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.

digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/population#gestational-diabetes

@FoxtrotSkarloey I'm the same as you had GD in both pregnancies (2016 & 2019) & my BMI is higher than yours but under 40, I've not yet received a letter/email. The reason I say yet is because I can now book my jab through the NHS booking page which I couldn't last week & there would be no other reason for me to be able to book it yet as I'm only 34. Have you checked to see if you could book yours yet?
I've not yet booked my jab as I'm waiting first to see if I get a letter in the next few days

Thank you, will check it out.

Gestational diabetes seems to have been included in group 6, how ever long ago you had it. There must be seems to be new data for this to be included in group 6. I wish they would explain why.

I had to look up why my husband has just been included in the shielding group as I thought diabetes was group 6. But there are exceptions putting some diabetics into group 4.

It's quite worrying not to know why, just that he is at much more risk than we'd thought.

I don't think previous GD and being overweight alone mean you have to shield. It would be different if you had type 2 and were v overweight/obese. Remember it's only the extremely vulnerable who should be shielding. Those who are 'only' vulnerable just have to get on with it. Obviously to reiterate if unsure speak to your GP etc and also the fact that you should be having annual hba1c checks if you've previously been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. If you haven't had one then I wouldn't necessarily ignore the shielding advice until you've had this checked. Also this is just my opinion.

I also expect GP's are going to be inundated eight requests for hba1c blood tests and if they get shirty I would be pointing in the direction of the NICE guidelines that they have failed to implement, if they had done this in the first place you wouldn't have to ask.

@Desperatelywaiting2022 Yes, I did check earlier using my NHS number and it said not eligible. I'll hang on and see what happens but this is starting to feel so chaotic.

@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.

Ring your doctor, but you'll probably find it's been sent in error. I had one sent to me in first lockdown that was meant for someone else with same name but different address

“I also expect GP's are going to be inundated eight requests for hba1c blood tests and if they get shirty I would be pointing in the direction of the NICE guidelines that they have failed to implement, if they had done this in the first place you wouldn't have to ask.”

Agree

Bless you HalzTangz, you really need to read the full thread

@WreckTangled Agreed. I’ve actually heard of GP’s refusing women hba1c’s saying they’re not necessary!

Still haven't received a letter.. I wonder if it's because I should be in Group 6 anyway (BMI of 40 plus) so they have me on the imminent list anyway?

I just got an antibody test at a local pharmacy. It came back positive. Something of a relief as obviously I survived it once.

How do you get those?! Are they expensive?

I’ve had severe post viral complications before and would love to find out I’ve had it already

It was £59 booked through a website called docontap. Or you can get them posted out to you for slightly cheaper.

There's a story on gponline saying it's all a mistake. I'm so confused

I also read the GP Online article and I think it was based off a Twitter conversation with Partha Kar - and has extrapolated that slightly. But I don't think the NHS has said it was a total mistake? To start with the NHS doubled down and said it was correct and I think that's when most people booked their jabs... It didn't help that their latest statement is so confusing!

I wish they would just us whether there was any evidence of younger women with no known health issues dying of COVID, who were later found to have previously had gestational diabetes. Or whether it was a precaution due to risk of us having undiagnosed diabetes. Or whether it was indeed a mistake - although the NHS Digital information does not suggest this if there are other risk factors. But does that mean risk factors which on their own are enough to trigger a shielding letter without GD.... This is driving me nuts....

I know. Me too! And I can't get through to my GP. I allegedly missed their call yesterday though there was no missed call and I was watching my phone like a hawk and now they won't call back till tomorrow afternoon.

The GP online issue seems to brush over things somewhat. Attached tweet from our new favourite T1 diabetes specialist in England suggests the cause of the shielding letters is more nuanced and perhaps related to lack of post natal checks.

@IFinishedTheBiscuits There is no link between resolved historic GD and Covid. The link is between current diabetes and Covid, and the shielding comes into effect if you have diabetes AND other risk factors. It was a coding error but they cannot tell everyone to ignore their letters, it would be irresponsible as we know many post partum GD mums have not had follow up tests to check for diabetes. If those who have not had follow ups DO now have diabetes, then they should shield.

@IFinishedTheBiscuits And it would make sense for those who haven’t had a test for diabetes to shield until they have one.

@doireallyneedaname I am not sure if it is that simple. Reading between the lines I think there is a link between historic Gd and severe coronavirus, but that link is thought to be solely because if the high occurrence of type 2 diabetes in those with historic gd (50% in 5 years). Therefore if the mum doesn't have type 2, there is no increased risk. But there is a very grey area of how do you know the mum hasn't developed type 2, theoretically because they have annual checks, however it has become very clear many don't. According to one twitter poster it is not in the GP contract so GPs have no responsibility to provide them.

My GP has booked me in for an hba1c which I am due for anyway but said even if negative for diabetes it will not change my coding and she was not prepared to take me off the list. I had my jab in December because I work for the NHS.

I'm currently waiting for my occupational health at work to get back to me, I hope that they let me continue to work as I feel if my hba1c is okay my risk would be minimal.

It would be a shame and make my department short staffed if I could not work on site. I'm also volunteering to help with the vaccination programme and cannot do that if I am shielding too.

@NeedsImprovement01 Sure, so the link itself is GD - but unless that GD has progressed to prediabetes/diabetes you’re not high risk. I haven’t seen anything else at all to suggest otherwise. Having had GD I’ve been reading various research and data on diabetes since the pandemic started and I have not once seen any mention of GD.

@NeedsImprovement01

I think we are broadly in agreement @doireallyneedaname. I am just nervous of sound bites that there is no link historic gd and covid complications, as to me it sounds like statistically there is a risk, just that with some medical knowledge and a recent Hba1c that risk can be discounted for an individual. I am worried some GPs will be blanket deprioritising historic GDM ladies, because it was a mistake rather than considering it case by case.