The Newsletter All monies of the Friends of collected are the Manx spent on the Isle Diabetic. of Man. The diabetic No monies are support Group sent of the IOM The Diabetic off Island Diabetic ManxDiabetic The Best and most Informative Diabetic Newsletter on the Issue number 31 HAPPY CHRISTMAS Date: December 2010  LEADING FROM THE FRONT Caaryjn Lught Vannin yn Chingys Millish A Charity registered in the Isle of Man. Charity number 894 All monies collected from whatever source will only be used on the Isle of Man for the benefit of diabetics and their medical carers Website:- www.diabetes.org.im e-mail:- [email protected] e-mail: - [email protected] The Group that fights on behalf of the Manx people without fear or favour Secretary of State for Health and our Government model the new Reciprocal Health Agreement on proposals as submitted to the Secretary of State by the Chairman in a letter of 7th December 2009, nine months before signature. Thanks to all the Manx people that helped secure the agreement The Christmas message by the Rev. John Guilford Sailing for the Disabled.

In this issue Health Agreement modelled Health Agreement modelled on Chairman‟s proposal to Secretary of State for Health in the UK on proposal as submitted to Thanks: - Editorial The Christmas message by the Rev John Guilford UK Secretary of State for Sailing for the Disabled An example to all disabled Health by the Chairman in Maintaining front line services th Local news updates:- his letter dated 7 December a)The Home of Rest for Horses b)The Clinic 2009. c) Government loses £29.2 million pounds d) The 999 year lease. Because of the inactivity of our e) Let the terminally ill die Government in achieving a new f) The Theme Park Reminder to all our members and readers of The Diabetic Reciprocal Health Agreement and their Latest cuts in NHS Services for the Manx people negative statements in the Keys and How about a Swap? Cancellation of Human Mixard 30 insulin , the Chairman, wrote to Andy News in brief. Burnham the then Secretary of State for The Next AGM. The Last laugh: Grandma still drives Health in the UK with a proposal that no Important reminder to all those that read The Diabetic of one paid each other any money, and the what you have to do prior and during the next election Important |Notice Chairman spelled out the details of a basic understanding for a tentative agreement for Mr Burnham‟s consideration. We would have said nothing and let the matter rest, but because of their Food to eat in many statements made after the signing, Food to take away and Ministers and Members of Food for thought Government coming out of the woodwork to take the credit, and as they wouldn‟t go Are all available at with Mr Gill‟s proposal of a Select Feegan’s Internet Lounge Committee, with all the work that had 8 Victoria Street, Douglas been done by Mr Rodan SHK and the other five MHK‟s we are left with no Chairman‟s proposals compare with option but to once and for all, set the the final agreement entered into nine record straight, as there were many months later by our Government. people involved in this, other than the The Agreement entered into, according Chairman. (see Thanks Editorial) to the Minister for Health Mr Anderson as Out of the blue the Chairman had been explained to members of Tynwald and informed on the Q.T. nudge nudge, wink which the Chief Minister claims his wink, the previous day that the signature Government had been working was imminent. „incessantly‟ behind the scenes, states: Why was the Chairman told the day 1) “Manx residents visiting the UK before by this prominent member of the will receive free NHS treatment if they Government, when everyone in the media become ill whilst in the UK, apart from had an embargo from the Chief Minister Statutory charges which the UK residents that HE would announce it himself the have to pay, such as prescription next morning at 9.30 a.m., and the charges”. Chairman had no embargo put on him the 2) “UK residents visiting the Isle of previous day? Man will receive free NHS treatment if The Minister for Health Mr Anderson they become ill whilst in the Isle of Man, in the grip of ecstatic euphoria sent a apart from statutory charges which Isle of round robin to all members of Tynwald Man residents have to pay, such as on Thursday 9th September at 9.02 a.m. prescription charges”. Now, this was mainly word for word The Chairman‟s proposals to the as the contents of the letter that was Secretary of State, on 7th December 2009 sent to the Chairman by the Health suggested, Department of the UK, informing him 1) a) Any person from the United of the agreement and its contents. Kingdom visiting the Isle of Man and any The Chairman had been in person from the Isle of Man visiting the correspondence with Mr Burnham and requiring medical then under the new administration with assistance from a GP is to get it free of the new Secretary of State for Health and charge. Anne Milton the signatory to the 1) b) Any medical drugs prescribed by a agreement in the UK, on the matter of the GP to be treated as if the patient was a Reciprocal Health Agreement for months. local resident and he or she will be However the UK Department of charged accordingly. Health‟s letter to the Chairman includes 2) a) Any person from the United two statements and some comments that Kingdom visiting the Isle of Man and any are interesting. person from the Isle of Man visiting the On the other hand the Chairman of the United Kingdom requiring medical Friends of the Manx Diabetic, without the assistance at any Accident and Anderson fanfare, or Minister Teare‟s Emergency department or hospital is to help at the time, had sent one of his many get this service free of charge. letters to the Secretary of State on 7th 2) b) Any medical drugs prescribed at December 2009, nine months earlier, A & E, to be treated as if the patient was setting out his proposals for a new a local resident and he or she will be permanent Reciprocal Health Agreement charged accordingly. between the and Mr Anderson agreement on Thursday the UK Government. 9th September 2010 The Chairman’s proposals to the 3) “No payment for such treatment Secretary of State for Health Mr Andy will be made to the Isle of Man by the Burnham are in italics. UK, nor by the UK to the Isle of Man”. As the Government said that they did (This clause though taken verbatim everything, let us see how the from the Minister‟s round robin, we think that there is something wrong with it, as it State to give us time in the event of a does not appear to read.) cancellation. The Chairman‟s system similarly 6) This understanding to run initially ensured that no one paid each other any for a period of five years, with an money so much so that he further automatic renewal clause for a further proposed in his letter of 7th December similar period. 2009 at; 7) The Government of the United 3) b) & d) Alternately if the patient Kingdom and that of the Isle of Man to has health insurance cover, it will be paid have a cut off clause of three years notice for by their insurance policy provider, not in the event of either party wishing to that of their respective jurisdictions. terminate the agreement. Mr Anderson on 9th September at 9.02 8) The United Kingdom Government to a.m went on to say; enter into an understanding with the Isle 4) “The treatment of Manx residents of Man Government incorporating the referred to the UK by the Isle of Man will above points and any other safeguards to continue to be paid for by the Isle of Man be mutually agreed, that both Health Services”. jurisdictions may wish to incorporate. But the UK Department of Health in 9) The above to form the basis of an their letter to the Chairman on the above understanding between the United clause also adds (“and is outside of the Kingdom Government and the Isle of Man agreement”). Government. The Chairman was also of the opinion, Amongst other things the Chairman nine months before, that; went on to say; a) The Isle of Man Government will as “As already explained the Friends of heretofore continue to pay for all patients the Manx Diabetic do not form part of the that the Department of Health and Social Isle of Man Government, or speak on Security on the Island sends to the United their behalf, therefore cannot commit Kingdom, furthermore, them to anything. i) They will pay for their travel We only speak for the people of the Isle arrangements to and from the Island. of Man that back us. ii) They will pay for their hospitalisation We firmly believe that the proposals and treatment in the UK. that we have put before you are the right iii) They will pay for their repatriation and practical way forward for all our back to the Island if required after citizens”. treatment. The letter to the Chairman from the iv) In the event of a patient’s death they Department of Health in the UK explains, will pay for the repatriation of the body which our Minister didn‟t include, a and all expenses connected with such further item, item (6) which says, requirements for repatriation. “repatriation is not—and never has The Minister‟s letter to the Members of been—covered by the reciprocal Tynwald ends by saying; healthcare agreement”. 5) “Each party to the agreement can, if Mr Anderson only went up to item (5), necessary, give 12 months notice of but the Chairman covered this termination of the Agreement”. eventuality, in his proposal of 7th The Chairman didn‟t expect everything December 2009 as he proposed, to be the same as his proposals mainly 4) a) Repatriation from hospitals based on previous agreements. between the United Kingdom and the Isle The Chairman is not really very happy of Man and vice versa, will be the with this termination period as it only responsibility of the patients concerned, gives our Government a year to adjust, not that of their respective jurisdictions. and we know how they operate, so he had proposed the following to the Secretary of The patient will require insurance to Tynwald instead of Mr Cannan, on cover for this purpose, otherwise they will behalf of the Manx people, as dictated have to pay for this service themselves. by them at the public meeting, or c) It must be realised that when directly ask Burnham for a repatriation does occur, the Hospital moratorium. Or maybe it wasn‟t him Authority in that patient’s area, whether at all, it was Mr Teare? the United Kingdom or in the Isle of Man When in response to a long awaited that receives the patient will have to report into the relationship between the continue to carry the expenses of the UK and the Crown Dependencies, the UK patient’s hospitalisation. Government is quoted as saying that “the In reality it is just an extension of (3) Isle of Man had appeared to accept the above, as if the patient had been initially scrapping of the Reciprocal Heath taken to their own area hospital. Agreement”. In other words they had In a subsequent letter to the Secretary done nothing and accepted the rescinding of State for Health of the UK the of the Reciprocal Health Agreement. Chairman on 12th March 2010 said, So where was our Government who quote; claimed to have laid the foundations to “In the meantime it is no use getting on the agreement and the moratorium? Who ones high horse and saying again and worked „incessantly‟ on behalf of the again we have taken a decision and that’s Manx people? Was it the Chief Minister? it. Mr Teare? or Mr Anderson? Who all So I would respectfully suggest that according to the British Government we postpone the cut off date of 1st April, „appeared to accept the scrapping of and have a moratorium of six months. the Reciprocal Health Agreement‟ or This would take until 1st October next. could it be that it was Manx people Time enough to sit down and power, that triggered the six months dispassionately review the matter after moratorium, and then the final the election. Agreement. If you agree with this last paragraph The Chairman‟s proposals were fleshed please let me know and I shall inform the out on the proposal of “each pays their Manx Government accordingly. own way” as submitted by Mr John Needless to say your decision is now Houghton MHK in the House and which extremely urgent”. Unquote. at the time as usual, was ignominiously We all know what happened next, at dismissed by the Chief Minister and his lunchtime on 16th March, four days cohorts. later, Mr Burnham made a U-turn, But look at them all now, they adopt rang the Chief Minister directly to Mr Houghton‟s and the Chairman‟s inform him of HIS six months proposals as their own, pat each other on moratorium decision. the back, appear grinning on photos and Wonder where the word „Moratorium‟ claim they did it all. came from? Makes you want to puke into your Though the Chief Minister had been porridge listening to their antics on saying that very morning in Tynwald Mandate. that everything was done and dusted Whatever they may say, the people and there was no hope, he immediately know, and will bring all those that voted claimed the U-turn as his achievement, against them to book at the next election. and Mr Teare quickly fell over himself In particular the Chief Minister, unless and followed him on Manx Radio. he escapes the chop by getting his We presume the Chief Minister must myrmidons to vote him President of have called the public meeting, the Tynwald as their dying swan song. demonstration outside Tynwald, was If they do, he will be in Tynwald for about to put a moratorium resolution the next administration, and those that voted for him to be and that is the removal of an additional will not. This action would be the last nail annual financial allocation given to the in their coffin. Isle of Man Government by the UK In any event it has taken years and Government (typically around £3 months for our Government to achieve a million)” signature to a welcomed agreement that For obvious reasons the Chairman had the people of the Isle of Man as of right omitted to ask for this in his proposal but, were entitled to. was this really what it cost our It was the power of the people that has Government to treat and give UK been evident in pushing this agreement residents medical assistance in our forward. hospitals etc in any one calendar year, Minister Anderson says the delay was when the DHSS Ministers have because of the UK elections, what a load repeatedly said in the Keys and Tynwald of malarkey, they were informed on 1st that they did not even know the costs July 2008, two years before the UK themselves as they did not keep records? election of the cut off date, and where So how was this £3 million worked were they all? out? Nowhere to be seen, except spouting If it is an „identical‟ agreement as negative statements to convince we had before, why has it taken themselves that nothing could be done, and “accepting the scrapping of the over two years to agree and sign? Reciprocal Health Agreement” It is a What „incessant‟ work has good job the people thought otherwise. been involved by the Chief However the signing of this agreement Minister and his Government to does not vindicate the actions of our sign an agreement exactly like the Government at the October 2009 one they had in 1970 and up to Tynwald or what the Chief Minister, th Ministers and Members of Departments 30 September 2010? have said at sittings of the Keys and If according to the UK Tynwald throughout the TWO AND A Secretary of State for Health to HALF YEARS of this sorry saga. the Chairman, it is „identical‟ to All The Diabetic, the Chairman, the six the agreement we had before, MHK‟s that voted with the people, and the people themselves were interested in, except for the UK payment was that the Manx people were properly caveat, what was the problem? covered travelling to the UK as they had Now the Government can claim that always been, hence the Chairman‟s the Chairman‟s proposals and the proposals to the Secretary of State for suggestion for a moratorium to the Health in the UK dated 7th December Secretary of State for Health Mr Andy 2009, and then his moratorium request Burnham and Anne Milton, and the on the 12th March 2010. intervention of the Manx people, the six Incidentally there was another MHK‟s, and Mr Mackinley MP had no statement made by the Health Department influence whatsoever in his U-turn on the in the UK in their letter to the Chairman, moratorium and final „identical‟ which is probably why the Chief Minister agreement. and his mates do not want a Select But no matter, all we wanted was a Committee looking into it, as it claims; permanent extension to the Reciprocal “The Agreement is identical to Health Agreement, and contrary to the current temporary arrangements that moaning and wailing of our Government, ceases on 30th September 2010. There is we got one. only one difference now from the 1970‟s As far as we are concerned, it‟s the when the Agreement was last negotiated festive season, so God bless the Chief Minister, let him believe whatever he people of the Isle of Man, in the UK wishes if that is what makes him think Parliament and the corridors of power. happy happy thoughts, but the people The Chairman would also profusely know best. thank the six MHK‟s that voted for the We would respectfully remind the Chief people at the October Tynwald 2009, and Minister that the World is the colour of who were strong enough to stand up to the glass through which, at any time, he is the Brown Government, when the Brown looking through. Government it‟s Ministers and Members In Tynwald Mr MHK for of Departments had abandoned us all. , wanted the Government to One Member of the Government even appoint a Select Committee to look into went as far as to say in that Tynwald who did what to acquire the new debate “We are aware that certain Reciprocal Health agreement, but this people are going to be hit very hard”. would have shown up the ineptitude, And even though you were going to inadequacy and incompetence of the “be hit very hard” he went and blatantly Government in negotiating, and taking so voted with the government and against long in getting something „identical‟ you. (We shall tell you who he was in the to what they already had since 1970, so in June Diabetic and remind you in the their usual bombastic way, the Chief September issue). Minister, Ministers and Members blasted We congratulate the six MHK‟s for Mr Gill‟s proposal out of the water their constant intervention on behalf of without even a courtesy shot across the the Manx people in Tynwald the Keys bow. and lobbying in the UK Parliament, and Let the Chief Minister continue to ride who felt that their constituents interests on his now mangy and dilapidated and that of the Manx people, were of rocking horse, standing on the same spot, paramount concern and voted to help you. rocking himself to oblivion, except They were also instrumental in pushing fanning the dying embers of his ailing the moratorium and agreement through. Government, and those associated with it, These six MHK are the ones that you and what he, in his own mind, as the only must vote in again. person on the Island believes, is riding to Mr Speaker of the House the people‟s rescue. of Keys. . Reminds us of cartoons of Don Mr John Houghton MHK for Douglas Quixote on Rosinante tilting at windmills. North Mr MHK for Michael We are the Group that leads from the Mrs MHK for front and gets things done. Join us today. Mr MHK for Onchan, Ring (01624) 613702 or Lib Vannin. e-mail [email protected]. Mr Quintin Gill MHK for Rushen The Chairman would also like to personally thank Mrs Edith Quaggin for Thanks her invaluable help, backing and Editorial guidance. Mrs Doreen Smith of Manx The Chairman of the Friends of the Blind Welfare and her staff who were a Manx Diabetic would like to thank all tower of strength, and Mrs Valerie Cottle those that helped in getting a new for her decisive interventions in the press. Reciprocal Health Agreement for the A special vote of thanks must also go people of the Isle of Man, in particular; to Mr Simon Richardson of Mannin Mr Andrew Mackinley MP whose help Media for agreeing to act as Chairman at behind the scenes was invaluable, and for the Public meeting, and for conducting working incessantly on behalf of the the meeting with such panache, efficiency and keeping everyone in their proper An indictment on our Government. place, when feelings were running high Which means that according to the against our Government. British Government, it appears, contrary Our thanks also goes to Mr Theo to what they say, that our Government did Fleurbaay for his contribution at the nothing and accepted the situation. meeting at the head table. It was our Government that rolled over To Mr Eddie Power for his wonderful and accepted what they thought was the background work and all those that sent inevitable. their views to be read out at the meeting The Manx people were the people that and to those that contributed personally got you a moratorium of six months, not on the night. our Government. We cannot forget the many many The Manx people were the people that Groups and Charities that e-mailed the got you the New Reciprocal Health Chairman offering their members support Agreement, not our Government. for the work that was being done on The Manx people were the behalf of the people of the Isle of Man. people……the people that will be A special vote of thanks must go to all remembered for their people power that the people that attended the public got you the agreement you have today, meeting called by the Chairman, and for not our Government. their enthusiastic attendance outside and Our Government once again failed inside Tynwald with the many placards their Manx people. kindly provided by Manx Blind Welfare Our Government members are the staff. elected representatives……elected by you We would also thank the BBC, the to look after your interests, but failed. Television stations across that carried the It is they that voted against you at the story, and in particular Manx Radio and October 2009 Tynwald and cut you adrift, the Local Press for their help and they then wanted to get on the band publicity in promoting and covering the wagon telling the people they did public meeting. everything in a vain effort to be re- Our thanks to the above six MHK‟s elected, but kept falling off their rickety that attended the meeting and to Mr constructed platforms. David Callister MLC who was also there Well done all those of you that offering his support. contributed with your phone calls, letters Last but not least the Chairman‟s and actions that made this possible, special thanks goes to his wife, Jan, because every intervention however small without whose patience and counted, and was one of the important understanding, the meetings, the and mighty building blocks of our great campaign and copious correspondence adventure and our achievement. would not have been dealt with or made The Manx people are the ones that possible. mattered. You were the people, the Manx people The ones that triumphed and stood up that got Andy Burnham to do a U-turn on to be counted, not our Government, and his intransigent stand, not our we will never forget what they did, and Government. what was done to us. Our Government had already thrown in It was people power that carried the the towel, see the Hansard statements day. from that morning in Tynwald, from the Bless you all for your support, and may Chief Minister down. you all have Peace, Health and Happiness The UK report claims and confirms in the coming year. that the Government of “the Isle of Man But next September, at the had appeared to accept the scrapping ballot box, we shall remember of the Reciprocal Health Agreement‟. those that voted against us. The Christmas message by It is a parable about preparation; being ready for Jesus‟ promised return. In the the Rev John Guilford. guise of the bridegroom coming to Here we are once again preparing to „marry‟ his church, Jesus comes late and celebrate the coming of the Christ child. the bridesmaids who have fallen asleep, wake to find that they cannot find their way to the wedding in the dark, so are locked out and miss the party. They need light. They have lamps and willingness, a desire to find the bridegroom, but they lack oil. The lack of oil for their lamps is clearly a simile for faith and Jesus is encouraging

The Rev John Guilford us all to live in the light of faith, so that Jesus will know us when he arrives.

It‟s been an interesting year; certainly a It appears that only we as individuals can build up this oil in our lives so, as this year of change as the world continues to is one party I promise you do not want to come to terms with the effect of the financial crisis. miss, I would encourage you to begin On that score 2011 does not appear to be too much better as the UK building up your stock of oil immediately. Supplies are available at a church near Government cuts begin to bite and we all you and the really good news is that it is wait to see what impact they are going to have, both to our family and friends absolutely free; the best deal of this or any other Christmas! living in the UK and to life here on our beautiful island. I wish you peace, health and happiness this Christmas time and into the New Before, though, you reach for your Year and I pray that you strike the well of handkerchiefs or your worry beads and start crying into your beer, let‟s just take a life in your faith walk. God bless. moment to consider what the Christmas celebrations offer us. They don‟t just offer us a few days Sailing for the Disabled. where we can forget our troubles and Mr David Killey the Chairman for party for a bit; they offer us a time of Sailing for the Disabled has kindly peace and real hope for the future. supplied The Diabetic, at our request with With the gift of the Christmas baby, the following article which we are proud God is cementing his relationship with us, to print. his people, and promising us life with him In his article David points out that; and in him long after the celebrations are “Sailing is one of the few sports or over and the lights and the decorations are activities that can be enjoyed by almost taken down and the offer is of a life really anybody irrespective of their disability or worth living. affliction. Sailors can participate on equal Don‟t forget the celebration we have in terms with able bodied persons. December is about the first coming of Imagine the thrill of sailing for people Jesus Christ. Throughout his ministry who can feel and hear but have no sight, Jesus told us that he would be coming or of sailing a boat at speed even though back to take all those who believe in him they can‟t walk, or of joining in a sport to himself. where deafness or in fact any condition is I have had cause over these past few not a restriction. weeks to dwell on the parable of „The Sailing for the Disabled was the Ten Bridesmaids‟ (Matthew 25: 1-13). I inspiration for a group of people 26 years encourage you to read it for yourselves. ago in 1984, who then had the vision to set up in the Isle of Man a charity run Then in 2004 with a rapidly growing entirely by volunteers and funded entirely membership and generous support from by donations. local commercial organisations and once It set down its principle aim to enrich again the Manx lottery the charity was the life of those in our community who able to purchase Pride of Mann II a have disabilities, irrespective of larger Bavarian to provide conditions whether they are physical, accommodation for 10 people. mental, temporary or permanently The management of the Yacht is impaired. carried out by professional volunteers and The group were driven to do something we operate a Code of Practice which is for people who did not enjoy the level of endorsed by the Royal Yachting health that they themselves had. They Association whose managers believe that believed that a sailing experience was measured against UK national standards, great therapy, providing challenges, Sailing for the Disabled is very much a enjoyment, friendship and fun where each Centre of Excellence in providing a person could find a level of activity that service for the Manx community. benefited them.

Pride of Mann II passing through Calf The crew in sailing gear as supplied by Sound the Charity during a trip to . The safety of all participants is The original venture was to facilitate absolutely paramount. dinghy sailing in Douglas and Port St There is also an opportunity for Care Mary Bay in the summer and with a few organisations and Special Needs children hardy souls at the Injebreck Reservoir in in schools to become involved as group the winter. members. It was soon established that a yacht was The charity is constantly moving more appropriate and funds were raised to forward to serve the Manx community. purchase a 21 ft Sailing Boat named Creg All Skippers and Crew of Pride of ny Baa after the place where Sailing for Mann II hold appropriate RYA the Disabled was formed and met as a qualifications, they are very experienced, group to manage the charity. vetted by the Manx Constabulary and are The support and generosity of the also Awareness trained to help people Manx community allowed the charity to with disabilities enjoy their sailing with grow slowly at first with a replacement their support. yacht a 26ft Westerly “Dunlin” to enable The Charity is also affiliated and disabled sailors to go further afield, and supported by Douglas Bay Yacht Club then in 2001 Manx lottery funding helped and holds regular functions in their to acquire a new German built Bavarian premises which range from marine 37 Pride of Mann which provided a safe environmental talks to musical, quiz and and comfortable yacht to cruise the Irish party evenings for members to enjoy and Sea as well as the coast of the Isle of Man socialise. and could be berthed in Douglas Marina Sailing for the Disabled continues to making it easier for disabled persons to encourage and support people with all board. manner of disabilities and conditions whether or not they are registered Disability is only in the eye of the disabled. beholder, and in your own mind if you Our criteria for providing a sailing or want to be disabled. social experience is very broad with an Stand for your rights, you are not opportunity for Diabetics to avail disabled, it is only others who think you themselves of the charity facilities. are disabled, and it is they that carry their Our membership already has Type 1 disability before them, not you. and 2 diabetics among its number and if Mr Croizon is our example. you would like to know more or just have The Chairman‟s personal slogan, a look at the charities activities and you “I may have no legs, have access to the internet the website is but in my mind www.sftd-iom or just give me a ring, I can outrun and out think David Killey Chairman Sailing for the everyone with just one blink”. Disabled on 627186 or email You can borrow it if you like. [email protected] I would be only too pleased to hear from you and answer any questions you Now that we have got the Government may have”. a New Reciprocal Health Agreement, The Diabetic would like to thank Mr in the New Year we shall be starting a David Killey for his wonderful campaign to have the Disability contribution, and for all the work that the Discrimination Act once and for all Sailing for the Disabled Charity and implemented in the members provide on behalf of the Isle of Man. disabled and the physically impaired on All those who want to join and help in the Isle of Man. this campaign please ring the Chairman on Tel: 613702 or An example to all disabled e-mail [email protected] A quadruple amputee swims the Channel in 13.5 hours. Maintaining front line A few years ago his time would have been one of the faster channel swims of services. all time, yet it is all the more remarkable At a meeting last December with the because Philippe Croizon did it having no then Minister for the DHSS Mr Eddie arms and no legs. He used special flippers Teare, the Chairman of the Friends of the The quadruple amputee completed the Manx Diabetic, as gently as he could swim from Folkstone to Wissant at Cap explained that in his quest to save monies Griz Nez almost twice as fast as his he and his Government could not deplete backing team had expected. the front line services, i.e. The Hospital He was assisted by favourable winds Services, the Police Force and Education. and according to his father, the However as usual, any logical and encouragement of watchful dolphins. practical proposals to any of our Mr Croizon lost his arms and legs in an Government Departments, falls on deaf accident 16 years ago. ears. A pod of dolphins joined Mr Croizon Picasso had his colour periods and our for some of the crossing, his father said, Government has a constant negative „we took that as a sign of good luck‟. period. Mr Croizon‟s team believe his crossing What did Mr Teare and his successor to be the fastest for a disabled swimmer. do? They started by reducing front line So if you are disabled, take Mr Croizon services irrespective of what the long as a beacon of light, hope, and an term consequences are. example for you all to do your own thing, Cutting preventative care just which you can, if you set your mind to it. exacerbates the long term expenditure of the Health Departments, not to mention 9) Standardisation of the working the pain and suffering to the patient. week to 37 and a half hours. The Government emulates Nero and 10) Staff working fewer hours will be goes and fiddles about with the hospital compensated. services, their pensions, running the risk The benefits the above will accrue to of consultants and personnel leaving and patients are enumerated, but we shall not making recruitment a possible disaster. go into them here, suffice to say the We cannot continue to emulate the UK Gibraltar Minister for Health said the deal health department because we are an “is good for the staff and is good for our Island and they have infinitely greater patients and the services that we provide facilities and resources to ours. for the people of Gibraltar”. Whatever meanderings the UK The operative words here are “the Government do only serves to confuse services we provide for the people of our Government more. We must have our Gibraltar” own long term policy and not be in the Something we seem to have lost hands of others. somewhere along the way ourselves on So the answer is to keep our people the Island. happy and interested in their work. The deal was agreed between the Staff, To do so they have to be looked after, Unite and the Gibraltar Government.. have the right complement of staff and If they can do this there, why can‟t we must be properly paid. do it here? Now the Gibraltar Government knows What have they got that we haven‟t? how to do it, they have entered into an Why must we continue to cut our agreement with their health professionals hospital services whilst in Gibraltar they which we ourselves can‟t afford, let alone improve them? emulate, negotiate, or dream of. Either the Gibraltar Government knows The agreement is quite simple and something that the Isle of Man taking into account the recession it is Government does not, or the Isle of Man remarkable, and includes the following. Government doesn‟t know something that The Diabetic understands that; the Gibraltar Government does. 1) The overall package deal to the It is about time that we stopped playing Gibraltar Health professionals is worth about with people‟s lives to save peanuts 24.5% over the next three years. An when we can cut from other areas. increase of one quarter of their It is about time that we did what is salaries. good for the Island and its people and not 2) An immediate increase in a pay just blindly follow whatever the UK NHS deal of 13% backdated to 1st October does, because in the long run it will not 2009. work for us. 3) 5 extra days annual leave. We keep on spending ridiculous 4) A guaranteed 2.5% increase in monies here there and everywhere except pay in 2011, 2012, 2013 worth 7.5%. where we need it most in this time of 5) An attendance related bonus of up priority and austerity, our front line to 2% for the period 1st October 2009 to services. 2010. Incidentally, The Diabetic understands 6) This means up to £500 no sick a Radiologist at Noble‟s has been offered bonus per year. a job in Gibraltar, and he is taking up post 7) Extra duty and responsibility there, to our detriment. allowances to be made pensionable. The Minister for Health in Gibraltar 8) Pay during annual leave will be wants to attract as many of the best calculated on the basis of what the people as they can for their patients. individual would have received had The Financial Sector must work for the he/she been in work. people and they must derive its benefits. If the Financial Sector does not work can‟t afford a pump for a diabetic, and for the people, then there is no point in when it should have gone to the front line having a Financial Sector, not just for the at our hospitals and our patients. sake of the kick of pretending to play However we have the consolation that high stakes poker, which in any event we at least one Member of Department don‟t know how to, are unable to, and just appeared not to know what he had voted to go on freebies. for.

Local News update. The Laxey Clinic. The Home of Rest for Horses. Our Government closes podiatry After spending £213,832 on the Home clinics etc, one in Laxey, to the detriment of Rest for Horses, monies that we can ill of our elderly patients, whilst at the same afford, and could have been better spent time the Government approves the on our hospitals, the Chairman was rung expenditure of £233,000 for the Laxey by a patient on a diabetic pump which Pavilion, how crazy can we get? had broken and was now not dispensing Where are the priorities of the Brown him with insulin, and the Hospital Government at this time of austerity? authorities can‟t give him a replacement-- Doesn‟t the health of the patients of the ------you know, they have no money to Isle of Man come before horses and buy one for him. buildings? Maybe we can send the patient to sit in What is the Government there for if not the Home of Rest for Horses car park or to look after its own people. the Laxey Pavilion or Silverburn when We have lost our way, we have lost our they are refurbished, and he can look out priorities, and we need new people in of the windows and that will bring his Government and in the Keys and sugar levels down and under control, so Tynwald to show the The Chief Minister, that he won‟t have future major life Ministers and all Members of threatening complications that will cost Departments the way……the way out of him and the Health Department dear. the door on stage left. Yet we now find that the Home of Rest for Horses appears to be closed for the Government loses. winter, what a waste of money. In the Government‟s latest annual So where are the 102 cars and the five report The Chief Minister claims The coaches going to park now? Government has recorded a loss of £2.8 Will the Government now make million pounds for the year 2009/2010, alternate arrangements and build another and everyone takes it without batting an big car parking facility somewhere on the eyelid. Island for the winter months to The report also points out that this accommodate the 102 cars and the 5 compares to a profit of £26.4 million coaches somewhere else? pounds the previous year. The organisers of the Home of Rest for Now since we made a profit of £26.4 Horses are now lamenting the fact that million last year and we have now made a they have lost pastures because of the car loss for this year of £2.8 million pounds, park etc, which were more important to how much has the Government lost over them. this period? Now three of their stables The Diabetic What is the real loss? has been given to understand, appear to If my mathematics are correct we be flooding every time it rains as a direct appear to have a short fall from last year, result of the new road. Who will sort this in fact the Government lost £29.2 million out? How much more money? pounds, not £2.8 million pounds as the Well done Ministers and Members for Chief Minister claims. voting this funding through, when we The £2.8 million loss this year and the Why does no one comment on this profit of £26.4 million they made last amazing and horrendous event? year, which they have not made this year Over 45 generations!!! and which is what they are now out of How many people will be living on the pocket and also lost to reach the £2.8 loss. Island in 3010? But with statistics we can call it what You should see the Chairman‟s family we want, especially if lost millions are tree, and that only goes back to 1773 involved. when people started settling in Gibraltar. Incidentally if we are on a losing The number of people from those two streak, why are we spending money like original people living today is amazing, there is no tomorrow, all we are doing is and it is only a 237 year period, not 1000 exacerbating the losses. years. Are they going to leave a little note for So how many people will be living on the incoming Government next the Isle of Man by 3010 when at present September, like the Labour Government there are according to the Chief Minister did, saying “Sorry old boy, but there is 81,000 people here? no money left”. According to research it is claimed Happy New Year. that White Britons will be in the minority by the year 2066. So by the years 3010 The 999 year lease. will there be any true Manx people left? The Government in its wisdom offers More important how many times will the developers of the Bus Station a 999 someone have made millions and millions year lease. and millions at the expense of the Manx Wonder who gave the Government this people, out of the constant resale and fantastic idea? resale over a 1000 years of what used to Has anyone from the Government be the Bus stop. stopped to analyse what a 999 year lease Let us for fun take us back to the year really means to the Island people? 1010 A.D. it‟s half way to Jesus Christ. No one we have consulted with, from Does anyone remember the names of ex magistrates in the UK who have dealt who our family ancestors in 1010 A.D. with land disputes and many others have were? heard of a 999 year lease, so this appears Could they have been fighting with to be a first yet again for the Isle of Man, William the Conqueror in 1066 or maybe and will win them a place in the Guinness Harold? If William had been given a 1000 Book of Records, well done. year lease it would still be running today. Let The Diabetic respectfully point out Magna Carta was 800 years ago. that this lease commits over 45 45 or 50 Generations, Oh dear!!! generations of Manx people to a 1000 Or maybe those who agreed the deal, years into the future before the lease will be administering all this themselves, comes to an end. maybe they hope to become bionic and A generation, according to Wikipedia live the 1000 years with constant is around 20 to 22 years so we are using mechanical transplants………….the the top figure otherwise it would be 50 Bicentennial Man times five. generations. Maybe by the year 3010 when the lease No wonder no one wants to take up the comes to an end, we may be holding our 99 year lease at Summerland when our Tynwald and Keys meetings in a Government glibly gives others a 999 spaceship hovering over the Island, year lease. having taken off for the sessions from the Why spend money in getting a 99 year Cosmonaught Orbital Space Station at lease from now on, when if you wait, for Ronaldsway. peanuts you can get a piece of good real The song “In the year 2525” by Zager estate for a 1,000 years. and Evans springs to mind. Let us remind ourselves of some of the SUNITINIB for this person, why his words, “In the year 2525 if man is still department chose to go against those alive and woman can survive……..ain‟t recommendations when there is a possible gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies, chance of prolonging this persons life? everything you think do and say is in the And Question; pill you took today” and that is only half 2) Why his department is refusing to of the lease. finance SUNITINIB medication which The Diabetic thought you, the Manx may help people suffering from cancer to public, might like to know what the prolong their lives? Government Ministers and Members of We shall not go into the details of the Departments are up to and are getting the answer by Minister Anderson on behalf Manx people into. of the compassionate Brown Government, But then again we really can‟t his Ministers and Members of complain that we don‟t have a Departments, because they don‟t merit progressive Government with far argument, except to say that the Minister reaching aspirations for the future, staffed explained that there was no money to with forward planning politicians. treat patients with life prolonging Anyway none of us will be around by medication, yet Tynwald had down for the year 2525 let alone 3010, so who approval that sitting millions of pounds to cares? be spent on the refurbishment of Hey idea! why doesn‟t our Government buildings etc. Have we now gone stark hold a séance and call on Methuselah who raving bonkers? was born in 687 after the creation of Mr Anderson admitted “these drugs Adam and lived for 989 years, only ten offer a possibility of an extension of life, years short of the proposed lease, (maybe but usually at a very considerable that‟s where they got the idea from), and expense”. maybe Methuselah can give our Ministers So, Mr Brown, questions? Our some pointers as to what it could be like members want to know, to live for 1000 years. “How much is the prolongation of In any event it‟s mind boggling, in the life of one Isle of Man resident 1,000 years time the Bus Station and worth to your Government”? whatever may have been built on it, will Is your Government now putting a in all probability be just another price on extending life? insignificant archaeological dig, and Is your Government now practicing people with more sophisticated metal Euthanasia? detectors than we have today, sounding What do we do now accelerate their for treasure trove. deaths? Do we just sit back and let them die? Let the Terminally Ill Die. What kind of a compassionate There were two special questions in the Government do we have? October Tynwald when it convened after Someone who shall be nameless once the recess, and though we have dealt with said “let them eat cake” and they lost this in detail in our last Diabetic we have their head. no option but to bring it up again. Mr Anderson, The Chief Minister, The Questions were to the Minister for Ministers and Members of Departments Health Mr Anderson, on life prolonging will lose their seats. drugs for terminally ill patients, they read; Again what and where are our 1) Further to the Information priorities? provided by the Department about a We follow everything the UK does and constituent suffering from cancer implement it here, well; The Chancellor confirmed in the UK including letters from medical specialists th in the UK who recommended the use of Parliament on Wednesday 20 October that a cancer drugs fund was being set at If a Diabetic deliberately stops taking £200 million a year. This, to treat their insulin, they will eventually go into terminally ill patients. a coma and die. If we follow everything they do, what Does this mean that they have are we doing about it here? Nothing, we committed Euthanasia because they have let our people die prematurely whilst we withheld their life support medication and refurbish buildings and build car parks. directly caused their death? If the UK are going to look after their No, so what is the difference? terminally ill patients, why can‟t we do The difference is that if you do it the same here? Or do we follow them yourself, you withhold your own life only when we can save monies at the support medication and die, it‟s not expense of the Manx People? Euthanasia it is suicide, but, if somebody In the UK the scandal of terminally ill deliberately withholds drugs on your patients being denied drugs because behalf, or does it for you, under whatever NICE decides they are too expensive will pretext, the present law says it is murder. end, as NICE is being stripped of its As nobody appeared to be able to powers to ban life saving drugs on the answer the question at the meeting, NHS for terminally ill patients, Ministers maybe some Advocate will kindly ring in the UK have announced. the Chairman on (01624) 613702 and Instead the £30,000 ceiling for drugs to confirm or deny his hypothesis. extend high quality life will be scrapped. And if the patient dies because our Do we have a ceiling here? If so are we Government withheld life support drugs, scrapping it here, have we already can the family take our Government to scrapped it, or have we never Court for causing the premature death of implemented it to save monies? the patient by deliberately withholding So what is our Government now life prolonging drugs against medical going to do here who blindly follow advice? NICE because it suits them? The Diabetic thinks it would cost the It will not be life as we know it, Jim. Government considerably more than the Are we going to be the only Nation in £1.1 million paid by the NHS in out of the civilized world to let our terminally court settlement compensations ill people die without life prolonging announced in the October Tynwald. drugs? The offshoot of all this sad story is that A Lady as reported in the UK press the questioner is also a Member of the who was terminally ill, was given three Government, someone who supports the months to live and was put on the drug Government and their actions. AVASTIN, she is now in remission into It stands to reason that if he is a her fourth year. Member of the Government, then logic If she had lived in the Isle of Man she dictates he must agree with Government would have been dead four years ago. policy, and Government policy is to The Chairman once again asks the withhold life prolonging drugs. same question that he asked of the So The Diabetic asks, what is the speakers at the Legion Hall on the Debate purpose of the questions if the questioner on Euthanasia. is in agreement with the policy of the “Is our Government by their action answer that he is about to be given? of deliberately refusing life prolonging Because, if the answer he is about to be support drugs already practicing given is put to a vote in the Keys or Euthanasia by withholding life Tynwald, he would have to vote with the prolonging drugs and accelerating the Government and support the answer to patients death when the medics say withhold life supporting drugs, or lose the otherwise”? membership of his department. Conversely if he doesn‟t agree with the ridiculous can our Government get, we Minister‟s answer and his own are now past the point of being a laughing Government‟s attitude on the terminally stock. ill by asking the question and arguing the After much deliberation the answer, then he must resign. Government has now issued a Report Otherwise he should shut up and keep claiming that a Theme Park would not be toeing the line, and stop playing to the viable in the Isle of Man—but there is gallery to be re-elected. potential for a small-scaled theme What is the point of asking the question attraction. (Incidentally this won‟t work if at the same time he is also supporting either so save your money). the Government‟s answer that he is being Someone should buy out our given? Government‟s comedy act and put it on Let us once again remind him that he T.V., it would make riveting viewing and forms part of, props up, and belongs to a break all audience records. Government whose current policy is to When the Chairman came to the Island withdraw life supporting drugs from the in 1978 he tried to set up a Dr Who terminally ill and let them die, and by exhibition under the Castle Mona. This association he must also support it as a was at the height of the tourist industry, member of the Government, otherwise he all the boxes ticked until we discussed the must resign. So again why ask the „spectator numbers‟ box, then his friends question in the first place? at the BBC explained that the population The same applies to other members of of the Island and the visitor numbers were departments on subjects the Government a non starter and said, „forget it there is is intransigent in, and they have to not enough people to make it viable‟. support whatever answer they are given. Thirty two years later the situation is Democracy at its most pitiable. worse. If the Government had asked the The Theme Park. Chairman he would have told them so, for Mr Waft MLC suggested in Tynwald free. that the solution to our island problems How much has this cost? Money that was a Theme park with Thomas the Tank should have been put towards running our Engine. Hospitals and prolonging life, or giving (We have dealt with this in a previous this young man the insulin pump he needs newsletter). to control his sugars, not cutting hospital However we have no money for our services and facilities. front line services, we can‟t afford life Incidentally, there is no need to apply prolonging drugs for the terminally ill and for the very lucrative post of what would the Brown Government withholds them be an excessively highly paid Manager‟s and lets the patients die, when his own position for the small Themed Attraction, Minister admits “these drugs offer a as The Diabetic has been given to possibility of an extension of life”, which understand, that the Government has won‟t look good in a court of law. already short listed two applicants for the Our hospital services are being cut, we post………Goofy and Dopey. can‟t afford to give a diabetic a diabetic pump to control his sugars, so what do we Reminder to all members do? We ask the Operators of Dunes and readers of The Diabetic. Adventure Island in South Shields to look Just a short reminder to all our into the possibility of a Theme Park being members and readers of The Diabetic that viable on the Isle of Man. though you may now have a Reciprocal Any infant school child would have Health Agreement in place that the people told them it was not viable. How got the Government, and all medical bills will be taken care for you if you fall ill in He says “It is incumbent upon me” no the UK, this does not mean that you are it is incumbent upon us all to vote him high and dry and in the clear. out at the next elections. You will still need repatriation cover So the following vaccines will no just in case you fall ill whilst visiting the longer be available from the NHS for UK and have to be brought back to the travel purposes unless you pay to cover Island by air ambulance. yourselves. If you have no repatriation allowance Typhoid then you have to foot the bill yourselves, Diphtheria which would be considerable. Hepatitis A Similarly if you die across, then Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B and without cover for the repatriation of your Hepatitis A/Typhoid body, your family will have to pay for it Whoopee, now those who won‟t or themselves. who can‟t afford to get immunised can So make sure that you and your get all the above when they go on children have these two types of cover holiday and bring them back, and the before you venture to the United NHS will put them in Hospital and pay Kingdom on holiday or on business. through the nose to make them well Also if you do go outside the United again, if they can. If not, the NHS will Kingdom, ensure that you have these two have to pay for their life long types of cover in addition to full medication. Great idea to save money. insurance cover for the countries you are What has happened to common sense, visiting, so always be prepared. to proper far reaching advice and most The Diabetic is not trying to frighten important to preventative care in the lust you, we are just making sure that you to chase the „identification‟ of that elusive understand the practicality of going on dollar, when we have millions available holiday or business outside the Island. to refurbish buildings and build excessive As the Chairman always maintains, if car parks but not to look after our own you are diabetic, “you may be on holiday people? but you take your diabetes and your Again where are our priorities in this disability with you, and contrary to what time of austerity? you may believe, your diabetes is NOT on holiday, neither is your disability”. So take care out there. As the Government appears not to know the definition of certain words, here is the verbatim Collins Dictionary definition. Latest cuts in NHS Services Priority:- the most important thing that for the Manx people. must be dealt with first. Mr Anderson has announced in a press Austerity:- reduced availability of release that certain vaccines for travel luxuries and consumer goods. purposes will no longer be funded by the Health Department, as from 1st December 2010. How about a Swap? If you want to be vaccinated to go on Now that the Department of Social holiday, you will now have to make Care has decided it is a good idea to arrangement with your GP who will introduce a stealth tax on our poor old charge you for doing this service for you. senior citizens who are in nursing homes, Mr Anderson also says that you must which is blatant discrimination on those be aware that on top of the cost of the in nursing homes, we thought we would vaccine, a fee may be charged by the GP. give the Member a better idea for him to implement, which would be more beneficial to all our senior citizens. So how about a swap? A Minister in the UK has proposed that Lets put all the senior citizens in Jail, inmates should be presented with a menu, and the Criminals into nursing homes. already dubbed „Porridge a la carte‟ This way the seniors would have which will offer a variety of meals. access to the most up to date facilities, This is taken from a sample menu hobbies, and walks. proposed by the UK Prison Service. They would have constant video Evening Meal monitoring, so they could be helped Grilled Salmon instantly, if they fell in their cells, or Vegetable Lasagne needed assistance. Halal Chicken Curry A guard would check on them every 20 Prawn Salad. minutes, and could help them bring their Jacket Potato meals, and snacks to their cells if they Peas/Swede/Salad wanted to. Black Forest Gateaux They would have family visits in a Fruit/Yoghurt/Ice Cream. suite specially built for the purpose. As soon as this comes into operation in They would have access to a library, the UK our Government will immediately gym, spiritual counselling, pool, and fall over themselves to embrace it here as education, simple clothing, shoes, we shall have to follow the UK. slippers, P.J.‟s and legal aid, all they have If our senior citizens went to jail they to do is ask, and the advocates would be wouldn‟t have to sell their house and their instantly there to fight their corner, at no many other assets to pay for their stay. expense to them everything on the Hope the above makes the Member for taxpayer. the department stop and think again about They would have private secure rooms his constituents and his Department‟s for all, en-suite loo facilities and an Stealth Tax. exercise outdoor yard with big gardens. As the Member claims, experience in Each senior citizen would be supplied public life is essential to be re-elected, but with a Television, Radio and daily phone then The Diabetic is of the opinion you calls. don‟t need much political savvy or There would be a board of directors on experience to be re-elected to play hand to hear their complaints and Monopoly. instantaneously act. Just pick up the card which says, go to The “criminals” on the other hand Jail, do not pass Go, do not collect £200, would go to the nursing homes. and swap them. Live in the one room, have to sell all their assets and pay some £2,500 per Cancellation of Human 30 month to stay, and have no hope of ever M i x t a r d I n s u l i n ? getting out. st Crime would fall dramatically. As from 1 of January 2011 next, Novo Alternately the Member for the Nordisk will be withdrawing the supply department can give each senior citizen of Human Mixtard 30 Insulin. the option of going into a nursing home The Chairman of the Friends of the selling all their assets, be discriminated Manx Diabetic was approached with the against by being stealth taxed and paying information by the Insulin Dependent for their stay themselves, or going to jail Diabetes Trust who are based in and the Government picking up the tab Northampton. and paying everything for them. Jenny Hirst the Co-Chairman tells him They say there is more money that the withdrawal of this type of insulin allocated to their meals in jail than if the will affect 90,000 patients in the UK who old dears were in hospital. are on Human Mixtard 30. The Diabetic would like to inform our members that if any of you are on this insulin your should consult your GP or Increase in diabetic patients the Manx Diabetes Centre so that you can Our reader in Rochdale Mr Terry be switched to an alternative. Marston writes to inform us that the We understand from very reliable number of known diabetics in Rochdale sources that there appears to be some 30 has now risen to a staggering 9,282, but patients who are users of Human Mixtard that as from the year 2015 this figure is 30 insulin on the Island, and that plans are expected to rise to some 12,422. afoot to resolve this important issue. This is an expected increase of some In addition the innolet device will be 25% in diabetics in the area, a discontinued. The innolet is used by tremendous and unprecedented increase. people who have hand movement and/or Preventative care must be the order of visual problems so in future this the day. vulnerable group of people will require We on the Isle of Man are not immune help with their injections and they will to these type of increases and we must be lose their independence. vigilant with the anomalies now being Novo Nordisk have already removed imposed by our Minister of Health Mr Actrapid in cartridges for pens, so it is Anderson in an effort to save monies, and now only available in vails. we must not allow him to withdraw any Also Novo Nordisk has changed their preventative care that we have in place mixtard 30 insulin in cartridges for pens, and which has taken us to long in fighting and are now issuing disposable pens for the benefit of the Manx Diabetic. instead. If you want any further information go Diabetic drug approved to website:- You lose some you gain some. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/withdra A drug that could help most diabetes wal-of-mixtard-30-from-the-uk-market/ sufferers stabilise their blood sugar levels has been approved in the UK. It appears that a daily injection of News in Brief. Victoza would benefit Type 2 diabetics Diabetes Drug Banned linked to obesity and an inactive lifestyle. A diabetes drug that is said to raise the Type 2 diabetes affects 90% of risk of Heart Attacks has been banned in sufferers. the UK. The drug works by stimulating release The drug taken by some 100,000 of insulin and reducing appetite, and is Britons has been banned. taken with other diabetes drugs. European safety chiefs took Avandia off the market, three months after the Artificial Pancreas, will it work? committee responsible for drug safety in Professor Joan Taylor of De Montfort the UK called for it to be withdrawn. University of Leicester has developed a Avandia first came into the market ten device equivalent to an artificial pancreas years ago as a new way to reduce blood that could put an end to the daily sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. injections that diabetics endure to regulate But there has been mounting concerns their glucose levels. over it‟s safety record with many critics It would be implanted between the claiming that watchdogs should have lo west rib and the hip and topped up with acted much faster in banning the drug. insulin every few weeks. The suspension of the drug from the Professor Taylor and her team hopes to market means that doctors can now no move to clinical trials within the next few longer prescribe the drug. years, and if these are successful the If you are on Avandia please see your device could be available in five to ten Doctor. years.

The device has no moving parts or I was feeling particularly sassy that day batteries and would not be visible on the because I had just come from a thrilling surface of the skin. choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. The Light that tests your blood sugars. So I bought the sticker and put it on my A technique being tested at the bumper. Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boy, am I glad I did, what an uplifting the United States works by measuring experience that followed. glucose levels in a fluid found just I was stopped at a red light at a busy beneath the skin. intersection, just lost in thought about the It is a Computer programme than Lord and how good he is, and I didn‟t instantly calculates glucose in the blood notice that the lights had changed. stream. It is a good thing that someone else It is a light source that detects blood loves Jesus, because if he hadn‟t honked sugar levels by simply shining onto the I‟d never have noticed. skin. I found that lots of people love Jesus! This could mean an end to finger Whilst I was sitting there the guy pricking tests for all diabetics. behind me started honking like crazy, and Researchers are presently working on a he leaned out of his window and desk top devise to be used by doctors to screamed „for the love of God, Go Go Go check patients. Jesus Christ Go!‟ However they hope that they can What an exuberant cheerleader he was eventually condense the technology into a for Jesus! small gadget that diabetics can carry with Everyone started honking! them. I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. Next AGM. I even honked my horn a few times to Just a reminder for you to put into your share in the love. new diary for 2011. There must have been a man from The next AGM of the Friends of the Florida back there because I heard him Manx Diabetic will take place at St yelling something about a sunny beach. Andrews Church Hall Douglas, St I saw another guy waving in a funny Ninians, Glencrutchery Road, on Tuesday th way with only his middle finger stuck up 29 March 2011 at 7.30 p.m. in the air. We look forward to seeing your there. I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant. The last laugh He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Grandma still drives. Well, I have never met anyone from We must thank Libby for sending the Hawaii, so I leaned out of the window following to Dr Alison Blackman, who in and gave him the good luck sign right turn sent it on to us. back. Because it is the festive season we My grandson burst out laughing. though we would include it in this Why even he was enjoying this quarter‟s Diabetic. Here goes; religious experience!! By the way, Grandma is eighty-eight A couple of people were so caught up years old and still drives her own car, she in the joy of the moment that they got out writes: of their cars and started walking towards Dear Grand-daughter, me. The other day I went up to our local Christian Book Store and saw a „honk if you love Jesus‟ bumper sticker. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what The following MHK‟s voted against church I attended, but this is when I you and for the Teare proposal for us to noticed the lights had changed again. go it alone, and they abandoned us all. So grinning, I waved at all my brothers The motion at the October 2009 and sisters, and drove on through the Tynwald as presented by Mr Teare intersection. contained the following; I noticed that I was the only car that got a) That from April 1st 2010 the payment through the intersection, before the lights of any NHS charges incurred by Manx changed again and felt kind of sad that I residents visiting the UK is an individual had to leave them after all the love we responsibility. had shared. In other words we wash our hands of So I slowed down, leaned out of the you all, the people are all on their own, window and gave them all the Hawaiian you pay for your health problems or if good luck salute sign one last time as I you can‟t, then get insurance. Whatever drove away. they say to the contrary, the Government Praise the lord for such wonderful folk. and Members of Departments abandoned Will write again soon darling you all, a) above is what they voted for. Love and kisses Do not be intimidated by them saying Grandma. you need experienced people in Thank you grandma for such a Government, because they have already wonderful and uplifting letter on this proved that they will abandon you at the festive season. drop of a hat, experience or no God bless you all experience. Keep them coming. Cut this out and put it on your fridge door and when they come to your door Important reminder to all tell them you are not voting for them our members and readers of anymore, and take no lip from them. The MHK‟s that voted what you have to do, prior against you, and you should and during the next election. The Diabetic must remind you that if not vote them in again are. you want to vote at the next election you must be registered to vote, so check and Mr Tony Brown MHK Chief Minister make sure that you are registered. Castletown. It is no good saying I don‟t want them He voted against you back in again, because they have done Mr Teare MHK nothing for the people. He voted against you To get out The Chief Minister, Mr Earnshaw MHK Onchan Ministers and Members that voted against He voted against you you in the October 2009 Tynwald, you Mr Quayle MHK Middle must exercise you right to vote. He voted against you Vote for anyone you fancy on the Mr Malarkey MHK ballot paper but them. He voted against you However if you are not registered you Mr Cretney MHK Douglas South will have no vote. Then there will be no He voted against you point in blaming others. Mr Waterson MHK Rushen We must all have a vote and exercise He voted against you our vote to make sure that we do not elect Mr Quirk MHK Onchan those that voted against us back in again He voted against you. by default. Mr Crookall MHK Peel So please check that you are on the He voted against you. voting register. Mr Anderson MHK Glenfaba He voted against you. Don‟t be put off by them saying „If Mrs Craine MHK Ramsey you get rid of us you are going to get She voted against you. inexperienced people‟ or by Mr Bell Mr Bell MHK Ramsey telling us not to rock the boat. He voted against you. Well they were inexperienced when Mr Corkish MHK Douglas West they first got in. But now they are He voted against you. supposed to be experienced, look at the Mr Shimmin MHK Douglas West mess they have got us into, so it can‟t He voted against you. be any worse, but with new people it Mr Gawne MHK Rushen could get better. He voted against you. Remember what the British Mr Bill Henderson MHK Douglas Government has said about our North Government: - He walked out of the Chamber so that he did not vote for you. “The Isle of Man Government Whatever they tell you take it with a appeared to accept the scrapping pinch of salt, this is the vote that the of the Reciprocal Health Chief Minister‟s proud of, and kept on quoting as the Tynwald authority, not Agreement” theirs for what they did. They all claim it was Tynwald and the British Government, not any of the The time has come to above, their easy way out is don‟t blame us, it‟s not us, it‟s Tynwald and afflict the someone else, Have you noticed that some of them comfortable and are already asking lots of questions so that you notice them and get them re- comfort the afflicted. elected. And only you can do Already the Government was defeated with a twelve/twelve vote with the that at the ballot box. Speaker giving a casting vote. This is the beginning of the end for the Government. This means that as the election nears they will continue to defeat the IMPORTANT NOTICE Government to ingratiate themselves with The Chairman would like to dispel all you. Pay no attention to this ploy. rumours that now that the Isle of Man They keep intervening in constant is 5th in the Space Race, supplementary questions to let the people he has set up a fund to buy Mr Brown, know they are still alive. They have been Mr Teare and Mr Anderson a one way putting out „Up-dates‟ and holding ticket to the moon, surgeries, are on Manx Radio constantly so that they can set up their own telling you what they are doing and how unique style Democratic Government well they are doing, and some even on the Sea of Tranquillity, saying how wonderful they are by cutting and co-opt all astronauts that land on their salary, like Mr 10%. the Moon as members of departments. Pay no attention to them, they are only The Chairman has already turned playing to the gallery so that you vote down many substantial offers, so please them in again and they are re-elected. do not send any money for this non Well, it is time to give them the heave existent fund. ho. Thank you.