Received Coronavirus 12 week isolation letter. Anyone else?

[sflynn96]

Hi,

Last Monday (30th March) I receieved the letter from my GP telling me to isolate for 12 weeks. I am a 23 year old with reasonable control, I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 8 and have no related complications or any other comorbidities. I contacted my GP as I knew Diabetes was not on the list of conditions needed to shield, so upon speaking with the receptionist she explained a mistake had been made at the surgery itself with some letters going out to patients who did not need them. I was told to forget I had been sent the letter for the moment while they were finding out more information and to reach a definite answer. Yesterday, I received a phone call from the GP receptionist to say that they have carried out another "search" and that diabetes is high risk so that my letter still stands after telling me it had been a mistake.

I spoke with my diabetes nurse who said that this isn't government advice for me to shield, unless I did have any other problems/conditions which I don't and that it looks like my GP has gone off their own backs to send me the 12 week shielding letter. I have tried to explain this to the secretary and have asked to speak to the GP themselves, but apparently they are not dealing with these letters.
I was also due to be starting my new job as a newly qualified Staff Nurse in my local A&E department on the 20th of this month and this letter has put a massive spanner in the works. I would have needed a risk assessment for starting anyway, but now I don't think my manager will let me start my job at all or be able to go on any of the training which doesn't even involve patient contact.

I wondered if anyone else at all had receieved these letters in the same position as me and what your thoughts would be?

Thanks,

Siobhan.

 

[mikeyB]

Hi Siobhan, welcome to the forum.

You shouldn’t have received that letter, so ignore it. You don’t have to tell your future employer that you received it, because it was an error and doesn’t comply with government advice. While Covid 19 infection may, like every other possible infection - even a cold - affect your diabetic control, it doesn’t of itself make you more likely to be seriously affected.

Working in A&E you should be supplied with full protective gear in any event. Stick to the rules, and you should be safe. Or at least as safe as the other heroes in the NHS.

Finally, it’s worth saying that you are the only person on the forum with just T1 who has received such a letter.

All the best in your new career, and thank you from everyone for doing it.🙂

 

[missclb]

Hi Sioban! You've definitely had a bit of conflicting advice. Yikes. As far as I know, no other T1s have received the letter unless they have other health issues that put them at higher risk. Hopefully you can get started at your new role, without any further hassle. Goodness knows they / we need you!

Best of luck. Stay safe. And T H A N K Y O U x

 

[Davein]

We have registered (lung cancer- live chemo) but have yet to receive confirmation. It seems as always a lot of judgements will be in error whilst those who should be on the list will have been missed.
As to my thoughts.... how fortunate we are to have such dedicated young people such as yourself. Your letter would have effectively given you a 'get out of jail free card' and you could have chosen to isolate for 12 weeks. We owe you a great debt of gratitude. Take care

 

[Ivostas66]

Seems strange @sflynn96. My Mum's neighbour is extremely fit and healthy without any underlying health issues. She had a small cancerous mole removed from her back last year, but following it's removal it was found that there was no sign of skin cancer elsewhere. She received a letter telling her to shield, but has chosen to ignore it.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I wondered if anyone else at all had receieved these letters in the same position as me and what your thoughts would be?

Someone on reddit suggested the advice is about to change. (I think it's more likely a confusion. We have these three bands of recommendation: everyone should practice social distancing, some people (like us) should really really practice social distancing, and some people should be shielded.)

But if we assume the peak is going to be during the next 12 weeks, maybe they'll change the advice?

https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes_t1/comments/fws2ol

 

[Mickeyminime]

I got a text saying i had been identified to be at risk. A link to the letter that says diabetes HbA1C above 75 are at risk. Mine where in the 70's as i was recently diagnosed back in late 2018 with my levels being way above 150 at the time. Because of the lack of support, my levels are going down bit by bit, but not fast enough. I haven't been able to reach my GP yet, but there are quite a lot of diabetics that have been told to isolate. It was even on the WHO twitter page with one of its posts of those who are at risk. If your levels are very well controlled, then yes, you should be fine. But chance of a possible problem in the long run if you happen to catch the virus. My job is in a supermarket, i wasn't able to avoid anyone, staff or customers a like. I might not do the full 12 weeks, specially as i'm having to go out to collect meds or even some minor shopping as theres no one around. I did call my healthcare centre and they did say anyone with health conditions, early or late, specially age are at risk, diabetes is one of them. Information in regards to diabetes being at risk has been all over the place and extremely confusing. So for now, i will isolate until i know for sure its ok to go out.

 

[Ditto]

I got a text just now. I don't feel extremely vulnerable really. I was very surprised to get this text. There's no way I can stay in, have to go out hunter/gathering for Mum! Anyways, I've had it. 🙂

 

[Leonora]

Hello there. Just as a precaution I would write your doctor a short letter explaining your circumstances and ask him/her to give you a fit to work note or letter. That way you've covered all bases. Personally, I wouldn't just ignore it. Just a suggestion.

 

[MarkGeordie]

My step dad received a letter from his GP too and all he has is Type One diabetes and has been told to isolate for 12 weeks.

 

[trophywench]

I haven't received anything as yet, anyway. Having said that the garden is the furthest I've been out of the house since March 12th, shortly thereafter our daughters grounded us both anyway and Pete got the 12 week letter just after that.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I‘ve asked Diabetes UK about this confusion, and had this response:

“having diabetes alone does not put someone into the shielding group, but they still must keep very strict social distancing advice. Shielding advice is given to those with severe respiratory conditions, some cancers, and those receiving immunosuppressants or with severe immune system challenges, such as kidney disease. Many of these people will have diabetes also. If you have been advised to shield at this time and are unsure why, we would suggest you continue to keep to this advice and speak to your GP regarding the specific details of the need for this.”

The .gov website certainly doesn’t put ‘vanilla’ diabetes into the highly vulnerable group. So it doesn’t seem that this letter should stop you from starting your new job (congratulations!) but it would be worthwhile speaking to the GP who made the decision to ask the reasons - particularly since you do not fit into any of the correct categories to get additional help or assistance with shopping or medications if you need it.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @sflynn96 , and THANK YOU for all you are doing.

Like others with T1 I have only had the standard text ‘Stay at home, ....’ that mobile providers sent out to everyone. I hope that you are able to get this sorted and so able to start your new job.

 

[Jaydee70]

Hi,

Last Monday (30th March) I receieved the letter from my GP telling me to isolate for 12 weeks. I am a 23 year old with reasonable control, I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 8 and have no related complications or any other comorbidities. I contacted my GP as I knew Diabetes was not on the list of conditions needed to shield, so upon speaking with the receptionist she explained a mistake had been made at the surgery itself with some letters going out to patients who did not need them. I was told to forget I had been sent the letter for the moment while they were finding out more information and to reach a definite answer. Yesterday, I received a phone call from the GP receptionist to say that they have carried out another "search" and that diabetes is high risk so that my letter still stands after telling me it had been a mistake.

I spoke with my diabetes nurse who said that this isn't government advice for me to shield, unless I did have any other problems/conditions which I don't and that it looks like my GP has gone off their own backs to send me the 12 week shielding letter. I have tried to explain this to the secretary and have asked to speak to the GP themselves, but apparently they are not dealing with these letters.
I was also due to be starting my new job as a newly qualified Staff Nurse in my local A&E department on the 20th of this month and this letter has put a massive spanner in the works. I would have needed a risk assessment for starting anyway, but now I don't think my manager will let me start my job at all or be able to go on any of the training which doesn't even involve patient contact.

I wondered if anyone else at all had receieved these letters in the same position as me and what your thoughts would be?

Thanks,

Siobhan.

i also have heart disease ,copd,asthma,as well as diabetes but have not received a letter the biggest threat to diabetics is to only isolate when you first have symptoms as diabetics seem to die 2-3 days sooner than non diabetics hydroxychloroquine seems to be the only therapy that is helping diabetics stay out of hospital but it is not available on the nhs for diabetics

 

[Robin]

i also have heart disease ,copd,asthma,as well as diabetes but have not received a letter the biggest threat to diabetics is to only isolate when you first have symptoms as diabetics seem to die 2-3 days sooner than non diabetics hydroxychloroquine seems to be the only therapy that is helping diabetics stay out of hospital but it is not available on the nhs for diabetics

Having just read the list of side effects, which include permanent eye damage, heart failure and severe hypoglycaemia, I’ll take my chances with Covid, thanks.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

hydroxychloroquine seems to be the only therapy that is helping diabetics stay out of hospital

As far as I'm aware the evidence on hydroxychloroquine is still really thin. Given that President Trump has been heavily promoting it I'm assuming it's not going to end up as helpful.

 

[Jaydee70]

As far as I'm aware the evidence on hydroxychloroquine is still really thin. Given that President Trump has been heavily promoting it I'm assuming it's not going to end up as helpful.

this has absolutely nothing to do with president trump this is about only one thing reducing the number of diabetics getting put into icu or going on to ventilators as this drug is now being given in some hospitals to patients and seems to be working i think it makes sense for diabetics to be given this drug.this drug has been used safely for 65 yrs as this is the first time its been used on covid then there is only live evidence that it is helping patients that would other wise die france has ordered 45 millions dose the usa has 100million doses donated or purchased so you think these countries would be buying this drug if there was no evidence to support its use

 

[grovesy]

this has absolutely nothing to do with president trump this is about only one thing reducing the number of diabetics getting put into icu or going on to ventilators as this drug is now being given in some hospitals to patients and seems to be working i think it makes sense for diabetics to be given this drug.this drug has been used safely for 65 yrs as this is the first time its been used on covid then there is only live evidence that it is helping patients that would other wise die france has ordered 45 millions dose the usa has 100million doses donated or purchased so you think these countries would be buying this drug if there was no evidence to support its use

All the leading Doctors are saying they need more evidence that is not proven it works, without harm.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

All the leading Doctors are saying they need more evidence that is not proven it works, without harm.

Harm's OK so long as the benefit is enough. But it's just not known yet. This is a drug with known effects (which may be helpful or not against this infection).

I'd guess France and the US have decided buying lots of doses is worth a punt. I'd like to imagine these doses might also be a hedge against there being a shortage for patients who we know benefit from the drugs (like those with rheumatoid conditions).

This article gives a bit of an overview: https://arstechnica.com/science/202...-to-treat-covid-19-begins-nih-clinical-trial/

 

[Jaydee70]

Having just read the list of side effects, which include permanent eye damage, heart failure and severe hypoglycaemia, I’ll take my chances with Covid, thanks.

thank you for reply the side effects you quote were mainly in 50s-60s due to a higher dose than required hypoglycaemia could be a problem as hcq can reduce blood sugar levels thatsa fa why am arguing for it to be a therapy and not self administered,a strange fact dr maxwell at hospitals in ny and ca has 2000 lupus patients on hcq and of last week no medical claims for covid 19 do you not find that interesting.by the way my friends daughter has lupus and has been on hcq for 15 yrs with no side effects my own daughter has an autoimmune disease and gets it sometimes also no side effects