Showing posts with label covid and diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label covid and diabetes. Show all posts

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Living with (but avoiding) Covid & Type 1 Diabetes


Ugh! Another Covid blog? I hear you, I'm tired of it too. I think Covid lethargy is a very real thing and it probably has been for a while, now. I think it's pretty normal to become tired, even burned out, by illness and disease. I'm a Type 1 Diabetic, remember? I've been there and perhaps you're reading this and nodding because you have too. 

I still fear Covid. Many don't! Maybe it's already visited the fearless and left again without any affect. Maybe there is a "head in the sand" approach going on by some - I understand that, I took a similar approach to the news of my eye complications, a decade ago. This can't be happening, if I ignore it then it'll go away. It didn't, of course. Or! perhaps the conspiracy theorists are sticking to their guns. How history will view their words and actions will be interesting for those still around in the decades to come.

I don't know how history will view me. My blog and social media will likely be around forever. My feelings, fears, joys and sadness there for everyone to read. That might be sobering for some or, if you're like me, you publish these things without fear because you've gained so much from sharing and you'll continue to do so regardless of the future or, indeed, the knickers which may become knotted as a result.

So, Covid fear is where I currently am. Sprinkle some Covid burnout on that, too. The reason? The virus has infected each person in my house since the turn of 2022. One after the other until the last person with a negative test remains - Me! That, as I've already noted on Twitter, is a remarkable thing. I live with 3 other members of my family and have shared a lot of personal space with each one. The LFTs have all been negative. I stopped believing them and took a PCR - also negative.  Yet, still the fear. It feels like one of those scary movies; the bad guy, the monster, the alien wandering around and picking off victims one by one until only one person remains, usually the hero. 

I'm not a hero but I'll tell you what's happened and if it helps you then great. Firstly, I've isolated myself within my own bedroom and bathroom. I know that many can't do that because we don't all live in multiple-room and bathroom homes. I've opened windows and doors to the outside as often as possible. It's January, it's cold, so layers have been worn. I'm hand washing after each visit to a room where positive members of the household have been - mostly the kitchen and using anti-bac as often as possible. I'm preparing meals which are left outside of the rooms of the positive. I'm leaving the house for at least an hour each day and walking around an isolated area near my home - no other people access this area (it's great!) and I'm only going to that isolated area in case I become positive in between tests, I have no desire to infect anybody. That hour or so guarantees me some fresh air and no viral load for a while and it's a well needed mental break. I know that's not possible for everybody but if you can safely get out for a little while then it might serve well your mental health.

That's it. Despite 10 days now passing since positive case #1, I still fear the symptoms and the little line on an LFT. I still think that it's just a matter of time until the bad guy takes a hold of my throat. 

And Diabetes? I'm paying attention. Any unusual spikes or prolonged lows result in the usual annoyance but now they're accompanied with the thoughts of "Is this Covid?" Not so far! but those thoughts and fears will undoubtedly remain for another week or so, until the isolation periods end or negative tests are returned. 

A few days ago, I felt (for want of a better term) frazzled. Many positive results and worries will eventually take their toll. It passed and acceptance resumed because there is very little that I can do to protect myself beyond the measures that I've already taken. I think that's the case for us all. I am in no way unique in this regard, especially living in England. I encourage you all to keep doing the right things. Please don't take unnecessary risks over your own health or the health of others. 

Thank you so much for reading this blog. I do appreciate your visit and your support. As you might know, I LOVE COFFEE! So I've teamed up with a thing called Buy Me A Coffee. If you enjoy my content and appreciate the time it takes to create such things then you can buy me a coffee! If you leave your Twitter @ name when you buy me a coffee, I will personally thank you. If you'd rather be anonymous then that's totally cool. Thanks for the caffeine!
 

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Diabetes & The Vaccine Booster Hypo


Tis the season... for colds, flus and Covid. I imagine that many of you have experienced some kind of seasonal illness by now. Certainly, my own household has been through the usual coughs & colds and I imagine there will be more to come in the months that follow. We all know that colds are just going to happen. Flu, too will hit many and Covid shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon.

Omicron, the latest Covid variant, seems particularly worrisome. I wasn't aware that things had developed beyond Delta. Time flies with Greek alphabet virus mutations, I guess. I don't know if the latest variant is more worrisome because the media have built it up to be so, if governments & scientists are using it to increase the uptake of boosters, if it's social media driven, if it's truly something to be very concerned about or if nobody knows, not yet at least.

I'm sure we'll know more in the coming weeks. Until then, booster jabs appear to be in high demand. Pre-Omi, it was very easy to book a booster jab appointment. I made one for the following day and only three others were in the queue in my local pharmacy. Yesterday, with news of Omicron plastered across all media, a booking was much harder to come by. An online booking system placed one of my household members at 450th in the queue. Last week, there was no online queue. Fear is a driver of many things... perhaps not T1D management. 

So, I've had the jab and 6 days have passed. I feel reassured by the data which indicates a strong protection against Covid illness for the vaccinated. Although, I'm disappointed by my lack of 5G despite upgrading my phone. I had the Pfizer flavour and it felt the same as my first two jabs; not very painful, no bleeding, just a little tight feeling in the outside of the shoulder. Previously, things had escalated at around 12 hours after the jabs. The shaking, sweating, feeling freezing cold, headaches and generally pretty grotty all arrived on the 12 hour mark. I expected the same and so I settled down for a night of paracetamol, drinks and the adding and removing of clothes. Nothing really happened to that extent. What did happen, was the strongest hypo that I've had for a good 4 or 5 years. 

You're a frequent reader of my waffling, so you already know that I don't get much in the way of hypo symptoms. My BG needs to begin with the number 2 before I'm even moderately aware that something isn't quite right. So, it was with great surprise to feel strange at a little over 4mmol/l - according to my CGM. Alright, I'll eat a few sweets to stop that little drop. 10 minutes later...

BUZZ BUZZ!

The screen was red and the number was 3.8. Now, I'm very grateful for the Diabetes technology that I use. It's saved me from very worrying moments and many lost hours of sleep. In this instance, I think it may have saved me from blue lights and a ride in an ambulance. Before the BUZZ BUZZ, I was feeling very sleepy and I was very close to actually falling asleep - in the back of my mind, I attributed that to the booster jab and I wasn't concerned. I'd just eaten some sweets and felt fine after all! Had I fallen asleep then I fear the outcome could've been very bad.

Let's try a finger prick

3.6 mmol/l

Few things, outside of caffeine, will stir me faster than a hypo. The shovelling of Squashies into my mouth began. I will eat three at once when low. I know that's pretty much 10g of carbs and it's easy to keep track of. I noticed, hand delving in to the packet, that I was shaking. What on earth is this!? A shaky hypo, like it's 1996? a very retro symptom.

BUZZ BUZZ DO DO, BE DO BE DO, DO DOOOO

What a cheerful sound; the sound of my CGM alerting me to a severe low. BG - 3.0 mmol/l.

At this stage, I'm swearing and eating. Sweareating? Eatcursing? Munchfuc*ery? Whatever, the Squashies were going in at pace, washed down with a tube of Glucogel.

I was soaked. Every inch of my body was sweating. I felt a combination of shock and delight. I have hypo symptoms! I can't wait to tell everybody! - Oh, yes, let's concentrate on staying alive first. My lips were numb and, as I stood to get more hypo treats from the kitchen, I noticed that my legs weren't really working. Wow! It's like every hypo symptom that I'd missed in the last 4 or 5 years had decided to visit, all at once.

Finger prick - 2.8 mmol/l

Alright, now I need help. I was alone, at home, with my son who was busy doing some gaming thing. I couldn't really walk and felt the safest option would be to call him. He brought a large glass of juice to me while I ate half a chocolate log, shaking and not able to communicate very well.

Another 15 minutes passed during which I found I was reminding myself that my pump was suspended, no insulin was going in, I had approx' 3000g of carbs on my side, it was going to be alright. 

It was, of course and eventually all that glucose lit the blue touch paper. I felt terrible and had the prospect of the booster jab side effects to come. They arrived, in the middle of the night, alongside a gut-rot which had me begging for the merciful release of death. 

6 days on, I've read some tweets by fellow T1Ds who have experienced a lot of lows since their booster jab. Maybe it's a thing? or it could just be a coincidence. To suddenly have such strong hypo symptoms, following much improved BGs (thanks to pumping) seems utterly strange. I hope they stay for a while and it wasn't just a fleeting visit. Horrible as they are, they are a great natural warning that something is wrong.

Do get your vaccine booster if you've yet to have yours. And maybe keep your hypo treats close by, just in case.

Thank you so much for reading this blog. I do appreciate your visit and your support. As you might know, I LOVE COFFEE! So I've teamed up with a thing called Buy Me A Coffee. If you enjoy my content and appreciate the time it takes to create such things then you can buy me a coffee! If you leave your Twitter @ name when you buy me a coffee, I will personally thank you. If you'd rather be anonymous then that's totally cool. Thanks for the caffeine!

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Covid-19 Vaccination - Dose 2 Side Effects


As the sticker in the photo says, I've had my Covid vaccination. You probably know that because you likely follow me on one of my social media channels and everybody must mention their vaccination and/or post a photo of their badge/sticker/arm - It's the law.

Before I start, if you haven't read my original blog post which followed my first vaccination then you can do that by clicking or tapping here

Side effects! That's why you're here. You want the gory details and possibly some reassurance before your own jab? Can do! We're talking AstraZeneca here, by the way.

I'm 72 hours post-jab and I'm beginning to feel more like my usual self. Certainly well enough to smash my fingers into a keyboard, unlike yesterday. To begin with, and for a while, nothing happened after the jab. I was expecting the violent reaction at around 12hrs, the same as Jab No.1 but that didn't happen. This time the side effects crept up on me.

The first changes of note began after 6 hours. I felt hot and clammy, similar to a hypo symptom. I'd already taken a pre-emptive dose of Paracetamol and that may have reduced the severity of any fever before it had the chance to begin. That feeling continued and escalated slowly for the rest of the evening until, when it was time for bed, my face and neck were feeling hot to touch and, strangely, my nose was hot! I was also beginning to sniff a lot. 

I did sleep reasonably well which was a surprise. I was delighted to not be woken at 2am by violent shivering and not feeling frozen to the core. There was more a sense of general uncomfortableness. A little like when you know a cold is just about to begin. I was also delighted to not feel like every bone in my body was hurting. The aches began after around 24 hours, especially in the back, shoulders and legs. The aches continued for a full day, despite a combination of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Normal side effects, according to the advice I've read and was given by the friendly jab-giving HCP. 


The worst period of side effects, for me was between 24 and 48 hours. Add all the above in with fatigue, a sore throat and running nose. Yuk! That said, it's just cold - mild flu-like symptoms but I think because I was confident in the knowledge that it'll be short lived, rather than a real cold or flu which might last for weeks, it wasn't overly distressing. In fact, it wasn't distressing at all to just rest. I'm great at sitting around and doing nothing. It's my favourite.

What about the Diabetes!?
I noticed that my usual carb:insulin ratio was no longer a thing. Previously, I was a 1u for every 10g guy. Easy! So, it was a surprise to need 18u for a 60g meal. Even that didn't succeed in bringing my blood glucose into range. Prior to the jab, my time in range was around 70% on average. I'd actually had several good weeks of over 80%. Here are the last 4 days:

Saturday: 48% (Jab day)
Sunday: 37%
Monday: 58% (after aggressively increasing my boluses)
Tuesday: 60% (Today)

Not wonderful and I'm still struggling to keep things in single figures. I'm sure that will settle down and I'm not very concerned. 

What I am is incredibly grateful.
Let's start with Covid-19. To date, I've dodged it and so have all my friends and family - The majority of whom are now partly vaccinated, fully vaccinated or at low risk. If the struggles of the side effects are anything to go by then I imagine the infection would be horrendous. The imagery and tales in the media and from others on social media confirm what an awful illness it is. 

People in other countries continue to die in huge numbers because of the virus. In England we had our first day of zero deaths for a long time, yesterday.

Although it's too soon to consider the world or even the UK to be safe, I feel like this pandemic has given me a different, better perspective on life. That happened to me in 2012, following almost two years of living with severe visual impairment. Two years of wondering if I'd seen my last of everything and everyone that I love. Then the world appeared again and wow! When that happens, you really appreciate the things that you were once complacent about. I'm in a similar place, today. The things and people I love are magnified. I no longer have time for the things I don't enjoy and I have no time for individuals who are... vexatious to the spirit! Desiderata still gives great advice.

Thank you so much for reading this blog. I do appreciate your visit and your support. As you might know, I LOVE COFFEE! So I've teamed up with a thing called Buy Me A Coffee. If you enjoy my content and appreciate the time it takes to create such things then you can buy me a coffee! If you leave your Twitter @ name when you buy me a coffee, I will personally thank you. If you'd rather be anonymous then that's totally cool. Thanks for the caffeine!