Are there any soap characters / tv show characters with diabetes?

[Pibplob]

Anyone know of any? For a friends just diagnosed (yesterday) child. Thanks.

Theresa May has a libre. It's a flash glucose monitor - it measures bg levels constantly which can be read by sweeping the meter over the sensor which is worn in the upper arm. They can be self funded.

Not on TV but Stacy in the Babysitters Club books did and it was mentioned frequently including one book where she stopped taking her meds to "fit in" and became ill.

Check out this comic too revolvecomics.com/diabetes-type-1-origins-comic/

So is the flash glucose monitor what Teresa May has? Or is a pump something different? It sounds fab anyway - no more finger pricking. Fingers must get so sore! I don’t think they’d be able to self fund anything. I imagine it will be too expensive.

And the second part diabetestimes.co.uk/type-1-diabetes-comic-sequel-launched-online/

Libre measures bg levels, insulin pumps deliver a constant supply of insulin which can be tailored to meet your needs. My son has had a pump for 9 years since he was diagnosed at 13 months old. We also use a continuous glucose monitor (cgm) which communicates with the pump and can switch off the insulin if his bg level is dropping too low.

DP is after the libre for no more finger picking. Sometimes he can't even get DD dressed if his fingers are sore.

Premiership rugby- a Worcester player has diabetes.

Avoiding finger pricking would be fab. So would continuous glucose - assume no injections? Sounds life changing. But expensive. Will get her to look into her options.

Only one cgm called dexcom can be used instead of finger pricks. Both libre and the cgm we use should not be used for dosing decisions. All cgm needs to be calibrated with a finger prick at least once a day.

I think Tom Hanks and Chris Rea are diabetic - when my mum was diagnosed I remember her mentioning them.

It's instead of having 4 injections a day. It's about the size of a mobile phone and I wear mine in my bra! It drip feeds me insulin throughout the day and if I eat I just use the pump to give me extra insulin. I can eat whatever I want when I want.

I do have a cannula that I put in myself (have a device to put it in) but it only has to be changed every few days. It is definitely better than being on injections, for me anyway. It's not a cure but it's the nearest thing to it I guess.

The libre is also great as others have mentioned! There's so much technology out there these days, but to me, the pump was like being reborn!

He's after the pump as well but they say his bloods are controlled with the injecting (regularly getting over 12 tho) so they won't give him it.

The libre that Teresa May has monitors her blood glucose (cgm = continuous glucose monitoring). It's a small device that goes into the back of the arm (usually) and takes readings at 5 min intervals. There are other kinds as well. It tests glucose in interstitial (between cells) fluid, so it's about 15 mins behind a finger prick. HUGELY reduces the number of finger pricks though - dd was doing about 9/day and now only tests occasionally if she thinks she's low. The libre lasts 2 weeks, so one insertion is instead of almost 100 finger pricks . Much easier. They aren't cheap though. No idea if they are covered by the NHS. I'm in NZ and they are not covered here, but some kinds are covered in Aus.

The pump is separate - dd doesn't have one yet as the rules here say that she has to be able to manage her own insulin injections for 6 months before starting an application to get one. Your friend will be told how things work wherever she is!

Thanks all. Will have a proper read through in a minute! X

Ian Beale, but that was type 2.

www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News/EastEnders-stalwart-Ian-Beale-diagnosed-with-Type-2-diabetes