Hypo's and HBC1A's

Hi Tracey, just read your post and I have replied to another post of yours about pumps, I can't believe you are having so much trouble getting the support you need from your local diabetic team?! I would suggest you ask for a pump and see how you get on. It could be your particular hospital or clinic don't have a pump team and if that is the case you need to seek further advice from your GP perhaps or research the nearest hospital which will support you. You are entitled to have a pump if it will improve your control! From people I have spoken to and information I have read they can be life changing for someone with Type 1 so if you can, go for it!

Tracey, from your post you qualify for a pump on several counts according to NICE guidelines, although they're open to interpretation by PCTs. After 26 years you should probably be seeing a hospital consultant/specialist about your diabetes anyway? Although I always have from day 1 and assumed (incorrectly) that everyone else did too.

Pump therapy IS life changing! I can't recommend it highly enough. If you have any difficulty getting one you could try Input who may be able to provide some assistance: http://www.input.me.uk/

Hypo unawareness is not good, I am the same. If you are having multiple hypos per week then this in itself can reduce the warning signs you get subsequently, the way out is to run your bg levels slightly higher than normal for a few days, and the signs should return of their own accord. Unfortunately in a long term diabetic with relatively high HbA1c it may be down to autonomic neuropathy, which you can't do much about.

Hi Tracey

Have to agree with Debloubed and Kegstore, I think that a pump would be most suitable for you, given that your control and hba1c are little erratic. I have also had diabetes for 26+ years, and no very little about pump therapy, except what I have read hear on this forum.

A few years back, I use to see a consultant at my local infirmary regarding my eyes. This chap had been type 1 for 30+ years, and had been on a pump for 10 years. We would discuss all things to do with diabetes, and he told me that he changed to pump therapy due to erratic bg's and hba1c's. Having changed turned his life around, and enabled him to control his diabetes better, with hba1c's of 5-6 region.

Also Tracey, have you ever thought of asking about the DAFNE course. I did one back in October and found it extremely useful. As I say, having had diabetes for a number of years, I was a little sceptical of learning anything I didn't already know, however I came away with a wealth of knowledge and a better understanding of how to adjust insulin with carbs. As a result, I am having fewer hypo's and have improved my bg readings. Overall, it is a very worthwhile course.

Try and find out about the pump therapy, or indeed the DAFNE course.

Best wishes

Nigel

I had some **** advice previously from diabetic nurses-one told me to raise 12 units in one go, and the other suggested lowering by 22 units!!!! SO I went solo-almost.....I used to email my GP my blood readings on a weekly basis using an excel spreadsheet. He would review, email me back with advice and this went on for months. In the end we went monthly until I was well. I know I had a fantastic GP at the time, and I wish I still had him, but unfortunately we moved.

It is possible to get your GP to change his attitude. Ask the receptionist for your GP's email address, that is how I got mine GP email address (you can also find other ways to get this as well).

I have been type 1 for 25 years and this GP solved all my problems. In the end he would email me saying how fantastic I was!!! He was brilliant. Without a doubt if I had problems again, I would find out my new GPs email address and email him the spreadsheets again, whether he wanted me to or not, I also would mark the email for a receipt when read.

If you have previously been ok, I think that the consideration of going to a pump is quite extreme, but that is only my opinion.

When I see my new GP now I always take a list with me of what is happening, and I also always take my husband. I am now being referred to a neurologist and rheumatologist for diabetic neuropathy/B12 problems, and this is only because I have taken concise letters with me (and left them with the GP) and taken my husband. Before this my GP would always fob me off, now he sees me after the surgery has closed, so I have unlimited time with him. You can get your GP to change his attitude, yes they have medical training but they are NOT Gods....

Please let me know if I can help further.....Sharon

Hi...in addition....
I had considered whether I should have a pump as my hypo's and levels were extreme/ With a hba1c above 9 and having bad hypo's too, it does suggest that you are having extremes of highs and lows. Mine used to come in between 9 and 11 before this GP previously mentioned helped me.

I was (on diabetic nurse instructions) giving long acting insulin before I went to bed. I changed it to tea time. My night time hypo's disappeared. I always check before I go to bed and make sure they are between 6 and 9 and I can get throught the night ok. I also took my food and daytime injections more seriously, and checked them before and after meals for weeks when I was emailing my GP, and logged every result and all my food down on the spreadsheet for him. This is gets your mind more focused for when you stop emailing GP because you have it listed what gives you highs and lows, and you really shouldn't lie to GP about qty of food as this would be a waste of time. It makes you be honest with yourself exactly what you are doing. I was in all honesty killing myself, not intentionally but from eating and injecting stupidly.

My HBA1c levels since the GP (who was not a specialist in diabetes) have been between 5 and 6.5.
I will never go back, ever. Perhaps a pump may be an answer, but I would be sitting down with myself and giving myself a very close analysis first of what I am doing, and then persevering with GP. I was truly kidding myself but in denial of it.

I think I still have a copy of the spreadsheet somewhere on PC if you want a copy of it.
Best wishes Sharon