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What has the forum done for you, and how might it help more people?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Thank you Katie, it is all very useful. It's so heartening to hear how much the forum has helped people in so many ways, myself included 🙂
 
As a carer the forum has given me an insight into life with diabetes across the spectrum. I have been able to help my father more and understand a lot more about his diet which I feel totally responsible for.

We have followed the advice I have gleaned up here and without doubt I know dad's levels wouldn't be the same if we hadn't discovered the effects of carbs/portion control and how smbg can be used wisely and hopefully reap the benefits when his test results come through. We thought dad's diet was healthy and I'm sure the dietician did too but now we know the foods which affect dad and have really revamped his diet. It would be a guessing game when the results came through to know what may have affected it.

I try to come here each day to read all posts as everyone's experience with diabetes really helps me to understand a lot more. I don't know how I would cope but I do know where I would come to without delay! Most of our learning has come from recommendations for books and support in this forum. I would have had a long search to gather so much information in the same time space.

I still can't get dad to take part himself as he isn't used to posting. I know he recommends the forum to a lot of people but I suppose as I read and relay the information he feels he doesn't have to! I just wish the people we tell would come and see for themselves.

The support shown to both of us despite not being able to contribute much information to benefit others I can assure you I am thankful to everyone up here for accepting me as a carer as it ultimately helps dad. He still feels part of the forum, he even refers to the names I mention 😉

I start to feel :( if I don't visit and read something each day even if I can't stay too long....I miss everyone
 
This forum has helped me so much, I cannot even put it into words. I have learnt more from this forum than from anywhere else and know a lot more now than I did before I found it. I still feel, after reading posts, that I know a lot less than I should but that makes me determined to understand more and to help myself in the best way I can.

It is the first place I come to when I need help with any aspect of my diabetes and this is because everyone here is so friendly, nothing seems too silly to ask and everyone is so supportive.

I, too, found this forum by chance and think it should be promoted a lot more, diabetic clinics should point everyone in this direction. 🙂
 
The forum is the first place I come to when I need advice. There is always someone who has been through what I am going through, at the time, and can advice me of what I could do. Everyone is so friendly, and helpful, even when the problem is not diabetes related. I recently lost my mother and the kind words, from my friends on this forum, have helped, and supported me. It is a really great family to be part of.
 
This forum has supported me in many ways. People here as so helpful and full of ideas - tried and tested. I felt lost and was floundering, but I no longer feel so alone in it all as people here from all backgrounds, types, parents and carers just get what's involved when others in my life don't. And that is just what I need 🙂
 
It enables you to ask the questions you might feel you've asked before but forgotten!
It has given me the questions to ask at the diabetes clinic - I thought I already knew a lot, but it wasn't the 'right' lot!
You don't have to wait until the next clinic to ask the questions - there's always someone here with a considered and intelligent answer.
I may not agree with everyone, but they all make their points thoughtfully so worth bearing in mind.

I am now being considered for a pump, have got my HbA1c down at least 1 point (old money!) and it's all down to the forum. It has made a real difference to me
 
I'd have to agree with lots of the preceding posts. I had gone a very long time in my diabetic life without any real contact with others, apart from a very occasional bumping into one or two friends of friends who seemed to live very different D lives and whose experiences didn't seem to apply to me

I'd gone through many years of 'smile and nod' appointments with HCPs offering what seemed to be very unlikely suggestions, or things that I had tried before that I knew didn't work. At least, not for me.

I guess I'd reached a point where I felt that my levels were about as good as I could get them. But knew deep down they could do with tightening up really. I had no idea how that might be accomplished without living like a monk.

I found this and another forum, and a few good blogs after a pretty nasty hypo. Suddenly I found people who had lots of different ideas. Suddenly I was in touch with new thinking and approaches from hundreds of clinics and specialists all over the world. Suddenly I could see people who really could hit those very tight targets - not all the time, but enough to make it seem worth trying at least.

The knowledge, wit, wisdom and sense of shared experience and support are invaluable. I value the input of my clinic and HCPs, but these days if I am facing a conundrum or have a question I will most likely ask it on a forum first.
 
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This forum is supportive, inspirational and extremely friendly. Great that we can chat about other subjects too.

Without this Diabetes would be a very lonely place 🙂
 
this forum has been an absoulute god send to me. i have had more help and support from all the lovely people on here than anywere else. not only have i had support for my diabetes but also other problems i have been going through.
i have made some lovely friends on this forum and i realy appreicate all the support and advice that everyone gives. i think the reason its such a great forum is because everyone is so freindly and no one judges others which i find can happen in alot of forums. 🙂
 
Casper said:
Do you think that's another symptom of diabetes? Friendlier people ?:D
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Not in my experience; all newsgroups (remember Usenet?) with "support" in the name are trollheims, but the diabetes ones are worse than most and I've long since given up on them.

This forum is a sharp contrast to that. 🙂 Like others who have already replied, I find this place really friendly and welcoming, and I've learned quite a lot. Not just about D either; if it wasn't for this forum I would never have discovered the excellent Sherlock series. :D
 
I think that everything thats needs saying has been said by the members before me. I was a member here on the first day it started, its the best thing thats happened to me and I've not looked back since.Appart from the members sharing tips and expieriences, the help and friendship is so great there is nothing that can come near to challenging this forum. One of the other things worth mentioning are the meets we have around the country throughout the year, it makes no difference if theres just 4 of us or 24 there is always a good time had by all, and everyone is looked after by one of the best admins that I know, Northerner he is the foundation of this forum on which we are building. I have more good friends here than I do outside of the forum, long may it continue.

John.
 
Finding this forum is one of the best things I ever did 🙂 It took me a long time to come to terms with my diabetes but you were all there for me with a lot of friendly advice.
I think the best thing ever for me was meeting someone who has become a huge part of my life, puts me back on the straight and narrow and is one of the best friends I ever had, she knows who she is :D
Thank you xxxx
 
Hi Even though I don't ask a lot of questions about Diabetes, if things are going well for me or had a bad time, I just seem to get on with it, the support and kindness from the members here has been very comforting, especially when my little grandaughter was diagnosed type 1 last year and more recently, Tia's daddy. Honestly, I don't know what I would do if there wasn't an Off the Subject section lol, but a big thank you to alot of special people on here who have showed concern, support and empathy and kindness when things have gone badly wrong. So Cheers to the forum ( only tea though😛) Sheena X
 
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I love this forum.

When i was first dignosed there was nothing out there about real people.
The only books me and my mum could find where american cookbooks that wear about pumps and type 2s, and wrote back in the early 90s.

Not about young type 1s on injections. I was lost. It upsets me know to think of how alone i was.

When i stumpled across this site back in 2008 it helped me so much. Opened up a whole community to me. Some real friends.

I learnt so much about my own diabetes and others. I had never heard of carb counting, or DAFNE or Basal, or knew what pumps where. I never thought diabetics could do anything, sports or have children or live long fun lifes. And now i know that we do.

I really couldnt have gotten through my pregnancy with out the help of other people who have been there before (or not). The support i received still moves me to tears (in work 🙂).
Theres nothing worse than feeling alone, but knowing all i needed was to log on and i had people who understood was amazing.

I met my bump buddy on here Helen, and we emailed each other nearly every day and are still in contact now. And we both have healthy toddlers now, and hope to met up this year.

After my labour i was on here, stuck in hospital feeling alone, and you all supported me then and still do to this day.

I think Godsend is the right word for this forum. xx
 
Everyone has said it really - friendly, informative and the place to go for all the latest on diabetes-related news. I found out about the availability of the Novopen Echo on this forum first (many thanks). Plus, there's an inspiring thought for the day ... you don't get that anywhere else.

Northerner said:
Hi, looking for some feedback 🙂 I've been asked to put together a report about the forum and how it has helped people (or otherwise - we're not immune from criticism!) come to terms with their diabetes and learn to manage it well, and also perhaps other ways the forum has been a source of support, comfort, enlightenment, infuriation. Also, how might we reach more people?

All comments are welcome, but please observe the forum guidelines if you feel your views might be controversial, and be respectful of the views and sensitivities of others 🙂
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..and just another thought, the forum is WHEN I want - I choose when to speak, not when someone is asking me about my diabetes, even in a kind or supportive way. It gives back the feeling of control, when I regularly feel out of control. And you can stop when it becomes too much.

There is something about anonimity too, here you are known only for what you say, not necessarily for all the rest of the baggage (age/weight/gender/education/race etc etc)

I know this is all probably very different from many of the contributors, but maybe an attraction for others
 
Helpful, well-informed, always there when needed. Exactly what a support forum should be and I thank everyone involved who have made it so.
 
This forum gave me hope when I had none, support where there was none from my local D group and a chance to ask those questions I wouldn't of plus get the answers with a kind reply.

Organised meets just confirmed how helpful and empathetic people really are and am not only glad to be a member but PROUD to be part of a great forum.

Thanks to all and to Alan for all the work you do!
 
This forum has been first class for me.

It has helped me learn more about diabetes and how to take better care of myself. Through educating myself and taking responsibility.

For years after diagnosis diabetes was a condtition I suffered from that my Doctor and DSN were responsible for. With help and guidence I realised diabetes was a condtion I suffered from that I AM responsible for.

Not only has it helped me come to terms and educate myself about diabetes I have found some really warm, genuine caring friends. Last year a couple of things happened in my life that I could only describe as my worst nightmares. It was through help, support and encouragement from the lovely folk on here that kept me sane.

Could the name be changed to www.diabetesandeverythingelsesupport.co.uk

🙂 Andy x
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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