Hey Guy’s n Gal’s

So whilst trying to motivate ones self to write more on this site, it finally occurred to me that I may have open up more.

While it is relatively straightforward to write about diabetes, it not as simple when writing about yourself, for various reasons such as not wanting the bore the living daylights out of people and wishing to keep hold of those inner secrets forever and ever.

Over the last few weeks, there has been plenty of activity on the Diabetes scene with the recent congresses over in the USA, the EASD which was held in Lisbon just a couple of weeks ago.  We have a couple of new products in the pipeline that have now been introduced to all the Diabetic Minions which is the “Daily Dose” from Insulution and Timesulin‘s “Smart Cap”.

For me things are going along, health is a challenge and for once it has nothing to do with Diabetes.  For a little under a year I’ve been various with pain/discomfort/numbness in my left arm, tingling sensation in both my cheeks.  In turn I have also developed a small arrhythmia (at mo, it is an extra heartbeat) which after investigation been noted as non-harmful and that I should make sure it is followed up every year.

So this does not look brilliant on paper and it certainly adds to the stress levels , none more so than when you are “unemployed” and about to face imminent financial disaster.    Not an ideal situation to be in at all and one that I’m desperate to climb out of.

A complication is that I have had surgery on the problematic arm so getting to the cause is somewhat challenging.  So why I am telling you this, well it is easy to forget about the rest of your body.

We all impart so much time and effort trying to be a “Super-pancreas” (Can I trademark that Tim?) that we sometimes neglect our bodies.  Not every pain is diabetic neuropathy, not cut foot is an amputation, not every kidney infection is a fast track to dialysis.

So for no, I am no longer taking any pain medication.  I’m going au-natural for the time being with the support of the Neurologist.  Tests are to be performed to see what is blocked, clogged, broken, trapped or not quite working in the arm/neck and will be revised when that is completed.  More electric shocks, oh joy!

As for the Diabetes, I am still MDI(ing) along with an A1c hovering around 7.6/7.9% over the last year, I am currently irritating my consultant via email to see if we can sort out a referral to the Pump Clinic before we meet up in December and to see if he can grab me a BGstar from our friends at Sanofi.  Here in Spain it is illegal for Pharma to dish out freebies to patients so everything has to go through the clinics.

In the mean time I am trying very hard to stay cool, focus on keeping all the body parts greased, whilst playing “Super-Pancreas”!

So everyone please look after yourselves!

Until next time, Saludos

Mike

I recently had the opportunity to attend the 2nd annual Internet & Health congress in Madrid.

Teaming up with Diego from @gtoeurope, a digital marketing agency who are also based in Madrid, we presented to the attendees how patient power is growing day by day and how it can influence health care.

A good turnout was expected and indeed there was plenty of buzz leading up to the event especially using the twitter hashtag #2CBS.

It was evident that HCP’s (health care professionals), patients and health related companies in Spain were genuinely interested in using the Internet and additionally social media to break down the traditional barriers associated with Health Care and especially here in Spain.

It was also evident that not only should HCP’s be embracing social media, communicating not only with patient but also their peers.  I did see several initiatives for HCP to HCP but little in respect to Patients.

Being a “social media” event, one thing I found disappointing were too many groups that knew of each other either professionally/personally and therefore stayed together as one unit instead of actually embracing the “social” aspect.  Also rather disappointingly I found too often that attendees would be up and down, going from room to room and repeated talking whilst people are presenting.  This I found disrespectful and ultimately irritating!

Back to the positives though and what shows is that barriers are being broken down, HCP’s are learning how to utilise social media, so too patients, pharma and digital agencies involved with health care communication.

Slowly but surely, step by step we will get there!

Side note:  I was superbly hosted by Diego from @gtoeurope.  Had the pleasure meeting someone from the DOC USA in Dana Lewis who does such a fantastical job at Swedish Hospital in Seattle and who founded the #HCSM chats on Twitter. Loads of cuteness from Amy Gaskin who was presenting from Patient Opinion UK and finally wonderfully dealt with at Hospital La Paz in Madrid whilst whipping a tooth out(pain-free) in 5 extremely quick seconds!

Additional links:

A couple of pics for your perusal..  Enjoy!

I have been invited to attend and present a keynote together with Diego from GTOeurope at the Internet y Salud: II Congreso de la Blogosfera Sanitaria in Madrid on June 17th & 18th (2011).

The presentation will be based around the fundamental reasons that patients and healthcare professionals should be utilising social media, specifically bloggers to help breakdown barriers and improve patient care.

Preparations are now underway and further details will be released as and when they become available.  The presentation will be bi-lingual with me helping Diego with his Español (just joking, my spanish is rubbish so is my english so whom is helping whom).

Madrid

However, language barrier aside this does present a monumental moment to quake in ones boots presenting in front of an auditorium full of health care professionals, media gurus and digital agencies alike.

So check back soon!  Subscribe for coming updates about the event!

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to both my Mum and Dad. Although not a close journey in terms of Diabetes, we are still a very close family. Today is my 12 year anniversary of Type 1 Diabetes.. Here is a parents perspective on those very events 12 long years ago!

It’s alarming when you see your 20 year old child, the reason for your being, the joy of your life, withering away in front of your eyes.

You know that as a young adult you have to give them their own space and sense of independence; you also know you still have to be there for them, watching out for life’s nastiest creeping up on them.

You know there is something wrong, but you don’t know what; they are not the same, they physically look different, and no matter how hard you try and how much you don’t believe it; you are still worried beyond belief that he or she is on drugs.

When Michael was first diagnosed with diabetes it was almost a relief; I say almost, because diabetes is not that great a condition to be diagnosed with, but compared to the spiral into an addict’s way of life, well frankly it was a relief. It was also a relief to know that it was not something more critical like cancer.

Michael was a good looking, happy, sports mad, youngster.  Played football, cricket, golf, and loved to Ski, he also enjoyed music and clubbing and had always seemed like a sensible kid.  He was!

But his weight loss (and he didn’t carry much in the first place) was alarming and his energy levels were so, so low; this was not the son I knew, not the boy I had played cricket with, not the son who could ski the pants off of me.  Oh how I hoped and prayed he was not doing drugs and how I hoped and prayed that he was not “really ill”.

I remember well the middle of the night pee some 12 years ago that woke me and his mum, and when I went to see if he was alright he told me that he really felt very unwell and was peeing for England and had an unquenchable thirst.

It hit me then and I just “knew” what it was and I told him not to worry and to go to the doctor first thing in the morning.

I had to leave early to sit an exam, nothing like as critical as the examination that Michael would undergo; and we both failed, not that I blame him.

Would we have preferred that he only “had a virus”? Without doubt, but nonetheless, his diagnosis was a relief, even if only partially.

My Mum and I

Rightly or wrongly, I pretended to take the view that it was his problem and that it was only diabetes, I so wanted to play it down. Not in denial but wanted to be matter of fact about it. My tears were kept for me and his mum.

I know it maybe sounds brutal; but ultimately it was Michael who had to control his sugars, his diet and his insulin.  We could prepare all of the food, offer all of the reminders, go to all of the web pages, and buy all of the books, but it was Michael who had to read them, eat it, take his readings and inject.

In Bristol we also had a magnificent ambassador in Gary Mabbut who was leading a brilliantly successful life with diabetes.

I ached and his mum ached, and if either of us could have swapped places we would have done so in a heartbeat, but we couldn’t.  We could not protect Michael from this, we could not put barriers around him to stop it getting in; it was already there.

I am not sure if we ever sat and really spoke in depth about it (sometimes I can’t remember what I have had for breakfast) I am sure that we did, but maybe not as deeply as perhaps we might have.  Again, didn’t want to make a big deal of it.

Diabetes, does not just affect those who get it; it affects their family and those who care about them too; the difference is that eventually we recover.

A Diabetes in Spain (Special) from Allan Young; Cheers Dad

Yay! Today is my Diabetes Anniversary..

No, it’s not just about a friends birthday (Happy Birthday Ian) nor is it all about St Georges Day.

Way back in 1998, I was admitted to the Bristol Royal Infirmary in you guessed it Bristol, UK. Having had a pretty poorly run up to this point that had lasted some weeks, it was I guess finally a relief for myself and my parents who secretly worried. However as I was 20 going on 8 at the time their was little they could was watch from the sidelines.

Having 2 small children I can understand the stress involved when seeing a child go from great health to poor health very quickly for no apparent reason.. Here is a parents point of view!

For me it was a blur, going out to work and feeling like rubbish, going out and feeling like rubbish, going to bed and feeling even worse! Without knowing what was happening and certainly not recognising the signs of Diabetes, it was really was a relief of sorts when I finally made an appointment with the Doctor, rattled of as many of the classic symptoms of Diabetes as I could including such favourites as peeing lots and drinking lots more!

The Doctor calmly told me she was 99.99999% sure I had diabetes and whilst I was providing a pee sample had arranged with the hospital to expect my immediate arrival in the resuscitation room. I thought the room was needed for more urgent cases but as I had a fear of needles, the possibility of blacking out was quite high!

Whiz thru the years to 2010 and that time has flown by. I have been lucky enough to have avoided causing any major damage to myself but will admit that my fingers are really sore now.. Really do need a telepathic meter..

I have also experienced Diabetes Healthcare in 3 countries which are the UK, USA and of course Spain. Each system has it’s flaw and each has it strengths. I can not fault either one and have been supported and looked after wonderfully well by each system.

So at the moment I fighting relatively healthy, weight is ok, body is hanging on in there. HbA1c is a little high but on a downward path as opposed to an upward path.

I have 2 little lads that run me ragged but provide great amusement everyday and every night. My hope is that I can write the very same thing in 10 years time.

So here is to the next 10 years. Here’s to hope! Hoping that better diabetes technology will be developed and available to all to allow for better personal/self management of Diabetes. Hoping that a better understanding of the disease has developed. Hoping that there is a greater awareness through out the world, there by reducing the number of people who live with Diabetes without knowing.

Here’s to good health and good life!

¡Saludos a todas!

Stranded? Running out of medicine? What next and what can you do if you need emergency supplies!

The eruption of Iceland latest volcano may be causing mayhem around the globe with the travel industry grinding to a halt, but the problems some travellers will face will be an even greater eruption if they run out of their prescribed medication.

So what can you do here in Spain?

Well you can be reassured that access to medicine like insulin, strips for testing and tablets such as metformin are available over the counter at most Pharmacies (Farmacias) through out Spain without the need for a medical prescription.

Now Over the Counter charges apply and you will be charged full retail price for the items. As a guide only;

• Lantus Insulin = €75 (Pack of 5 pre-filled pens)
• Accu-Chek Aviva Test Strips = €44

You will be given a fully itemised receipt that hopefully enable you to claim the costs of purchasing essential medication from your travel insurance company! If you do not receive one, please ASK for one!

What if you don’t have travel insurance?
If you happen to have the EHIC (European Health Card) then it may be advisable to locate the nearest National Health Clinic (Centro de Salud) in your location. “They” may be able to help very short-term ie; 24/48 Hours but they do not usually carry medication in stock.

What if you have private travel insurance?
Again it may be worth contacting you insurers, asking for their advice? It would also be wise to contact if possible your health care team/gp for further instructions as they may be able to contact/speak with your insurers directly verifying you are need in of more medication.

Whilst the above advice is certainly not going to get you complimentary medicine, it is hoped that if circumstances determined that you are going to run out then at the very least you will be able to stay healthy!

Stay safe and stay healthy

Saludos

Estimates suggest that some 650,000 people in Andalucia suffer from diabetes and on November 14, World Diabetes Day, the Junta de Andalucia announced that all patients suffering from Diabetes, will received free dental care.

Pregnant women and children between the ages of six and 15 can already benefit from free dental care, other patients may have to wait longer but the aim is for diabetic patients with dental problems to be seen within 48 hours.

The Junta de Andalucia intends to prevent, treat and research diabetes, mainly at the Puerta del Mar Hospital in Cadiz and the Virgen del Rocio Hospital in Sevilla, where specialists will improve techniques for insulin regulation and early detection of diabetes. In one per cent of cases, patients don’t regulate their insulin, and another one per cent hasn’t been diagnosed.

Diabetes can result in other illnesses including periodontal diseases which affect the gums and the structure which supports the teeth.  Other problems include retina diseases which can result in blindness, and the so-called diabetic foot, which on occasions requires amputation.

Source EuroWeeklyNews…

A few people from within the Global ODC (online diabetes community) have started to coin a new Diabetes term in reference to their immediate support network and thus giving them the honorary title of Type 3 Diabetic.

For many young people with diabetes it will presumably be their parents and as we grow older the role with be extended to partners and spouses.

It is essential that we have as PWD’s (Persons with Diabetes) have a strong network, providing not only physical support from time to time but more importantly emotional support.

My Type 3 is my partner Yvonne. She would not know it and she has not entered in to any formal agreement to be one. If she does know then she does a fine job hiding it!

She actual does a great job, because she will not lie to me by simply telling me what I would like to hear.. The truth hurts at times and it is occasionally laid down in front of me, however it is a necessary evil in pro longing my health and well-being.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for being my Type 3. Love you Babe XX

So! Who is your Type 3? Who would be your ideal Type 3?

One final thought; I guess we all have the potential or even perhaps a responsibility to be a TYPE 3 to other persons with Diabetes. The Global ODC makes that job somewhat easier now and as a matter of fact the Global ODC is acting as a TYPE 3.

So my thanks goes to everyone that has been inspiring, kind and helpful to me and to those that help others every day!

How can we help as TYPE 3′s? Here is a Type 3 Etiquette Guide provided courtesy of Accu-Chek and the Behavioral Diabetes Institute.

Researchers at the University of Michigan have determined that poor glycemic control in diabetics may be a risk factor of worsened depressive symptoms.

The study appearing in the current issue of the American Diabetes Association publication Diabetes Care followed 253 patients over six months who controlled their diabetes either through oral medication or insulin. The depressive symptoms were worse among patients who took insulin.

You can read more on the University of Michigan website…