January 2019 Group Meeting

Group meeting 15 January 2019 - The I-port Device and Dietary information

Mike welcomed 24 people to our January 2019 group meeting. Mike gave out the notices as follows: -

  • Jean, Mike and Malcolm met Broomfield Hospital Charities trust manager, Yvonne Carter to hand over the Bellringers cheque for £1,343. The trust are going to buy a number of items for the Diabetes Centre. The items will be used when running the Diabetes educational courses.
  • Jane Young will be giving us a talk on ‘What is included on the DESMOND and BERTIE courses’ on Tuesday 19 March 2019.
  • We now will be inviting the Alzheimer’s society to talk to us in May. This will be in place of our advertised ‘Bring and Buy’ Sale.
  • Mike asked the audience for suggestions on a diabetes related topic they would like more knowledge on. It is hoped to include any suggestions received in our 2019-20 programme.
  • Recipe booklets are on sale at the back of the room. Each booklet costs £2.
  • Our bi-monthly Bring and Buy sales have so far generated £36 for group funds and have provided an opportunity for each of us to get to know each other.


Mike introduced our speaker, Julie Taplin, for the evening.
Julie has worked for Medtronic for 2 years. Prior to that Julie worked for the NHS as a diabetes dietician for 10 years.

Medtronic manufacture medical devices such as the I-port device, continuous blood glucose monitors, and insulin pumps. The I-port device is used to inject insulin or any other drug into the body. It works by using an inserter device to place a cannula just under the skin. The cannula can remain in place up for up to three days. After that time it needs to be replaced. The syringe is then placed into the canula so that insulin can be delivered. More details of the device can be found at https:// www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance

The device is not available on the NHS. The product is available from Medtronic. A months supply of the device costs £72.

Julie divided the members into four groups. She gave each group a set of cards depicting various foods and drink. Julie asked that we catagorise the items into those which contain carbohydrate or sugar, and those that do not.

Each group placed their cards in the pile they thought was most appropriate. Julie invited the groups to tell her what items they had included in the pile that contained carbohydrate and sugar. Julie provided an explanation to the items that were incorrectly placed.

Julie  asked for names of diets that people had heard of.  Suggestions were, Slimming World, Weight Watchers, the Dukan diet, the 5-2 diet. Julie advised the Mediterranean diet is healthest diet to follow. All diets rely on portion sizes. Julie provided an explanation on what portion sizes for each catagory of food should look like.