Hello... please be patient with me.

Hello, names Lee. I signed up to this places years ago but I've barely used it, so this is the first time I've been back in a long time.

I suffer with long term depression (surprise surprise, **** world n' all) and it's dramatically impacting on my Diabetes. I've had Diabetes for a long time and I feel that my Diagnosis at 3 changed me quite considerably (according to my parents) but over the years though my control has not been strict, it hasn't been horrendous either. Recently my mood has lifted and for the past 2 or so days my glucose control has actually been decent. Deceivingly, my hba1c looks good, but isn't, because its usually calculated and averages out a whole bunch of up and down blood sugars. Prior to the last 2-3 days I was low one minute and high the next, with hypo-awareness taking a drastic knock, so much so that at 1.8, I felt almost normal (notice issues like dull persistent headache or focus differences between the left and right eye when reading, helps me discover low glucose).

What I find most concerning though is how little doctors and these so called Diabetic nurses know. For a start, there is an over abundance of insulin supplies that cater to people who are borderline obsessed with treating the disease but very few that cater to real world people like myself. For example, I cannot for the life of me find an disposable or cartridge pen that has a screw cap. I carry my Insulin Pen in my pocket and the number of times my NovoRapid lid has detached, and knocked off the plastic needle cap to expose and ultimately bend the needle is ridiculous. Does any body know of an device that has a scrap cap? I've been on to NovoNordisk and they say no. Oh, I'm also the type of person that leaves the screw on needles on pens, until I'm finished with the entire pen. Apart from the occasional blockage in the needle on the Levemir pens (since they take longer to deplete) there has been no incidence that I've noticed whereby it effects blood glucose or causes any kind of infection. To change the needle every time, to me, seems rather excessive. Am I the only person who does it this way or are there any others out there who stick with the same needle?

Another thing which is a huge disappointment is that my local Doctor surgery now claims that Accu-Chek Aviva test trips are no longer available. Now considering these are made by Roche and they seem very well designed, I can understand, but unfortunately I think that comes at the cost of consistency for me. I was suggested (scrawled on my prescription and highlighted) about the Verio IQ, which quite frankly seems daft and the cheap Polymer battery they have opted for was a big no. The strips also look as if they're made of litmus paper. To me (and according to numerous other people / reviews) the Accu-Chek Aviva meter was a very consistent, accurate meter that had a large storage, so much so I believe they gave the meter itself a facelift. Unfortunately I'm now at a loss and I've got to find another meter. I don't like Bayer meters, for the simple fact that they're cheap. Cheap squishy buttons with nasty contacts and an often oversighted area which I dislike, being the carry case, which are also cheap and nasty with Bayer meters. My Accu-Chek Aviva was actually made with a bit of durability and the holds were sensible, as opposed to the Bayer offering. If anyone has any other suggests for good, consistent glucose meters I'd much appreciate it. I intend to keep my FastClix lancing device since every other pharmaceutical company seems to be stuck in the 1980s.

Anyway, thanks for reading. If anyone has any recommendations on products that don't suck and that they haven't only been using for 5 minutes (or aren't biased), I'd appreciate it very much.

I apologise for the offensive dislikes; sometimes I find it frustrating how bad Type 1 Diabetes care is in the NHS and find the over abundance of obese folk to be such a crippling effect on the NHS. I can't help but see the majority of Type 2s as an avoidable condition that has an effect on Type 1 care due to costs. Obviously Type 1 Diabetes is unavoidable as it is autoimmune whereas the majority of Type 2 Diabetics can avoid such illness through lifestyle changes. I do appreciate that some people who have weight issues are not to blame and I also accept that there are other factors that can cause Type 2 Diabetes such as complications with the liver or even such things as injury or pregnancy.

I do apologise again, I was more on the frustrated side when completing my profile - I'll be sure to change it.

Peace.