New and old.

[Jonathan_15Jan1969]

Have had diabetes since 15th Jan 1969 as appears in my username.

Visited but never joined but thinking about things I feel you don't always get information where you SHOULD get it. It's rarely offered. So a forum of likewise people who actually have the illness are the true experts and a better source of information in my opinion.

To be honest over the years you have a consultant on your appointment card but never see them. You see student doctors more often and you say it's ok for them to be there but it makes you less forthcoming.
Especially if you are shy like myself. Not comfortable with people I don't know, and less likely to have courage to ask. More outgoing in an online environment.My last consultant retired after about 20 years and I think I saw him three times. I'd probably have been more comfortable if I saw him every time.

I'm maybe a bit cynical but I'm of the opinion that experts may know about the illness but they can't truly understand it. Experts can make you feel bad about yourself (not all - some have brilliant bedside manner but above average for me).

We're often better behaved with our lifestyle than the none diabetic population, but the illness can be a bit indiscriminate and land right in our face. Then we're judged by those who shouldn't judge.

But seriously, I think you can learn more from a forum of likewise 'sufferers' than someone who doesn't really know what you're going through and cannot ever do so without living it first hand.
I'd love a diabetic consultant - meaning a consultant who is a diabetic - but have never met one.

Plus being shy prefer a get in, get out and not hang around diabetic visit, so rarely ask questions to cause me to be any longer in a place I don't want to be.
Unless they offer new information, which I don't think has ever happened in these last few decades at least, where can you learn anything if you don't like to verbally ask?

I've found out on here about the flash gm and how it's to become available on the NHS and it's likely if I hadn't it will never be offered but now I can indicate an interest in the future. I'm a geek who works in I.T. and love my gadgets

So hello to you all, long term and novice, T1 and T2 diabetics alike, kindred spirits one and all, and your thoughtful, helpful and none judgemental information posts which I have read a lot of in the past.

Jonathan

 

[trophywench]

Hi Jonathan

You're overdue for a medal from Diabetes UK it appears? - have you applied?

Were you aware that everyone who works for the NHS now has an email address - and if you want to be seen by Dr Bloggs but don't wish a roomful of students there, then you can email the clinic (probably best to email your DSN if you know her/him) and SAY so if you are uncomfortable with asking 'in person' out of the blue - and say WHY.

It is a PITA when it's a large teaching hospital - but there definitely be other people exactly like you who get sick of the sight of students and housemen - and I don't mind occasionally but not all the damn while with no proper continuity of care. I know this for the simple reason I'm one of em! LOL

 

[Lisa66]

Hi Jonathan

I'm a newbie compared to you, I was diagnosed in 1978, but since I joined the forum I've learnt how lucky I've been with my care over the years and can count on one hand the number of times I've been seen by a registrar and not the main consultant.

I agree with Jenny, sometimes you have to just ask for what you want, which is easier now with email, if you are not confident enough to call. On the couple of occasions when a clinic has been moved or stopped my gps have said great we can look after you. I've said thank you very much but I'd like to see the experts and back I go to the clinic. The consultants also have secretaries that you can ring and speak to.

Hopefully knowledge you've picked up on the forum will give you the confidence to ask more questions at appointments.

Oh and I do actually know a diabetic consultant. He's actually quite human! 🙂

 

[Jonathan_15Jan1969]

I wasn't aware they gave medals, so thanks for the information I've learned something already. On research I'm not sure I'd be viable yet as I can only see a 50 year one awarded and that wouldn't be until 15th January 2019. Something to countdown on in a year or so perhaps. Unless there's a 25 year one or something but that would be so overdue not worth bothering now 😉

It is useful to know of individual email addresses which I assumed they had but weren't for outsiders so good to be aware of now, so if we know them we can email them.
Though I don't actually mind students they have to learn, it's only I probably wouldn't be teaching them much as I'd respond to questions with short unappealing answers most likely.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Unless there's a 25 year one or something but that would be so overdue not worth bothering now 😉

There used to be a 15 year and a 25 year medal. These were stopped due to so many people living way beyond these milestones so they start at 50 now .
It will get to the stage soon when they scrap the 50 as it's the norm for people to have diabetes for 50/60/70 and even 80 years now 🙂

 

[Beck S]

Hi Jonathan 🙂

Although I've only seen her once, the specialist nurse I saw is diabetic too and was able to give me a few hints and tips about diet and how to structure my day which was good. I agree about the consultant - I know his name, and I've met his registrar, but that's it! I've only been here a few weeks but I've found everyone friendly and happy to answer my questions. Some things make a lot more sense to me after speaking to people here.

 

[Jonathan_15Jan1969]

Made the mistake of posting a thread too close to my introduction and has caused some confusion.
Albeit my intro was in the 'Newbies say hello here' forum and the other in General Messageboard.
I should have waited a while before the as it was then story, but as the saying goes 'hindsight is a wonderful thing'

Apologies for any confusion.

The General Messageboard post is a historical piece from my diagnosis but that is so long ago and in no way like today it didn't feel like an introduction piece - irrelevant to
now. I thought it might give newly diagnosed a glimpse of back then and if feeling like the end of their world not seem so bad. It's a lot better now.

However due to this I have had welcome posts and questions relating to 'today' so thought I'd give a general
'Thanks for all the friendly greetings' and an answer to a questions of ...

'What my regime is and how things are with me today' and hopefully bring the Now posts back here. 😉

My current regime is a common one. Novorapid and Lantus in my case. I started on Levemir as my basal but it didn't have the legs for 24hrs.
After trying with a morning evening split and still no improvement moved to Lantus and that was a better fit.

Also I'm on a collection of blood pressure tablets that keep it within what it should.Was first on Enalapril which is the kidney protector and as a preventative
but with the years there's been a need to adjust (Amlodopine/Bendroflumothiazide(hard to spell as pronounce but you know the one if it's wrong).
I do have white coat syndrome so it occasionally goes high on doctor visits but generally it's good.

Things are much better today. I was on Actrapid as a bolus before the Novorapid and believe if memory serves Ultratard used as a basal insulin but although blood sugar was good levels it was at a cost.
Actrapid was terrible - we can't/shouldn't inject before driving. I waited till home from work and first thing through the door injected then ate 30-45 minutes later. However the insulin never kicked
in fast enough. No appetite and hard to eat and left food. Actrapid was far from what it's name suggested. Late in the evening 3 or more hours after injection the appetite comes along and as there's
no prepared food or incentive to make new I ate sweet stuff - A Mars supper. It was a bad diet but I kept weight down and blood sugars were reasonable.

Now I have an appetite and for that alone Novorapid is my friend. Got a bit of a stomach but within acceptable range so no harm no foul.

 

[trophywench]

Of course Levemir didn't have the legs for 24 hours - it was never supposed to ! - always been twice a day for Type 1s, though some T2s find it's enough. Anyway you're on Lantus now and there have also been some different new insulins more recently anyway.