Diabetes In Furness

Anna-Marie Jesson - Make A Noise!

2009-03-18T16:47:00.003Z

I have just found out, probably along with many other people with diabetes, that Anne-Marie's post as Diabetes Education Facilitator finishes on Wednesday March 25th. Something she was only told last week.

Considering that diagnosis of diabetes is rising fast it seems ridiculously short-sighted to remove access to the one thing that can really help, education.

If anyone would like to complain about the abject stupidity of removing both the post, and the hard work of Anna-Marie, you need to contact Sue Page, she is the Chief Executive of Cumbria PCT and can be contacted at this address;

Sue Page,
Trust Headquarters,
Lonsdale Unit,
Penrith Hospital,
Penrith,
CA11 8HX.

Sue also has a well hidden email address; sue.page@cumbriapct.nhs.uk feel free to send her an email expressing your thoughts.

Overdue Update

2009-03-18T16:15:00.002Z

Due to unforeseen circumstances I haven't been able to make it along to the monthly meetings, but I do now have the Christmas meal pictures downloaded to my computer and I will be posting them in the next 5 days. The format will be smaller on here but if anyone wants full size copies to print off please let me know and I can email full size copies.

I will also be posting information from Anna-Marie as soon as I can.

Finally, for all those people using Accu-Chek meters who have had problems downloading data direct from their meters to their computers because of the serial plug on the old IR sensor, Accu-Chek now have a new sensor and software. The sensor uses a USB plug making it compatible with the majority of modern computers. There is a cost to order it of £14.99 (with the relevant code C0609) though I think it is probably worth it.

For more information on the Accu-Chek Smart Pix click on this link there is a pdf document also available that has the code, C0609, on it. To order use the free phone number 0800 701 000.

New Accu-Chek Meter

2008-12-12T00:36:00.003Z

Accu-Check have released details of a new meter they are making available in early 2009.

The meter is called the Aviva Nano and has its own website here, you can also pre-order one from that website. I've been impressed by my Accu-Chek Compact Plus so I'll be interested to see what this one is like.

UPDATE: Having just pre-ordered one of these meters there has been no mention of payment. Will they initially be sending them out for free?

UTAG ICE

2008-12-12T00:07:00.003Z

I'll make this clear now, I have no connection with the company, but a friend wrote about this product in the Guardian and she knows what she is talking about, having her own condition that makes this product useful.

The UTAG ICE is a USB device that you can plug into any computer running Windows ME, 2000, XP and Vista. Once you plug it in you can load onto the device any medical details that will be needed by paramedics if you have an accident, this includes next of kin details, medical conditions, medication and details of your GP. There is also a private folder to store any personal information that you might want to keep with you at all times. Medical personnel can plug the device into any NHS computer and access your medical details in the event of you having problems, such as a hypo.

The UTAG comes with a chain to wear it around your neck, or one to attach it to your keys and it looks like a dog tag, it is marked with the staff and serpent symbol and also ICE which stands for In Case of Emergency. I've been looking for some sort of medical jewellery for a while, but this looks like it does everything it says on the tin without having to pay any sort of subscription.

For more details follow the links above.

Voluntary Group Christmas Dinner

2008-12-11T22:48:00.002Z

Isn't it ironic that I managed to arrive late, problems sorting my life out and with taxis didn't help.

Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed myself, meeting more new people, catching up with others and taking lots of pictures. I will be posting the pictures tomorrow and if anyone would like copies sent to them, please leave a comment, including your email address, by clicking on the link marked, 'comments,' below.

I'd also like to remind visitors to the site that they can leave comments for any of the articles by clicking the comment link below the article.

Finally a Happy Christmas and New year, to everyone who has diabetes, living in the Furness area.

Programme 2009 - Provisional

2008-11-15T17:10:00.003Z

This is the provisional programme for the Furness Diabetes UK Voluntary Support Group meetings.

January 8th: Dr Cathy Hay - What is diabetes?
February 12th: Love yourself this valentines day - A Tai Chi session.
March 12th: David Hawkins - Illustrated talk on pub signs.
April 12th: Tom Murphy - Art attack.
May 14th: Gill Benjamin - Foot care.
June 11th: Miss Lyness - Eye care.
July 9th: Richard Scott - Group walk and pub meal.
September 10th: AGM, how are we doing? Diabetic specialist nurse attending for Q&A.
October 8th: Alison Hardingham - Sensible eating and tip for Xmas baking.
November 12th: Preparation for World Diabetes Day. Anna Marie Jesson to host chat session.
December 10th: Christmas social.

I'll try to post any changes as soon as details are available. The list will stay at the top of the right hand side bar in an abbreviated form.

World Diabetes Day In Barrow-in-Furness

2008-11-14T10:37:00.006Z

9:00

All set up and ready to go.

10:30

Well we are all set up at forum 28 and there has been a steady stream of people visiting the stand, many of them asking to having their fingers pricked for a quick blood glucose test.

12:30

Those who are walking line up for a photo, not without a few problems with the huge flag, which is unfortunately printed in a foreign language, though this does add to the international flavour.

Finally sorted.

Fold up the flag.

Let's go....

And they are off.

Those who stayed behind.

The wanderers return, in two groups and compared their experiences.

All in all it seemed like a good day to me, over 50 people had their blood glucose levels checked with only one showing borderline results. We gave away a lot of information, much of it going to people with diabetes who had been given very little information in the past or those who had only been recently diagnosed. In one case the diagnosis only came yesterday.

The venue was good, warm, spacious, good coffee readily available and lots of interested and friendly people. The only slight downside was that we clashed with Children In Need.

There is talk of holding the event for November 14th 2009 at the Coronation Hall in Ulverston as a coffee morning, watch this space for news.

If anyone has any feedback or a comment about today, please feel free to add it through the comments by clicking on the link below.

More On World Diabetes Day Tomorrow

2008-11-13T19:24:00.005Z

I'm at the Diabetes UK voluntary support group meeting as I type this and I'm hoping to get more information to post prior to tomorrow which I want to post as it comes up.

So far I've been told that from 9am at Forum 28 there will be a facility to test peoples blood glucose levels at the stand, information packs on diabetes and there is going to be a 40 minute walk through town to promote Diabetes UK, at about 12 pm.

The local paper has also run a story on the event in tonights paper, though unfortunately it isn't available online, but they will also be sending a photographer along to the stand as well tomorrow.

There will also be updates to this blog throughout the day and hopefully photographs posted.

World Diabetes Day

2008-11-03T13:56:00.002Z

World Diabetes Day is being held on the 14th of November this year.

To mark World Diabetes Day, the Furness, Diabetes UK, Voluntary Support group will be setting up at Forum 28.

More details will be forthcoming as soon as possible, but please feel free to drop in for a chat on the day if you have diabetes, or are worried that you might have some of the symptoms.

Click on the map for a larger version.

Forum

2008-09-12T22:16:00.003+01:00

If anyone would be interested in an online forum to complement this weblog, so that people with diabetes in Furness can discuss any issues they feel like, please let me know in the comments section.

It doesn't have to be strictly about diabetes or the voluntary group, the advantage of a forum is that you can create sections to reflect the interests of the forums users.

Have Your Say

2008-09-12T13:22:00.005+01:00

While one purpose of this weblog is for the Furness Diabetes UK Voluntary Group committee to let people know what is happening in the area. Visitors to the site are also welcome to comment on any article as well as submitting their own articles, links to other websites and pictures.

Please feel free to submit any content you'd like to see posted, by email, to Tony.

Welcome To Diabetes In Furness

2008-09-11T21:44:00.004+01:00

Welcome to the new weblog for the Furness Diabetes UK voluntary group.

Hopefully this weblog will give the committee the ability to let people with diabetes know what is going on in the area, and a give members and readers a chance to reply.