New to Diabetes

[allenb]

Hi, I am new to this site. I was diagnosed with Type 2 in September. I was reading around 16-17..
but now i am reading 7-8 but aided by 4 tablets a day.
my question is that i am 3 weeks into recovery from a Full knee replacement and luckily off work but am i a high risk to the virus as i dont know myself and with my wife being a mobile hairdresser and 2 adult children at home.
i am 55 and pretty fit before the op and i am a postman.
any advice would be appreciated.

 

[trophywench]

Leading question for you Allen - is the knee healing on schedule, eg the skin where they made the necessary incision/hole(s) ? Cos if so - you are very likely to be no more 'at risk' than any other postman anywhere in the world without diabetes!

If any of us is considered to be more at risk by the NHS, we will receive specific and individual notification from then (the NHS themselves) very shortly.

Incidentally though not a replacement I fell and smashed a kneecap a couple of years ago, for which they made a 40cm ish incision along the knee, shin etc and I healed quicker than a normal person, it was a right struggle getting all the staples out again where new skin had grown over them! I told the nurse they all needed to come out and she said Oh we only take some of them out at first …. Soon changed her tune!

Mind you, took a fair bit longer than a fortnight to get my insulin dose back down to what it was pre accident.

 

[Tee G]

Hi @allenb - Welcome to the forum. Nice to have you here and hopefully recovering well from your recent operation.

As I understand things, (and they change rapidly!) If you are well, then having diabetes isnt in itself a reason to 'self isolate', unless elderly/other underlying health conditions. (If you suspect you have it you isolate for 7 days, if other in the home with you then you ALL need to isolate for 14 days). If the former, no issues, Its rather more encouraged that we 'distance' ourselves (easier said than done if others are in the household too). Its very confusing isnt it. I guess the thing is to make sure 'everyone' in the home knows the recommended guidelines and importance of cleanliness, avoiding crowded places, restricting movements, limit contact and social gatherings with friends/family etc. I put a link here for you, that may help.

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

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @allenb

The link Tee G has given you is very useful. Your likelihood to catch the virus is more dependent on the amount of close contacts with other people that you have, rather than your T1. Just make sure that you are ready with your Sick Day Rules, including you Total Daily Dose. It is always surprising for me how much extra insulin I need when ill.

Take care.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @allenb

Diabetes does carry a degree of extra risk with any illness (that’s why we get offered the flu jab each year)... so in a sense Coronavirus is no different... but from what I can tell, well managed diabetes is thought to carry little if any additional risk in itself. It can be more complex where people have comorbidities’ of factors such as heart problems or high BP which are more likely in people with diabetes.

But the advice is still social distancing for us, rather than full-on isolation.