Laura Shirley

Butterfly brained knitter , sewer , spinner, Marleydog owner. Retired puppeteer, puppetmaker. No qualifications just life experience.T1D 1987 Libre2, 670g 2019

[Laura Shirley @Loel204]

@itvcorrie And once more you got Type 1 Diabetes wrong. Lack of insulin leads to DKA.
Hypos are caused by too much insulin for carbohydrates consumed.

# Breakthrough Diabetes UK

[noor୨୧ @wottheberry]

i took a 45-minute uber ride home from the airport last night after a brutal, three-day business trip.

i was completely emotionally and physically drained, and my social battery was at absolute zero.

when i got into the car, the driver.. an older guy named kabir.. didn't say the usual "how was your flight?" or turn on the radio.

instead, he just handed me a small, laminated piece of paper attached to the back of his headrest.
it was a literal "ride menu."
it said:
1. *the silent ride* (total quiet, no pressure to talk).
2. *the therapist ride* (if you need to vent about your day, i am listening).
3. *the tourist ride* (i will tell you cool facts about the city).
4. *the radio ride* (we just listen to old jazz and coast).

i smiled, pointed to number 1, and whispered, "silent ride, please. thank you."

he gave me a warm nod in the rearview mirror, adjusted the AC, and drove the entire 45 minutes in absolute, beautiful silence.

it was the most peaceful, therapeutic boundary i’ve experienced all year. i felt my entire nervous system finally reset.

when he dropped me off, i gave him a massive tip and told him, "that menu is a genius business idea. you must get amazing reviews."

He looked back at me and said, "i didn't make the menu to get better tips, dear.

my daughter has severe social anxiety, and she told me that the hardest part of her day is navigating small talk with strangers when her brain is tired.

she told me it feels like running a marathon.

i made the card so that anyone who gets into my car can feel completely safe dropping the mask for a little while."

i walked into my apartment and just sat on my suitcase.

we live in a world that is constantly screaming at us to perform, to network, to be "on," and to over-communicate.

but sometimes, the deepest form of love and respect you can show another human being is just creating a small, safe pocket of silence for them to rest in.

pay attention to the people who give you permission to be quiet. they are rare.

[Partha S Kar 🇮🇳🇬🇧🏏🎥 @parthaskar]

An appeal to @ScotGovFM @AConstance23 @theSNP to kindly reconsider the decision around funding for #T1Diabetes and #Technology 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

We are happy to share data from across @NHSEngland @DHSCgovuk re data, impact and benefits 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

We cannot and should not have variable care across the 4 countries 🇬🇧

Thank you for considering please 🙏🏽

#gbdoc 💙

[iPAG Scotland @iPAG_Scot]

We are hearing of people in Scotland having their pump offer being withdrawn due to the recent changes in funding.

Is this happening to you?

Can you let us know below or via DM.

#GBDoc #T1D #DiabetesChat

[Partha S Kar 🇮🇳🇬🇧🏏🎥 @parthaskar]

#T1Diabetes & #T2Diabetes are not the same overarching 'thing'

Pulling them together into one place-at a policy level- does only one thing

Make people choose priorities-and based on sheer volume and finances?

#T1D will always lose out

Stop doing silly stuff

With thanks

PSK

[Traffic Scotland @trafficscotland]

NEW❗️⌚️06:45
🗺️#A702 West Linton

The #A702 at West Linton is ⛔️CLOSED⛔️ in both directions due to a road traffic collision

🚨Emergency services are en route

🛣️Alterative routes and extra travel time is advised where possible

📣Updates to follow

@SETrunkRoads

[LesleyR @T1_Lesley]

@parthaskar @iPAG_Scot @DigiBeteUK @drpratikc @WilmotEmma @ShivaniM_KC @diabetes_chat @DiabeticDadUK @Tims_Pants @hilarynathan01 @KarenFAddington @Type1Adventures There’s a statement from The Roycal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. https://t.co/le0qw7MUyG

[iPAG Scotland @iPAG_Scot]

Funding is changing for Diabetes Tech in Scotland. It is a step backwards in our care.
#T1D #DiabetesTechCantWait #GBDoc #DiabetesChat

[Lyla's Law @triggersbroom17]

I’m honoured to announce that I’ve been invited to attend and speak to people about Lyla’s Law at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2026 in Liverpool this April.

This conference is attended by over 2,000 diabetes healthcare professionals and researchers from across the UK. To be invited as a non healthcare professional is unprecedented and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity.

I’ll be there to share Lyla’s story, raise awareness of the failures our children face around being diagnosed far too late, and continue pushing for the change that children across the UK desperately need at primary care level. Hopefully by being there can help move us all closer to a future where Type 1 diabetes is no longer initially dismissed as “just a bug”.

This invitation is a reflection of the impact you are all helping me to make, and I know Lyla will be right there with me.

#LylasLaw #TestDontGuess #ProtectOurChildren #diabetes #T1D #fyp

[BEAR Scotland @BEAR_Scotland]

UPDATE: The duration of these works on the #A702 in Biggar is being extended due to the bridge deck being shallower than expected and utilities being diverted or removed. Temporary traffic signals will now remain in place until Friday 17 April.

[Network Rail Scotland @NetworkRailSCOT]

📢 Great news! Network Rail will reopen all platforms at Glasgow Central on Wednesday, 25 March, with all operators and all routes returning.

Here's our route director, Ross, with more info.

@transcotland @AvantiWestCoast @CalSleeper @CrossCountryUK @ScotRail @TPExpressTrains

[Anne Louise Avery @AnneLouiseAvery]

Spring equinox this morning, said Grey Brock to Miss Rabbit over the garden wall, fur starred with plum blossom. And he spoke, they felt the great green swooping feathery rush of life around them; the sweet, soft air and the young fierce nettles in the hedgerows ready for soup and tonics and tea, and the golden celandines in the woods and the tangled swirls of nests in the elm trees and rows of hot cross buns in the window of Fernby's and pink and purple and gold foiled Easter eggs in the everything shop, and the lovely loud ludic sound of the village school down by the watercress beds, where the herons guard the river and the willow boughs trail in the dark glassy water.

[Lyla's Law @triggersbroom17]

Bit of a long one, but another little win for the #T1D Community today. I received a letter from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who have been looking at what more they can do within their remit.
Their National Professional Advisor for General Practice and Deputy Director of Primary Care and Community Services recently met with NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Diabetes and Obesity. The meeting included a discussion on the difficulties with diagnosing diabetes in children and how our GP assessments are
carried out. As a result of this discussion, they are updating their GP mythbuster 1: Emergency care in general practice to recommend that all GP practices should have a blood glucose meter, glucometer strips and lancets to assess a patient’s blood sugar levels, as part of a list of resuscitation equipment readily available. This myth buster will be circulated to all GP providers subscribed to to their provider bulletin. They are also looking at collecting additional national data from GPs, specifically in relation to diabetes.
This was my reply to them:
"Dear Dr Chopra,
Thank you for your thoughtful and compassionate response, and for the sincerity with which you have acknowledged the loss of my daughter, Lyla. It means a great deal to my family and I, that her story continues to be met with such understanding.
I am genuinely grateful for the steps the has already taken since my earlier correspondence. The discussions with NHS England and the subsequent update to the GP myth buster, recommending that all GP practices have a blood glucose meter, strips, and lancets readily available, represent meaningful progress. Knowing that this guidance will be circulated nationally offers real reassurance that awareness and preparedness are beginning to strengthen.
In the spirit of that progress, I would like to express a hopeful request. Given the importance of early detection in preventing tragedies like Lyla’s, I would be deeply grateful if the CQC could consider auditing GP surgeries to ensure that glucometers are not only present, but easily accessible, with in date strips available for immediate use. This small but vital check could make a profound difference in safeguarding children who present with early symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes.
I also appreciate the transparency regarding the handling error in relation to my FOI review request, and the personal apology passed on. While I remain disappointed that the email addresses cannot be shared, I understand the legal framework you must operate within and the reasoning you have outlined.
Most importantly, I want to thank you for taking this issue seriously and for the work now underway. Every step taken to strengthen early assessment and awareness in primary care brings us closer to preventing avoidable loss.
Thank you again for your time, your engagement, and your commitment to improving safety for children across the country.
With hope and best regards,
Mr. John Paul Story
QiC Diabetes – The People’s Award Winner 2025
FdSc Rehabilitation Work (Visual Impairment)"
#LylasLaw #TestDontGuess #ProtectOurChildren #fyp

[Lyla's Law @triggersbroom17]

The Ayes have it 💛💝🌻

Last night’s debate on Lyla’s Law was deeply emotive and, at times, incredibly hard to listen to. Those who spoke shared real, harrowing experiences from families across the UK, families who were dismissed, unheard, and left fighting for answers until their loved ones were finally diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at a critical, sometimes tragic, point.

Three precious lives lost to misdiagnosis were named, Eli, Peter, and our Lyla. Their stories, and the stories of so many others, filled that room with a powerful truth that can no longer be ignored.

The Minister’s response recognised the urgent need for change: better digital flags in primary care, greater awareness, stronger NICE guidelines, and improved training. I’m honoured to be working alongside the DSN Forum, DigiBete, Beth Baldwin and Levi Pearce to help shape some of this training so no family has to walk this path again.

Thank you, each and every one of you, who voted, who wrote to your MPs, who showed up to protest, who stood with us. I’m so sorry I didn’t get to speak to everyone last night, but please know this:

My wife, Lyla, and I are so incredibly proud of all of you.

Thank you for standing with us.

Thank you for fighting for change.

Thank you for helping make sure every family is heard.
#LylasLaw #TestDontGuess

[Lyla's Law @triggersbroom17]

https://t.co/59C6oVA6Lp

[Partha S Kar 🇮🇳🇬🇧🏏🎥 @parthaskar]

So...#internationalwomensday was yesterday...

Why should that stop us from recognising some amazing women from the world of #diabetes today? 🥰

Clockwise from Top Right:

1. Elizabeth Gossett:
One of the first to be treated with #Insulin and a pioneer in #diabetes advocacy

2. Helen Free:
Pioneer of developing #glucose dipsticks for urinalysis

3. Priscilla White:
Pioneer of #Diabetes management in Pregnancy

4. Dorothy Hodgkin:
Deciphered structure of Insulin - the first and only British woman to win a Nobel Prize in Science

Legends- and we owe so much to all x

#gbdoc

[ScotRail @ScotRail]

NEW: Scottish Fire and Rescue are dealing with a fire in a building near Glasgow Central and the station has had to close.

Customers should make their own travel arrangements, as we cannot guarantee that you will be able to complete your journey.

• No services will be able to call at Glasgow Central high level.
• Services are still able to run through Glasgow Central low level, but the station will be closed, and no services will stop there. Please use Argyle Street instead.

[Laura Shirley @Loel204]

Hooray..I've been discharged from care of Hairmyres optometrist. Eye problem detected almost 2 years ago has " spontaneously resolved", so back to Specsavers and routine annual T1D screening.

Thanks to Specsavers, University Hospital Wishaw & Hairmyres and to BCAG for transport.

[South Lanarkshire Council @SouthLanCouncil]

Emergency road closure: North Back Road, Biggar is closed between Kirkstyle and Northcrofts Road until 6pm Sunday 22 February, for Scottish Water repairs on a burst water main. Diversion via Kirkstyle, High Street, North Back Road and vice versa.

[Laura Shirley @Loel204]

https://t.co/Oph6NQCYiG