont shield, not again unless my manager forced me to do so. I will find out on Monday when i see him about if i can continue to work.

Could you please tell me who told you to shield, I have spoken to the doctor and he told me my only option is to get a sick note if I don't want to work. As i said to work and the doctor, i want to work. but i need to work from home for safety.
I have not had a shielding letter from day one. With the new strain of the "kent" virus, it makes me panic like mad. I know i need to be in the house working from home.
Thank you

 

[grainger]

Nothing here - was hoping I might as thyroid issue along with type 1. But I live in an affluent area, am female and still considered youngish (38) so doubt I’ll receive one now.
Saying that we’ve not had any mail this week so you never know.

Emailed my GP and they don’t have any vaccine in stock anyway at the moment so I guess it wouldn’t make much difference.

 

[Mickeyminime]

I can't give you the actual names as i never paid attention to them. However, during the first shielding, i was given a letter from maylands healthcare down the road from me. This got me the 12 week shielding until the end of June. I didn't shield for the extra 1 month as shielding affected my health and mental state.

Sometime back in december, a nurse called me in regards to one of my phone call appointments with the specialist consulatant. Another nurse who kinda deals with me more often seems to think i'm type 2 and not type 1. Anyways, nurse 1 mentioned to me that i should be shielding as others with less worse problems are shielding too. During the past year, i've had so many nurses call me, i can never recall whos who.

The final time i spoke to a GP, he wasn't mine though as i wasn't chuffed who spoke to me, i just needed information. I asked if i should shield because i was identified back in march due to very high HBA1C levels which where over 70 at the time. He did ask me what my current results are and because i haven't been tested since the start of last year, i couldn't say other than i have had ketones in my system since May and can easily tell my levels are always high. His respone was, if your levels are over 70, you must shield like i was asked to do so the first time. He did say a letter or something will be sent, but nothing was given to me until nearly 2 months later. I don't know if it got lost through the post or they forgot about it.

I'm not sure if you will get the file, but this was the first letter i got from Maylands last year during the first shielding/lockdown we all had. It has the HBA1C levels stated at the very bottom under the list of dieseases and conditions. I've not spoken to anyone from the NHS or had any calls from them since then apart from the high risk email i got the other day. It too is from Maylands.