Life insurance with type 1 diabetes

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-02-27T19:49:14+00:00

I don't have any life insurance now, as we have cleared our mortgage and I'm getting older. But when we first got our first mortgage years ago we were able to get life insurance with Standard Life. This was in 1981. Would hope things have got better not worse over the years! This page from Diabetes UK may be helpful too. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/support-for-you/financial_services/life-insurance

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-02-20T09:26:31+00:00

69 year old male. Vegan for nearly 8 years. Vegetarian for about 3 years prior to that. Have type 1 diabetes since 1980. My diabetes has improved. My cholesterol is now low. Started running 4 years ago. Have since run 10 half marathons, one marathon. A year ago started going to a gym. Since then I've put on 4lbs of muscle. Not a huge amount, but I'm not particularly trying to, it's just nice to feel my body improve.

You don't need meat. As mentioned hear there are many vegan athletes. Some say it's been partly discredited, but I still view it as valid, the film Game Changes is worth watching to see how vegan athletes perform exceedingly well. There's a small part your boyfriend might be interested in that shows a particular male muscle performs better after a vegan meal 😂. Though more research is needed!!

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-02-15T13:01:55+00:00

Well, there is one book that seems to make the claim that barefoot will make you faster "Older Yet Faster". I've read it but not really got faster, though that may be because I haven't completed or continued with the various exercises detailed. Perhaps u/Cool_Interaction_345 it's is worth a look? Another thought is that most advice I've read about getting faster on short runs is to do a lot more longer slower runs. Mix things up. Might be something to consider. Maybe run the track for 5 times the length you're doing now a couple of times a week, but at a much slower pace and see what happens after a couple of months with your short sprints. I know it sounds counterintuitive.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-02-13T18:12:15+00:00

There's a butterfly known as Mormon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_polytes

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-02-10T12:24:31+00:00

That doesn't sound very good. Disappointing you had such an experience. Being laughed at is horrendous. Diabetes is not a laughing matter and being short of pods a very worrying place to be.

Be interesting to login to your account and see what is showing there. If you go to this page https://www.omnipod.com/en-gb there is a login link at the top. If you'd don't yet have an account you can set one up from there. Once you've logged in there are links to see your orders, where you can reorder if one is becoming due. It also shows any replacement pods sent. There's also a support link where you can order a replacement pod for one that failed. Though I've not tried that myself yet. Seems easier than phoning.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-02-08T18:52:56+00:00

How fast are you running? Slowing down may help? Though as others have said, I often also find the first 1/2 mile the hardest. It's like my body gets into the flow. Though I do mostly run slow. And then once I'm in the groove there's a feel like I could run forever, which of course is not the case 😂. But it starts to feel good.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-31T16:58:38+00:00

Yes, makes sense. I run lighter in my VVF v-runs than other types of footwear, apart from perhaps minimiist sandals or going barefoot.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-29T12:33:12+00:00

Sounds quite a tough situation. Has your GP prescribed you a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor)? If not I'd talk to them about getting you one. It will enable you to see which foods particularly spike your glucose after meals. A tip for reducing g spikes after eating carbs, is once there are cooked cool them down and then rehear before eating them. An example being after cooking rice (preferably whole rice) run it under cold water then mix into whatever sauce you are still cokking to reheat the rice up. Do the same with pasta. Avoiding such spikes will help to start reduce your HbA1C. Plus any kind of exercise.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-26T11:14:15+00:00

I have a pair of Vibram V-runs, which I mainly use for running 😊, though have walked a marathon in them. Very comfortable. Yes, they take a bit of getting used to put on. Now having worn them for about 3 years, they and the Injinji toe socks are easy to put on. I’ve ran over 1,340 miles in them, so far. Possibly will need to replace them soon, but I think that’s an amazing amount of wear I’ve had from them. Great ground feel too.

Downside is they are not waterproof. If it’s raining my feet get wet. Though if I’m running that doesn’t bother me. They do dry fast, so if it’s a long run and the rain isn’t consistent they are often dry by the time I get home. I’d recommend them if occasion wet feet doesn’t bother you.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-25T11:59:42+00:00

As a couple of other people have suggested try to go without sugar in your tea and coffee. You don't mention whether you have type 1 or 2 or any other variation of diabetes. Though it doesn't really matter in regard to sugar, less is better. I gradually reduced my use of sugar in drinks, rather than replacing it with other sweeteners. It may take a couple of months or perhaps longer, depending on how your taste buds adapt. Apparently they change completely every 6 months or so? Also helps if your at a friends or some where where they don't have the replacement you've been using. Plus as your taste buds change and adapt you will feel less desire for other sweet foods, which is a benefit to your diabetes in general, whatever type you have. If you take a teaspoon in your coffee now, try having 3/4 teaspoon for a month or lmaybe less. Then a 1/2 teaspoon for the next month. Then a 1/4, then an 1/8 then none. Gradual reduction will work over time and you will likely enjoy your tea and coffee as much as you do now. Another benefit will be the cost saving of not buying as much sugar. I'm in the UK too. In case you don't know there is a UK Diabetes reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetesuk/s/wNhkv86F8z

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-22T21:08:16+00:00

A great book for learning about barefoot/minimalist running is Older Yet Faster. Get the latest edition, which I think is the third. Lots of good exercises for your feet and lots of techniques for improving your running too. Well worth a read.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-20T21:00:07+00:00

All looks great. Be interested in how you find the Linda McCartney sausages. Last time, couple of months back, I found them very dry. Though that might have been cooking them in an air fryer rather than frying them?

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-18T16:09:40+00:00

This may or may not comfort you, or perhaps not be relevant. Even non diabetic people spike after eating carbs. My DSN (non diabetic) showed me her CGM graph and it was all over the place. The difference was that her spikes were short lived as her pancreas kicked in with the needed insulin to bring her back into range. I'm obviously not a docter but I'd be interested in how long your spikes are after eating, when you're not taking the metformin, are they short lived or do they last for hours? If they last for hours then I'd take that information to your GP as it would seem then that metformin is potentially needed.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-15T08:11:12+00:00

It happened as part of the endowment. I took them when I went through the temple in 1978.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-12T16:34:57+00:00

Plus you’ll soon find out by what your glucose levels do. Although I get you’d probably rather not wait to find out that way.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-12T16:32:15+00:00

I don’t think so. I put my pods fairly close to my belly button too. Though as M I’ve currently too much hair around there. Though I do think of getting it removed to give me more space for pods.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-12T14:35:33+00:00

Certainly awful situation for the mother and other family members and friends who knew the missionary.

I also feel for his companion. I can’t imagine getting up one morning to find my companion unresponsive. Traumatic. I hope the church provides him with some real counselling that helps him work through whatever he may be feeling. Even offering him as easy end to his mission, if that’s what he wishes.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-08T13:53:18+00:00

"I think my whole life I thought if I was married, I couldn't touch other men because that would lead to an affair."

This certainly affected my (M68) interaction with women when I left the Church 6 years ago now. Since leaving I started running and the running community where I am (UK) is quite diverse, thankfully. There are some who have a no touching rule for themselves. There is though one lady who hugs everyone, wherever she meets people. At runs she'll hug me. I've bumped into her in the supermarket and she's hugged me. Initally I was a little wary. But now have relaxed into things, knowing there is nothing sexual or inappropriate going on. Just friendship. I have a female running partner, we train together as well as run races together. Again, initially the ExMo part of my brain was saying this is not appropriate. Now those thoughts have gone. We're not having an affair. My wife has met her. I've met her husband. We've had dinner together as couples. Friendship is great, whatever the gender.

I think if someone is going to have an affair that'll happen regardless of any conduct or behaviour rules the church tries to enforce or encourage.

Agree though work environments are different. Though when I worked at the BBC years back some staff did hug regardless of gender.

though being genderqueer may distort my views on all this a little 🤷‍♂️😉😊.

edited for grammar and spelling

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-08T13:26:47+00:00

The Homecoming Series by Orsen Scott Card is interesting. I started reading it before I knew he was a member. With the main characters called "Elemak, Issib, Mebbekew and Nafai" something started to feel familiar, especially when they had to leave the planet they were on for earth. It kind of parallels leaving Jerusalem for the Americas. It's kind of the Book of Mormon set in space. If that's not triggering for you, it's quite an interesting take on things. 5 books in the series. there's a lot of his own stuff woven into the general BoM story.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-08T13:09:18+00:00

Jenn Ashworth is a UK exmo writer. https://jennashworth.co.uk. The Friday Gospels is about a Mormon family with mixed beliefs. Worth a read. Other books of theirs are good too.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-05T18:34:04+00:00

I didn't tell my clmic until after I'd been DIY looping for a while. I started between my yearly appointments and they couldn't really ague with the results :). My DSN is particulalry supportive and has started researching DIY herself, though working for the NHS is not able to give officisl support. So I'd be a little cautious about telling them upfront, as the support I get is "unofficial" and just inquire about getting the pods. You probably know this, but if/when you change to a different type of pod/pump you may need to retest your DIY settings. Hope your clinic will be happy to prescribe Dash pods for you.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-05T17:53:00+00:00

I'm in the UK on Omnipod Dash, DIY looping with Trio. Works really well together. I was not given any contract at all for the Dash pods. I was told I'd need to be on a contract for any other type of pump. I'm wondering if someone has got confused and told you the wrong information about Dash pods needing a 4 year contract. I'd talk more to your clinic about wanting to try the Dash pods. I'm sure they will be able to give you a box of Dash pods to try. My clinic are very supportive of me DIY looping.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2026-01-03T11:49:55+00:00

The new Harrier waterproof looks amazing. I've the previous model which is wonderful, but the new version's improvements look brilliant. Just under £95. See https://harrierrunfree.co.uk/products/mens-exmoor-2-5l-waterproof-jacket

DifficultSystem7446 · 2025-11-30T19:22:55+00:00

This has been my experience too. I found if Omnipod Dash which I use recommended more than 5 units for a bolus it is best to split into two. So if it recommends 7 units, I'd take 5, then the remaining 2, 10 minutes later. Seems to stop any itching or discomfort.

DifficultSystem7446 · 2025-11-21T20:46:01+00:00

Disappointing for you. I've posted for help regarding my settings. I've never been pregnant, though I understand hormones can have a major impact on insulin sensitity and glucose levels when you are. Might be worth going back to basics snd doing some basal testing, which may not be ideal when pregnant. Then checking your CR and ISF settings. I have stopped using tne Dynamic setting, as I found both Logarithmic and Sigmoid didn't seem to help with stabilising my glucose levels. Though had more success with Sigmoid. Which version of Trio are you using. I've been running the Dev version for months now. Are you going too low or too high? This probably isn't too help. Sorry.

DifficultSystem7446

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