Hello fellow diabetics

[DavidBrian]

Hi DavidBrian here, just registered. Been type 1 for 48yrs. Now 67 self isolating, and living on my own which is proving difficult during our present times. Thankfully using Freestyle Libre nowadays which has proved to be a real blessing in glucose control. Having been used to exercise everyday including ballroom dancing 4 times a week I am now finding my levels have changed considerably which means constant monitoring. Has anybody else found gov advise regarding Diabetes and Covid -19 a little confusing? We are mentioned as a vulnerable group and yet omitted from their website to register for help. I know other people with other problems, some no more worse than diabetes have managed to register and are getting additional help which is great for them including food deliveries. Thankfully friends are helping me with food and prescriptions at the moment but its seems a little confusing to where we are in this crisis.

 

[SB2015]

Hi David and welcome to the forum

Diabetes does not put us at any greater risk of catching Covid, but if we caught it it would make our levels go bonkers and we would need to good in our sick day rules.

The early news casts did cause some confusion as we were described as at risk, but the list for shielding does not include those with Diabetes. Therefore we are not able to access the government support as it reserved for those with more serious medical conditions. This is the current advice from DUK which explains the different groups, now renamed

Coronavirus and diabetes updates

All the coronavirus information below applies to the whole of the UK, unless specified. We've noted where are some differences in guidance and diabetes services across the UK.

www.diabetes.org.uk

We are asked to socially distance, and take sensible precautions.

With regard to changes in level of activity, this has taken a bit of adjustment for me. Also just when I thought I had it sorted it needed to change again. As your u say the Libre makes the monitoring a lot easier, and the arrows enable us to head off highs and lows.

I hope that you get things settled to your new ‘normal’ existence.

 

[trophywench]

Well - cos you have to amuse yourself through awkward times, don't you? it has struck me that us T1s are really lucky, as obviously our own immune system is that strong it was able to murder the bits of the body that were obviously annoying it at the time, so that might bode well and hopefully it will regard this lot with the same dislike and murder that too!

Live in hope!

My husband is on the list you mention David, because he has COPD and only 50% normal lung capacity on a good day. Only if you walked anywhere with him, or were with him when he's doing anything more physical than the washing up, would you suspect he had a problem. I don't fancy his chances should he get infected, do you? It's another invisible disability - and we have no idea what immune suppressive drugs anybody might be on or whether they've got cancer or had an organ transplant etc.

 

[Flower]

Hello @DavidBrian and welcome, glad you’ve joined us 🙂

The initial information was confusing but I’m glad I can go for a walk once a day zigzagging across roads to stay far enough apart and combine it with the local shop once a week which is very well organised with one in one out and a long gappy queue!

Good to hear the Libre has helped you so much with changing levels during this very different time.

 

[miguel81]

Welcome @DavidBrian

 

[Steve_H]

I just received a letter and leaflet from DiabetesUK regarding Staying at Home and managing your diabetes, I am sure it may be useful for those who can. I found it interesting that it assumes we are all able to stay and home and not have to keep working, even though the Covid-19 advice page does.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It’s a tricky thing I think... because all people with diabetes are not the same - but the guidance has to be very simple.

Somthere is a risk of some things that are associated with some people with diabetes (eg excess weight, heart problems, kidney problems), and diabetes carries extra risks from respiratory infections (which is why we get the flu jab). And lots of people with diabetes are 70 or older.

Plus, any serious illness can be made much trickier when you have diabetes along for the ride.

So in one sense we seem to be at no greater greater risk of catching the virus, and if our diabetes is well managed, we don’t appear to be at extra risk of having a serious case... but on the other hand quite a few people struggling with Covid 19 in hospitals do have diabetes.

I agree though - shielding and sensible handwashing is perfectly adequate for the majority of PWD, and the additional support is much better focussed on those with additional conditions, or complicating factors.

I think the new phrases of ‘at increased risk’ and ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ are clearer. Because I do recognise that I am at slightly higher risk, but don't consider myself extremely clinically vulnerable.