10th Blog-aversary
I published my first blog post on the 24th May 2010 with the idea that I would share all the information I was discovering through our local diabetes support group and a little about my life with diabetes. I started with a googy name and thought I would be lucky if I could publish a post once a week except during school holidays. I renamed my blog to Blood Sugar Trampoline in February 2016 and I can’t believe that I’ve done that mostly but also have written for other blogs and websites and in 2015 maintained an additional blog on Thriveabetes.
Blogging has connected me to so many people with diabetes in Ireland and around the world that I actually know more people with diabetes that I do without, which is A-Mazing to think about! It's also is free therapy for me.
So, I thought I would share a more personal post today than soapbox, and give an update on how I’m dealing with the Covid lockdown and how this is affecting my diabetes management.
Ireland Eases Covid Lockdown…. Ever so gently
In Ireland, last week, we cautiously celebrated a very light lift of Covid 19 lockdown restrictions. Our schools were closed by order of our government, acting on advice from a specialist team of medical professionals and scientists, on March 13th, a stay at home order and a closing of all non essential retail businesses followed very quickly on March 27th.
Nine weeks later, we have seen a consistent drop in the infection rate of this virus, increased testing and tracing, decreases in the average daily number of confirmed cases and thankfully a decrease in the number of people dying.
Stay at home as much as possible
Groups of up to 4 people who are not from the same household can meet outdoors
A phased return to work for outdoor workers has begun with the reopening of construction sites where social distancing can be implemented and garden centre
opening of certain outdoor public amenities
Covid & Me
The most affected by the Covid lockdown in our house has been my teenagers but they adapted well to school online and did some virtual friend meetups. We also Facetimed a lot more with our relatives, also staying at home.
My husband has been a “work from home” person for 14 years so the only difference was that he was a little busier in the early days working in the Food Retail sector and it has presented a couple of challenges with his own sideline business.
I’m a stay at home parent, still, who used to spend about 50% of my time at home. I truly value getting out of the house, even if it’s a meeting, and being in touch with humans. So for me, the isolation has been a struggle. BUT, I set up a couple of virtual meetups and have been less allergic to talking on the phone.
It also took me a number of weeks to find a routine that worked for me and that made it easier to get out of bed in the morning. Once this happened I found it easier to write again. I’m trying to spend not too much time on social media but I find that I’m finding lots to share and I’m more likely to interact with people there these days more than just liking and retweeting. I still long for a coffee meet up with friends but I can hold out a little longer.
Covid, Me and My Diabetes
Since setting up my DIYAPS my diabetes management has been doing well however, a couple of weeks into Covid lockdown my numbers did get to be a pain but once I tweaked some of my basal insulin and my insulin sensitivity ratios on my insulin pump it was all good again. I did find that I have a couple sites where my pump inset inserts are more sensitive than others and some sites that seem to spit the insulin back out.
It’s also taken me the first eight weeks to figure out what setting would work on my DIYAPS to prevent low blood sugars after my morning walks. I think the first month my mind was not in the right place to solve it. So I’m glad I cracked that one. What else is different?
Diabetes Supplies
Getting supplies from my chemist - I have to remember to call ahead and give them a day or two to make sure they have all my supplies and everything is all bagged up and ready for me to collect.
Clinic Appointment
Then there was my diabetes clinic appointment which was done over the phone :-( I’m definitely looking forward to the next one being done by video or by the HSE’s Attend Anywhere web-based platform for virtual clinics offering a secure private online waiting area for patients. It provides video and audio conferencing, screen sharing and messaging during clinical consultations. This virtual clinic comes with screen sharing capability so I can just log into my diabetes data management software and share my screen with my team.
** If you would also prefer to do video clinics rather than telephone you can ask your team about doing it via Attend Anywhere; all HSE healthcare providers have access to it.
Labs
I opted not to get my twice yearly labs done with my GP in March because I felt they had so much they were dealing with in the first couple of weeks of the Covid crisis but by my next appointment in August we will be back more in a normal routine.
Retina Screening
My diabetes retina screening was cancelled and I’d very much like to do this as soon as it is possible to do so safely. My eye screening is really important as changes in eye health are not always noticeable.
Peer Support
This is what I miss the most. Social media and video meets are great but I really do miss sitting around, having the chats, and just having a good old vent.
I will be very glad when we can start getting our lives back but for now #HoldFirm because it’s working.
