Shielding letter - all Type 1s?

[jaywak]

I'me 61 type 1 for 46 years BMI about 24-25 HbA1c last june about 44 and cholesterol 5 , the only health issues i've had in 46 yrs have been the odd cold , Chicken pox about 20 yrs ago , and the odd nocturnal hypo which does cause me serious probs as I seem to fit quite badly and end up biting my tongue , I live in Norfolk and not had any shielding letter but had my first jab on 22 Feb .

 

[KK123]

Certainly are, fortunately I have keys for one.

Wish I had a key for John Lewis!

 

[Maco]

Wish I had a key for John Lewis!

I wouldn’t swap the keys for the gym for anything

 

[NicoleC1971]

Jsywak
Whilst I agree with part of your post. No, there is no scientific evidence out there that says, as a type 1 you are more likely to catch covid19. But if you are unlucky enough to catch it, I think you are between 3.5 and 3.9 times likely to die compared to someone without type 1.
Think that is correct.

The Prof Karr report of May 2020 cited 3 x risk for type 1 based on hospital patients but it is important to put this in the context of age which is the bigger determinant of how you will do if you get a Covid infection and also in the context of overall mortality risk. The WHO published Joh Ionanidis' figures re infection fatality rate averaging 0.23% across a whole population but this small number would multiply by over 22 if you were over 80, obese and male! Conversely if you were under 50, female and not obese but type 1 diabetic then your risk looks much less scary and possibly worth going out and getting on with your life. The fact that we are now allowed to make such risk calculations on our own behalf is what is frustrating about the current situation.

 

[UK T1]

also in the context of overall mortality risk.

Personally, I find it frustrating when non-diabetics make those judgements on my behalf based on mortality rather than including quality of day to day life (with what they might see as well-meaning comments, I do appreciate! By others I mainly mean colleagues or friends).

I don't find it helpful to have an all or nothing approach - mortality or being fully functioning aren't the only options. My glucose levels shoot up with a common cold, and this disproportionately impacts on my daily life. Many other type 1 diabetics are lucky and wouldn't notice this though so don't have this consideration.

Once lockdown has been eased, I would much sooner be able to continue minimising social contacts while seeing friends and family, and continue being able to eg exercise and have energy to maintain good management of my diabetes. The implications of anything but asymptomatic covid-19 could prevent me from doing those things.

So for me the worry is not hospitalisation or death, it is the impact on my glucose levels which could strip me of time and energy to do anything but work. Everyone is different of course!

 

[NicoleC1971]

Personally, I find it frustrating when non-diabetics make those judgements on my behalf based on mortality rather than including quality of day to day life (with what they might see as well-meaning comments, I do appreciate! By others I mainly mean colleagues or friends).

I don't find it helpful to have an all or nothing approach - mortality or being fully functioning aren't the only options. My glucose levels shoot up with a common cold, and this disproportionately impacts on my daily life. Many other type 1 diabetics are lucky and wouldn't notice this though so don't have this consideration.

Once lockdown has been eased, I would much sooner be able to continue minimising social contacts while seeing friends and family, and continue being able to eg exercise and have energy to maintain good management of my diabetes. The implications of anything but asymptomatic covid-19 could prevent me from doing those things.

So for me the worry is not hospitalisation or death, it is the impact on my glucose levels which could strip me of time and energy to do anything but work. Everyone is different of course!

I agree that everyone is different and though I am rarely ill, when it happens I can assure you my blood sugars are very high and I don't enjoy it. I hope we will all be free to do what you describe and manage our own risk accordingly. Personally I feel my immune system and sanity gets stronger for being out working and socialising as normal which isn't to say anyone should do anything other than what they personally feel is right for them. I suppose the vaccine gives us a bit more choice.

 

[KK123]

I agree that everyone is different and though I am rarely ill, when it happens I can assure you my blood sugars are very high and I don't enjoy it. I hope we will all be free to do what you describe and manage our own risk accordingly. Personally I feel my immune system and sanity gets stronger for being out working and socialising as normal which isn't to say anyone should do anything other than what they personally feel is right for them. I suppose the vaccine gives us a bit more choice.

I absolutely agree with you. To a large extent, ones individual circumstances will clearly reflect our choices. I am 59, BME, female, and am as fit as a fiddle (if I say so myself!!). I can't recall taking a single tablet in several years, I never have headaches or anything and I rarely have so much as a cold (busy touching wood). I exercise, mainly running but I would like to get into a bit of weight resistant training too when I can figure out how to start that. I would add though that for most, a person's occupation can enter into the risk and when it does, it is virtually impossible to make choices for ourselves unless it's a Hobson's choice, ie, you're doing this or you will get the sack V just leaving a job (who can really do that?). I reckon we are only 'free' if we don't have to work at all!!!

 

[ElenaP]

Please tell us you've been offered your jab!

Yes, I did get the AstraZeneca vaccination. I had rather bad side-effects for several days, including needing a lot more insulin, but I hope that that means my body was building resistance.