RACH Diabetic Clinic Newsletter No.13
Summer 2007
I hope the fact that this is the thirteenth issue of our newsletter does not bring any of us bad luck!
Summer is with us once again and we are all thinking about our holidays. If you are going away we hope you have a great time. Can we just remind you of a few things. Take plenty insulin, insulin pens/syringes, finger prick equipment, meter strips and ketostix. If you’re busy it is easy to forget either a mealtime or to take your insulin.Try hard not to do that as you’ll end up feeling ill and ruin your holiday.
If you are going overseas (lucky you!!) it may be hot and you might find you need to reduce your insulin doses considerably.
Don’t forget to ask us for a travel letter if you are flying as all your diabetes equipment needs to go in your hand luggage and the letter makes going through customs a lot easier.
Sports Day
We are well on the way to organising the day for Saturday August 25. As usual the day is aimed at primary school aged children and their parents. An invitation is included with this newsletter for children in the age group. If we’ve got our sums wrong and missed you out on the invite list give us a ring and we will send you one.
Toddlers
This year we held our toddler session at KC Kangaroos in Aberdeen
Previously we’ve had 10 or more toddlers at these days but this year we had four families. We have not had nearly so many little ones diagnosed recently so the numbers are down.
We all had a good time and hopefully the parents gain a little support from each other.
Novo Pens
We are having a real struggle keeping a supply of these pens at the hospital and we always have to keep a supply for any new patients. If your pen breaks or you need a spare you can get them from your GP on prescription. This might be a quicker way to get another pen than through us.
If you need a new finger pricker/lancing device these have to be obtained from the manufacturer we do not keep a supply. All the meter companies have a customer helpline and they will send a new one out free of charge.
Smoothies
These seem to be the latest craze with children and adults alike. They are a good way to get some fruit when you’re not that keen on the whole thing.
Remember, sometimes you are getting 3 or 4 pieces of fruit at one go so it will have an effect on your blood sugar level. As the fruit has been pureed the sugar will be absorbed more quickly than if you’d eaten the fruit raw.
Watch out for some of the bought ones as they have added sugar too.
Some manufacturers are making small ones aimed
at children which contain the equivalent of one portion of fruit which are good for lunch boxes.
The bigger ones are best kept for a pudding or maybe before sport.
JDRF Walk
With this newsletter you will also get details of this years walk at Hazlehead in September. See you there!
Recipe
Summer pancakes
Pancakes are not only for Shrove Tuesday.
They are great for the whole family to get involved making.
4oz (120ml) plain flour
1 egg
250ml (1/2pt) semi-skimmed milk
Beat the egg into the milk.
Sift the flour into a bowl and gradually beat in the milk mixture.
Heat a little oil in a non stick frying pan and wipe with kitchen roll.
Pour just enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan. Turn (or flip) it when the bottom gets slightly brown.
Tip out onto kitchen roll when both sides are cooked. ( the first one never works!)
Chop up some summer fruit like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, nectarines, and peaches. Mix it with a little fromage frais and use as a filling.
Pancakes are very versatile and can be used for savoury fillings too.
Thank you
We’ve recently been very lucky and received money from families in Macduff and Westhill which we will put towards educational resources for the children. Thank you to everyone involved.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS)
This allows us to continuously monitor a child’s glucose level every 5 minutes for up to 3 days. This is useful in some children where more information is needed to help improve control.
We would like thank Diabetes UK for a donation which has enabled us to buy our own system. This will mean that children requiring monitoring will no longer have to wait so long.
Contact us
Edna/Isla 01224 552734
Irene 01224 555527
Sheena 01346 585244
Elsie 01224 552630
Lisa Dr Mayo/Houlsby’s secretary 01224 550125
Appointments 01224 552667