1. Leaving home  or maybe 

2. Are you excited, nervous, scared, happy, feel in control, or out of control, confident, or don’t know how you’ll survive?
Remember your parents will feel the same – if not worse!

3. What do you need to think about?
A new GP
Pharmacy
New friends/flatmates
New lifestyle (job, uni/college)
Lifestyle issues (alcohol, sex, stress, sports/exercise)

4. Continued….
Doing things your parents have done for you: food shopping, cooking, collecting prescriptions, organising clinic appointments, monitoring your diabetes plus… washing, ironing and cleaning etc.
Can you think of anything else? Write it down to remember.

5. New GP/hospital diabetes team
Register with a new GP – this is very important as you will need to get repeat prescriptions. And if you are ill you will need a medical contact.
Think about transferring to a new diabetes clinic if you move town – you can ask your diabetes team if they can recommend anywhere, or ask your new GP.

6. Arranging your prescriptions and supplies
Before you move get a spare blood glucose meter, finger-pricker and insulin pens from your diabetes clinic – just incase you lose anything and have spares.
You may need to start organising your own prescriptions, so find out how to order repeat prescriptions i.e. internet, post, phone
Find a new pharmacy near which is convenient to get to.
Keep an eye on your supplies – make sure you don’t leave it till you run out!

7. New friends/flatmates
Do you usually tell your pals about your diabetes?
If you do, they can give you good support
Tell them about your diabetes – what you have to do (blood tests, injections, CHO counting etc.)
Important they understand about hypos, and illness
If you are going out drinking alcohol maybe mention to them that if you aren’t up by a certain time they could give you a shout.

8. Your new home Are you house-sharing or living on your own?
You need a fridge – for food but also to store your spare insulin in. If the communal fridge isn’t safe get a small one for your room.
Communal kitchens are renowned for food theft!! Even if you get on well with your flat-mates you need to let them know you can’t be without carbs!
Keep an eye on your money for food – remember when your bursary or wage is running out you still need to buy food. If you need cheap things remember tins of beans, pasta, bread, potatoes which are carbs that can be jazzed up .

9. Continued…
If you are sharing, you need somewhere secure for your diabetes equipment – unless you really trust your flat-mates. Although remember if you have any parties/nights in, there maybe people you know in your house that you don’t know.

10. Lifestyle activities
When you move out you might start doing some things that are new to you, or that you start doing more…find out from the other sections on the D:UDEs site, or your DSN how to do them safely.
Alcohol
Sex
Stress
Smoking
Sport/exercise

11. Finally….
Remember to keep your parents up to date with your diabetes – they’ll worry if you don’t.
Also remember your clinic appointment – it’s important not to let life get in the way.
The main thing is to get a balance between your life and diabetes control.
Ask your diabetes team for help if you need it 