- Messages
- 10
- Type of diabetes
- HCP
- Treatment type
- I do not have diabetes
My name is Tim and I am a Pre-registration (trainee) Pharmacist working/studying in a hospital under the NHS. I've been given the task of delivering a small presentation to some trainee Pharmacy technicians. These are the lovely people who you'll likely meet in a hospital setting who will ask you about your medication so we have an up to date record of what you take and how you take it. They aren't as knowledgeable about medicines as a Pharmacist but they are a key part of the team who will need to communicate to inpatients about their drugs on a daily basis.
As well as going over the basics of blood glucose, insulin and medication related to diabetes I'd love to give the technicians some examples or 'case studies' of people who have diabetes and their experiences. I came across this forum while studying diabetes in University - it struck me as a brilliant means for people with diabetes to communicate and share advice with one another but also for future healthcare professionals such as myself to gain a better understanding of our diabetic patients.
So, I'd be very grateful if anyone could answer any or all of the below questions - I'm not looking for lots in the way of detail but I am really interested in YOUR individual experience.
I'd like to hear a summary of what diabetic medication you take, when you take it, how you take it (please also state if you're type 1, type 2...). I'd also like to know about the reasons you take the medications the way you do - particularly things that are unique to you. Were you put off a certain drug because of its side effects? Another example may be altering the times you take insulin to deal with working a night shift or using a modified release metformin to ease the side effects.
What changes to your medication have been made over time to improve your experience with diabetes and your control? Some examples: Has a switch to a longer acting insulin made it easier to fit injections into your daily life? Has a switch to a more frequent, shorter acting insulin given you better control?
Do you test your blood glucose - if so, how and how often?
How does a hypo feel? What do you do to deal with a hypo?
If you have any experience with Pharmacy technicians in a hospital - what did you think? What did they do well, what did they do that wasn't so good?
If there's anything else you think is relevant, I'd be keen to hear about it.
Apologies for the length of this post. Thanks to everyone who sticks through it and especially to those who take the time to reply. I really appreciate it and I'm sure the technicians will too!
As well as going over the basics of blood glucose, insulin and medication related to diabetes I'd love to give the technicians some examples or 'case studies' of people who have diabetes and their experiences. I came across this forum while studying diabetes in University - it struck me as a brilliant means for people with diabetes to communicate and share advice with one another but also for future healthcare professionals such as myself to gain a better understanding of our diabetic patients.
So, I'd be very grateful if anyone could answer any or all of the below questions - I'm not looking for lots in the way of detail but I am really interested in YOUR individual experience.
I'd like to hear a summary of what diabetic medication you take, when you take it, how you take it (please also state if you're type 1, type 2...). I'd also like to know about the reasons you take the medications the way you do - particularly things that are unique to you. Were you put off a certain drug because of its side effects? Another example may be altering the times you take insulin to deal with working a night shift or using a modified release metformin to ease the side effects.
What changes to your medication have been made over time to improve your experience with diabetes and your control? Some examples: Has a switch to a longer acting insulin made it easier to fit injections into your daily life? Has a switch to a more frequent, shorter acting insulin given you better control?
Do you test your blood glucose - if so, how and how often?
How does a hypo feel? What do you do to deal with a hypo?
If you have any experience with Pharmacy technicians in a hospital - what did you think? What did they do well, what did they do that wasn't so good?
If there's anything else you think is relevant, I'd be keen to hear about it.
Apologies for the length of this post. Thanks to everyone who sticks through it and especially to those who take the time to reply. I really appreciate it and I'm sure the technicians will too!