DAFNE Myths

On the 10th June the Annual DAFNE Collaborative was held. This is the DAFNE get-together of all educators, programme management etc. I was
fortunate enough to be there as a DAFNE User Action Group rep. One presentation that really caught my ear that I can now share with you was
about DAFNE Myths and Misconceptions. If you click here you can read the presentation in PDF form.
Remember it is being said that ALL the things in the presenation are myths. Have a read and post your views here ! Its bound to cause some controversy, which is why I'm posting it here to see what peoples views are.

WOW, good presentation, definitely issue that need raised..........

all of the misconceptions in there to me are not from DAFNE, I dont think any literature connected with DAFNE has resulted in them, maybe some item missed during the teaching process maybe.............

for example from the handbook:

As a general principle:
1 unit of quick-acting insulin lowers blood glucose by 2-3mmol/l. For blood glucose levels above 11mmol/l this rule does not necessarily apply.

This clearly states that with higher BG you may need more insulin to correct, resulting in a higher dose than 4 units.....dismissing the misconception that 4 is the maximum, however it is only a misconception, so misunderstood is all....

This has always been clear to me........


I look forward to hearing what else comes from this..............as there is no doubt myths and misconceptions out there.......

I'm confused about the "High BGLs after a hypo should not be corrected with QA insulin for 24 hrs"... is the "should not" the reason it is a misconception? I don't believe that it "should not be corrected" by QA... however, it was drilled into my DAFNE group to be very wary about correcting because of the increased insulin sensitivity... correcting after hypos was a very hard habit for me to break so to see it stated as a misconception is a bit disappointing.

Others are funny - but also kind of scary because some are a mixture of old general diabetic myths and misconceptions being mixed in with DAFNE rules.... it is very frustrating sometimes the amount of ignorance you can find (especially on the internet).

I do find it particularly interesting about what insulins DAFNE has been designed for! I had no idea (before this and another thread on here stated it).

I wouldn't correct after a hypo, as I would expect my BG to be on target after treating with 1.5-2 quick acting CPs..........

If I had a hypo at 3PM, corrected, had dinner, then went to have some toast before bed, I would correct a high at the pre toast test........as you are now on a totally different cycle of insulin/carbohydrates.....

To me, that principal seems straight forward knowing now what I know about insulin action and digestion etc......

So I would of thought that particular misconception should be in the myth section............

I'm impressed if you've never been over 10 BG after a hypo to not want to take a correction, novorapidboi26.

You say you can correct freely... I'm confused. I know my sensitivity increases when I hypo because even when eating at the same time, I have hypo'd without fail after correcting after a hypo (I have even witnessed 1QA take me down by 9 points of BG during a correction test from 20BG to 11 - how would that be possible if this wasn't true?).

I can't see why my DAFNE care team would mislead my entire group about this correction business either.

I agree with the correction principals you are reffering to, I suppose I am only referring to text book lows as opposed to unforeseen ones when you may be dropping really fast.........

When I am low I correct with 2cps and its usually before a meal, and by the time the meal comes I am on Target..........do you find yourself high after correcting?

novorapidboi26 said:
I agree with the correction principals you are reffering to, I suppose I am only referring to text book lows as opposed to unforeseen ones when you may be dropping really fast.........

When I am low I correct with 2cps and its usually before a meal, and by the time the meal comes I am on Target..........do you find yourself high after correcting?

Hang on "Rapid acting CPs used to treat hypos will not last very long, therefore need to be followed up with slower acting CPs", was just taught this as part of the course last month...so it's not right than?

That is incorrect yes. Sorry to hear you have been taught that. Be sure to use the DAFNE guidelines in regard to hypos because if you need just rapid acting or not is more dependant on when your hypo has occurred.

For example, the most common time when you would not need the extra 2 slow CPs is within an hour of your next meal. To follow the logic that you have to eat extra every time is contradictory of the guidelines (to be honest, I think it's old diabetic hypo treatment logic getting mixed in with the rules).

Rules are here if you want to look without getting your book out! - Particularly note the chart at the bottom.
Hope that clears things up. I know it's tempting to not keep referencing back to the DAFNE book! I soon started keeping it with me in my bag! ;)

marke said:
On the 10th June the Annual DAFNE Collaborative was held. This is the DAFNE get-together of all educators, programme management etc. I was
fortunate enough to be there as a DAFNE User Action Group rep. One presentation that really caught my ear that I can now share with you was
about DAFNE Myths and Misconceptions. If you click here you can read the presentation in PDF form.
Remember it is being said that ALL the things in the presenation are myths. Have a read and post your views here ! Its bound to cause some controversy, which is why I'm posting it here to see what peoples views are.