Do you use other diabetes support forums?

[everydayupsanddowns]

I don't think the purpose of this thread is to vent your spleen about another forum McD. Neither do I think that 'forum monogamy' is a requirement of membership here. There are several members here who also post on DSF. Many of the suggestions/discussions about the usefulness of reducing carb intake there could just as easily take place here. And there are many members here who are equally cautious about statins (though I know you are a staunch defender of statins yourself). Those on DSF who have taken statins and experienced nasty memory loss and joint pain side-effects are entitled to their opinions I would say.

I've always found both here and DSF very friendly, helpful and full of useful information. In fact I frequently point people to the basal testing write-up there which is very useful (http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120) and it was DSF where I first came across Jennifer's Advice.

 

[Northerner]

Quite right Mike. This thread is about ascertaining whether people use other forums and what made them join here, and not to discuss the perceived merits or otherwise of other forums. The people at DSF were very helpful to me when I first took on the role of Admin. It's good that there are different forums so that each person's preferences can be catered for. 🙂

 

[mcdonagh47]

I don't think the purpose of this thread is to vent your spleen about another forum McD. Advice.

I wasn't "venting my spleen" as you put it. Perhaps you missed the bit where I said DSF was "good in parts " ?
I was merely answering Admin's original question "what put you off other forums". The dominance of Cholesterol-deniers on DSf puts me off and probably many others.

 

[mcdonagh47]

Quite right Mike. This thread is about ascertaining whether people use other forums and what made them join here, and not to discuss the perceived merits or otherwise of other forums.

The question you posed at the head of this thread was ...
"Or did you try any others before coming here. and if so what put you off using the others?"
How can anyone say what put them off using other forums without discussing the perceived merits/demerits of the other forums ????????????
And plenty of contributors to this thread have already commented on the perceived faults on other forums.

 

[Northerner]

The question you posed at the head of this thread was ...
"Or did you try any others before coming here. and if so what put you off using the others?"
How can anyone say what put them off using other forums without discussing the perceived merits/demerits of the other forums ????????????
And plenty of contributors to this thread have already commented on the perceived faults on other forums.

Perhaps if you put 'in my opinion' rather than expressing your views as a statement of fact?

 

[AndyS]

Hi Alan

I find with this site people are more friendly and not cluttered by advertising.

The other thing I find is the people on here are a lot more friendly than other sites.

I have found through the years a lot of public forums are dominated by 'keyboard warriors' - This site is different. I can honestly say I haven't ever felt uncomfortable posting, replying or starting a new thread. The other sites I would have had to be really desperate to post anything.

Hope this makes sense.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Northerner]

It makes sense to me Andy. I think we all have enough to deal with without having to battle with egoism, particularly on support forums 🙂

 

[am64]

only one for me ....😉

 

[trophywench]

It makes sense to me Andy. I think we all have enough to deal with without having to battle with egoism, particularly on support forums 🙂

Hear blooming Hear.

By the way mcdonagh, get yer facts right - make that 2 Mods from DSF. One of em was a Founder member. And every forum has personalities who hate this or that; a lot of what you call 'Cholestrol denial' actually stems from people having orrible side effects from statins rather than 'denying cholesterol' - but do put your own interpretation on it; everything on a public forum is open to that, isn't it? And quite rightly so !

I actually joined this one defore I joined that one TBH, but it was very slow here and there were no answers or questions at the time that encouraged me to go into detail of all the vile things I was experiencing at that time which I needed urgent help with.

I found the help I needed on the forum at Diabetes Insight - when the owner of that decided to close it the people who were actually manning the forum (ie the very folk who helped me) offered to run it - he woulldn't hear of it and closed it and the DI website rather than let it go ahead without his input, which may have been large to begin with but certainly wasn't by the time I arrived. So the folk I mentioned set up DSF. No advertisers; no spam; a damn good team of Mods who are blooming good spotters for rubbish.

I think if you look for stuff to criticise you can always find it. Good grief 'or' motorhome forum has a core of people with bees in their bonnets about all sorts of stuff, such as constantly grinding on ad nauseam that one particular manufacturer is complete rubbish having had one example 10 years ago that failed miserably. Well yes, you can understand why that would oput you off but no amount of people with later models they've had for years with NP at all will stop them repeating that no-one in their right mind should touch them with a bargepole .....

After all, loads of people take statins and apparently have no trouble at all ........ LOL

Finally I think the 'technical' help here has come on in leaps and bounds recently.

 

[lucy123]

I was directed here after ringing some helpline at Diabetes UK (I think) after the GP stuck a leaflet in my hand and told me to get on with it. I haven't tried any other forums.

I find the support, the laughter, the hugs, the technical advice, the friendships all so valuable to me in changing my life to a healthier one.

My diabetes is special and so many could have said 'i don't believe you' when I was discussing my hypos as this is more or less what the dsn said!

However with your support I persevered, and finally spent a week in hospital where my hypos were witnessed and logged - now no one can argue about it as its all recorded and I get test strips now!

So without all of you I wouldn't know anything about hba1c, annual checks, retinopathy and would not have had the strength to fight when I knew something was wrong. So thank you.

I have to add there have been times when I have needed to take a break from the forum when certain things got me down, but I do tend to come on every day - and I suppose If I was seeing a friend every day I would need a break too! Whenever I have come back though I have been made to feel just as welcome as before.

So no other forum for me - no need!🙂

 

[AlisonF]

I've never used any other site other than a quick dip into diabetes-support for a look and of course shootuporputup, which I stumbled upon by accident but have never actually contributed to (shame on me 😱).

As co-writer of shootuporputup, I say absolutely shame on you Rob 😉 Do say hello, it would be good to hear from you.

Other than here and ShootUp, I also go to diabetes-support.org.uk and www.insulinpumpforums.com, a Canadian site which I found really useful when I first got my CGM as there were lots of other users on there.

 

[Flutterby]

Simple answer from me, No I only use this forum although I do meet and chat with some people with diabetes on the stroke forum I use.

 

[delb t]

we have only used this forum - always had practical and supportive answers-in those early days were much needed- and hey ho have just got back from tenerife- waterparks and all!- not bad for 4 months in ( teenager 15}