I'm a type 1 and a few weeks ago received the government's shielding letter that was talked about. States that I have been identified as very high risk. Has every Type 1 received this? There is a list of conditions on the letter that are considered to be very high risk, but diabetes is not listed. I'm confused. Have I received this letter in error??
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Has every Type 1 received The High Risk Letter?
- Thread starter ezzycozzy
- Start date
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Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
We have not received any letter. As far as I understand it, Diabetes alone does not require you to self isolate, only social distance extremely carefully. So it depends on what other conditions you may have. My mum has received one, but I think that is more because of her asthma than her diabetes. I think GPs are supposed to be looking at each person individually rather than just sending letters out to anyone with a particular condition. I have asthma but only mildly so I don’t need to isolate either.
It does sound like an error. Best course of action would be to check with your GP surgery how you got the letter and take it from there.
AndBreathe
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
@ezzycozzy - The only thing I can think of is your HbA1c might have been on the higher side last time around? I gather some people with diabetes are receiving letters on that basis.
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Are you overweight as that will put you at a very high risk as well.
nonethewiser
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Must be error, never received anything not expecting to.
D
Deleted member 27171
Guest
@ezzycozzy it may be an error as people with diabetes are not generally in the shielding group, but until you have spoken with your GP to ascertain why it was sent please do not assume it is an error.
I got the text message and then the letter...queried this with my GP and he wasn't sure why I had received this.I have had some control issues over the last couple of months but probably stress (mother who isn't well who lives 150 miles away plus partner who I haven't seen for 5 weeks as she is looking after an old lady of 94 who also see's a number of carers so she's afraid of possibly passing Covid to me and VV) and what I thought was a series of colds over the past weeks but appears I have hay fever again after not having it for 40 years !
Have primarily been working from home but go into work 1 or 2 days a week to perform audits....keeping social distancing isn't difficult as a large amount of my company's workforce have been furloughed.Also wear gloves/masks when appropriate and also when food shopping etc.
Have primarily been working from home but go into work 1 or 2 days a week to perform audits....keeping social distancing isn't difficult as a large amount of my company's workforce have been furloughed.Also wear gloves/masks when appropriate and also when food shopping etc.
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I had three yes 3 letters telling me to isolate and one telling me no need! So I don't bother and just carry on as normal. I'm on steroids hence the letter.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
My partner and I both received letters. I was expecting him to get one as he take immunosuppressant drug for really bad eczema. I was quite shocked as I got the phone call offering support before I got the letter. I have mild seasonal (autumn/winter) asthma as well as Type 1 but last HbA1c was 61 and I am a healthy weight and reasonably fit so don't feel that I am at any more risk than your average Jo Public and maybe even less so as I have very little contact with people and live in a rural location.
We both have horses and I also have chickens and cats at 2 separate locations and I have no one local whom I would trust to take over those animal husbandry duties particularly for weeks on end, therefore I am ignoring the letter and just being careful wearing a mask and gloves when shopping etc. I cannot justify getting someone to do my shopping/ collecting prescriptions etc when I am out of the house twice a day seeing to animals and, as I said, I am fit and healthy.
I am sure my partner is far more at risk from other dangers working on a farm with his immunosuppressant drug than from C-19, and the farmer would not manage without him, so he has not felt able to comply with the letter either.
We both have horses and I also have chickens and cats at 2 separate locations and I have no one local whom I would trust to take over those animal husbandry duties particularly for weeks on end, therefore I am ignoring the letter and just being careful wearing a mask and gloves when shopping etc. I cannot justify getting someone to do my shopping/ collecting prescriptions etc when I am out of the house twice a day seeing to animals and, as I said, I am fit and healthy.
I am sure my partner is far more at risk from other dangers working on a farm with his immunosuppressant drug than from C-19, and the farmer would not manage without him, so he has not felt able to comply with the letter either.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It is unusual, but not unheard of for people with T1 to be advised to ‘shield’. You really need to speak to whoever issued the letter to see why it was sent in your case.
There may be additional factors in your medical history that make shielding appropriate for you.
There may be additional factors in your medical history that make shielding appropriate for you.
JJay
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I received a letter (from my GP practice rather than the Govt). On querying it I was told it was because I had both diabetes and high blood pressure. Well, I do take BP medication but it's doing its job properly, and I've not had anything other than a normal reading for 20 years. So I don't see myself as "extremely vulnerable" and I'm just taking the normal precautions.
M.S. is not itself a condition that requires shielding (it does not make you "clinically extremely vulnerable"), but only extra care to ensure you follow the rules on hygiene and social distancing (it only makes you "clinically vulnerable"). That is the same category as for anyone with diabetes.
The M.S. Society gives specific situations under which people with M.S. should be shielding because of the condition. If these apply you should contact your G.P. if you need access to the assistance offered by being on the shielding list. Otherwise, where possible, anyone can voluntarily shield themselves.
www.mssociety.org.uk
The M.S. Society gives specific situations under which people with M.S. should be shielding because of the condition. If these apply you should contact your G.P. if you need access to the assistance offered by being on the shielding list. Otherwise, where possible, anyone can voluntarily shield themselves.
MS and coronavirus care and support
We’ve been talking to lots of people in our community about MS and COVID-19. These are some of the questions that crop up the most.
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