A blog on here is sadly a rare thing these days. It’s not that there’s nothing to say, it’s that there’s less and less time available to write any of it down (though I still have my regular post over on the Diabetes UK Blog site)! That said, I felt inspired to pen something, however brief for Diabetes Week.
This year’s theme is “Diabetes & Me” and having already read so many wonderful posts I thought I’d throw my own opinion into the mix.
Put simply, I truly believe that since the start of 2013 I’ve been able to control and understand my (type 1) diabetes more successfully than I had in the previous 10 or 11 years and that the reason for that is threefold:
1. Finally running out of excuses and actually attending a DAFNE course – a complete step change for the better
2. Having regular opportunities to speak to people with diabetes face-to-face at local group meetings and other events
3. Being involved in part of the wider diabetes online community through Twitter in particular
I’m sure I’m banging the same drum as many other people, certainly with respect to that last point, but the effect that talking about your own experiences of diabetes with others who completely understand everything you’re saying is unquantifiable. We’re all members of a club we wouldn’t have joined by choice, but those things that unite us are the same things that we can use to support each other when things aren’t going to plan.
At the end of the day, those ‘every day’ experiences like hypos, carb counting, finger prick tests, hypers, tiredness like no other – they’re all things that people who aren’t in the club can’t understand in the way we do.
I recently spoke at an event in Sheffield where GPs had come to learn more about diabetes and I made the point that over 99.9% of the time someone has diabetes, they’re managing it all by themselves. It’s down to us to become experts in our own right and education and peer support are the foundations that we build on.
I went over 10 years without speaking to another person who was the same as me. Ten years of never speaking to another person who knew how sickening it can be to have a hypo. Ten years of not really understanding how fattier food can affect my BG levels. Ten years without feeling like anyone else understood what I was going through.
It’s incredible to look back on that today and feel so much more secure in how to deal with whatever diabetes throws at me. It can be incredibly nerve wracking to open up to people about your diabetes, but I can promise you the benefits you’ll get will be incredible.
If you’re on Twitter, you can look me up @BroomOwl and if you’re in the Sheffield area, I chair the Sheffield Group of Diabetes UK who meet monthly. More details about what we do and how we can support you are on our website
Happy Diabetes Week
Showing posts with label Peer Support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peer Support. Show all posts
Monday, 15 June 2015
Diabetes And Me
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Peer Support
There should be little doubt that living with diabetes can sometimes be difficult to the point of making you feel overwhelmed.
Having a good support network is key to helping you manage the times where you feel like you're not sure where to turn or what to do for the best. Many of us are fortunate enough to have a group of close friends or a supportive family to help us when we need it; to listen to our problems and offer a sympathetic ear.
Some people are a little less fortunate or may even feel worried or embarrassed about revealing a particular problem or concern to someone they have a close relationship with. In these cases, Peer Support can be an effective tool for people with diabetes.
Peer Support is an incredibly valuable service that's run on a purely volunteer basis aimed at providing anyone affected by diabetes, whether it's you with the condition or you're a parent or carer for someone with diabetes. All volunteers go through training provided by Diabetes UK to ensure they're able to listen to whatever you have to say and provided support, advice or guidance wherever possible. Anyone can get in contact via phone or e-mail and you can read more about it on the Peer Support page
Recently I've become involved, along with another volunteer Louise, in a new strand of localised Peer Support that is being piloted by Diabetes UK. The overall aim is to be able to offer the same Peer Support service described above, but also offer informal support in a more social environment on a group or face to face basis within our own local areas.
Louise and I are offering Peer Support through a number of different mediums (Twitter, Facebook, and via a shared blog) as well as looking to utilise the Diabetes UK forums if at all possible. That support will be open to anyone who feels like they need to get something off their chest, just needs someone to listen or simply needs pointing in the right direction for some support or advice.
On a local level, we're hoping we can promote the service by getting local doctors and healthcare professionals on board and by asking our diabetes specialist teams to make sure everyone in hospital clinics knows what we have to offer. As interest hopefully grows, we'll be looking to arrange informal meetings for people to get to know each other.
Our new Peer Support work hasn't been going very long but it's starting to gather momentum and the more we can spread the word, the more we'll be able to help people affected by diabetes with anything they might need.
Louise and I aren't experts with years of medical training, but we do have a wealth of experience in living with diabetes and know that sometimes, having someone who's able to listen will do you the world of good.
If you want to find out more about what we're hoping to achieve, please visit our Peer Support Blog which also details how to get in touch with us by e-mail.
You can also connect with us in the following ways:
Andy (Sheffield area)
Twitter: @AndyPeerSupport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diabetes-Peer-Support-Sheffield/534756433284902
Louise (South East)
Twitter: @LouPeerSupport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diabetespeersupport
If you've got something that's been troubling you then please consider using Peer Support as a means of unburdening yourself. We use the hashtag #talktosomeone on Twitter so if you need help, support or advice then do Talk To Someone.
Important: All Peer Support volunteers have been through training and checks to ensure you're always discussing any issues in a safe environment. Your details will be kept confidential at all times.
Having a good support network is key to helping you manage the times where you feel like you're not sure where to turn or what to do for the best. Many of us are fortunate enough to have a group of close friends or a supportive family to help us when we need it; to listen to our problems and offer a sympathetic ear.
Some people are a little less fortunate or may even feel worried or embarrassed about revealing a particular problem or concern to someone they have a close relationship with. In these cases, Peer Support can be an effective tool for people with diabetes.
Peer Support is an incredibly valuable service that's run on a purely volunteer basis aimed at providing anyone affected by diabetes, whether it's you with the condition or you're a parent or carer for someone with diabetes. All volunteers go through training provided by Diabetes UK to ensure they're able to listen to whatever you have to say and provided support, advice or guidance wherever possible. Anyone can get in contact via phone or e-mail and you can read more about it on the Peer Support page
Recently I've become involved, along with another volunteer Louise, in a new strand of localised Peer Support that is being piloted by Diabetes UK. The overall aim is to be able to offer the same Peer Support service described above, but also offer informal support in a more social environment on a group or face to face basis within our own local areas.
Louise and I are offering Peer Support through a number of different mediums (Twitter, Facebook, and via a shared blog) as well as looking to utilise the Diabetes UK forums if at all possible. That support will be open to anyone who feels like they need to get something off their chest, just needs someone to listen or simply needs pointing in the right direction for some support or advice.
On a local level, we're hoping we can promote the service by getting local doctors and healthcare professionals on board and by asking our diabetes specialist teams to make sure everyone in hospital clinics knows what we have to offer. As interest hopefully grows, we'll be looking to arrange informal meetings for people to get to know each other.
Our new Peer Support work hasn't been going very long but it's starting to gather momentum and the more we can spread the word, the more we'll be able to help people affected by diabetes with anything they might need.
Louise and I aren't experts with years of medical training, but we do have a wealth of experience in living with diabetes and know that sometimes, having someone who's able to listen will do you the world of good.
If you want to find out more about what we're hoping to achieve, please visit our Peer Support Blog which also details how to get in touch with us by e-mail.
You can also connect with us in the following ways:
Andy (Sheffield area)
Twitter: @AndyPeerSupport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diabetes-Peer-Support-Sheffield/534756433284902
Louise (South East)
Twitter: @LouPeerSupport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diabetespeersupport
If you've got something that's been troubling you then please consider using Peer Support as a means of unburdening yourself. We use the hashtag #talktosomeone on Twitter so if you need help, support or advice then do Talk To Someone.
Important: All Peer Support volunteers have been through training and checks to ensure you're always discussing any issues in a safe environment. Your details will be kept confidential at all times.
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