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Everyone with diabetes to receive the Covid-19 vaccine

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It has been announced that Group 6 will be the next group to receive the vaccine to protect against Covid-19.

This includes everyone over 60 years old and anyone with any form of diabetes or any underlying health conditions and aged between 16 to 64.

The adverse effects include headache, tiredness and soreness at the injection site but these effects should not last longer than a couple of days.

 

Lockdown for IDDT

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Lockdown for IDDT

I am afraid that IDDT has had to close the offices during lockdown. There are only 4 members of staff, two of whom are classed as ‘vulnerable’ and therefore we have to look after their safety and welfare, as well as follow the lockdown advice to stay at home and protect the NHS. I am sure that you all understand that this is necessary.

The closure means that we are unable to send out any leaflets or deal with any incoming post.

It also means that we will be unable to draw the lottery for the time that this continues but as we did for the first lockdown, we will draw each month separately when we are back in the office.

On a more positive note:

We will be back offering our usual service and sending out leaflets and booklets as soon as it is safe to so. In the meantime, we hope all our members and visitors stay safe and well.

Jenny Hirst
Co-chair
InDependent Diabetes Trust

Lockdown for IDDT

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Lockdown for IDDT: Update

IDDT offices have been completely closed during lockdown. However, we are now opening up in a limited way with two people being in the office everyday with all the necessary safety precautions being in place and other staff members working from home.

This may mean that there will be a slight delay in responding to requests for leaflets and dealing with incoming post but we are sure that you will understand that this is necessary.
 
It also means that there will be a delay in drawing the lottery for the time being but each month will be drawn separately and the winners informed as soon as possible.  

On a more positive note:

We will be back offering our usual service as soon as it is safe to so. In the meantime, we hope all our members and visitors stay safe and well.

Jenny Hirst
Co-chair
InDependent Diabetes Trust

Suspension of donations of unwanted, in-date insulin and other diabetes supplies

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We are always very grateful for the donations of unwanted, in-date and unused insulin and other diabetes supplies, such as needles, lancets and test strips. This is a great help to people with diabetes in developing countries. However, due to regulations during the pandemic, we have been unable to send insulin or other items for several months and this does not seem likely to change in the foreseeable future.

Click here to read more

 

‘Clinically vulnerable’ and shielding

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We have received queries about whether people with diabetes fit into the ‘clinically vulnerable’ category and therefore should be ‘shielding’.

Having diabetes does not automatically mean that you fit into the clinically vulnerable category, this only applies to people who have received a letter telling them they are in this group or if they have been told by their GP.

The guidance is for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable, including children and it also applies to their family, friends and carers. It applies to people living at home, with or without additional support, and to clinically extremely vulnerable people living in long-term care facilities for the elderly or people with special needs.

Who is ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’?
Click here to read more

 

Brexit

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Medicines
Now that the BREXIT situation is clearer, well a little, the three main insulin manufacturers – Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi have confirmed that the previous arrangements are still in place. This means that they are keeping at least 16 weeks of additional stock. People should continue to get prescriptions and use their medicines in the normal way.

Pork insulin, which is made in the UK, will continue to be available as usual.

Devices
The government has said that the key medical technology companies have confirmed that they are in regular discussions with all the major companies who provide continuous glucose monitors (CGM), FreeStyle Libre, insulin pumps and blood glucose monitors and strips. The majority of tech companies have confirmed to the DHSC that they have alternative transport routes in place if disruption occurs and have built up buffer stocks.

During the 12-month implementation period, the UK will continue to stay aligned to EU law, and existing regulatory and customs procedures will remain in place. The government expect that supplies, including medicines and medical goods, will continue as usual.

Travel
If you are a UK national travelling to the EEA or Switzerland, you can continue to access healthcare as you do now until at least the end of the implementation period at the end of December 2020.

If you have an EHIC, this will be valid until the end of the implementation period.

More information about the EHIC card can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/

 

FreeStyle Libre sensors shortage

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Parliamentary Question Answered on: Wednesday 19 February 2020

Department of Health & Social Care

Paul Girvan (South Antrim): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on people with diabetes of the slow-down in production and shipping of Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring sensors from Abbott; and if he will make statement. [745]

Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds) The Department is aware of current supply issues with the Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring sensors and it is maintaining regular contact with the supplier Abbott to re-establish the reliable supply of this product.

This is a temporary disruption caused by increases in demand and we have already seen steady progress to improve the situation over the recent weeks.

The information provided refers to the National Health Service in England only.

 

Latest on FreeStyle Libre NHS England press release

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NHS England: Tens of thousands given life-changing diabetes monitors thanks to the NHS Long Term Plan

This is the title of a press release issued on 22nd October 2019 and its key statement is: “Nearly 30,000 people across the country with Type 1 diabetes have received life-changing diabetes monitors through the NHS Long Term Plan.”

Click here to read more

 

FreeStyle availability update

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Availability of FreeStyle sensors

Abbott, the manufacturers of the FreeStyle Libre, has announced it will increase the number of FreeSyle Libre sensors people can buy at one time from two to three at a time.

Customers will be limited to ordering once every 25 days and free postage will continue. This only affects people who buy the sensors privately and does not affect those who have the system prescribed on the NHS.

In addition, people who have been on the waiting list to buy the FreeStyle Libre since April 1st will be able to purchase the system in the “coming days” and they will receive an email invitation to purchase the system.

FreeStyle Libre availability update

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Availability of FreeStyle sensors – update: 31st July

Abbott, the manufacturers of the FreeStyle Libre, has announced it will increase the number of FreeSyle Libre sensors people can buy at one time from two to three at a time.

Customers will be limited to ordering once every 25 days and free postage will continue. This only affects people who buy the sensors privately and does not affect those who have the system prescribed on the NHS.

In addition, people who have been on the waiting list to buy the FreeStyle Libre since April 1st will be able to purchase the system in the “coming days” and they will receive an email invitation to purchase the system.


FreeStyle Libre, IDDT issues press release
July 26th 2018

Low numbers prescribed “game-changing” diabetes technology

Results from Freedom of Information requests carried out by the InDependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) show just 30 out of the 144 CCGs who responded have prescribed the system to just 174 people. In response to a question on which criteria decisions about prescribing the FreeStyle Libre system are made, 23 CCGs failed to provide any data.

These figures are at odds with stats provided by Diabetes UK which show 9,690 across Britain have been prescribed the technology since November, which is still a low proportion representing less than 2 per cent of the 500,000 eligible people.

To read the full press release click here

As a result of our press release, on July 26th the Daily Express made the FreeStyle libre postcode lottery a front-page story with the heading NHS DIABETES SCANDAL: 490,000 sufferers denied life-saving glucose monitor PM uses.
This can be found online: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/994343/nhs-postcode-lottery-denies-diabetes-patch-theresa-may-flash-glucose-monitor

Previous updates on this story appear below

We have had reports from people trying to purchase the FreeStyle Libre and the sensors from the manufacturers, Abbott Laboratories that there is a delay in supply. It appears that there is a 3-week delay in supply and a restriction of 2 sensors per order. This is said to be due to high demand, so hopefully it will be a temporary situation.

Update: 5th April

FreeStyle Libre not available to new customers

Abbott, the manufacturer of the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring system has announced that they are not taking online orders from new customers until July 2018, due to unexpected demand. Therefore, people wishing to order the FreeStyle Libre for the first time will have to wait until July.

Abbott has also said that existing customers will be limited to ordering two sensors every 25 days. One sensor lasts 2 weeks.

Limiting the number of sensors does not apply to people who are obtaining the FreeStyle Libre free on an NHS prescription.

Freestyle Libre available on the NHS!

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Freestyle Libra

On September 13th it was announced that the Freestyle Libre by Abbott will be available on the NHS from November 1st 2017 for people with Type 1 diabetes. This is a device which checks blood glucose levels by scanning a sensor worn on the back of the arm without having to prick the fingers, so non-invasively. Globally there are over 300,000 users and it is available in more than 35 countries. It is referred to as a flash glucose sensing device and is currently the only one in existence.

Click here to read more

 

IDDT Conference 2018 – come and join us!

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Kettering Park Hotel and Spa

We are pleased to say that this year we are holding a conference at the Kettering Park Hotel and Spa on Saturday, October 6th 2018 entitled ‘Living with Diabetes’. Many of you will have already received a programme and an application form.

It will be an interesting day with speakers and group discussions on diet, blood glucose control and a group just for carers of people with diabetes. The title is ‘Living with Diabetes’ recognises some of the day to day difficulties of living with diabetes. Our speakers will be Dr Laurence Gerlis and Dr Gary Adams and there will also be an open forum for discussion of hot topics in today’s diabetes!

It is your opportunity to meet other people with diabetes and the Trustees and staff of IDDT and we hope that many of you come along.

The Kettering Park Hotel and Spa is easy to access from north, south, east and west by road from the M1 and M6 as it is just off junction 9 of the A14 in Northamptonshire. In addition, Kettering is only an hour from London by train.

For the programme, application form or more information call IDDT on 01604 622837 or email enquiries@iddtinternational.org or click here to print off the form.

We hope that many of you will be able to join us on October 6th 2018!

 

InDependent Diabetes Trust
IDDT