http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ Comatose and rotting toes – the lighter side of insulin dependency en Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:28:34 +0000 http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-248 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:22:23 +0000 Teloz 248@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>@<a href='http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/profile.php?id=2'>Tim</a> - Huh... I always knew you considered us T2s as inferior... ;o) </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=38#post-247 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:17:05 +0000 Teloz 247@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Well, because I've fallen into the habit of getting my next cartridge of insulin out of the fridge after my first use of the current one, I run a fairly good inventory system, especially as all my insulin is kept in a special draw in said refrigerator (the one labelled "Butter &amp; Cheese").</p> <p>When I have opened my last pack of five cartridges, I log on to Emis Access via the Internet, and place my repeat prescription at my GP's, secure in the knowledge that I have between six and eight days before I will need it. As the recommended turnaround for repeats is three working days, I have plenty of room for error.</p> <p>I can also use Emis to pass a message to my GP when I place the prescription, particularly useful when, having unpacked the order from the pharmacy, you place your new box of test strips on top of a radiator and leave them for two days. A good deal of grovelling is required in order to replace them! I'm in the happy position that I go past the pharmacy every day, so collection is no problem.</p> <p>Just a brief aside that might amuse you; I live in a largish village and I'm a Parish Councillor, so I'm pretty well known (notorious?). I got so irritated by pharmacy assistants who knew me asking for my address before they would hand over my goodies, I started answering, "Buck House, The Mall, London." The old hands are used to me now and have ceased asking, the look on the face of newbies the first time they ask is priceless! I eventually cave in and give my proper address, but the process is quite amusing and brightens an otherwise very dull day. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=39#post-246 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:48:30 +0000 Tim 246@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>@<a href='http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/profile.php?id=89'>James</a> - that's the most blatant bit of plugging yet seen so far on the forum! I like your pictures though! :-) </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=39#post-245 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:40:30 +0000 James 245@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Hi All. </p> <p>I'm a T1 diabetic photographer who's working with Diabetes UK on a series of portraits of pancreatically challenged people to be exhibited in a London gallery during Diabetes Week in June. The idea is to help to overturn all those diabetic myths and show that we are as active and unusual as the rest of the population. Therefore I'm not shooting us shooting up or showing off pumps or meters, just positive, quirky shots of healthy looking people indulging in various activities. I've already got a part-time beauty queen, a welsh clown and a very large moustache but I need more volunteers so give me a shout if you're up for it.</p> <p>You can see more of my work here: <a href="http://blog.jamesclarke.biz/" rel="nofollow">http://blog.jamesclarke.biz/</a><br /> and here: <a href="http://www.jamesclarke.biz/" rel="nofollow">http://www.jamesclarke.biz/</a></p> <p>contact me at: <a href="mailto:james@jamesclarke.biz">james@jamesclarke.biz</a> </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=38#post-243 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:16:42 +0000 Tim 243@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>I don't have the slightest problem with the chore of getting repeat prescriptions as one of my friends is a pharmacist whose pharmacy is just the corner from my office. In fact he wrote a good article on the blog here <a href="http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2009/12/07/diabetics-–-blight-of-gps-milk-cows-of-pharmacists/" rel="nofollow">http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2009/12/07/diabetics-–-blight-of-gps-milk-cows-of-pharmacists/</a> if you're interested. </p> <p>Anyway, what top tips do have for making the tedium of repeat prescriptions easier? </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-242 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:12:56 +0000 Tim 242@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>@<a href='http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/profile.php?id=75'>Teloz</a> - that's exactly why we have them in Edinburgh ;-) </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=37#post-241 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:12:06 +0000 Tim 241@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>So, tell me, where was the oddest place you've injected? I mean geographically, rather than shooting up in your eye or whatever. </p> <p>Middle of a very crowded Trafalgar Square during the opening ceremony of the Tour de France is fairly high on my list. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=20#post-240 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:07:27 +0000 Tim 240@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>He he he! Nothing like using lancets so old they couldn't pierce butter! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=20#post-239 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:53:27 +0000 Charlie 239@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>New lancets - what are they? I put in a new one in each time I get a new meter which comes with a new blood letting device.. current meter about 12/18 months old?!... As for needles, when I was on MDIs I changed them with each new cartridge... (well you had to pay for them back when I started out) I've just been reading the "Bad Diabetic" blog, and that's me - oops!, definately an old salt.. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=25#post-238 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:29:33 +0000 Jenny 238@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>A month down the line (I was diagnosed with type 1 very recently) and I have had only positive experiences. Friends have been so unphased by the sight of me injecting that conversation continues as normal or jokes are made about it. A very attentive waiter, whilst out celebrating a friend's birthday last night, asked if I was injecting myself with sugar - clearly didn't quite understand the intricacies of diabetes! Generally, people don't seem to mind at all and if in doubt I'll just ask if anyone is particularly squeemish - no point in hiding it! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=30#post-237 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:23:15 +0000 realitychecker44 237@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>I was diagnosed 8 years ago in the Uk after ebing told that i had impaired glucose function. One glucose tolerance test came back high. I was testedyearly with a HBA1c and the results were always 7 which i was told was within the normal range. However, at my last test it was 5.4 and now I have been told that i was misdiagnosed. I am confused and fed up am i diabetic or not!! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=6#post-236 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:39:30 +0000 sandra 236@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>it's gotta be lucozade but like others, i drink way too much coz i don't drink it often so it's a bit like forbidden fruit to me. i also make sure i have a packet of haribo jellies with me wherever i go because they are nice and handy and fit in amongst all my other diabetes apparatus. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=34#post-235 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:09:52 +0000 Tim 235@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>The wonders of technology, eh, Terry! :-)</p> <p>For anyone else reading this thread, CutePDF writer (<a href="http://www.cutepdf.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cutepdf.com/</a>) is a free alternative for printing to PDF </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=34#post-234 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:19:39 +0000 Teloz 234@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Just a quick addendum, I promise not to mention the Accu-Chek Compact Plus. ;o)</p> <p>I email the charts produced by the Compass software to my DSN as a matter of course now. I "print" them to a PDF file using a cracking piece of free software called PDF reDirect v2, actually it costs less than a tenner to buy the pro version and it's well worth it. As PDFs they can be emailed as attachments, though PDF reDirect v2 will allow you to concatenate (Damn! I love that word!) several reports into one PDF, which makes attachment much easier. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=17#post-233 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:08:40 +0000 Teloz 233@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Ah Tim! Dear boy! How wonderful it is to still be young and idealistic, by the time you get to my age you realise it's possible to introduce smut to almost anything! I didn't think I could get a good belly-laugh out of a thread on diabetes and exercise though, but I was wrong too... Damn, I'd love to burn off 5 jelly-babies right now... ;oD </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-232 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:52:35 +0000 Teloz 232@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Huh! Doesn't matter when it is, I'm 270 miles and a £100 train fare too far away! :o( </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-231 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:55:12 +0000 Tim 231@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>@<a href='http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/profile.php?id=52'>Caroline</a> - Uhm, I don't know when next one will be. I'll have a look at the diary and put something up on blog. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-230 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:53:50 +0000 Tim 230@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>It's worth noting that "Caroline" is merely a sockpuppet account I set up to make it look like people say nice things about Shoot Up. </p> <p>Shoot Up nights out are, actually, awful! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-229 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:05:19 +0000 Caroline 229@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Hi Carrie!<br /> Tim's right about a Shoot Up night out being the best one. Coolness and glamour aside, the two nights I've been to have been great for meeting up and sharing gossip and tips, and mostly to be able to sit and chat about anything, but to know that you're meeting with others who share this huge thing that you wouldn't normally mention on any other night in the pub. Pretty relaxing really. And with the added bonus of getting to know Tim, well enough that you know without a doubt that he's going to quote the 3rd and 4th words of this post all around town. Come along to the next one! I wonder when it is.... </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-228 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:50:43 +0000 Tim 228@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>I think that for big issues of care then your DSN is the best port of call. However, if you want swap war stories, experiences and tips then there are a few groups around the country that are good for this sort of thing. </p> <p>Different groups are aimed at different people, so some like Circle D in Kent have an age limit of 30; while others again are aimed at ancient type twos. The Intermaweb is the best way of tracking down the best one for you. </p> <p>As you appear to be in Scotland, then the best one would be - of course - the Shoot Up nights out in Edinburgh! It's where all the cool, glamorous Type Ones hang out! :-D </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=14#post-227 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:44:42 +0000 Tim 227@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Hi Carrie, I think this is deserving of its own thread, but sadly I can't move your post because of limitations of the forum software I use (that'll teach me for relying on underdeveloped free software, damnit!) </p> <p>So, I've started up a new thread with your comment here: </p> <p><a href="http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36" rel="nofollow">http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36</a> </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=36#post-226 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:44:07 +0000 Tim 226@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Carrie posts:<br /> Hi, I've only recently discovered your site and thought this would be a good post topic to start at! I'm 22, and I'm desperate to get more involved in trying to get what I want/need in terms of diabetes care. However, I never know what events to attend to try to do this. I've been to a few Diabetes UK Scotland events for 'young people' but they always end up leading nowhere, and other events I find seem to be aimed at the older diabetics, more often than not with a massive emphasis on type 2! Am I missing something? Where are these events that I can attend that will be relevant?! And how do I find out about them? Any help appreciated. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=5&page=2#post-225 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:35:30 +0000 Tim 225@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Terry - trust you to lower the tone ;-) </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=2&page=2#post-224 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:23:35 +0000 Teloz 224@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>@ Charlie - A photo would be lovely, but I still reserve the right to pull your leg! ;o) xxx </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=2&page=2#post-223 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:15:50 +0000 Charlie 223@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>@ Teloz - I could change "Charlie" to "Charlotte" to sort out any confusion, but I'm usually in trouble if someone calls me that! Perhaps I'll try a nice photo instead! ;-) </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=5&page=2#post-222 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:16:10 +0000 Teloz 222@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Dare I say it? No, I prolly better not. Accu-Chek Compact Plus... bugger, it slipped out... </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=20#post-221 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:03:39 +0000 Teloz 221@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>I must be a pansy, I use a new lancet for every test and a new needle for every injection. I have to say, I've never had any problems with my fingers, apart from building a callus, or my injection sites. So as long as the taxpayers are happy to fund it I'll carry on! ;o) </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=25#post-220 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:58:11 +0000 Teloz 220@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>No problem for me, and if it's a problem for anyone else I'm big enough, and ugly enough, to tell them to f**k off! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=6#post-219 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:54:35 +0000 Teloz 219@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>When I have a hypo I'll tell you! :-/ </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=2&page=2#post-218 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:37:01 +0000 Teloz 218@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>This thread poses an interesting point, when does it cease to be Type I diabetes and become Type II; at what age is what I mean? As well as that, I'm still trying to come to terms with a Charlie being pregnant! ;-)</p> <p>At the tender age of forty, I had the same symptoms as everyone else, drinking, peeing and so on, but failed to recognise them. I was trying to quench my thirst with gallons of fizzy drinks, the do-it-yourself ones, so loads of extra syrup in them; my kidneys must have thought it was Armageddon! The most unfortunate part of it was, I didn't suffer the massive weight loss that everyone else did. The one symptom I really needed was denied to me; the story of my life. I also didn't realise I was already suffering from diabetic neuropathy, but that's another story.</p> <p>Eventually, I got around to seeing the doctor who diagnosed my diabetes in short order, but it didn't seem to be any big deal, I was just told to watch my diet and cut out sugar, sweets and chocolate. As time went by my HbA1c results gradually got worse and I was prescribed Gliclazide and Metformin. At this point nothing was said about regular testing, though I had tested in a rather desultory manner, so I sailed blithely on without a care in the world. Until I really got unhappy with the pain and numbness in my feet that was. Diet and tablets were no longer enough.</p> <p>This was where I hit a really low point. A long term relationship ended, then I had to give up work to nurse my mother until she died (she was 92, had had an amazing life, and I only cried because she didn't die quickly enough to die with dignity), I became insulin dependant, and a lovely woman who was near enough an older sister to me, died of breast cancer. If you'll forgive me saying so, my life at that point was shit and I became very depressed.</p> <p>My diabetes nurse was brilliant, supportive and caring (I'm choking up writing about it) she, and some of mother's little helpers, got me though the worst of it and back on the upward path. I've been off the Fluoxitine for three years or more now, but I was never able to go back to work thanks to the neuropathy, it's difficult to sleep when it feels as if your toenails are being peeled back. Having said that, the pain is much better controlled now with Ibuprofen and Gabapentin,</p> <p>Now I'm fully in control! Despite having to give up the drugs I'm managing to keep my average BGL below 9mmol/L (trust me, that's good for me), and I've met you wonderful people on here who treat diabetes with the disrespect it deserves, without losing sight of the importance of control. Hopefully, I can proudly call you my friends even though we may never meet.</p> <p>PS: Sheesh! I've written essays shorter than that!</p> <p>PPS: I've just read through it, I must be going soft in my dotage! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=34#post-217 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:45:49 +0000 Teloz 217@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>You just won't admit what a terrific meter the Accu-Chek Compact Plus is will you Tim. Big, black, beautiful, and no fiddly strips to worry about. Erm... can you tell me how to get the old drum out? Roflmfao! ;-D </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=14#post-216 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:47:50 +0000 Carrie 216@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Hi, I've only recently discovered your site and thought this would be a good post topic to start at! I'm 22, and I'm desperate to get more involved in trying to get what I want/need in terms of diabetes care. However, I never know what events to attend to try to do this. I've been to a few Diabetes UK Scotland events for 'young people' but they always end up leading nowhere, and other events I find seem to be aimed at the older diabetics, more often than not with a massive emphasis on type 2! Am I missing something? Where are these events that I can attend that will be relevant?! And how do I find out about them? Any help appreciated. </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=34#post-215 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:30:07 +0000 Charlie 215@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Yup, that's the downside, but at the moment I can't use the One Touch software, as I still can't download my meter on my clever new laptop - tried the ideas you came up with, but it didn't work - need to convert from 64 bit back to 32 bit (???!!!) I think? </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=2&page=2#post-214 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:23:41 +0000 Hils 214@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>I was on my first school trip away from home aged 11- collapsed down a coal mine after lagging about 3 miles behind everyone else on a hike and taking more than my share of communal (sugary) ribena! Taken to a tiny northumbrian cottage hotpital, the doctor said he could smell the pear drops (from DKA) from the other end of the corridor and gave me a bowl to throw up into. At 11 I had no idea what that meant- my parents had to explain to me after they'd done a midnight dash from Manchester to Newcastle. And all my friends from school thought I'd been sent home for being naughty! </p> http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/topic.php?id=34#post-213 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:51:29 +0000 Tim 213@http://forum.shootuporputup.co.uk/ <p>Using Accu-Chek Compass does mean having to use an Accu-Chek meter though. Aside from the Nano, maybe, they're all awful. </p>