Energy levels and the Pomodoro Technique
Andrew McFarland Campbell In the weeks coming up to diagnosis, my energy levels were really bad. That’s one of the reasons I went to see my doctor. After diagnosis, once I had started…
Diagnosis
Thank you, Cathal Berry
In Ireland, certain long-term illnesses entitle you to free medicine or appliances for those illnesses. Diabetes is one of those illnesses, so all of my diabetes supplies (including metformin and…
Diabetic retinal screening
Diabetic retinopathy, a term which I cannot pronounce, is a potential complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Essentially, diabetes can cause blood vessels to become more fragile,…
Seeing the diabetes nurse
I saw a diabetes nurse for the first time (as an outpatient) yesterday. The appointment went well. She listened to me, and answered all of my questions, and I felt…
One month on
Yesterday was once month since my GP tested my blood glucose and sent me up to hospital. Today is one month since I was officially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.…
Before diagnosis
What was I like before diagnosis? Did I have any warning signs? When my doctor measured my blood glucose, did I expect it to be high? In the months leading…
Day one
I woke up on Friday morning, in my own bed. The start of my life as a diabetic. The first thing I noticed was that I felt better than I…
Diagnosis day
I was woken up by a nurse who needed to check my blood pressure and my blood sugar. I had had very little sleep, and I wanted to tell her…
The beginning
“Andrew, I have some bad news for you.” That is what my GP said to me after testing my blood sugar in her office on a Wednesday afternoon. I had…
Meet Gregory
Gregory is my diabetes support bear, counterpart to Liam, Michael’s dialysis support bear. I bought Liam for Michael when he started dialysis, and he bought Gregory for me when I…