‘We’re not trying to cheat the system, we need medication to survive’
“Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high” – NHS Choices. Yes, diabetes is a lifelong condition, the NHS clearly states that message. Healthcare...
View ArticleNinjabetic – complications aren’t just physical
A diabetes consultant suggested that for this month’s column I write about psychological support in diabetes care. I considered it and initially I was unsure of how to put pen to paper (or fingers to...
View ArticleNinjabetic – It just seems so obvious to have a plan
Walking into my consultant’s room I spotted a pillow and a tourniquet that had been placed on his desk. Eyeing it up with a sudden rush of panic and a longing to back out of the room, I knew what was...
View ArticleNinjabetic – The C word (in diabetes)
It is complicated this diabetes business, isn’t it? The diagnosis of a long-term condition can be life altering. The management differs between us all, and sometimes it changes so frequently that it...
View ArticleNinjabetic – me before my illness
My local commissioner has just asked me a question that made me well up…but before anyone thinks the worst, I’m happy about this. You see, she was the first person (in the 13 years I’ve lived with type...
View ArticleNinjabetic – It’s not just a questionnaire…
Recently a friend and I were discussing her PhD subject. We talked about the use of questionnaires for research purposes and we agreed that questionnaires which could provoke negative thoughts and...
View ArticleNinjabetic – Fighting for survival…
I’m unsure of how to start this article, so I thought I’d just come out and say it… I’m exhausted. All I’ve thought about for the last few months is how much of a struggle I have found being a patient...
View ArticleNinjabetic – diabetes burnout
This morning I woke up feeling very happy. So happy in fact that it felt very alien to me and I realised that this isn’t the norm, not at the moment anyway. I know that most people are a little grumpy...
View ArticleNinjabetic – diabulimia dangers
As many people in the world of diabetes will know, November is Diabetes Awareness Month. It is a time to raise awareness around the misconceptions of the illness, the day-to-day living, the highs and...
View ArticleNinjabetic – Christmas concerns
Christmas is upon us once again and, once again, I’m feeling slightly on edge about the things that I haven’t got round to doing. Not surprisingly, now that my thoughts are out of my jumbled and...
View ArticleNinjabetic – Sex and diabetes
Last week, the lovely chirpy folks in the diabetes online community (#doc) took part in the return of the OurDiabetes tweet chat (@OurDiabetes) to discuss a topic that was perhaps a little different...
View ArticleNICE diabetes guidelines debate
Leading figures from the diabetes community debated the merits of the updated NICE guidelines published last year. The new guidance represented “common sense” while criticisms were made about...
View ArticleNinjabetic – Transitional care jealousy
Transitional care, eh. What’s that all about? I’ve been presenting about it, reading about it and listening to discussions about it for the last few weeks and I have to admit, I’m feeling slightly...
View ArticleDiabetes consultants launch new type 1 event
An event created to inspire people with type 1 diabetes to “think differently” about their condition takes place this weekend. The Talking About Diabetes (TAD) meeting has been organised by a team of...
View ArticleEvent promotes type 1 diabetes
Challenging and inspirational accounts of type 1 diabetes were shared at a new forum formed to raise awareness of the condition. The experiences of people living with type 1 diabetes and those...
View ArticleNINJABETIC – Seeing beyond diabetic retinopathy
“According to Time Hop, five years ago today was a very important moment in my life. Although at that time I couldn’t see past the fear and uncertainty I was facing. I had come to a dead end and I...
View ArticleNinjabetic – The life-changing #doc
This week I had the pleasure of taking part in PhD research. It was about living with a chronic condition and using online communities to assist with the management of my type 1 diabetes, both the...
View ArticleNinjabetic – Diabulimia support needed
Today I want to talk about a charity that has been on my radar ever since I joined the diabetes online community, but one that, in the past, hasn’t had the spotlight that it deserves. A revamp of the...
View ArticleType 1 resource website launches
A website which aims to pull together all the resources and support for people with type 1 diabetes has been launched. T1 Resources is a collection of useful links, websites and online communities...
View ArticleNinjabetic – the love of learning
As I sat back on my sofa with a cup of tea in my hand, feet up and my day-to-day tasks behind me, I realised what a beautiful thing online learning is. It’s fast, fun, easy to access and it suits my...
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