A perfect appointment?

So I had my first diabetes appointment at Kings College Hospital (London) last week and here's a little summary of how it went in my latest Diabetes Times Article. Enjoy!

Laura xx

Insulin pumping 4 years on

To begin this blog I must send out an apology. It would appear it has been 6 months since I last posted on here and although I have regular thoughts on blogger topics that I'd like to share, my time and energy levels have taken me away from my previous health-related brain dumps. I'd like to say that I can now go back to blogging as I had before, however working as an actual real life nurse now (I know, it's a scary thought) is far more physically and mentally demanding than I could have ever expected. That's not to say that I don't love my job, I absolutely adore it in so many ways, I just now need to summon enough energy and motivation to get back to my old advocacy and social media ways. It would appear that people have, sadly, lied to me, and coffee does not provide adequate support in summoning these blogging essentials.  

Diabetes and Social Media

Click on the picture above to watch my video about how the Diabetes Online Community and social media has helped me. The video has been made for the new BERTIE online diabetes education programme which is being relaunched in September 2016! Keep an eye out for an update on BERTIE here where I will share more details. 

Laura x 

Diabetes week 2016

Get your 'Faces of Diabetes' picture here 

It's Diabetes Week and this year's theme is 'Setting the Record Straight'. This means patients, carers, professionals and charities are taking to the streets (and the online streets) to dispel myths around diabetes. Join the Diabetes Online Community (#DOC) in telling your stories, experiences, facts and videos and help set the record straight about what diabetes is and what it is like to live with. 

Review of the new Carbs and Cals books

A few weeks ago the lovely people at Carbs and Cals contacted me to see if I wanted to provide feedback on their new books; Carb and Calorie Counter, Smoothies and Salads. Of course I said yes straight away, these would be the perfect tools to aid my new diet/exercise and overhaul of my diabetes/gastroparesis management, all rolled into three delicious looking books! (cont)

Let's talk about sex (and diabetes), baby!

"I thought about my own knowledge when it comes to sex and diabetes and realised that this page seemed to be missing from the book. You know that giant dusty diabetes book that most of us edit and adapt in our own unique way..."

It's time to grab a tea or coffee, maybe a biscuit too (go on, treat yourself!) and settle down on the sofa to read more about sex and diabetes in my latest column for The Diabetes Times.

Laura x

Diabetes Care - What Works

**Disclaimer** This blog is about methods that work for me and my diabetes, in my clinic setting, with the team that provides my care. We all have very different care, funding, time, management techniques, preferences etc, so this blog is from my personal experience and musings.

I’m conscious that when I’m asked to present at conferences, training sessions, lectures or write for journals and other publications, many of the requests I receive are about what went wrong with my diabetes and my care. When I deliver a presentation I always ensure that whoever is listening understands that what happened was in my past and is not my present or future. A great deal has changed in my T1D care over the last 4 years and I have a lot to be thankful for... (cont) 

Creating new T1 Diabetes models of care

The weekend just gone was very special for me and one that I will remember as the first time that I have ever felt truly positive about change in Type 1 Diabetes care. 

I was invited to attend an inaugural meeting in which patients with T1D, carers, Health Care Professionals (HCPs) and commissioners would come together to develop ideas to improve the care that patients receive throughout the UK. It was an honour to be asked and to be amongst some of the best in the world of diabetes... (cont) 

December Favourites

Find my favourite December purchases here... (cont)

My monthly article for The Diabetes Times is a delicate discussion about understanding the reasons behind insulin restriction, omission and diabulimia. Please click this link to read it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, so please comment here or find me on twitter (@ninjabetic1) or on facebook (ninjabetics) to let me know what you think.

Laura x 

November 2015 Favourites

Here are some of my favourite diabetes things that I've been using this month. I should really have made this into a video but maybe this will work for now... Please let me know what your favourite diabetes things are! (cont)

We are the world in world diabetes day #insulin4all

Everyone with diabetes deserves to live long, healthy and happy lives! Insulin, test strips, blood glucose meters etc should not be a luxury, they should be available to anyone who needs them. We need to support people and advocate for them until they are provided with what they need to manage their diabetes! (cont)

Frio wallet review

This blog is long long long overdue and for that I apologise. I think subconsciously I have taken my time with it as I will be reminded of kicking back and lying on a beach without a care in the world... good times. Now that I am well and truly switched off from holiday mode and have returned to the daily grind of uni, work, uni, revision, uni, uni, uni, work, eating and sleeping, I have slowly (at a snails pace) started to catch up with blogging and trying out all of the diabetes bits and pieces that fall through my letter box... (cont)

Kaleido - Insulin pump patch

My demo Kaleido pump (minus the infusion set) - see more on my instagram

Disclaimer: I was asked to meet 2 of the Kaleido team to view their new insulin patch pump. I have not been paid or asked to write this blog. I was bought a diet coke during the meeting though – I was thirsty. I am not currently using a Kaleido insulin patch pump. These pumps are not currently being used by people with diabetes to deliver insulin (I'm told).... (Cont)

My week of diabetes

My Dare Devil Diabetes

Recently I was asked to create a model of what diabetes looks like to me; this was to give an insight into diabetes for a medical device company... (cont)

A Pretty Muddy Run with Type 1 Diabetes

As promised, here's my video about taking on the Race For Life Pretty Muddy Run!

Enjoy!

Ninjabetic x 

Mud, sun and Type 1

This weekend myself and my friend (and fellow Type 1) Kelly, ran the Race For Life in memory of our friend, Tanwen. Well, I say run... it was really a mixture of jogging, walking, crawling, climbing, sliding, jumping and falling! (cont) 

Hid-In insulin pump panties review

As some of you who follow me on twitter may have seen, I've been tweeting about my pants recently. Not because I've gone slightly mad or have become a fashion blogger (I'm still all about the betes!), but because I was sent a pair of Hid-In insulin pump pants to try out! (cont)

Blog lovin'

I'm currently making my way back to Southsea after being in Cardiff delivering a presentation about blogging and diabetes. I presented during a paediatric diabetes study day and I'm really hoping that my experience of blogging will encourage the HCPs (Health Care Professionals) who attended to encourage their patients to give it a try... (cont)