Just received a shielding letter but no one knows why!!

[theviewfromhalfwaydown]

I’m freaking out a bit that there’s something wrong with me I don’t know about. I received a shielding letter but have no idea why I have it. I’m slightly overweight but haven’t been weighed by a dr in 10years and that was just after I’d given birth to my youngest. I have no underlying health conditions I know about and I’m only 38. All I can think of is that I had gestational diabetes but that was years ago. I’ve already had the first jab as I work in healthcare but I’m worried they know something I don’t. I’m not going to shield as I don’t think I need to and I want to work but it’s still thrown me quite a bit.

@Sunnydays999

I work for a Surgery. We have been told it’s because you will of had high bmi( over 30) and high blood pressure / diabetes. Please don’t ring the surgery we have no idea

And another one! Piss off with your gate keeping!! I’d honestly like to put all GP receptionists in Room 101. These women all have the right to speak to their GP about these letters!

Please don’t ring the surgery we have no idea

But surely the doctor's might. Yes they're busy I am sure, but actually if people have been told to shield and have zero idea why, I think it's more than reasonable that they want to talk to a doctor. How can people make an informed decision about what to do if they have no fucking clue what's flagged them and why it might be a risk?

Shielding is entirely optional... so personally I would not fight to be removed from the list, you will be getting the vaccine earlier than you thought... and you can still make your own decision as to whether or not to shield.

[quote JollyMom]@CrackOpenTheGin we would need to get both doses before we can ask to be taken off the list. That means you would need to shield yourself for those 3 months at least I think.[/quote]
Nope, once you’ve had one they have to do the other in 12 weeks regardless. But if you’re worried just stay on the list. No one has to know anyway and get your vaccine done.

Those of you who have received, how many diabetic pregnancies did you have? I see not everyone got the email/letter, so I am wondering if it's to do with multiple diabetic pregnancies (if you have had more diabetic pregnancies you could be higher risk?)

"I work for a Surgery. We have been told it’s because you will of had high bmi( over 30) and high blood pressure / diabetes.
Please don’t ring the surgery we have no idea"

Which is why you then either send a query to their gp or book them an appointment to discuss this.

This is a mistake. Another GP has commented on another thread. People with GD have been contacted in error. It is a mistake.

@Oblomov21 One GP has said that here, and I’ve seen another saying it’s genuine. I hope it’s a mistake!

Oblomov that is reassuring to hear but excuse us if those of us who have received an official letter would like something a little more concrete than another poster claiming to be a gp saying to ignore it before we consider the matter closed

@Oblomov21

This is a mistake. Another GP has commented on another thread. People with GD have been contacted in error. It is a mistake.

Well from what I've seen on Gestational Diabetes UK, different GPS are giving different advice, so I am not sure anyone knows at this stage!

Well. I believe it is a mistake. When you think about it. Yesterday they announced ...... actually I can't remember what it was !!! In London they were expanding the group 6 category? By 300,000? Or something. Expanding criteria for groups to include more?

Then today, tonnes of people, who 'once' had gestational diabetes, years ago, who thus are not now at risk? Get contacted to shield? Or be vaccinated?

How can that be right? No one will convince me that this is anything other than an nhs admin mistake.

I know type 1 diabetics who are only just being vaccinated!! And they really should be prioritised.

If you think about it logically, it's got to be a mistake.

Those that had gestational diabetes many years ago are not a current risk.

Come on, just think about it, logically.

@TheWristBoundLatexBitch I’ve only had one pregnancy with GD (have only ever been pregnant twice and the other one ended in MC at 12 weeks so no GD tests done) - so it can’t be just based on no of GD pregnancies I don’t think....

I agree Oblomov though I understand why people want official confirmation.

In the meantime I really hope this doesn’t make people feel anxious.

Regardless if it’s a mistake or not is worrying for people to receive an email saying that you have to shield when you know there is nothing wrong with you and you can’t even get answers - even when it says on the letter to contact your GP surgery. I have called a couple of times today and was told someone would contact me but not heard .. I have however got my jab booked in for tommorow, when I queried this with the nurse that booked it, all she said was ‘if I were you I would accept the appointment’ . It’s all very random to me..

@TheWristBoundLatexBitch

Those of you who have received, how many diabetic pregnancies did you have? I see not everyone got the email/letter, so I am wondering if it's to do with multiple diabetic pregnancies (if you have had more diabetic pregnancies you could be higher risk?)

I only had one..

I have seen someone on a diabetic group saying they spoke to Diabetes UK who told them that it is legitimate. Supposedly there is new evidence emerging that shows the increased risk with a history of GD, but it’s also a preventative measure as GD mums are already significantly higher risk for type 2 - and covid seems to be a big risk factor for developing type 2 also. I don’t know if this is true, but that’s what was said.

@Oblomov21

If you think about it logically, it's got to be a mistake.

Those that had gestational diabetes many years ago are not a current risk.

Come on, just think about it, logically.

You really shouldn’t be stating it’s a mistake. As someone who is hoping it is, my GP has told me, it isn’t. There is a reason previous GDs have been moved up and they don’t know exactly why yet.

Therefore, until we all know one way or another, people shouldn’t be stating it as fact, that it’s a mistake.

I agree with this!

Stated?

I believe it's a mistake. That's what I said. Im entitled to say that. Stated? A GP said on the GD thread that it was. I too believe it is.

I’ve only had gd once but been pregnant 3 times. My bp is always low whenever it’s taken too. I’m currently getting my jabs through work as I work with vulnerable people.

Yes I have also read there seems to be evidence that if you have had GD in the past, covid can trigger diabetes. Doesn’t happen to everyone but for women with GD history there is a somewhat increased rate of developing diabetes if you get covid compared with those who haven’t had covid

@Oblomov21

If you think about it logically, it's got to be a mistake.

Those that had gestational diabetes many years ago are not a current risk.

Come on, just think about it, logically.

I agree. There are thousands of people with type one and type two diabetes who haven't been told to shield yet someone who had gestational diabetes ten years ago, with perfect bloods ever since, is now being told to shield? It makes no send. Obviously it needs to be checked/confirmed and I understand it would have been a shock.

@Oblomov21

Stated?

I believe it's a mistake. That's what I said. Im entitled to say that. Stated? A GP said on the GD thread that it was. I too believe it is.

You know they are a GP how? I’m The Queen. That was easy.

"There is a reason previous GDs have been moved up and they don’t know exactly why yet".

There is a reason? What is the reason? They don't know. No. I don't know either.

But I believe it IS an admin error. Or should be. GD from years ago, is not a permanent condition. It's a temporary thing. Because of pregnancy.

And doesn't deserve to be put in a higher group. And vaccinated.

As a diabetic, I Feel, in My opinion, thus is very wrong.