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Chronic health issues
Diabetes Type 2
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Discovery :
Early signs and symptoms
Getting the diagnosis
Causes and risk factors
Care and treatment
Looking for information and support
A doctor speaks – an introduction to diabetes type 2
Controlling diabetes :
Food, eating and diets
Exercise and weight control
Testing blood glucose
Controlling diabetes with oral medications
Coping with insulin
Communicating with healthcare professionals
Possible complications :
Managing hypos
Eyes, feet and kidneys
Depression, feeling down and mood swings
Sexual problems
The long view :
Managing diabetes at work
Home and social life
Adjustment to diabetes and changes in self-image
Misunderstandings about diabetes
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Diabetes Type 2
Subject index
Clip
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Nicky - Interview 18
>>
Nicky knew she was overweight when she got the diagnosis but she felt so fit and healthy she didn't believe what she was told.
Diagnosed 4 years ago. Nicky was taking metformin but having established very good control through diet and exercise she no longer takes any medication for diabetes. She also has hypothyroidism.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Gugu - Interview 40
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Gugu was in hospital for fertility treatment when her diabetes was discovered and at first she just felt irritated.
Gugu was diagnosed 10 years ago. At first she was prescribed metformin. 3 years before the interview she was transferred to insulin.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Lawrence - Interview 33
>>
Lawrence has wondered about the causes of his diabetes and thinks that a series of stressful events may have caused it.
Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Lawrence - Interview 33
>>
Lawrence says he used the internet to find out as much as he could and also asked his medical team about anything he didn't understand.
Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Duncan - Interview 27
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Duncan thinks he may have had diabetes for years before being diagnosed because he was overweight and drinking too much.
Diagnosed 2 years ago. Duncan takes metformin, gliclazide, simvastatin, atenolol, ramipril and amlodipine. He has had neuropathy in his feet since 2006 and expects to receive laser eye treatment soon.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Paul - Interview 20
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Paul has read books and used the internet but finds talking to other people the best approach.
Paul was diagnosed 14 years ago when he was in hospital for a minor op. He takes metformin and uses other medication to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Paul - Interview 20
>>
Paul says he has a good sex life but that he would seek help immediately if anything changed.
Paul was diagnosed 14 years ago when he was in hospital for a minor op. He takes metformin and uses other medication to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 35 and under
>>
Kay - Interview 32
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Kay would find it easier to have information provided on a DVD because she is not a confident reader.
Diagnosed 4 years ago. Kay took metformin for 2 years and now takes insulin.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Hyacinth - Interview 39
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Hyacinth would like to join a support group but says she hasn't been able to find one in her area.
Hyacinth was diagnosed 33 years ago after a pregnancy. In 1997 she was also diagnosed with breast cancer and has had two mini strokes. She takes metformin and gliclazide.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 66 - 69
>>
Philip - Interview 02
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Philip is satisfied with the information he gets from the GP and practice nurse.
Diagnosed at 46, Philip took metformin for 5 years and is now on insulin (NovoMix 30). He also takes amytriptyline, alloprinolol, simvastatin, bendroflurizide and atenolol.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Pamela - Interview 08
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Pamela reads articles about diabetes in medical journals, buys specialist cookery books and talks to her GP.
Pamela was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago. She takes metformin and rosiglitazone.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Mike - Interview 16
>>
Although his father was diabetic Mike didn't understand much about it. Initially he felt very worried when he was given his diagnosis.
Diagnosed in 2002. Mike controls his diabetes with diet alone.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Andy - Interview 04
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Andy scans the internet everyday but gets confused when dietary information from US and UK websites conflicts.
Andy has chronic pain as well as diabetes which was diagnosed six months ago. His medication includes Avandamet [rosiglitazone + metformin], simvastatin, Xenical, perindopril, amlodipine and doxazosin.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Sylvia - Interview 38
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Sylvia used information from the internet to supplement the information she had received from her nurse.
Diagnosed a year ago. Sylvia takes metformin, simvastatin and amlopidine.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 66 - 69
>>
Brian - Interview 11
>>
Brian recommends the Diabetes UK magazines but generally prefers to get his information from his medical team rather than leaflets.
Brian's diabetes was diagnosed seven years ago when he was having prostate surgery. More recently he has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He takes metformin and insulin (Novorapid and Levimir) for diabetes.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Mrs Singh - Interview 05
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Mrs Singh has had diabetes for many years and finds that talking to others and going to meetings has helped her (audio in Hindi).
Mrs Singh was diagnosed when she was 49. She takes metformin.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Isabel - Interview 28
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Isabel thinks it would have helped her in the early days to have gone to a support group to discuss her fears about diabetes.
Diagnosed when she was 57. Isabel was taking metformin and pioglitazone at the time of interview.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Lawrence - Interview 33
>>
Lawrence understood the clear unambiguous advice he was given by his GP.
Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Alex - Interview 07
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Alex feels communication broke down when he had problems with his eyes and didn't connect it with diabetes.
Alex was diagnosed with diabetes three years' ago. He is currently taking metformin and gliclazide.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Ken - Interview 29
>>
Ken thinks that the information about eating more carbohydrates is extremely confusing.
Ken was diagnosed when he was 56. At the time of his interview he was taking metformin.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 35 and under
>>
Wasim - Interview 22
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Wasim has tried to work out for himself why he was diagnosed with type 2 as opposed to type 1 diabetes.
Diagnosed a year ago after emergency admission to hospital. Wasim is on insulin (NovoRapid during the day and Lantus at night).
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Nicky - Interview 18
>>
Nicky reacted badly to some of the suggestions made by her GP when she was first diagnosed.
Diagnosed 4 years ago. Nicky was taking metformin but having established very good control through diet and exercise she no longer takes any medication for diabetes. She also has hypothyroidism.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 56 - 65
>>
Duncan - Interview 27
>>
Duncan prefers not to check his glucose levels every day. The strips are too expensive and also he was advised not to.
Diagnosed 2 years ago. Duncan takes metformin, gliclazide, simvastatin, atenolol, ramipril and amlodipine. He has had neuropathy in his feet since 2006 and expects to receive laser eye treatment soon.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Pamela - Interview 08
>>
Her relationship with the GP is good because he listens well, is responsive and doesn't pressurise her.
Pamela was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago. She takes metformin and rosiglitazone.
Topic
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Looking for information and support
>>
Looking for information and support
Looking for information and support
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Tina - Interview 17
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Tina feels she is well understood by her GP and diabetes nurse and that they listen to her ideas.
Tina was diagnosed 12 years ago. Initially she tried to control diabetes with diet alone, then transferred to metformin. In 2004 she changed to insulin and now takes Levimir at night.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Nicky - Interview 18
>>
Nicky enjoys cooking and now makes her own bread, tortillas and muffins without using flour.
Diagnosed 4 years ago. Nicky was taking metformin but having established very good control through diet and exercise she no longer takes any medication for diabetes. She also has hypothyroidism.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 46 - 55
>>
Nicky - Interview 18
>>
Nicky knew she was overweight when she got the diagnosis but she felt so fit and healthy she didn't believe what she was told.
Diagnosed 4 years ago. Nicky was taking metformin but having established very good control through diet and exercise she no longer takes any medication for diabetes. She also has hypothyroidism.
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 35 and under
>>
Wasim - Interview 22
>>
Wasim would prefer to get his information from the internet and for it to be aimed more specifically at younger people.
Diagnosed a year ago after emergency admission to hospital. Wasim is on insulin (NovoRapid during the day and Lantus at night).
Chronic health issues
>>
Diabetes Type 2
>>
Aged 36 - 45
>>
Lawrence - Interview 33
>>
Lawrence says he used the internet to find out as much as he could and also asked his medical team about anything he didn't understand.
Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.
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