Frequently asked questions

The following are answers to many questions which we get asked on a regular basis. If there are other questions that you think could or should be included, please mail us at info@diabetes.ie.

Click on questions below to see answers.

Alcohol

• Is it true that now I have diabetes I can’t drink alcohol?
• I have heard that breath tests for drink driving can read positive if you have a high blood glucose level. Is this true?

Alternative therapies

• I saw a leaflet advertising a diabetes remedy. The man who had taken it claimed it had a profound effect on his diabetes. Would it be safe for me to try a similar product?
• My father, age 70, has insulin dependent diabetes. He is forever catching colds and getting chest infections. could taking a vitamin C supplement help and would it be ok to take?

Blood pressure

• My mum has type 2 and is managing it well but on her monthly doctor checkups her blood pressure is consistently very high and he has expressed concern about same. On a diabetes clinic check-up last week, despite waiting for 3.50 hours her blood pressure was perfectly normal and that doctor could not explain it.
• What do the two readings for a blood pressure mean and what are normal levels?
• My blood pressure is 150/85 and the doctor has just started me on medication. What else can I do to get it down?
• My doctor says she has found microalbuminuria in my urine and wants me to take blood pressure tablets. This doesn’t make sense to me, as my blood pressure is normal. Should I take the tablets?
• I have Type 2 diabetes treated with tablets. Two months ago I started some new tablets to help control my blood pressure. Around the same time I also developed a dry cough. At the time I put it down to a bug that seemed to be going round the office. However, it’s still troubling me and I’m not due to see the doctor for another month. Could the cough be a side effect of the tablets?

Contraception

• I am 18 years of age and am thinking about going on the pill is there any problems with the pill and diabetes?

Changing to insulin

• My doctor has suggested that I might need to start taking insulin injections. Until now my diabetes has been controlled by tablets. Does this mean my diabetes is getting worse and, if so, why is this happening now?
• My diabetes has been treated with tablets for two years and now my doctor says I need insulin injections. Do I now have Type 1 diabetes?

Depression and mood alterations

• I know quite a few people who have diabetes and depression. Is there a connection between the two conditions?
• What should I do, I feel overwhelmed by my diagnosis?
• How do I handle my feeling of anger, loneliness and depression?
• I'm just wondering if type 2 diabetes affects your mood and means you are more prone to mood swings? Also, if it does, is there any way of controlling mood swings?

Devices

• I would like to find out more about Glucowatch (automatic Glucose Biographer). It is worn like a watch and provides automatic glucose readings - is it available in Ireland?
• I have diabetes and am wondering about using a pump. I am currently taking three injections a day - would a pump be better for me?

Diabetes

• What is diabetes?
• What are the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
• What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• What is the connection between obesity and diabetes?
• Do the genes we inherit play any part in diabetes?
• How is diabetes diagnosed?
• Can I prevent myself getting Type 2 diabetes?

Diabetic foods

• What are diabetic foods?
• In the shops there are a lot of diabetic foods i.e chocolate, jam etc. is it o.k to eat these products even in a small amount rarely?
• What is the difference between bulk sweeteners and intense sweeteners?
• What is the difference between diabetic chocolate and standard chocolate?
• What is the best way to label foods in order to help people with diabetes make healthy food choices?
• I recently bought a product labelled as “unsweetened” but when I looked at the label it contained a large amount of carbohydrates and sugars.

Diet

• Do I need to eat a special diet now that I have diabetes?
• Can I still have some sugar in my diet?
• Which fruits contain the most sugar?
• Do I need to eat special diabetic foods?
• What is DAFNE?

Driving

• I have just been diagnosed with diabetes. Do I need to inform the DVLA?
• Does having diabetes preclude you from having a driving license for public service vehicles such as a taxi/hackney?
• I have Type 2 diabetes and need to start insulin. Does this mean that I will lose my HGV licence?

Eyes

• What is diabetic retinopathy?
• I have been told that I need laser treatment for my eyes. What does this mean?
• How does diabetes affect your eyesight and what can be done to prevent your eyesight getting any worse due to being a diabetic ?

Foot care

• Why is there so much talk about feet and diabetes?
• Should I be putting cream on my feet every day?
• Can I still cut my own nails now that I have diabetes?
• I have recently been given a foot spa and was very disappointed to read a caution on the side of the box that it was not suitable for people with diabetes. Is this true?
• What is gangrene?

Gestational diabetes

• What is gestational diabetes?
• What causes gestational diabetes?
• Who is more likely to get gestational diabetes?
• How would I know if I had gestational diabetes and how is it is it diagnosed?
• What is the treatment of gestational diabetes?
• Does gestational diabetes go away?

Hair and beauty

• I have my hair permed regularly, but recently the perming solution has produced an allergic type reaction. Do other people with diabetes have similar problems?
• I’ve been told I can’t have electrolysis because of my diabetes. Why not?
• What is the problem with waxing and diabetes? I need to know exactly what happens if you have diabetes and were to wax?
• My health club has refused to let me use their sunbed and sauna. Do they know what they’re talking about?
• I have a very dry scalp and sores. Are these caused by having diabetes?
• I would like to get a henna tattoo but I was wondering if they were safe for people with type1 diabetes?

Hypoglycaemia

• I have recently started taking insulin and have been told by my doctor that I may experience hypoglycaemia. What should I do if it does?
• What causes low blood sugars?
• Is low blood sugar dangerous?
• Whenever a special occasion or something stressful happens, my husband’s blood glucose levels go out of control. Usually they go very high but sometimes they drop very low. Do many people experience similar problems?
• I have read about hypos happening during sleep. What would happen if I had a hypo while I was asleep — would I wake up?

Insulin

• If you take a blood test before a meal and it is found to be low, say 3.5mmol/l, what should you do about your insulin injection? Should you still take it or could it be dispensed with since the blood glucose reading is low?
• My father has been diabetic for around 30 years. He's had to change insulin from animal insulin to human insulin at the discretion of the hospital quite a few times. Last one he was on worked really well for him. He has many highs and lows and can he not go back to his original insulin?
• During the initial years any warnings of a hypo came when my blood glucose dropped to 3-4mmol/l, but during the last few years it could go as low as 1.5mmol/l before I felt a warning.
• What types of insulin are accessible in Ireland and how much do they cost?
• How long will insulin last when out of the refrigerator?
• What is the best way to bring insulin abroad?
• I have injected bolus insulin instead of basal ie Lantus tonight - what should I do now?

Medical services

• I have type 2 diabetes and I am returning to live in Ireland from the UK. Is there any state help with the costs of prescription drugs for people with diabetes?
• My GP has been looking after my diabetes (Type 2) for two years and I am not happy with the care I am receiving. Is it possible to change my GP? If so, how do I go about it?
• My G.P has been looking after my diabetes and other medical conditions for the last five years. Should I not have had a hospital appointment to see a specialist. My neighbour has also just been told she has diabetes and has to go to the hospital for a full medical.
• My elderly mother visited her GP with what she thought was a kidney infection but was diagnosed as having 'mature onset diabetes' by her GP who took blood and urine samples. My mother now has to wait 6 months for an appointment to see a specialist. She has never been overweight but had lost two stone in weight prior to her diagnosis and looks terrible. She feels awful and is very upset at having to wait 6 months for treatment as her GP has given her absolutely NO ADVICE or information (he is very old) - I would be most grateful for any help or any suggestions?

Pregnancy

• I have diabetes, can I still have a baby?
• Do I need to tell my doctor that I am planning on starting a family?
• My boyfriend is recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Do we need to take any special care to conceive?
• Does diabetes affect your fertility?

Sex and sexuality

• Could you explain what is meant by erectile dysfunction to me and what causes it?
• Does type 2 diabetes affect sexual drive in men? If so, how can I improve my sexual drive?
• There appears to be a lot of information on diabetes and men's sexual drive and ability, is there any information on women and diabetes. Is there a loss in sex drive, with the use of insulin?

Tattoos

• If I have diabetes can I still get a tattoo?

Travel

• Do you have any specific advice about travelling long haul with children?
• My son is at university and will be going to study in another European country for third year. How will he obtain his insulin and other medical supplies?
• I am planning my holidays and will need to take my blood testing equipment. Somebody has told me that it is dangerous to put a blood glucose meter through the X-ray machine at the airport. Can you clarify this for me?
• I am travelling abroad later this year for the first time since being diagnosed with diabetes. My concern is about how to keep my insulin cool at all times.
• Does passing insulin through the x-ray scanner at the airport affect the insulin? I never used to put my insulin through as I was advised not to. But on a recent trip I was told if it didn't go through the scanner I couldn't take it with me.
• I am planning my holidays and wonder what I need to do for my diabetes?
• I have never been in an aeroplane before and I am concerned that I will not receive a meal that will be suited to my diabetes. Should I get in contact with the airline about this?
• Will I get free medical cover and drugs as I do now if I go to live in another European country - I am not yet at retirement age
• I am travelling to the states for the summer where I am going is 7000 feet above sea level, will this increased altitude affect the accuracy of my blood glucose monitor or my insulin pump? Will the altitude also affect my blood sugar levels?