• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

New Member Saying Hi

D

daisy22

Active Member
Messages
32
Hello to all

I'm a new forum member. I've had type 1 for 49 years. I moved to France 15 years ago with OH and daughter who was 8 years old at the time.

I have 2 children living in the UK and 3 grandchildren .

Currently I use an omnipod pump and have recently started to use a freestyle libre.
 
Hello there,
Is the Libre giving you lots of useful info? How are you finding it?
 
Diakat said:
Hello there,
Is the Libre giving you lots of useful info? How are you finding it?
Click to expand...

I think it's brilliant not having to finger prick all the time. It's very useful for nightime readings without the hassle of getting a stick in the machine and finger testing. I no longer have to write down readings as the libre has it for 3 months.

I'm lucky that our French social security provides it as I think it can work out expensive if you have to pay privately.
 
Some areas of the UK provide to some patients. It is making a big difference to a lot of people.
 
daisy22 said:
Hello to all

I'm a new forum member. I've had type 1 for 49 years. I moved to France 15 years ago with OH and daughter who was 8 years old at the time.

I have 2 children living in the UK and 3 grandchildren .

Currently I use an omnipod pump and have recently started to use a freestyle libre.
Click to expand...
Whereabouts in France? How do you find the French medical care especially around diabetes?
 
Hi and welcome @daisy22, I live in Australia and been on insulin for 51 years, the last 7 on an Animas pump.
Unfortunately our health system does not give rebates or free Libre devices and only subsidises CGM for pumps for those under 18 years of age. ( I do applaud that initiative though).
So three cheers to the UK and French health systems.! I think our Aussie politicians drink too much beer and wine and suffer from sunstroke.
As others have asked please let us know about the French health system and about your experience of diabetes. There ia also a current thread entitled 'Omnipod Issues' to which you may be able to give valuable input.
Bon Chance !!
 
Whereabouts in France? How do you find the French medical care especially around diabetes?
As others have asked please let us know about the French health system and about your experience of diabetes. There is also a current thread entitled 'Omnipod Issues' to which you may be able to give valuable input.

To answer both questions the French health system is generally very good. As well as diabetes I’ve had 2 different breast cancers in the last 10 years and also have to take thyroxin for a thyroid issue. This endocrinologist is also my diabetes specialist.

I’ve had an insulin pump for the last 6 years, being a long term diabetic my specialist says that it is often difficult to have equilibrium. However since being on a pump my HBA1C has dropped from around 9 to 7.

I have the HBA1C every 3-4 months, along with a whole round of tests. Since having cancer having a blood test is quite traumatic because they have several goes at trying to find a vein.

Sometimes it’s becoming difficult to get appointments with heart doctors, eye doctors and diabetes doctors. As part of my diabetic health care I see a heart specialist once a year, as long as there are no problems. I have a bicycle stress test every 2 years. My eyes get checked once a year (that is down to me as I don’t bother more often). The system is becoming more overloaded.

So yes, I would say the health care is very good, anything that is a condition for life, like cancer, diabetes etc. is covered by the NI system here. We also have a private “top up” health insurance which is quite expensive, but you can’t put a price on health can you.

I live in the South West of France where we have just experienced a heatwave that lasted around 7 weeks. Boy was it hot!
 
Back
Top