So today was a normal today, until I went to lunch with my friend Shelley. We met in our usual place, and had our usual lunch together.

We got chatting about diabetes and the insulin pump, I was asking her some questions about the cannula’s. This is something that had bothered me after watching a YouTube video of a girl inserting one, and I don’t have a problem with needles but this really freaked me out. I didn’t like how long the needle was, so I told Shelley about this and how it freaked me out, so she got a spare cannula out to show me.

Well I am glad it wasn’t as long as the one in the YouTube video, I feel much better now. She also managed to persuade me to insert it, I was so nervous and I am not even sure why because it was nothing. It didn’t hurt; in fact I didn’t even feel a thing! It was really nice of her to share her supplies with me, and I am really glad she did, I am going to leave it in for 2 or 3 days to see how it goes.

So with just over a month to go (or 35 days, as I am counting) I am looking forward to a new era with Diabetes, and hopefully this will help me improve my control.

P.s. Excuse the crazy PJ’s!

Well, as you may or may not know I am a Type 1 Diabetic. I feel there is not enough awareness around the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. So I have written an article, hopefully, that will help to explain the differences and bring more awareness.

When I have previously told people I have Diabetes, I have had comments like “you have Diabetes? But you’re not fat!”, this to me, shows that people know far more about Type 2 than Type 1.

According to Diabetes UK, there about 2.6 million people in the UK with Diabetes. Around 90% of these have Type 2. Therefore, I calculate that there are about 260,000 people in the UK with Type 1.

Type 2 Diabetes is often because of a high insulin resistance, where the cells cannot use the insulin produced efficiently, therefore the glucose is not removed from the blood very well, leading to a high blood glucose level. Type 2 Diabetes can also be caused from a deficiency of insulin, this can be because the pancreas gets exhausted by trying to produce enough insulin to lower the blood glucose. For some people who have insulin resistance, gaining weight can make the resistance worse, therefore making them eventually develop Type 2 Diabetes, which is why the government have various campaigns on obesity and diabetes. A large number of people who are not overweight develop diabetes, because they have a worse than normal insulin resistance.

There are various different medications that Type 2 Diabetics can take. The most popular are Simvastatin, Metformin and Byetta. Simvastatin is a drug that can lower blood glucose, but can also help lower cholesterol. Metformin is a drug that slows absorption of glucose, and also the liver’s production of glucose, therefore helping to lower blood glucose levels. Byetta is based on the saliva of the Gila Monster lizard, which was found to contain blood glucose lowering properties. Byetta can also help with weight loss, as it makes you feel fuller sooner.

I was dreading, but also looking forward to this programme, as I was intrigued as to how they were going to  portray Diabetics, but I also knew it might anger me. I didnt actually manage to watch it on the Monday night, but managed to catch up on wednesday night.

Well to be honest I have mixed feelings about that programme. I feel they did a good job of showing the effects of bad control, but then I feel they should have worded some parts better. The programme fitted in with the whole series, including stab victims and liver damage due to alcohol abuse. Although they did portray all diabetics to be like this, and I dont feel this will help the opinions of people who already know so little about diabetes. I have often been asked if I got diabetes from eating too many sweets as a child, or if I was an obese child. I try to keep calm when someone asks me this, but obvious I just explain that the reason I have diabetes is because I had a virus and my anti-bodies attacked my pancreas cells rather than the cold virus, so basically my body malfunctioned and now I have to deal with the consequences, boo hoo!

Whilst watching that programme I did find some of the young diabetics immensely irritating and frustrating, I just wish someone could change their attitude and educate them on how to deal with their diabetes, so it wont come up and bite them in the bum in the future, which we know it will if they don’t act soon.

I did think the message from that show was strong, with the falling off toes, amputated legs and abssesseson the pregnant lady, it certainly gave me a fright! I did however feel for the medical staff, I cant imagine how much of a frustrating job it must be knowing they are trying to help, but those diabetics simply don’t want help and miss their appointments. I must admit I liked the honest doctor, he really said what he thought, and was trying to be there for them, but they clearly didn’t take him serious, I cant imagine how tiresome that makes his job.

I do feel that the programme could of thrown in a few extra facts, like the differences between type 1′s and 2′s, as they only really mentioned that one girl was type 2, but never stated that with the others.

During that whole show the one thing that really angered me, was the mum of the 15/16 year old type 1 diabetic girl. She really didn’t care about her daughter, she had no idea about the condition, I found this most upsetting and her mother should be ashamed. No wonder the girl didn’t want to deal with her condition she had no support from her mum. I was diagnosed at 8 years old, and I know that if my mum wasn’t there for me and helping me I wouldn’t of been able to do it.

Another big concern for me was the 21 year old who was admitted to the hospital with DKA, and a blood sugar level of 50mmols! This utterley shocked me, I honestly didnt even know 50mml was possible, the most I have ever had is 28mmols and that was when I was diagnosed thirteen years ago! I just cant understand how someone can ignore something like that, he is the same age as me, yet I feel so much more grown up than he is about the condition. I tend to feel abit groggy at 14mmols, let alone 50mmols, I cant imagine how he feels. I assume if he is constantly high he doesn’t have no signs of hypos of hypers.

Even though some points annoyed me slightly, I am glad I watched it, as it has made me realise how different people deal with their diabetes. I have read a few different articles and opinions about this programme, and have listed them below for anyone else to read.

Here are some other valued opinions on the programme:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=10205

http://www.talkingbloodglucose.com/2010/08/educating-masses.html

The following charities also made statements on the programme:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News_Landing_Page/TV-programme-unhelpful-in-dispelling-diabetes-myths/

http://www.jdrf.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=1582&itemTitle=Channel+4+programme+%27The+Hospital%27&section=23&sectionTitle=News

Well saying I was dreading this run is an understatement!

It was hard, but I fought through it, with my Type 1 diabetic friend Shelley Bennett (She runs
Circle D).

The start was scary, standing in a big queue waiting to reach the start line, whilst also seeing everyone else pass you on the other side.

Overall it was an amazing experience, and it gave me a fantastic buzz, being cheered was amazing, and really gave me more enthusiasm to keep going.

I would like to thank everyone that sponsored me, my target was £500 and I raised an amazing £520 for Diabetes UK

Below are some pictures of me and Shelley before, during and after the run!

Also if you still want to sponsor me, please visit my JustGiving page.

The story so far …

Well, I have had Type 1 diabetes since May 1997 (13 years!). A few weeks before I was diagnosed I had a common cold, a week later my family noticed I was constantly tired and consuming a high volume of liquids. They knew this was unusual so I was taken to the doctors who tested my blood glucose and saw that it was very high. Later that day I was admitted to hospital and stayed there for a week whilst lots of different test were completed and I learnt about my condition. I was told that my antibodies had malfunctioned and attacked my pancreatic cells instead of the cold virus.

Type 1 diabetes which develops when the insulin-producing cells have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin. Usually it appears before the age of 40, and especially in childhood. It is treated with insulin either by injection or pump. A healthy diet and regular physical activity is also essential. 15 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes.

Now it’s time that I did something to show my appreciation to my family, friends and of course the NHS. So here it is, the Asics British 10k London Run. My aim is to raise £500, but obviously the more I can raise the better, and this is where you come in!

The 10k London run is on July 11th. I will start the run at Hyde Park corner, and pass through the capitals famous landmarks such as Wellington Arch, St James’s Palace, Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, Somerset House, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Royal Horse Guards Arch, Banqueting House and the Cenotaph before finishing on Whitehall near Downing Street.

All the sponsorships money I raise will go towards Diabetes UK research fund to improve the lives of people, like me with diabetes, and hopefully find a cure!

If you wish to donate, please visit Just Giving.

All of the donations are really appreciated, thanks everyone!