Phil Ellett was diagnosed with Diabetes in 1995 and has spent many years navigating his way around various healthcare services to get the support and treatment he needed.
Here he tells us his story and how improvements in joined up care and working with the community and voluntary sector have made a real difference to his experience.
“It all started with me experiencing pins and needles and numbness in my fingers which was initially diagnosed as Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. The symptoms continued and I began to feel tired all the time so the GP sent me for some blood tests. Within hours I had a call saying I needed to go straight to hospital as my blood sugar levels with dangerously high. At the time I was over 21 stone and didn’t have the best diet or do much exercise.
"I was referred to hospital and I remember being the youngest person in the waiting room and overhearing some of the elderly patients talking about going blind, losing toes and developing ulcers – it was very frightening. I began a treatment plan and was given advice on making changes to my diet and ways I could increase my activity levels. I tried to learn what I could to educate myself and my family on what having diabetes would me for me and them. It did feel like a bit of a death sentence at the time.”
Unfortunately Phil’s health deteriorated in the first year of diagnosis. He plummeted to 11 stone, his mental health was affected and he wasn’t able to take part in physical activity.
Phil began insulin treatment and was supported by his GP and the hospital in adjusting to this new way of life.
“For me the change of lifestyle is big for a diabetic on insulin. You’re constantly thinking about what you’re eating, always thinking about exercising and trying to keep fit – if I do exercise I need to adjust my insulin, if I don’t I need to eat more. It’s a constant daily and hourly battle with diabetes and balancing the numbers and you have to learn that you don’t always get it right.”
Over the years Phil continued to face lots of challenges due to his condition. He suffered with chronic back pain which affected his ability to do exercise and this impacted on his weight and blood sugar levels. During a routine podiatry appointment was diagnosed with an infected corn and ingrowing tone nail which couldn’t be treated due to his high blood sugar levels. He was referred to a Diabetic Nurse Specialist who reviewed his medication and made changes to help better control his blood sugar levels and weight.
Phil was doing well until covid hit and this had a huge impact on his health.
“Covid wasn’t good for me. All outdoor activity was suspected so I wasn’t able to play bowls and so my exercise went down. I ended up working from home and I live alone. While I had great support from neighbours and family and helped me with getting things from the shop it was still hard. My weight increased and my blood sugar levels went into double figures which is really high.”
At this time Walsall Healthwatch were doing some engagement, on behalf of the partnership, speaking to people who had diabetes and they got in touch with Phil to invite him to join some zoom sessions and share his experiences of living with diabetes.
Through these discussions it became clear that people wanted to share their experiences to help others and wanted more support and advice on managing the condition, medication needs, nutrition and diet information as well as signposting to services.
A peer support group was set up and at each session a specialist joins to talk around a diabetes related subject giving people living with Type 2 diabetes, as well as friends, family and carers the opportunity to learn more about their condition.
It was through this group that Phil learnt more about a new drug that was available and spoke to his GP who put him in touch with a Diabetic Specialist to talk about the possibility of trying the new medication which he has done successfully.
He has gone onto lose three stone and his blood sugar levels are continuing to go down.
Phil said it wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support he has received across Walsall highlighting what a difference joined up care and supported health and community and voluntary services can make.
“My blood sugar levels have come down and everybody at the surgery is delighted with that and I am personally really grateful for the help I have got from these guys because without the peer support group, knowing about the new drug, without Little London Surgery and my Diabetic Specialist, my heath would have diminished and certainly with three stone weight loss for me is a massive benefit to my life and lifestyle. I’d like to say a big thank you.”
