Hi :)

Hi I'm Becca from Derby, (Mrs SpudtheBinx from the allotment forums!).I'm 33 and I live with my OH and our 3 boys
I'm type 2 diabetic diagnosed 2 and a half years ago, was diet and metformin controlled but for the past two months am now insulin and metformin controlled.
I also suffer with depression so am rattling when I walk from all my meds at the minute lol!
I test my bloods twice a day, more if I'm driving but they only started me on that after I started insulin. My sister and I are the only ones in our family to ever be diagosed with diabetes so it's a big shock to both of us, but I've slowly come to terms with it I think...I still have moments when it gets me down...I think that's one of the contributions to my relapse with my depression :s.

Hi Becca
Not far away from you in Ashbourne! Welcome to the board. Is there a diabetes group in Derby?
I'm sorry you feel that diabetes is something hard to live with, but from what I have seen that is fairly normal! I haven't been asked how I feel about having it... all I have seen is that medical staff are only worried about me losing weight and... well that's it! It was a hell of a shock and the feelings come in waves. Sometimes I feel OK then I feel really worried about it.
I hope this place can be somewhere where we can support each other positively and be there for each other.

Hi, yeah not far away at all, I live not far from Ashbourne Road and Markeaton Park .
I don't know of any diabetes groups in Derby but I only moved here from Heanor last year so am still finding my way I know what you mean you do seem to get treated as your illness rather than as a person once you've been diagnosed, I have to say my diabetic nurse is wonderful though and I do feel like I can talk to her so I feel lucky to have her!
I think this site is a lovely idea and I also hope will be a support to all of us living with it

Thanks Becca
My son and I are regulars at walking through Markeaton park - though no longer at the McD's on the roundabout now!! We'll just take a picnic now, instead.
I have met my diabetic nurse once when she was taking my blood and I'm seeing her again on Friday for a 20 min appt. She's referred me for eye tests and a diet course so I can't complain yet... I guess I just feel a little defensive at the moment!
Thanks for your support.

Yes we're quite often to be found picnicing at Markeaton, we've probably seen you at some point I bet
I'm often defensive about my diabetes especially the weight aspect as no matter how good I am it's so hard to loose any, it's even harder with the injections now, Kathryn (my nurse) told me she was keeping me on the tablets as well so that I hopefully wouldn't gain any!
It seemed though when I was first diagnosed that I very much had to muddle through myself it was only when my hba1c's got bad enough to merit meds that I seemed to have more regular appointments, which doesn't help at such a confusing time when you have had had your world turned upside down by the diagnosis hmmm.
If ever you want to rant I'll listen and thanks again for setting up this place

Just to add, we used to live in Codnor for a couple of years, and I attended the DRI clinic.

Small world

Rob

Small world indeed, I used to go to school in Ripley and one of my best friends parents have a pub in Codnor My mum works at the DRI as well although not at the diabetes clinic. It's all being gradually moved over to the city hospital now though.

It'll be interesting to see what effect these polyclinics have on the setup. I'm guessing they'll incorporate into those.

Our GP clinic isn't open at all at weekends and doesn't have much of a diabetes presence.

I go to the local hospital clinic every 6 months. It's not too bad though a bit wishy-washy. I'd prefer somethign a it more pro-active and more of a drop-in place. To see any specialists would involve a referral and re-booking. By the time you see them, the problem's either resolved or got worse.

Rob

I'm very lucky with my practice as my diabetic nurse Kathryn is lovely and is always available for me to talk to if I have a problem, so I don't know much about the set up at the clinics, my sister would probably know more as she's under the Jenny O' Neill at the DRI for her ante natal care. I'll have to ask her if she knows how the move to the city is affecting it all.

It must be frustrating not to get the care and back up you need. Not to mention potentially dangerous! I wonder what can be done about it? I haven't really got to know Dawn, my nurse yet, but my Doctor is very good although a little wet!!!

Becca,
Just been looking at your site... some very glamorous allotment photos there You guys have all worked so hard! Good for you.

Admin wrote:Becca,
Just been looking at your site... some very glamorous allotment photos there You guys have all worked so hard! Good for you.

thanks very much! It's our first proper year of working it so we're quite proud of what we've achieved so far! We've go big plans for next year though!

Big plans?! So have I - to get an allotment site for Ashbourne!!!!!!!! I really do appreciate how much work you have all put into that piece of land, but I am sure you can imagine what lovely things you can grow. I am rather jealous, actually!!!!!!!! = me green with envy and, um, waving my arms around! I hope you get lots of on your lotty next year.

Our site is off Uttoxeter New Road and is a lovely place I hope you manage to get a site soon! (love the smiley btw ) We're hoping to get up to ours tonight as we haven't had chance with all the rain for a few days, what do you think of our chances?!

Well, it's been lovely in Ashbourne this morning - we actually had some !!! However, I'm guessing it's gonna rain later! I'm the same - the veggy patch in the garden is really a weed patch - it's been so wet I hardly like to tread on it!

Yeah I think you're right there was a little burst of rain not log ago ah well I won't give up hope just yet ...we need to go soon the greenhouses are in dire need of watering the poor things!

How was it, chuck?

didn't get to go with that torrential rain storm we had! I was scared the car would get bogged down I'm not sure if the OH will go up tonight or not but I think with the rain today I'm sitting it out...kids went back to school today as well so I think a quiet nights in order

I am sick to death of this rain too! Oh well. Have you tried using any mulch on your beds - do you have any long term beds (i.e. rhubarb/asparagus)? If you do, chuck some woodchip or similar on them - it REALLY helps with keeping the weeds down.

yep and it's throwing it down again oh joy ! the OH went up on his own last night and came home drenched but with a basket full of goodies . we haven't really any permanant beds yet we're still working out things like that but thanks for the tip thats much appreciated I saw on the other site you have your retinal screen through? when are you going for it...I had mine not long ago at the DRI walk in place

The retinal scan will be at the end of this month at St Oswalds in Ashbourne, so I'll be able to walk Josh to school, walk there and walk home again (not supposed to drive). Then I'll go into work later if I am sure my eye-sight is OK. Just been to Derby, drove down Ashbourne Road and waved! Dunno where you are but was thinking of you in this lovely weather!

What goodies did you get? Hey, at least we haven't got to water anything!!!!

yes I had to get my OH to drive me in to get mine done, as I was a bit worried about walking through the city centre with hugely dilated eyes ! It was ok though, the room was dark enough that I didn't need the drops for her to be able to photograph my eyes so bonus there!
Isn't it just lovely today? I'm so glad my OH is taking me to do the school run in the car I'm not far from Ashbourne Road at all, just a couple of streets away so I'll be sure to wave back