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Living With a Diagnosis

Notes on living with a diagnosis, written after living with it rather than reading about it.

Why pressure climbs in winter: read this before you start
Living With a Diagnosis

Why pressure climbs in winter: read this before you start

Let us set the limits of why pressure climbs in winter first: it reliably improves a clear story at the follow-up, and it does not deliver overnight.…

Desmond HaleDesmond Hale·March 11, 2026·4 min read
Chronic illness and sleep: where most people stall
Living With a Diagnosis

Chronic illness and sleep: where most people stall

Let us set the limits of chronic illness and sleep first: it reliably improves a feel for your medication rhythm, and it does not deliver overnight.…

Rupert SloaneRupert Sloane·March 5, 2026·4 min read
How family can help: three months in this order
Living With a Diagnosis

How family can help: three months in this order

If you only read one paragraph, read this: how family can help depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange the…

Gideon StarkGideon Stark·February 27, 2026·4 min read
Can you stop when numbers improve: three months in this order
Living With a Diagnosis

Can you stop when numbers improve: three months in this order

Let us set the limits of can you stop when numbers improve first: it reliably improves a feel for your medication rhythm, and it does not deliver…

Desmond OkonkwoDesmond Okonkwo·February 21, 2026·4 min read
Building a condition file: cost, time and results
Living With a Diagnosis

Building a condition file: cost, time and results

If you only read one paragraph, read this: building a condition file depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…

Desmond HaleDesmond Hale·September 13, 2026·4 min read
Screening for complications: the light version and the full one
Living With a Diagnosis

Screening for complications: the light version and the full one

Put screening for complications back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…

Rupert SloaneRupert Sloane·September 7, 2026·4 min read
How many self-checks a day: where most people stall
Living With a Diagnosis

How many self-checks a day: where most people stall

If you have already tried how many self-checks a day and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…

Gideon StarkGideon Stark·September 1, 2026·4 min read
Do emotions move the numbers: where most people stall
Living With a Diagnosis

Do emotions move the numbers: where most people stall

If you only read one paragraph, read this: do emotions move the numbers depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…

Desmond OkonkwoDesmond Okonkwo·August 26, 2026·4 min read
Insurance with a diagnosis, from judgement to action
Living With a Diagnosis

Insurance with a diagnosis, from judgement to action

Let us set the limits of insurance with a diagnosis first: it reliably improves a trend you can actually compare, and it does not deliver overnight.…

Desmond HaleDesmond Hale·August 20, 2026·4 min read
Measuring blood pressure properly: six beginner deviations
Living With a Diagnosis

Measuring blood pressure properly: six beginner deviations

Let us set the limits of measuring blood pressure properly first: it reliably improves fewer trips you did not need, and it does not deliver…

Rupert SloaneRupert Sloane·August 14, 2026·4 min read
A home blood pressure sheet: read this before you start
Living With a Diagnosis

A home blood pressure sheet: read this before you start

Put a home blood pressure sheet back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…

Gideon StarkGideon Stark·August 8, 2026·4 min read
Timing blood pressure medication: fixing it point by point
Living With a Diagnosis

Timing blood pressure medication: fixing it point by point

Separate two things in timing blood pressure medication: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the…

Desmond OkonkwoDesmond Okonkwo·August 2, 2026·4 min read
When to check blood glucose: a checklist you can tick
Living With a Diagnosis

When to check blood glucose: a checklist you can tick

If you have already tried when to check blood glucose and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…

Desmond HaleDesmond Hale·July 27, 2026·4 min read
What HbA1c actually averages: six beginner deviations
Living With a Diagnosis

What HbA1c actually averages: six beginner deviations

Advice on what HbA1c actually averages tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience…

Rupert SloaneRupert Sloane·July 21, 2026·4 min read
Recognising hypoglycaemia: three months in this order
Living With a Diagnosis

Recognising hypoglycaemia: three months in this order

Separate two things in recognising hypoglycaemia: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…

Gideon StarkGideon Stark·July 15, 2026·4 min read
The dietary limits of lipid management: set the standard first
Living With a Diagnosis

The dietary limits of lipid management: set the standard first

Most people do not fail at the dietary limits of lipid management from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What…

Desmond OkonkwoDesmond Okonkwo·July 9, 2026·4 min read
Handling a gout flare: a checklist you can tick
Living With a Diagnosis

Handling a gout flare: a checklist you can tick

There is plenty written about handling a gout flare and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done at the local…

Desmond HaleDesmond Hale·July 3, 2026·4 min read
Long-term uric acid control, from judgement to action
Living With a Diagnosis

Long-term uric acid control, from judgement to action

If you only read one paragraph, read this: long-term uric acid control depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…

Rupert SloaneRupert Sloane·June 27, 2026·4 min read
What to bring to a follow-up: is it worth doing at all
Living With a Diagnosis

What to bring to a follow-up: is it worth doing at all

If you only read one paragraph, read this: what to bring to a follow-up depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time.…

Gideon StarkGideon Stark·June 21, 2026·4 min read
Drug and food conflicts: read this before you start
Living With a Diagnosis

Drug and food conflicts: read this before you start

Advice on drug and food conflicts tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience and…

Desmond OkonkwoDesmond Okonkwo·June 15, 2026·4 min read