Mental Health
The Impact of Hypos in Diabetes
Do you hate hypos as much as me? Hypos can be a real problem and are probably one of the biggest fears for people with diabetes and their family members, and the impact of hypos in diabetes can be huge. Hypoglycemia, or hypos as often called by many of us, is technically when a person’s…
Read More5 Ways to Handle Unexpected Blood Glucose Levels
Recently I went to bed with a blood glucose level of 7 mmol and set my alarm on my phone, as I do every night, for 3am. Sometimes I set it for midnight or 1 am as well, if I am uncertain about what they are going to do, but I had a fresh well…
Read MoreDAWN2 Shows Impact of Diabetes Distress on Family Members
Diabetes – One in all in!
Read MoreWhy People With Diabetes Must Raise Our Voices
Collaboration between people with diabetes, health care providers and policy makers must happen to create better outcomes and quality of life for people living with diabetes, and indeed the entire community. As a person living with type 1 diabetes since 1979 and working in diabetes since 2001, I have seen a shift towards this model…
Read MoreThe Importance of Friends When You Have Diabetes
Sometimes. Sometimes, when you are sitting up, waiting to go to sleep but you can’t until your blood glucose levels decide to start doing the right thing, the thing any respectful person would do, toe the line, get into shape, give you a break, your mind starts to wander and you go over the line…
Read More7 Tips to Help You Deal with Emotional Eating & Diabetes
Often the strongest cravings for particular foods occur when we are at our lowest point emotionally. Lots of people use food for comfort occasionally either consciously or unconsciously, and on occasion it is not really an issue. This is often when we are dealing with a tough problem or we are bored and need…
Read MoreWhy Life With Diabetes is Not a Tragedy
Today I am talking about positivity. And the best life you could ever dream. And a girl I know who had a wonderful childhood, grew up, got married and had 3 babies, started a charity and 3 other businesses, was happy and excited by her life, and lived long and well. This is a story to stand…
Read MoreThe Loneliness of Diabetes
**Language warning – this post contains some genuine words and thoughts about life with diabetes – don’t read if it offends you. There are so many times where you feel alone when you have diabetes. It is something other people can sympathise about with you while they slam down a beer and eat the chocolate…
Read More5 Things To Do When You Have a Bad Day With Diabetes
Life is a series of days. Some days are golden, some are very grey indeed. This is the same for all of us humans. However those of us living with things like diabetes, can experience more than our fair share of the crappy ones. Do you have those terrible, awful, no good days with diabetes?…
Read MoreDealing With Control in Diabetes
Life with diabetes is closely connected with the word “control”. When diagnosed with diabetes there is usually a sense of being “out of control” and talk around you from mostly well meaning people, that you need to “take control”. There can be many reasons why it is hard to get, maintain, or hold onto, control –…
Read MoreOnline Diabetes Counselling Putting People in the Driver’s Seat
For those of you who have been part of our community over the years, you will know about how I started the services and have been on the journey with us. Others may have only joined us recently. In 2012 I won a grant to develop and evaluate our services. The grant has now ended…
Read MoreDiabetes and Wellbeing: You can’t always get what you want
Diabetes and wellbeing is tricky and you can’t always get what you want! Here is a great reminder from guest blogger, Georgia Helen xx Guest Post by Georgia It seems sometimes that no matter what you do, things never go as expected. Yes I am talking about diabetes care. And yes I know I must…
Read MoreOn the edge: risk taking & diabetes #dblog
Welcome to a story from one of our guest bloggers, Dave Barnes. Dave is an extreme athlete who has lived with type 1 diabetes since early childhood. He has also worked as a Mentor for troubled youth, using physical challenges to help young men to understand their lives, and to make positive changes. Dave has…
Read MoreDiabetes and the F word
The “F” word is common when you live with diabetes – Food, Fear, Frustration, Friendships, Fitness, Forever, Fingers, Feelings, Foresight (is always a good thing), Forgetting (to take your medication,or if you have taken it!) not Forgetting (ever, that you have diabetes), Family (you need them on your team), Forgiving yourself (never blame yourself – for anything),…
Read MoreSleep & Diabetes
Guest Post David Mapletoft, Diabetes Educator How are you sleeping at night? All too often, the answer is the same: not well. Diabetes and sleep problems often go hand in hand. Diabetes can cause sleep loss, and there’s evidence that not sleeping well can increase the risk of developing diabetes. Symptoms Symptoms associated with insufficient sleep…
Read More