Diabetes and Driving

Recently I started learning to drive, and although it is tremendous fun, there are some concerns for drivers with diabetes.

- Firstly, when I sent off to get my provisional licence from the DVLA I made sure to tell them I was diabetic, which meant that I got a 3-year licence instead of the usual 10 years. They had to write to my doctor enquiring about my level of health and the number of times I had been submitted into hospital. Unless your diabetes has become quite so bad as to be submitted into hospital fairly frequently, then you should have no problems getting your licence.

- Getting insurance is now a fairly simple process, as insurers no longer ask if you have diabetes. This is because it is proved that drivers who have diabetes are no more of a risk than drivers without. Although, some insurers still do ask, so do give them the correct answer.

- One of the most vital things about driving is to ALWAYS keep food, blood sugar tester and glucose in the car. This is so vital and important, because you need to be prepared to sort yourself out at the very FIRST signs of hypo/hyperglycaemia. You ought not wait 10 minutes to find a petrol station for a chocolate bar, because your low will get worse and you will have to wait longer to recover before continuing your drive. Pull over at the first signs.

- Test your sugar level before and every hour during a long journey. This is especially important for those with poor control, as your sugar levels can fluctuate quite rapidly. Also, if you can see your sugar level is going up or down you can treat it before it becomes a real problem.

- Do not drive if you feel ill or wobbly. I have (accidentally so) driven whilst going low and going high. I can safely say that it is NOT a good feeling. In both instances - high and low - ones perceptions and control over the vehicle are very limited. Plus, because going low is very similar to feelings experienced when drunk, it is in fact illegal to drive whilst you are in this condition.

Overall, check your level and make sure the DVLA and your insurers know you are diabetic. This way you and other road users are SAFE. Enjoy driving!!

Diabetes and Driving

A Cure for Diabetes?

At a recent visit to my nearby hospital doctor I enquired about the new, upcoming diabetes "cures". I asked about stem cell research and other things, and wondered if these would be available to me in the future.

Stem cells are blank cells that can grow into any kind of cell; this means they can grow into the all-important insulin producing islets. These could then be transplanted into the body and potentially cure the disease. As a young woman with type 1 diabetes I felt that this research was something I would be able to benefit from in the next 10 years, at least this is what I was told by another doctor 4 years ago. However, my doctor said that the best possible way for me to maintain good control and keep a great amount of freedom would be to stay with my Minimed insulin pump. I didn't realise how risky the procedure might be or the amount of anti-rejection drugs I would have to take after such an operation. It seems to me that I need to make the best use of my insulin pump in order to keep my body at a good level of health and my sugar levels stable. And although there are great improvements constantly being made to stem cell research, it seems best to make the most of what we currently have and just hope for the future.

A Cure for Diabetes? - Stem Cell Research through the eyes of a Type 1 Diabetic

How to handle Airport Security with an Insulin Pump

Well, even after having been through many European airport security checks I can tell you with some authority that I still get really nervous until I am through. Not that there is any chance that one could be stopped, it is a medical device after all and they have to let you through.

Before you even set off from your home, make sure that you have a signed doctors note with you. This will get you out of any problems you may get stuck in.

At the security desk the thing to remember is to make sure you do the following two things:
- 1. State which bags have got needles in to the person putting your bags through the scanner, this should then no longer be a problem.
- 2. Make sure that same person knows that the thing on your hip is in fact not a mobile phone, it is an Insulin Pump, be really really clear about that. I was at an airport in the south of France recently and I said "Its an insulin pump" several times and still wasn't heard.

It may be a good idea to have with you a small piece of paper with the translations of important words you might need, especially if you don't speak the language at all, that way you can get past the confusion. Although most airports will have come across insulin pumps or diabetics before, that certainly does not mean that every person/security guard has, so be prepared.

Another thing to always remember is never to panic. This will only increase the amount of security guards around you. Along with this, remember that every airport has a different way of checking security, so don't be worried if they do something different. Here are how some different airports sort out security:
- In an airport in Austria I had to be escorted to the gate by a senior guard, who then had to notify the pilot that I had an insulin pump and needles in my bag, and ask if it was ok that I come on board (thank goodness it was!). At the same airport I had all my bags checked, opened and searched. I had to identify everything in the bag that looked suspicious.
- At an airport in northern Italy, they didn't ask me anything at all or question the needles or insulin pump.
- At an airport in London, they swabbed my insulin pump, which I found out afterwards was checking for traces of dynamite.
- At an airport in the south of France I had to go into a 'booth' with a security guard whilst she checked every single part of me for something suspicious. This was because they did not want to send me through the gate as it may have damaged the insulin pump. Most places won't do this, but this is also why it is important to make sure that someone knows before you walk through in case it is potentially damaging to your insulin pump.

Any questions you want to ask about this article, feel free to ask.

How to Handle Airport Security with an Insulin Pump by Alissa Carter

Diabetes Volunteers - Make A Difference

I was thinking the other day about how much I wanted to help out in the diabetic community, about how in some places there is very little support for diabetics and how I think things should be changed for the better. Firstly I want to say that if you have any opinions or views you would like to share, then please mention them by leaving a comment, it would be greatly appreciated.

After going to my doctors appointment to have a check-up recently, it struck me how many people there are who would benefit from extra help. For example, how good would it be to get more nutrition advice, as I know from personal experience how big a difference this can make. Also, how about setting up a partner link, where you call a nurse every week or month with your blood glucose readings, in order to keep yourself more accountable. I don't know about you, but I keep greater tabs on my health when I know I have an appointment soon. How about just having a small community group to bounce ideas off and share stories with to make you feel less alone? I know you guys reading this will also have other ideas, but I just wanted to mention the few I have come up with.

Do you think there needs to be greater support for type 1 diabetics?

Also, for those of you that read this who are active in the diabetic community, it would be great to know how you do this and to what extent?

Diabetes and Alcohol

As a student, I am completely aware of the temptation that drinking alcohol is. But I also know how to say no. I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed when I was 11, which has meant that not drinking has never been an issue for me. I do understand however that would I have been diagnosed during my potential drinking years, things may have been a little different. I have heard a few stories from diabetics who have had bad experiences with alcohol, and there seem to be a few common links between them:

Firstly, there is a lack of understanding as to how alcohol affects your system. So here is a quick breakdown from my vague understanding:
- Your body reacts to alcohol as a toxin, a poison. This means that your body will not secrete glucose until it has got rid of the alcohol in your blood stream. Which granted it can stay in your blood stream until the next morning can be a BIG problem.
- The dangers are greatly increased if you drink on an empty stomach or if you exercise at the same time.

Secondly, everyone feels peer pressure to drink. Life as a student means that I am regularly faced with the challenge of whether or not to drink, but for me, I don't find it hard to say no. It may seem like a challenge to not drink, but it is so easy. I will share with you some tips that I have come across:
- Have one drink and take it round with you the whole night, sipping slowly. This means that you always seem like you are drinking, when actually you haven't really started.
- Drink water. You may feel as though everyone thinks you are 'uncool', but you have to realise that you are the clever one! If you have had your limit of 1 or 2 drinks then switch to water.
- Avoid cocktails. If you are going out for a cocktail, have a look through the ingredients to see whats in them. Cocktails are one of the mot sugary things you can drink, expecially if it is very colourful.
- If you are going out dancing, be sensible and eat food to counteract the dancing before you go, and always remember that bars usually sell crisps also if you do feel hungry.
- Do not stay out too late. I have found it really important to go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time every day to keep my levels good. There is usually an occasion every week that you can go to that finishes at 12 exactly.
- Make sure that you go out with friends. This ensures that if something does happen to you, that they will be there to know what to do.

Lastly, be sensible. You know you shouldn't have more than one glass, so don't.

Diabetes Skincare

Another complication that may pass unnoticed in those with diabetes is poor skin and a poor ability to heal. I find that when I have poor control wounds take longer to heal, and most frustatingly my skin gets more pimples. The only way to deal with this really is to gain better control, and it is a really good incentive.

Other ways in which to aid poor skin condition is proper treatment. I worked for a skincare company recently and therefore have ideas on how to keep your skin at its best condition:

- For wounds, use some vitamin E oil. This is great for helping the skin to heal better. You can eat more foods containing vitamin E (wheat germ, oats, sardines, nuts, egg yolk, leafy green vegetables) or you can rub vitamin E oil directly onto or around the wound.

- For body skincare, try a thick body moisturiser, such as Neals Yard or Dr Hauschka. I would recommend organic and natural products, as these contain only natural beneficial ingredients. Spread this all over your body so that your body can stay moisturised. There are also products like this for men, which can be very beneficial for the skin.

- For facial skincare, use a daily routing of cleansing and moisturising. Also, I would recommend changing your pillowcase every day, as this reduces infection very well (which is the means by which pimples spread). You can finds loads of products online that will help your skin.

The most important thing with keeping your skin at its best condition is to keep your levels in check, never substitute this for creams and lotions.

Diabetes Care - Checking your blood glucose

Checking your blood glucose is essential to good diabetes control. I have found that the more often you check your blood glucose, the better the control. This does make sense, as the more often you check your level, the tighter grasp you have on what it is, and the more often you can adjust your level.

For instance, if you check your level at 9am when you wake up and it is say 9mmol then you can adjust this at your ratio with your bolus for breakfast. After 2 hours, at 11am, check your level again. This could reveal that your level has remained at 9mmol or whether it has gone down. This should also help in knowing if there is something wrong with your infusion set or if there is a bubble in the tubing. It can alert you to problems that you may not otherwise notice until your next meal.

These are all helpful things to do if you want to avoid complications of diabetes (which can be strongly recommended!).

Checking your blood glucose

Diabetes and Exercise

Diabetes should not hold you back from doing anything you love or anything thats good for you for that matter. I may sound like a sports teacher here, but getting regular exercise is really important for keeping your body healthy especially as a diabetic.

When I started going running or power walking every morning I noticed a huge difference in my levels, they were lower and much more stable. I now go power walking every other morning and feel so much better and fitter.

Getting regular exercise is really important as a diabetic because it helps to keep your levels stable and your body healthy. One of the big traps of being diabetic is you thinking that it inhibits you, that you can't do exercise. So here are a few tips to help you think otherwise:

- One of the problems of doing exercise is knowing that by doing this exercise you lower you levels too much. Well the really easy thing to do here is to make sure that you eat something that will counteract this. So for example, if I plan on doing some running for 45 minutes and my level is between 8mmol and 12mmol I will eat a banana. If my level is 6mmol to 8mmol I will eat a snack bar or some raisins or some toast. If my level is above 12mmol I will eat nothing but drink loads of water.

- The exceptions to taking exercise should be if your level is below 6mmol (or what you consider close to low) then wait half an hour at least after having something to eat to wait for your level to go back up. Also if your levels are above 15mmol or what you consider too high, having exercise will only make your level go higher, so have some insulin and wait for it to go lower.

- The post exercise low - 2-5 hours later! This can come as a surprise to some people because they are not prepared for it or not aware. But generally once you have been exercising, especially if it is quite vigorous, your level may drop in the next half of the day. In following this rule, it is important to try and keep your exercise to the beginning half of the day so you can watch your levels closely before going to sleep. Perhaps the best way is to not exercise vigorously after 4pm. However going for a gentle walk is the best exercise in the evening as it will gently regulate your blood sugar levels.

- Wear a med tag if exercising alone (well you should always carry one with you, but it is especially important when exercising, as there is a greater risk of going low.) and always takea large bottle of water and dextrose tablets like lucozade. Again it should be important for you to have these with you at all times, but it is especially important when exercising.

- The best exercises that I find regulate my levels are cardiovascular, like running, power walking and swimming. Things that raise your pulse and get your heart pumping.

Diabetes and Exercise

Change of insulin pump?

I have had my current insulin pump 'Philip' for almost 6 years now, I have decided that it is in fact time to move on and upgrade. The process is now underway for me to get one of the minimed paradigm's which look like this picture (only I think I am going to get a purple one!). When I decided that it was time to upgrade it couldn't have been easier. Because I live in the UK and we have the NHS, I was able to go to my nurse at my registered hospital and ask for the funding letters to be sent out to the relevant people. I am still awaing the results of this letter. And hopefully once these come back with a positive answer I can begin to explore a new name for my new insulin pump, how about Patrick? If you have any good ideas for names starting with a P please leave me a comment...