Diabetes, vulnerable groups, diabetes and today’s press conference

[AJLang]

For the first time in my fight with Type 1 Diabetes I am beyond words of upset. I’ve read two pieces of peer reviewed papers today about the high effects of Covid/Coronavirus complications for those with diabetes. I received a letter from my diabetes insulin pump clinic a few weeks ago that I am higher risk with regard to Covid-19 despite having an excellent HBA1C. Yet at today’s Coronavirus press conference there was reference to various factors, including those over 70, those who have been told to shield etc but nothing about those of us who were originally put in the vulnerable group under 70 with underlying health conditions such as diabetes. I feel as I/we have been erased despite being previously advised to STRINGENTLY self distance.

 

[AJLang]

I’ve done the same Martin. I haven’t left the house for eight weeks and my partner hasn’t left the house since March 23rd to protect me. Also I rely on him as my carer and don’t know what I would do if he got I’ll and couldn’t help me. But the Pharmacist has only delivered my prescriptions because I was in the vulnerable group. I don’t know if they will now change their mind, but hopefully they will see that I have 16-18 different medications and will continue to deliver. But it’s not guaranteed because each time I ask for a delivery they ask a number of questions to see if it needs delivering.

 

[Flutterby]

I am approaching my 7th week of "isolation". Paul has to go and get the shopping for ourselves and my parents and I do feel terrified for both of us at times. He goes once a week only, we could last for longer but my parents are used to a weekly shop and it took every ounce of resourcefulness to persuade them not to go themselves. I am going to adhere to the original guidance although if they relax the rules a little I would see my sister and Helen.

I feel its wrong to have changed the guidance basically with no explanation or evidence to support the U turn.

 

[Drummer]

A lot of people have been left distressed - households where all the occupants are to some extent disabled but all expected to rely on family for support as there is none forthcoming from anywhere else.
I have seen any number of disabled people in the queues at the supermarket - one time there was someone hardly able to see pushing, and being directed by a wheelchair user. The person marshalling the queue called for a member of staff to come and assist them - but they should, surely, not have been there are all - they both looked as though a good puff of wind would knock them over.

I'd have thought that there would have been an automatic assumption for a need to deliver to care homes - for instance, but it seems not - obviously no one thought about such a situation before and all the planning for a pandemic was done in a thoughtless manner, no joined up thinking. Equally scandalous is people being discharged from hospitals into care homes untested. The whole situation is a mess.

There are people desperate for help, and yet there are people who volunteered to assist being ignored, from those willing to run errands to suppliers of PPE. It is a shambles, and shamefully so - there was no need for things to be this bad.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

This is todays update https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ying-at-home-and-away-from-others#eel-decline

Which states people with diabetes are clinically vulnerable.
We are not in the highly vulnerable group for having just diabetes. These two groups are totally different. There's no reason for you not to go out as long as you keep to the social distance rules.

I was placed in the highly vulnerable group because of my steroid use. In all honesty it hasn't made any difference as delivery slots seem to be after dark (10pm) for groceries so as super markets have times published for the elderly and vulnerable it's easier and quicker to go then.
So I really can't understand what your problem is.

 

[stephknits]

I feel very fortunate to have been furloughed, so the decision on the extent of my social distancing has been taken for me. What will become less clear is when the furlough ends but covid has not gone away. I do think alot about those of us who are still working in this vulnerable group, but have to keep hearing on the news about deaths of people 'with underlying health conditions'

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry you've been upset Amanda.

I remember hearing the 12-week lockdown press conference, and I posted about it here:

Coronavirus / Covid19 Information

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock has launched an expanded public health awareness campaign on COVID-19 (Coronavirus). It urges people to wash their hands more often for 20 seconds. You can find their campaign on their social media channels below. Twitter:

forum.diabetes.org.uk

But as soon as I went looking for the actual information (rather than the rather confused narrative of the press briefing) I could never find 12 week isolation recommended for PWD. As far as I understand it PWD in the UK were only ever intended to socially distance (unless they have additional health issues), however much press coverage, including Pulse the GP news source, kept reinforcing the confusion.

The .gov site hasn't ever changed in its core advice as far as I am aware - 'stringent' social distancing for PWD, and self isolation for 'clinically extremely vulnerable'.

That's my understanding anyway.

 

[Robin]

I think the reason there wasn’t a reference to people who were originally in the ‘need to take extra care' measures were twofold.
1) Once the full lockdown took place on March 23rd, everyone was supposed to take the most stringent measures, and take as much care as they could, so there was nothing extra that the over 70s or people qualifying for the flu jab (the original criteria) could do.
2) The subject came up in response to a specific question, which was about whether the fit over 70s would be subjected to the same blanket measures as those with existing health conditions, in any 'unlocking' . The questioner was asking from the point of view of not wanting extra measures imposed on them if they felt they weren’t necessary, Therefore, the question about vulnerable people who weren’t in the shielding category wasn’t addressed.

 

[AJLang]

This is todays update https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ying-at-home-and-away-from-others#eel-decline

Which states people with diabetes are clinically vulnerable.
We are not in the highly vulnerable group for having just diabetes. These two groups are totally different. There's no reason for you not to go out as long as you keep to the social distance rules.

I was placed in the highly vulnerable group because of my steroid use. In all honesty it hasn't made any difference as delivery slots seem to be after dark (10pm) for groceries so as super markets have times published for the elderly and vulnerable it's easier and quicker to go then.
So I really can't understand what your problem is.

Thank you very much for the updated link @Pumper_Sue. It’s so difficult to know what the current information is.

 

[AJLang]

Sorry you've been upset Amanda.

I remember hearing the 12-week lockdown press conference, and I posted about it here:

Coronavirus / Covid19 Information

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock has launched an expanded public health awareness campaign on COVID-19 (Coronavirus). It urges people to wash their hands more often for 20 seconds. You can find their campaign on their social media channels below. Twitter:

forum.diabetes.org.uk

But as soon as I went looking for the actual information (rather than the rather confused narrative of the press briefing) I could never find 12 week isolation recommended for PWD. As far as I understand it PWD in the UK were only ever intended to socially distance (unless they have additional health issues), however much press coverage, including Pulse the GP news source, kept reinforcing the confusion.

The .gov site hasn't ever changed in its core advice as far as I am aware - 'stringent' social distancing for PWD, and self isolation for 'clinically extremely vulnerable'.

That's my understanding anyway.

Thanks Mike. I have a PhD yet find all of this confusing as to what is the current information.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks Mike. I have a PhD yet find all of this confusing as to what is the current information.

You can follow the old-to-new Social Distancing advice from here

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

www.gov.uk

This has been withdrawn as of May 1 in favour of ‘stay at home and away from others’ social distancing advice

[Withdrawn] Staying at home and away from others (social distancing)

www.gov.uk

 

[brisr949]

One quick point in regards to grocery shopping, if you are worried go late, my local tesco which shuts at ten, i get there around 9.30 and the maximum number of other customers i witnessed has been 6 and on one visit me and one other shopper had the store to ourselves. And thanks to the fantastic job of the store staff in restocking the shelves were pretty full and i have always come away with what i need.
I know its not convenient for everyone to be out at that time but the pros way outweigh the cons.
Adam.

 

[eggyg]

It’s all so confusing. This time last week I was happily under the illusion I was “ only” vulnerable as is Mr Eggy. I ticked two boxes, diabetic and don’t have a spleen. On Sunday I saw an article from NHS England saying splenectomy patients were mistakenly left off the shielding list and had from April 24th been put on it. Although it appears from the above link that the clinically vulnerable list has been updated today and splenectomy patients are no longer on it but the clinically extremely vulnerable/ shielding list hasn’t been updated for two weeks. If I hadn’t seen the article I might be under the illusion I was able to go shopping etc. Luckily I’m sensible and have self isolated for six weeks, had been out for daily walks as instructed, so feel fairly sure I’m not infected. It’s such a mess. I didn’t want to be “ upgraded”, it’s my worst nightmare having to be stuck in the house for God knows how long, and don’t need extra help, food parcels etc but it appears to all intents and purposes I’m not on any list!

 

[mikeyB]

I don’t qualify for priority shopping online according to the government. Okay, I only have T1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, chronic pancreatitis, mild asthma and I have to use a wheelchair because my legs don’t work due to PLS. Tesco think differently - I contacted Customer Service, and they bunged me on the list. Now I have access to priority slots (only £2 delivery charge) and I have to accept delivery time between 10 am and 6 pm. That’s no hardship, I’m going nowhere. (Might not be out of bed or PJs, mind).

I don’t think this will work for everyone - I have a history of online shopping with Tesco (they checked). And if you just don’t fancy social distancing, forget it.

 

[AJLang]

You can follow the old-to-new Social Distancing advice from here

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

www.gov.uk

This has been withdrawn as of May 1 in favour of ‘stay at home and away from others’ social distancing advice

[Withdrawn] Staying at home and away from others (social distancing)

www.gov.uk

Thanks Mike, those links are very helpful. I wish there was a way of knowing when information is updated.

 

[AJLang]

I don’t qualify for priority shopping online according to the government. Okay, I only have T1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, chronic pancreatitis, mild asthma and I have to use a wheelchair because my legs don’t work due to PLS. Tesco think differently - I contacted Customer Service, and they bunged me on the list. Now I have access to priority slots (only £2 delivery charge) and I have to accept delivery time between 10 am and 6 pm. That’s no hardship, I’m going nowhere. (Might not be out of bed or PJs, mind).

I don’t think this will work for everyone - I have a history of online shopping with Tesco (they checked). And if you just don’t fancy social distancing, forget it.

They’ve been very good with me as well MikeyB. Like you I had already been relying on home deliveries for a long time. It can be hard work finding when the slots when I live are available but I’ve been lucky to get enough so far. We’ve also got a company that usually supplies the hospitality industry with veg etc etc but they’ve now moved to home delivery for during the current situation. We also have a butchers who have started delivering. I haven’t tried them yet but they have a good reputation. Iceland also seems to have regular slots but you have to keep checking during the day to find out when they have deliveries available. It has all been an “interesting” experience.

 

[AndBreathe]

Thanks Mike, those links are very helpful. I wish there was a way of knowing when information is updated.

Thanks Mike, those links are very helpful. I wish there was a way of knowing when information is updated.

There is such a thing. The gov.uk/coronavius webpages have the option to subscribe for updates. You can either have updates as they are published (many a day), or a daily digest. I started off with the "real time", but found it overwhelming - not the information, but the sheer quantity of mails. The daily digest can be long, with lots of links in it, but it's usually easy enough to work out which are potentially of personal interest. I'd suggest the digest, if you give it a go.

The site, I found, very easy to read, and the search facility also very good.

I hope that helps.

 

[AJLang]

@AndBreathe Thats a brilliant help. Thank you so much.