Mid-Somerset |
Mid-Somerset Diabetes News We now have a new monthly meeting place! The Glastonbury Town Hall - Small
Meeting Room Travelling with Diabetes As summer approaches, many of us will be going away on holiday,
and some may be off to faraway places. For those who have diabetes,
planning can be the key to being able to make the most of your
trip and coming home safe and refreshed after your break. Blood Glucose Conversions In some countries, including the USA and many EU countries, blood
glucose is measured in milligrams per 100 millilitres (expressed
as mg %) and not in millimoles per litre (mmol/l), as it is in
the UK. A blood glucose conversion chart is shown below:
If you would like any further advice or information please contact
your own doctor or diabetes healthcare team, or the Diabetes UK
Careline:
careline@diabetes.org.uk -- 0 -- Meeting – 24th March Our meeting was opened by our chairman,
David Brunt who welcomed members, and Sig, our Vice-Chairman,
who introduced our speaker for the evening, Dr. Rob Andrews. ------------------------ Request for people with type-2
diabetes
|
| - Structured education, such as DAFNE, DESMOND etc. - The Expert Patient Programme - Information on the DVLA. - Retinopathy screening - Podiatry - Active lifestyles - Dietetic advice - Smoking cessation - Psychological support - Support Groups and Diabetes UK. - Preconception advice - Pregnancy care |
An agreed care plan can then be made setting the
priorities or goals and the actions to take in response to the
needs identified.
Much work will have to be done in informing patients and medical
professionals about this new system and what it entails. Some people
will have to be persuaded that it is a good thing. It is possible
that there will be a few who choose not to embrace it, but to keep
to their old routine. The point is that they will have the choice.
It is proposed that this new ‘Model of Care’ is phased
in over the next two years, commencing in April 2009, and we will
keep you informed of progress.
Our Secretary’s Report reviewed some of our year’s meetings which included talks about Ancient Sweden, acupuncture, the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service, and diet. We have also held two Skittles evenings and our Christmas dinner. Nita finished by wishing everyone a belated Happy New Year.
Our Treasurer reported that this
year’s fund-raising and donations were down, but in spite
of the current economic situation we still have a healthy bank
balance.
All the above officers and our Vice-Chairman, Sig, commented on
that fact that, as a support group, we are struggling to keep going,
although the prevalence of diabetes is on the increase and is reaching
epidemic proportions.
The committee and officers
for the coming year were then elected as follows:
President: Dr. D. Gompertz
Chairman: David Brunt
Vice Chairman: Sig Lonegren
Secretary: Nita Chick
Treasurer: Vee Mason *
Committee: Margaret Fear, Peter Fear, Veronica Bastable, Mariette
Armer, Doreen Brown
* Vee informed the meeting that this is the last year she will stand as treasurer, so if there is anyone who is interested in taking over this post next year and would like to work with Vee this year in order to familiarise themselves with our books, please get in touch.
Main Speaker
Graham Cooper
Volunteer Development Officer
Diabetes UK South West
Sig then introduced our speaker for the evening.
Graham began by asking for a show of hands if anyone felt they
had benefitted from our group. There was quite a response and
most people felt they had benefitted in some way. Graham then
asked if anyone felt they had been able to give anyone any help.
Again several people felt that they had; some, simply by talking
and sharing their experiences. Graham thought that these responses
were an indication of the benefits of a support group such as
ours, and the committee should not feel disheartened by the seeming
lack of interest of local people with diabetes!
Graham then continued with the main theme of his talk for this
evening:
‘Diabetes – Am I Bovvered?’
No -
- it doesn’t hurt;
- it doesn’t show;
- most symptoms could be something else;
- there are more obvious things to worry about.
Yes –
- unchecked it leads to complications;
- unmanaged, it shortens life;
- the odds of having diabetes are increasing.
What is Diabetes?
Quite simply we all need insulin in our system
to help our bodies work. Type 1 Diabetes is when our bodies don’t
have any insulin, and Type 2 is when we have insulin but it doesn’t
work properly.
There are many risk factors for developing Diabetes, so how can
we best ‘bovver’? – Get tested. A simple blood
test can be carried out by your G.P. or at a Lloyds Pharmacy.
If diagnosed with Diabetes it can be a shock and many people go
into ‘denial’. But it is important to learn to ‘own’ the
condition by working with your medical team, looking after yourselves
and finding support – you are not alone.
Diabetes UK is, this year, celebrating 75 years of providing:
- Research into many aspects of diabetes including
- Retinopathy screening
- Islet transplants
- Injections to prevent the onset of diabetes
and much, much more
- Information
- Raising awareness
- Campaigns
- Support
- Website
- Careline
- Support groups
- Family days/holidays
The meeting closed with our usual raffle which
raised £22 for our funds.
Our very grateful thanks go to Vee who provided some excellent,
healthy refreshments – many, many thanks Vee for all your
hard work.
October Meeting
Our speaker this evening was Janet Gorton, a dietician from Musgrove Park Hospital. Janet told us about the range of courses available for people with diabetes:
- DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) This programme is a structured education programme for people with Type 1 diabetes. The aim is to teach people how to adjust insulin doses to fit in with the food they choose to eat at the time they choose to eat it. The course is run over 5 full days and is a group course of usually 8-10 people. Janet said they had been amazed by the numbers of years’ experience people on these courses have between them, and even she learns something new about diabetes from the participants sharing their experiences!
DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for On-going and Newly Diagnosed) This course is usually run over one full day or two half days and is for people with type 2 diabetes and their partners/carers. Somerset PCT is planning to run 96 DESMOND courses in the coming year in various locations around the area.
MICK&YS (Managing Insulin and Carbohydrate for Kids & Young people with Success) This course is similar to the DAFNE course but is aimed at children and their families, and is run over two half days.
All these courses are excellent and can help give people better control of their diabetes. Please contact us if you would like further information about any of these courses.
Janet went on to discuss with us how we need to reduce the saturated fats in our diet. Saturated fats build up cholesterol in the blood so should only be used sparingly. There are two types of cholesterol – (HDL) good and ((LDL) bad. Poly-unsaturates lower both types of cholesterol. Mono-unsaturates only lower bad cholesterol, so monounsaturated fats and oils, such as olive, rapeseed or groundnut are better for us. We also discussed the changes in cooking oil when it is re-heated – this produces trans-fats which are bad for us. It is better to choose other methods of cooking and try to reduce the amount of oil we use.
Janet showed us a range of fish products which we separated into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods and we discussed the fat and Omega 3 content of each -
Pink salmon – good
M & S Salmon fish-cake meal – bad
Fresh Salmon steak – good
Sardines – good
Fish fingers – bad
Mackerel – good
Smoked haddock – bad
Tinned tuna in brine – bad (the canning process destroys
Omega 3)
Battered fish – bad
Smoked salmon – good
Sardine & tomato paste – not good, but as only a little
would probably be used on a sandwich it wasn’t too bad!
A very interesting and informative evening closed with our usual
raffle, which raised £14 for our funds, and tea/coffee and
biscuits.
‘Year of Care’ Project
The words ‘self management’ and ‘empowerment’ are frequently used when people talk about the future of diabetes care. But how can healthcare professionals support and empower individual people to effectively self-manage their diabetes? How can we ensure that the right services are available locally to help people achieve their individual health goals, whether that’s losing weight or getting back out on the football field? These are two questions the Year of Care project aims to address.
The project is a partnership between Diabetes UK, the Department of Health, the Health Foundation and the National Diabetes Support Team.
Three local NHS teams were recruited as pilot sites to look at what needs to happen to make Year of Care a reality across their populations. Somerset was, unfortunately, not one of pilot sites to be selected, but the tremendous commitment and passion shown in developing this project so impressed the Chief Executive of Somerset PCT that money was put on one side for it to continue in Somerset.
The Mid-Somerset Group is now working with Somerset PCT to look at what needs to happen to develop the Year of Care. Focus will be on developing the infrastructure to support care planning in routine practice, including training clinicians in consultation skills. They will also look at how to commission the right services for individuals. This will involve:
• Developing healthcare providers to provide
that support.
• Linking individual people’s preferences expressed
in care-planning consultations into population level commissioning.
• Understanding what services and support cost.
Don’t be misled by the title ‘Year of Care’,
this project will continue to develop and provide an excellent
level of care well into the future.
If you would like further information check out the Diabetes UK
website: www.diabetes.org.uk or
email James Thomas on: yearofcare@diabetes.org.uk
Local Support Group
A young mother has recently joined our group and is concerned that there are a lot of parents with young children being diagnosed with diabetes who must feel that it would be good to talk to someone in a similar situation. When she asked at her son’s Diabetes Clinic if there was a local support group she was told that they didn’t know of one. When she went back and told them she had found the local group she was told it would be a waste of time as most of the members would be ‘elderly Type 2s’.
Yes, most of our group are past middle age, and some of them have Type 2 diabetes, but we also have a lot of members with Type 1 diabetes. Some of our members have also brought up children with diabetes. I myself had gestational diabetes during my second pregnancy and went on to develop Type 1 diabetes about 4 years later. One of our members has recently undergone bariatric surgery. Between us we have a wealth of experience.
The group members are careful not give any medical advice, but are there simply to offer support when it is needed. We are all different and have different experiences, but we all know what it is like to live with diabetes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our doctors and nurses can tell us what to do when we have a hypo, but I wonder how many doctors and nurses have actually experienced a hypo first-hand? One elderly gentleman I have spoken to told me that his first experience of a hypo was far more frightening than being on board a ship which was being torpedoed by German U-boats during the war!
I have had excellent support from my doctors and diabetes nurses, but have also found the support of the local group invaluable.
It is often good just to have someone to talk to who knows what we are going through.
- 0 -
Meeting 22 July
Our speaker for this evening was Lucy Adams who told us about ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service). ICAS is a patient-led advocacy service, independent of the NHS. It is a free service for helping patients who have complaints about any aspect of their treatment within the NHS.
The two Somerset Advocates are our speaker, Lucy Adams, and Jenny McPherson. They will speak on behalf of any patient with a complaint regarding a branch of the NHS.
When acting on a patient’s behalf they are able to help write letters to the right people, prepare a complainant for meetings (and go with them), give an opportunity to speak to someone who is independent of the NHS (in confidence), help to explore the options available, and answer questions relevant to decision making. They can also give general support to complainants, provide a self-help pack, put complainants in touch with other people who may be able to help, obtain the services of a translator when necessary and meet a complainant at a place where they feel comfortable.
Complaints may be about concerns arising from GPs, Health Centres, Dentists, Opticians, Pharmacists, PCT Services (podiatry, care, District Nurses, etc), Hospitals (NHS treatment whether at NHS or private hospital) or Ambulance Services; and can be about any aspect of NHS care and services, including lack of treatment, lack of information/poor communication, or clinical errors.
Complainants who use the advocacy service usually require an explanation, an apology, changes in practices, staff to learn from mistakes and to feel listened to.
Our local ICAS office is in Taunton – 2nd Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, TA1 3JA, tel: 01823 275037, email: taunton.icas@seap.org.uk
- 0 -
As I am sure you are aware, one of the biggest contributing factors to the enormous increase in Type II Diabetes here in Britain is obesity. I am a classic example as I have been over-weight for most of my life and am now classified as “Severely Obese.” In addition to diabetes, I have sleep apnoea (a common malady with people of my size), high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gout.
Surprisingly enough, from what I hear, Bariatric Surgery, can mitigate the symptoms of all of the above medical realities! This is weight loss surgery, and “Bariatric” refers to the various surgical procedures performed to treat obesity by modification of the gastrointestinal tract to reduce nutrient intake and/or absorption.
I have been on diets all of my life, and I have invariably ended up weighing more than when I began. My surgery, a stomach band, inserts a tube around your stomach (about a third of the way down), so there is no possibility of overeating – when you have consumed more than your much smaller stomach can hold, you throw up. Not fun, but very effective. It forces me to relate differently to food FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE which I trust, due to significant weight loss, will be much longer than present actuarial tables would predict – yet another benefit from this surgery.
The operation itself happened in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, and I can not speak highly enough about the entire medical team from my surgeon, Mr. Welbourne, through the nurses and sisters, to the lady who mopped the floor on my ward. Their warmth and friendliness made my experience in hospital a pleasant and much more bearable one. It really isn’t very painful at all, though there is some discomfort for the first few days after due to trapped air in the stomach.
At least for the moment, I have been advised that as long as my blood sugar remains below 8 (it is hovering around 6), that I can stop taking my Metformin. As I lose weight, I trust that other medications and my CPAP machine (the Darth Vader mask I put on each night for sleep apnoea) will fall by the wayside as well.
If you are overweight, and Bariatric surgery is of interest to you, first, speak with your doctor about it. In my case, my diabetes Doctor, Rob Andrews, was especially helpful to me. And by all means, go to a BOSPA (British Obesity Surgery Patient Association) meeting in Taunton (one Sunday afternoon a month). This is a support group for people before and after bariatric surgery, and should be an important part of your regimen should you decide go for weight loss surgery - Check out their website <http://www.bospa.org/> for information about this kind of surgery, find your Body Mass Index, and learn about meeting dates and places.
I believe that bariatric surgery is going to change (and lengthen) my life, and, I trust, make it so that while I will still have diabetes, I can stop taking medication for it. If you have any questions, please contact me at sig@geomancy.org or tel: 01458 835 818.
Sig
Lonegren, Vice President
Mid-Somerset Voluntary Group
Diabetes UK.
- 0 -
Diabetes UK currently have a survey about Prescription Charges which is worth people with diabetes checking out, the link is http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Prescription-charge-review-in-England---survey/
- 0 -
I’m sure we have all heard
the message that regular physical activity can have a beneficial
effect on our health.
Walking can make you feel good, give you more energy, help you
sleep better, help you reduce stress, keep your heart ‘strong’,
reduce blood pressure and help you to manage your weight.
For general health benefits adults should achieve at least 30 minutes
a day of at least moderate intensity physical activity on 5 or
more days a week. This can be done in one 30 minute session, two
15 minute sessions or three 10 minute sessions throughout the day.
Walking is an easy way to start exercising – almost everyone
can do it, any time, any where, you don’t need special equipment
(just a comfortable pair of walking shoes), it’s a good way
to meet people and make friends, there is little risk of injury,
you can start slowly and build up gently, and it’s free and
easy!
Street Self Help Centre Walks
A Walking for Health scheme is now being run by the Street Self Help Centre. Walks are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and are of varying lengths from one to four miles. Call 01458 447 248 for further information as to the length if that is of concern to you. These walks are free unless you want a hot drink and a biscuit at the end of the walk which is 50p.
Annual Dinner, 12 January, 2008
at the Pound Inn in Coxley
- o -
Annual General Meeting
22 January 2008
Glastonbury Small Town Hall
Unfortunately I have to report that it has not been a good year for this branch of Diabetes UK. Attendance at our monthly meetings has been generally poor; at times abysmal.
We are now commencing the twentieth year of our group which was originally called Mid-Somerset B.D.A. (or British Diabetic Association). In the early years, we had a great deal of support from many of the medical profession in our area. In the early years, we had a great deal of support from many of the medical profession in our are.
Things have changed with the passing of time. Sometimes fewer than six people attend our meetings. As we become older many of our members are no longer able to come to our meetings due poor health.
We had hoped that as some of our older members became unable to attend our meetings, they would be replaced by new members. For various reasons this has not happened. We are aware that many people with diabetes do not know of our group’s existence and we have no means of informing them; other than reports of our activities in the less prominent pages of the local paper.
These activities have been in addition to holding our monthly meetings where we provided speakers on a variety of subjects. The object of our meetings has been to provide informative, interesting and sometimes entertaining speakers and to give an opportunity for people with diabetes and their spouses/carers to compare and ask about our own and each others’ experiences.
Perhaps our members no longer require meetings like this but would like something different. If you let us know, we will listen. If our group is to continue, your committee needs to know your views regarding future activities, format and times of our meetings as well as subjects for speakers. Please let us know! Better still, if you are able, why not volunteer to join the committee, as we are short of committee members.
Without new members and the support of existing members, it is unlikely that Mid Somerset Diabetes UK will survive for more than a few months.
David Brunt (Chairman)
We then spent some time discussing our dwindling numbers and how members hear about our support group. It seems that a number of people have found that their healthcare team do not know of the existence of our local support group, in spite of the fact that all local doctors surgeries and hospital diabetes departments are supplied with regular copies of our programmes and Newsletters! As a matter of priority our new committee will be looking into this in the coming year.
Also during the coming year our meetings are including Discussion Group evenings when we will be looking at some of the problems people with diabetes face from day to day.
The evening closed with a selection of excellent refreshments, thanks to Margaret Fear, and our usual raffle which raised £17 for our funds.
- o -
- o -
A MESSAGE FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Following our September meeting, when the Chairman of Street Neighbourhood Watch spoke to us, we would like to take this opportunity of passing on a warning:
Christmas is a time when burglary and car crime increase. So the following tips could help prevent you from becoming a victim:
* Tell your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme when you will be away. Get a neighbour or friend to call in and pick up your post.
* Set timers for lights, TV and radio – this will give the impression that there is someone at home.
* Keep presents and valuables away from windows and outside viewing.
* Mark expensive presents such as electrical equipment or jewellery with your postcode. (Use a UV pen, or ask your Crime Prevention Officer for advice on marking different surfaces)
* Lock all external doors and windows and if you are leaving your car at home lock it in the garage.
* Make sure your shed is locked and all tools and ladders are locked away.
* Keep an eye on any elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
* Use a door chain when you open the door to strangers, and ask for identification – and check it.
* Consider insuring valuable property, or take photographs, as this will help identify anything which is stolen.
* When doing your Christmas shopping, beware of pick-pockets.
* Don’t leave shopping bags on view in your car (a thief doesn't’t know whether or not they contain valuables!) – lock them in the boot.
- o -
Safety warning:
The following safety warning has been issued for users of LifeScan
One Touch Ultra 2 blood glucose meters.
If you use a OneTouch® Ultra®2 Blood Glucose Meter set in the Millimoles per litre (mmol/L) unit of measure, LifeScan want to urgently inform you that they are recalling and replacing your OneTouch Ultra2 Meter.
Lifescan have learned that some users are having difficulty reading the meter’s display, which might lead them to misread the result. Some users have failed to notice the decimal point when reading their blood glucose results. For example, an actual result of 2.2 mmol/L could be misunderstood as 22 mmol/L
Your OneTouch Ultra2 Meter displays readings in mmol/L, and every mmol/L reading contains a decimal point between the numbers (e.g. 5.0 mmol/L).
If you do have a OneTouch Ultra2 Meter set in mmol/L, please call LifeScan Customer Care immediately on freephone 0800 028 8039 (UK) to receive a replacement meter. The help lines will be open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday 9.00am to 5pm. LifeScan will replace all OneTouch Ultra2 Meters in the mmol/L unit of measure.
Until your replacement meter arrives, continue to test, and be sure to note that your test result will always have a decimal point and a number from 0 to 9 after the decimal point.
Please also be aware that this issue does not affect the OneTouch Ultra2 Meter in mg/dL unit of measure or any other LifeScan Products.
- o -
DO
YOU HAVE DIABETES?
by
Veronica Bastable
About 1.8 million people in the U.K. have diabetes, and it is estimated that another 1 million have the condition and don’t know it – could you be one of them?
Diabetes occurs when the body can’t use glucose (sugar) properly. As a result the glucose in the blood rises to abnormally high levels. If left untreated, or if badly controlled, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and lower limb amputation. Spotting diabetes early means that it can be treated, and the risk of developing serious complications can be greatly reduced.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1. Usually affects people under 40 and is treated with insulin,
diet and regular exercise.
Type 2. Diabetes is usually found in older people and can be treated
with diet and physical activity alone or can often require tablets
and occasionally insulin.
Type 2 diabetes develops slowly over a period of years and people may not notice any symptoms, or often put symptoms down to ‘getting older’ or ‘overwork’. On average, people with type 2 diabetes will have had the condition for between 9 and 12 years before they are diagnosed!
Over 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight at diagnosis – the more overweight and inactive you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes.
There is no cure for diabetes, but
can it be controlled. It is important to make some
necessary changes to your lifestyle. Eating a healthy,
balanced diet, being more active, giving up smoking and controlling
bodyweight will all help you to lead a normal life and reduce the
risk of serious complications.
Changing the habits of a lifetime isn’t easy and it will
take time, but with help and support from your GP, nurse, family
and friends, it is possible! Diabetes UK is a good
source of reliable information and support, and the local group
are happy to help anyone with diabetes or their family or friends. Our
meetings are open to anyone whether they have diabetes or not.
We usually meet at 7:30pm on the third Tuesday of every othermonth in the Small Town Hall of the Glastonbury Town Hall in Glastonbury. Our meetings are not always about diabetes, but if anyone has any problems with their diabetes they are welcome to come and join us over a cup of coffee at the end of our meeting to have a chat - often talking to someone who has gone through similar problems and understands what we are going through can be a tremendous help. It is good to know that we are not alone!
We also hold a number of social events throughout the year, such as Skittles Evenings, Dinners, Barbecues, etc. and we have information tables at a number of local events.
- o -
You need to check your urine if you are ill or have a blood-sugar reading over 15 mmol. People with Type 2 Diabetes rarely get large amounts of keytones, even if they do have high blood glucose levels.
Moderate to high keytones, which cause problems, are usually only seen in people with Type 1 Diabetes who have a high blood glucose level and are ill. If you have any doubts or concerns about your condition, please discuss your concerns with your doctor or diabetes nurse.
“The information presented on this site is for general use only and is not intended to provide personal medical advice or substitute for the advice of your physician. If you have questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your diabetes, please consult your diabetes care team. Products highlighted on this website are not necessarily endorsed by Diabetes UK.”