Living With HIV & Diabetes

[George895]

My name is George Rodgers, I'm 54 years old and I've been living with HIV since 1994 and I've been living with both HIV and diabetes type 2 since 2000.

My diabetes was triggered of by antivirals and after having serious problems with those involved in my care because various consultants wouldn't except the fact that the antivirals were making my diabetes worse and nearly killed me. I started a campaign to get better support for those living with HIV and diabetes.

Last year all that hard work paid of with the help of Diabetes UK I was able to launch the first HIV and Diabetes Support Group (H.A.D for short) which I'm the founder and Chief Executive of.

The support group was launched in October of last year (2014) and we meet once a month at a location in London the purpose of the group and the website is to provide better support and to better educate those in our care that living with HIV and diabetes is a totally different then to living with diabetes and that there is more to living with both conditions than just taking a tablet.

Not only do we have to live with the stigma of being HIV but we have to live with the stigma of living with diabetes as well especially as diabetes is seen by many as "the fat persons disease".

Early this year we launched a website hadsupport.uk/ and on 25 April I won a Diabetes UK Supporting Others Award 2015 for my work with supporting others living with HIV and diabetes.

[pauldecle Partner ForumLink]

Hi George,

I have just visited your web site, very impressive, you have started to collate a great deal of information about HIV and diabetes as comorbidities. You mention the difficulties you have had getting some of your medical team to take you seriously about your problems. I hope things have improved for you.

Congratulations on winning your award from Diabetes UK, I am sure it is well deserved.

I see from your web site that you are having a special educational workshop at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s positive patient group on the 2nd of September, I hope to see your there.

Kind Regards,

Paul.

[George895 in reply to pauldecle]

Hi there Paul,

Thank you for your kind words, things have improved. My HIV consultant is interested in the link between antivirals and HIV so much that he has commissioned one of his nutritionist from the Harrison Wing to carry out a study.

I also feel there needs to be better guide lines for people living with HIV and diabetes as living with both HIV and diabetes is a totally different experience to living with just diabetes.

I look forward to seeing you on 2nd September at the workshop.

Best wishes,

George

[Alfredjbennett]

I really enjoyed reading your profile. I am also a diabetic. Mine is genetic my father's side of theach family all type one. I did not get diagnosed with it until about 8 years ago. I was not over weight nor did I eat poorly. The doctors classified me as a type 2 diabetic. For the last 8 years that is what I have been living as. Never really understood why I was having such a hard time controlling my sugars, and why the pills did not work. I went on insulin about 6 years ago. The doctors had me on a slidingood scale. That was until April when the doctor who was treating me for HIV suggested I go on an insulin pump. However the clinic I was going to at the heart time did not have the ability to coordinate with the pump suppliers. So I had all of my medical transfered to University California Davis Medical Ceneter. I finally meet my new endocrinologist on December 4, 2015. When he changed my diagnosis to a type 1 diabetic. He reviewed my medical history plus the information that I had from my father. So, now I have a better understanding as to why the pills, and the sliding scale was not working for me. So I am in the process of getting the pump. I'm working really close with Roche or aka accu-check to get all set up. The pump coordinator I have but me on a different glucometer in which I test my sugar when I eat and the two hours later. The meter allows me to put in carbs that I am eating and then it tells me how much insulin to take. If I am sick or stressed or working out the glucometer will make adjustments to the insulin intake. Since I have been on this meter my sugar levels have dropped significantly. So they will only improve with the pump. Living with the two can be be very challenging. Thanks for sharing.

[George895]

Thanks for sharing. Just out of interest what is the care like for people living with HIV and diabetes in America?

The reason I'm asking is because I'm also the founder of the first HIV and diabetes support group H.A.D Support and we are trying to get better care and support.