<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">World Diabetes Day 2018 is a distant memory now but I’m still pondering some of the negative feelings I had during that time period. This year, I felt the community was more polarized than ever before. The type 1 community seemed to want more and more separation from the type 2 community. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I wrote "Irish Diabetes Role Models" blog post in 2014, so an update is certainly due. Role models are good because they reassure us that diabetes isn't going to stop us from achieving anything in life. I needed that kind of reassurance when I was diagnosed way back in 1993.</p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Diabetes Support Barriers - what are the barriers to attending a diabetes support meeting? What do we actually talk about and more importantly what do we NOT talk about. </p>

<p style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Since the Flash glucose monitor, the Freestyle Libre was launched in the UK in 2014 I have been watching, following and learning from all that the NHS, Diabetes UK and JDRF UK have done to make sure this revolutionary piece of diabetes technology ends up in the hands of many people with diabetes and not just those who can afford it.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I have just had 4 nights in a row of glorious uninterrupted sleep and the world looks so much brighter. Pleases the Gods I haven’t jinxed it!! Since the Christmas break, my blood sugars were doing a-mazing trampolining and the alarm on my <a href="https://thriveabetes.ie/blog/index.php/2017/12/11/continuous-glucose-monitoring-cgm-options?rq=cgm" target="_blank">CGM </a>to alert me that my blood sugars are high or low but mostly high.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">TIPS FOR PEOPLE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES. Diabetes is a complex chronic condition and being told to take medication and watch your diet is not sufficient at all. I feel that’s it’s important that you, the person with diabetes, get the information you need to take charge of this journey and I’ve put together some suggestions for you as a place to start.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Fifty-three thousand (53,000). I have stuck sharp objects into my skin over Fifty-three thousand (53,000) times. It’s a big number. But it’s not even a lifetime; it’s only twenty-five years of diabetes. There are people I know with diabetes who have a much bigger number!</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been using a Continuous Glucose Monitor for 3 years and I’ve worn it pretty much 100% of the time. I did try to go one weekend without it just to feel &nbsp;a little freedom from devices but I only lasted about 24 hours. For me it’s one of the most valuable diabetes tools I have and here’s why.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The main topic of the meeting was the psychological issues that can arise after a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, especially in adults: from the impact of the diagnosis, to the huge responsibility we place on ourselves when we don’t have any control over all the elements.</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When, I woke up last Saturday morning, I was so, so tired. It was a rough diabetes night consisting of dreams about insulin pumps (I honestly have no idea why!) following Chinese food (oh! maybe I do have an idea:-S).</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s nothing like hanging out with a bunch of people with diabetes and I’m spoiled at the moment with all the opportunities I have had this month to meet up with fellow Dia-Buddies. And , next week in Limerick, I’m really looking forward to attending this event organised by Diabetes Ireland with support from the Clare branch: </p><h3 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dealing with the Medical and Psychology Aspects of Type 1 Diabetes”</h3>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I share my life with diabetes with you because the diabetes health service is failing me and I need your help to effect change to make it better for us. A LOT better!</p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Diabetes Ireland is holding their <a href="https://www.diabetes.ie/health-awareness-exhibition-and-agm-redirect/" target="_blank">National health and wellbeing exhibition</a> and <strong>Annual General Meeting </strong>in the <a href="https://www.rochestownpark.com/en/location/" target="_blank">Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork</a> on Sunday 11th November. AGM’s don’t sound very interesting <strong>BUT if you are a member and you care about improvi

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">World Diabetes Day 2018 and Family. Instead of my usual fourteen days of diabetes trivia to raise awareness of diabetes I wanted to do something a little different - a family album. And I would love if you joined me in creating your own Diabetes Family Album. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">World Diabetes Day is coming up and if you are going to feature it, please, please, please read this post first! The language you use to write about diabetes affects people living with diabetes hugely and it has the power to harm or help. Let’s try for the later. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A few years ago I attended a diabetes presentation where at the end I was shocked to be told that I was not an average person with diabetes because I knew so much about diabetes technology (???? For the record, I know squat! I can, just about, work my smart phone). </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Has anyone ever said that to you? How did you reply? I’m usually too stunned to ask “What, the hell does a diabetic/person with diabetes look like?” </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Novo Nordisk European Diabetes Patient Advocacy Summit was created for patient organizations from all over Europe to gain Insight, Inspiration, Inspiration-and Direction Setting. We heard best practices from other diabetes organisations and the two day conference identifying challenges and barriers in our own countries and what to set as a priority in our countries. </p>

<p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Over six months ago, the Irish health service, the <a href="https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/10-2018-pharmacy-circular.pdf" target="_blank">HSE, launched the reimbursement of the flash glucose monitor</a>, the Freestyle Libre, to people with type 1 diabetes aged between 5 and 21 years. </p><p style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been almost 9 months since the HSE announced that the reimbursement scheme would only be open

When taking insulin in the morning MAKE SURE BRAIN IS AWAKE AND ENGAGED. Aaarrrg! I gasped as I completed my insulin dose! Crap! I just realized I used my non exercise day insulin to carb ratio for my breakfast. I wasn’t even distracted by questions from young people, I just wasn’t fully awake. Thankfully, I noticed it right away and instead of the paramedics giving me a lift home after my walk by way of the hospital, I decided to reduce my background insulin for 2 hours to c