Sunday, June 30, 2024
Changes
Monday, January 15, 2024
Acceptance
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I Was Feeling Complicated...
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
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Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Type 1 Diabetes and Sight Loss
I am often asked about my sight loss in relation to my T1D. How it came about, how I adjusted, acceptance and advice are often subjects of conversation and I'm very happy to discuss. Complications are a thing for some T1Ds and we shouldn't avoid the subject. Here's a little about my diabetic retinopathy without too many gory details.
As a person living with type 1 diabetes and sight loss, my journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8 and experienced some eye complications due to high blood sugar levels at age 31. Eventually, my eyesight started to deteriorate, and I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy.
The diagnosis was devastating for me. Losing my sight meant losing a part of myself, and I had to come to terms with the fact that my life would never be the same. I had to learn new ways of doing things, like cooking, cleaning, and getting around. It was difficult, but with the support of my family and healthcare team, I learned to adapt. I haven't lost all of my eyesight, but enough to be registered as blind. That feels like a very strange thing to type because I'm not blind. If you've met me, you've probably noticed that I can get around pretty well. Indeed, my sight is as good today as it's ever been since my retinopathy diagnosis. I prefer "visually impaired" when describing my sight loss as that's more accurate. Although, some hear visually impaired and automatically assume totally blind - for me that's far from correct.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was managing my diabetes and my vision loss. I had to learn how to measure my insulin doses, check my blood sugar, and administer my insulin injections without relying on my sight. It was a lot of trial and error, but I eventually found a routine that worked for me.
Living with sight loss and type 1 diabetes has also taught me the importance of self-care. I've had to make my health a priority and take care of my body in ways that I may not have otherwise. I make sure to exercise regularly, eat a varied diet, and keep up with my doctor's appointments to prevent any further complications.
Despite the challenges, my journey has also been filled with triumphs. I've been able to pursue my passions, like diabetes advocacy, writing and public speaking, and inspire others living with sight loss and diabetes. I've learned to appreciate the little things in life, like the sound of birds chirping or the feeling of a warm cup of coffee in my hand.
Living with sight loss and type 1 diabetes is not easy, but it has taught me resilience and strength. It has taught me to never give up and to always find a way to overcome obstacles. I hope that my story can inspire others living with these conditions to keep fighting and to never lose hope. If you get a diabetes related eye complication then it's alright to be fearful, angry, upset and even depressed. Nobody wants that news, but know this; most eye complications can be easily treated and needn't be as severe as mine if you attend your appointments and follow the advice you're given.
I have written other blogs on this subject with more detail regarding surgeries and treatments. Take a look through my posts and have a read if you're interested in that.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Out Of Order
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Sunday, January 29, 2023
Being Heard In Diabetes
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Diabetes Is Work
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Taking Diabetes Advice
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Diabetic Christmas
Saturday, December 17, 2022
38
Friday, November 25, 2022
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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!
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Puppy Low
...oh, I guess they'll never know! Donny Osmond, I think. Apologies if you read the last blog or even heard about it on the grapevine. I decided it would be better to not publish that particular post in the interests of the personal safety and causing any distress to the victims of that particular group of people. Instead, a complete change of tone with a photo of Billy. Cute, hey?
True, he is cute and a burning ball of nuclear grade energy. As we know, using our own energy burns up that glucose pretty efficiently in most of us and so "Puppy Low" rather than "Puppy Love" seemed like a good title for this post. Sorry, Donny.
Billy arrived during the final week of my Steptember Challenge. I was already exercising a lot more than usual and chalking up a good number of hypos during the first few weeks of the month, at least. This new, very cute, energy sapper really threw a spanner into the works. Very short but high intensity bursts of exercise were sending my BG tumbling. Alongside a different waking and sleeping pattern, it's made for a difficult week with Type 1 Diabetes. I'm adjusting... kind of.
The experience made me wonder about how others cope with different variables thrown into the mix on a frequent basis. Shift workers certainly sprung to mind but I'm sure there are others with equally or more challenging lives. The solution to many of the challenges and life changes which we experience is, of course, technology. I know, a tweak of the Banting Juice might keep things in order, a couple more finger pricks per day might do the trick too. However, for those wild times, the big life changes, the why does my puppy keep on pooping moments, it seems like tech is the answer.
Some of you may have read about a lady who had waited a year for a pump clinic appointment, only to be refused funding at that appointment because of her sleeping issues. Yeah, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry either. Other stories were shared, including a particularly bizarre refusal tale which the lovely Lesley Jordan (from JDRF UK) shared. Take a look, you'll see that on my time line among all the puppy photos. Technology within diabetes should always be burden reducing for us alongside improving or maintaining our long term outlooks. My switch to a pump has vastly improved my T1D burden and, so far, the numbers all suggest that my long term outlook is in a good place. Where would I be without the pump? Struggling, for sure. I certainly wouldn't be trying to walk 250,000 steps while puppying. It could be easier, too! I could be looping and many more highs and lows would be reduced. I'll be a looper, soon enough, I'm in no real hurry.
So, while my hypos have been on the increase, I'm still in a very good place and a place which I can adjust to with the new arrival in the household. Others aren't so fortunate when it comes to accessing the technology which they need. Here is a link to a Twitter poll about hypos. The results are interesting! However, I know of at least two people who are in the replies with huge hypo numbers. Both are fighting for access to a pump and I have one question; Why?
Why are people with (sorry, my friends, no reflection on you) large numbers of hypos having to fight for access to a pump that will almost certainly reduce those dangerous and debilitating events? Are those numbers not raising large red flags and causing fast-tracks to Pumpville? I'm really at a loss. One hypo is a hypo too many and could lead to horrible things happening, including pre-mature death. To minimise those events should surely be a high priority and if many avenues have been explored without success then it's really time to sign off the pump paperwork.
We've seen these types of tech refusals before, of course, in the last 5 or 6 years since Libre hit the radar. It stinks of purse strings and worry about spending rather than offering the best possible care to diabetics - care which will ultimately reduce NHS spending on diabetes related complications. But what about NICE guidelines? What about them?! I don't know about you guys but, NICE don't live my life or manage my diabetes. I know what I need for my best care and to live my best life. Push for the technology which you KNOW will improve your life now and in the future.
Billy agrees.