World Diabetes Day 14th November - Get involved!

[DCUKMod]

World Diabetes Day, is with us again next month. As you would expect, DCUK is keen to raise awareness and show support and solidarity to all those living with diabetes – whatever their type, whatever the reason they developed it, and whatever their chosen means of managing their lives.

In order to spread achieve this, we are looking for success stories amongst our members – regular posters or not.

The theme for this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Family”, so anyone with stories involving their family would be particularly welcomed.

Initially, there would be a 1:1 interview, then, provided all parties are happy t continue, photos and distribution, across our social media channels.

To reiterate, this is open to ladies, gents, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3c, LADA, Mody, Gestational or even those whose status might not yet be incredibly clear yet.

In alignment with world diabetes day, it is also open to our global population.

If you would like to be involved in this, please post on this thread, drop me a PM or email [email protected] and your details will be forwarded to the relevant people.

Thanks in anticipation of your usual generosity.

Edited to confirm global involvement.

 

[Antje77]

As part of your 'global population' I'd be happy to be involved.
Not sure about the family part, as I live alone with my dogs and other critters. The dogs are utterly useless when it comes to diabetes. They've never shown any interest in my hypo's and regularly jump in my lap or start wildly licking my hand right when I'm trying to inject.
I do have a good friend, though, who may count as family and who has come up with some very creative solutions to diabetic hurdles, so maybe that's alright too?

You can send my details to the relevant people if you think they're interested, @DCUKMod

 

[DCUKMod]

Thanks, Antje - When it comes to family, I think sometimes we close our minds to blood lines, but there have been, and are, people in my life whom I love as much as my blood family, and for whom I'd do anything.

For me, personally, family is a bigger thing.

I'll pass your details on. Thank you.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Happy to help but feel as at Type 1 with current HBA1c of 51 I am not a 'success story' yet ! I can rabbit on about diabetes in a mainly positive fashion and have a dog, husband and 3 human critters at home.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

World Diabetes Day, is with us again next month. As you would expect, DCUK is keen to raise awareness and show support and solidarity to all those living with diabetes – whatever their type, whatever the reason they developed it, and whatever their chosen means of managing their lives.

In order to spread achieve this, we are looking for success stories amongst our members – regular posters or not.

The theme for this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Family”, so anyone with stories involving their family would be particularly welcomed.

Initially, there would be a 1:1 interview, then, provided all parties are happy t continue, photos and distribution, across our social media channels.

To reiterate, this is open to ladies, gents, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3c, LADA, Mody, Gestational or even those whose status might not yet be incredibly clear yet.

In alignment with world diabetes day, it is also open to our global population.

If you would like to be involved in this, please post on this thread, drop me a PM or email [email protected] and your details will be forwarded to the relevant people.

Thanks in anticipation of your usual generosity.

Edited to confirm global involvement.

As you know I have a slight problem with people, but if the interview can be done through e-mail (I know journalists hate it, because they always get sucky one-word answers, but I promise to be insanely elaborate. ), and I can send in a pic in whatever quality you want (in possession of a variety of camera's), I would love to be of help. I dunno if I'm a success story as my weight's still not where it should be, and probably never will be, but my HbA1c is in the normal range. If this is all useless because I'm an oddball, I'm sorry, but thought I'd offer.

 

[DCUKMod]

Happy to help but feel as at Type 1 with current HBA1c of 51 I am not a 'success story' yet ! I can rabbit on about diabetes in a mainly positive fashion and have a dog, husband and 3 human critters at home.

Nicole - To be honest, success can be defined in a myriad of ways. I think handling a husband, dog and 3 children would see me off, without throwing diabetes into the mix. I'll stick with one OH, and our extended families.

On here, there are some stellar folks living with diabetes, who seem, somehow, to keep a genie at bay, but there are also many more trying just as hard, but aren't, right now, today, able to post those numbers. I could look up the National Diabetes Audit and probably manage to quote the average A1c for a T1. I imagine you would come out of that well.

I'll wait a while until you can confirm, but I would be delighted to put you forward?

 

[DCUKMod]

As you know I have a slight problem with people, but if the interview can be done through e-mail (I know journalists hate it, because they always get sucky one-word answers, but I promise to be insanely elaborate. ), and I can send in a pic in whatever quality you want (in possession of a variety of camera's), I would love to be of help. I dunno if I'm a success story as my weight's still not where it should be, and probably never will be, but my HbA1c is in the normal range. If this is all useless because I'm an oddball, I'm sorry, but thought I'd offer.

Jo, I believe, where possible, the interviews would be verbal, so face to face, if anyone is very close to HO, Skype or Whatsapp.

To be clear here, to everyone, nobody is looking for the perfect person - with or without diabetes. They don't exist. We're keen to engage with real people, who have real journeys to relate.

On an aside, one of the things that encouraged me to engage here when I was first diagnosed was that I could see there were people here who were just like me. They were (and hopefully still are) living healthier lives than a their diagnosis, which encouraged me to be hopeful for myself.

We should never underestimate the power of peer support. Imperfect person <>imperfect person.

Have a think about it and let me know how you would like to move forward. You're welcome to PM me if it suits better.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Jo, I believe, where possible, the interviews would be verbal, so face to face, if anyone is very close to HO, Skype or Whatsapp.

To be clear here, to everyone, nobody is looking for the perfect person - with or without diabetes. They don't exist. We're keen to engage with real people, who have real journeys to relate.

On an aside, one of the things that encouraged me to engage here when I was first diagnosed was that I could see there were people here who were just like me. They were (and hopefully still are) living healthier lives than a their diagnosis, which encouraged me to be hopeful for myself.

We should never underestimate the power of peer support. Imperfect person <>imperfect person.

Have a think about it and let me know how you would like to move forward. You're welcome to PM me if it suits better.

....Yeah, those things wouldn't work for me. Ah well. Was worth a try.

 

[NicoleC1971]

Nicole - To be honest, success can be defined in a myriad of ways. I think handling a husband, dog and 3 children would see me off, without throwing diabetes into the mix. I'll stick with one OH, and our extended families.

On here, there are some stellar folks living with diabetes, who seem, somehow, to keep a genie at bay, but there are also many more trying just as hard, but aren't, right now, today, able to post those numbers. I could look up the National Diabetes Audit and probably manage to quote the average A1c for a T1. I imagine you would come out of that well.

I'll wait a while until you can confirm, but I would be delighted to put you forward?

Thanks! Your points are well made and I am happy to be interviewed as an imperfect diabetic. Have previously done so for DUK but would prefer to help you lot!

 

[DCUKMod]

Thanks! Your points are well made and I am happy to be interviewed as an imperfect diabetic. Have previously done so for DUK but would prefer to help you lot!

Wonderful, Nicole. Thank you very much. It does matter.

....Yeah, those things wouldn't work for me. Ah well. Was worth a try.

Thanks for letting me know, Jo. If you change your mind, just let me know.

 

[ianf0ster]

I am in a similar position to JoKalsbeek. I'm not a huge success like some in the Forums, but it is still fairly early days (diagnosed in May this year).

Also I too am an oddball in that I am a Type 2 TOFI, so if it were not for my age people might think that I was a Type1.

I have done an email interview/questionnaire for a University of Sheffield study into the benefits of Diabetes Forums, but I'm not sure that a Skype interview would be possible since these blasted Windows updates keep messing up the configuration of my headset on my PC and my computer set-up has no camera.
It would be possible to talk to be on my landline but only late evening (UK time) or at weekends since although I am retired I spend many hours per day both financial trading and running a help group (forum) for certain financial traders - over 400 members.

Edited to say that a Skype chat (i.e. interactive text interview ) would be possible since that is how I interact with the members of the Forum I administer.

 

[DCUKMod]

....Yeah, those things wouldn't work for me. Ah well. Was worth a try.

I am in a similar position to JoKalsbeek. I'm not a huge success like some in the Forums, but it is still fairly early days (diagnosed in May this year).

Also I too am an oddball in that I am a Type 2 TOFI, so if it were not for my age people might think that I was a Type1.

I have done an email interview/questionnaire for a University of Sheffield study into the benefits of Diabetes Forums, but I'm not sure that a Skype interview would be possible since these blasted Windows updates keep messing up the configuration of my headset on my PC and my computer set-up has no camera.
It would be possible to talk to be on my landline but only late evening (UK time) or at weekends since although I am retired I spend many hours per day both financial trading and running a help group (forum) for certain financial traders - over 400 members.

Edited to say that a Skype chat (i.e. interactive text interview ) would be possible since that is how I interact with the members of the Forum I administer.

Thanks both. I'll pass your feedback to the relevant folks.

 

[HSSS]

I’m willing too. I’m doing ok and have a non diabetic family of OH and 3 teenagers, who have taken on board better nutrition as a result of my journey. I’ve done a couple of interviews for studies now and have just joined my ppg and the phc (training in a couple of weeks) so telling my story is going to need to be something I get used to doing!

 

[DCUKMod]

I’m willing too. I’m doing ok and have a non diabetic family of OH and 3 teenagers, who have taken on board better nutrition as a result of my journey. I’ve done a couple of interviews for studies now and have just joined my ppg and the phc (training in a couple of weeks) so telling my story is going to need to be something I get used to doing!

Thank you.

 

[DCUKMod]

@Antje77 , @NicoleC1971 , @JoKalsbeek , @ianf0ster and @HSSS - could you please drop me a PM with the email address you'd like to be contacted on, in the first instance.

Many thanks.