Recent Posts in General Discussion

92 posts found

Jan 1, 2009 Simon 578 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi everyone, when you get signed up to the site take some time to introduce yourself here... I'm Simon and I attended the DAFNE Course in Sheffield in July 2007, and I was diagnosed with Type 1 in May 2006 whilst studying for my finals at university (great timing!). I got involved with development of DAFNE Online after seeing how great it was to interact with other people with diabetes over the DAFNE week, and could see the value of sharing stories/experiences/supporting each other - hence this site! If you want to find out more about me, click my username to the left of this post. You can also add your own 'bio' using the settings link in the top right of the page.

Jan 12, 2009 Brian Trench 17 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Brian Trench 0 topics, 1 posts (view all \| monitored posts) DAFNE Graduate From:Harrogate District Hospital Hi everybody, Following Simon's lead and to test this functionality my introduction is as follows........ I am Brian and attended the DAFNE Course in Harrogate in Nov 2007. I was diagnosed a Type 1 in Jan 68 and have been through numerous dose adjustments and regime changes. My ultimate aim has always been to find a solution to insulin injections. When pump therapy started in Harrogate some 2-3 years ago I rushed to the presentation but found that I had to convert to a basal bolus regime in the first instance. The next update placed me on the DAFNE Course. I have to say it was a real eye opener by placing the carbohydrate/insulin and activity into a realistic framework. All our Course agreed that it provided that fundamental appreciation that had not been given previously. I do still, however, await my turn to move onto the pump program and am advised that I am 'on the list'. I served 33 years in the Royal Air Force as a logistician but at no time did my diabetes affect or impact on my Service career. I was able to travel extensively around the world and even served in both Germany and Australia. Now retired and self teaching my IT skills (and it shows) I remain committed to help and assist others with my diabetic experiences. User since January 2, 2009

Jan 12, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions DAFNE Graduate From: Ashford William Harvey Hospital I attended DAFNE in March 2008. I had heard about it from Diabetes UK and as soon as my consultant mentioned it I jumped at the chance. I have been diagnosed for about 10 years and when I was first diasgnosed I lived in Southampton. The clinic there was full of people in wheelchairs with one leg and that made me vow, it would never happen to me !! I take my condition serously and want to manage it actively. Sadly that doesn't mean I'm always well behaved :-) But at least I know how bad I'm being :-) I believe passionately that all Diabetics should get the chance to have Diabetes education and receive the same help I have with my condition. I'm sure there are many many people missing out on a wonderful experience of receiving education AND finding others like themselves. Hopefully this website will provide a small contribution to achieving this aim.

Jan 14, 2009 Lizzie 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi My name is Lizzie. I attended DAFNE in June last year at St Thomas's Hospital in London. I have been diabetic for 16 years, most of which I spent ignoring my diabetes. I had no education at diagnosis and resented the restrictive regime I was on so I rebelled, eating whatever I wanted. I had not been taught how to change my own insulin so I always took the same set amount. For years I did not take a blood test or see a doctor. I had an arrangement with the chemist where I rang them to order insulin, without involving the doctor. My family never mentioned my diabetes - they didn't want to appear clingy. After university I moved to London and started taking an interest in my own health again. At first I was so scared that all I could do was inject loads of insulin, I was really scared of complications and high blood sugars. I hypo-ed all the time and my emotions were on a rollercoaster. Then I saw a poster in my surgery advertising DAFNE and asked my dietitian about it. I got onto a course and it really changed my life. For the first time I was told after 15 years how to deal with hypos, adjust my insulin and what all the test results meant. And for the first time I met other diabetics - I was not alone. I still struggle with my weight and my blood sugars but now at least I have some more confidence that I can deal with this thing, and do not fly into a blind panic at the sight of a high reading. I am learning every day about my condition, and I want to help others so they do not have bad experiences like mine.

Jan 17, 2009 Phil Child 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hello I am Phil and I changed my life when I attended my DAFNE course in August 2006. I have been a type 1 diabetic since November 1952. (No that's not a mis-type). I hold a Nabarro medal for contending with diabetes for over 50 years. In fact, I have two as Diabetes UK just send you one in a jiffy bag. When my consultant complained that Diabetes UK should have made a fuss and a presentation - they sent me another - in another jiffy bag. Hey Ho! Life with diabetes has changed a great deal since 1952. Initially I remember testing my urine with clinitest (there was no patient blood testing kits available until the 1980s). All my food was measured on a small set of scales, but as Lizzzie says, the regime was regulated by fixed doses of insulin and no in-depth knowledge of our condition. My school days were dreadful. I wanted to play every type of sport, but the consequence was literally spending most of my afternoons in a hypo state. Then along came DAFNE. It has changed my life. I can work out what I am eating and regulate my insulin doses to suit. I still get the odd hypo, but that's usually because I have made a mistake. I cannot blame anyone, or anything else. My HBA1C is coming steadily down so I know I am improving. Slowly but surely!

Jan 18, 2009 Jamie 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Greetings, I'm Jamie. Diagnosed in 1976, and yes Phil, I too remember old days - or at least the old days as we knew them - I've got on tape a documentary on the German invasion of the Channel Islands during WW2, where a local diabetic tells a story of German solidier arriving at his house with some insulin. The soldier's parent apparently was diabetic, and he realised that this was something that could be of use to the local guy - now thankfully, neither of us go back that far, and hopefully none of us will never be in similar situation, but it does bring things home to you. I wouldn't say I fought against my diabetes and I certainly didn't ignore it, but reading some of the texts above, I realise that until the Dafne course, there really wasn't the education available. We had guide lines of what we should be striving to achieve, with test results, and we were taught to recognise a hypo and how to treat it. To carry sugar at all times, to wear a medic alert disk and other such wise adivse, but at the same time, we were told that we had to eat certain amounts of carbohydrates at the same time every day. We had to inject 20 minutes before a meal - and I remember a hightlight of our family holday each year was to dine out with friends towards the end of our stay, but the worry for my parents was, how long the meal was going to take to arrive, once ordered. Should he inject before we leave, should we take the injection kit (for pens were science fiction in those days) with us and then at what point should he dis-appear into the gents to inject. Too soon and he might go hypo at the table, too late and it might have an adverse effect that we know nothing about. Still, I'm here telling the tale, so we must have got it right most of the time. Sick Day rules were something we could have done with - I remember being off school and being my mum being on the phone to the hospital, worried that I couldn't keep any thing down - and being told you just have to break that circle and get some carbohydrates into him. Thankfully things have changed. That said, we had some fantastic nursing staff - like the ward sister who on her day off went to Boots, bougth number of bars of Diabetic Chocolate and made a huge (and I mean hugge) easter egg for the kids who for the first time that year, weren't going to get any Easter Eggs. Again, the parents wouldn't have thought about including an Easter egg in the carb. count for the day, why would they. I think the thing we all have in common is the effect that the Dafne Teachings has had on us. I could do with losing some weight and my main concern now is that I don't abuse the freedom that Dafne has given me, by eating more than I need to, just becasue, in theory, I can. I have to keep reminding myself that just because that little extra or that little cheat won't hurt the blood sugar levels, because I can adjust insulin dose, doesn't mean that it won't effect the blood vessles that allow the heart to be fed. I think as long as I keep it in perspective, it should be good. We discussed the pump on the Dafne Course, probably in a spare five minutes over tea, but I didn't think it was for me, because, and I look to Phil and others for correction, as I understand it, you still have to change the needles once a week or once a month, you can't get it wet and you can't have it dis-connected for more than half an hour per day. What do you do if you like swimming, or water sports - I for example, being a scout leader, go saling and kayaking with the scouts. I'm qualified to drive a power boat and carry out rescue work - so how would the pump fit with my lifestyle?

Feb 10, 2009 Ruth 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi all Iâ€™ve had type 1 for 5 years. I guess Iâ€™ve always taken controlling diabetes fairly seriously â€“ maybe too seriously. Iâ€™d taught myself to carb count before doing DAFNE! I suppose its partly because of the way I was diagnosed. I ended of in intensive care, being treated for ketoacidocis, dehydration and shock â€“ not exactly a gentle let in! Anyway, since then Iâ€™ve struggled on. To be honest DAFNE didnâ€™t change that much for me, but it did allow me to start on a pump (in my area you have to be dafned before you can start pumping) and that has improved things for me.

Feb 10, 2009 Shelley B 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi All, Im 25 and have been type one for 6 years this July. I did the DAFNE course 2 years ago and it changed my life for lots of reasons! I feel DAFNE has given me a brilliant understanding of my Diabetes and although you cannot be on top of it 24/7 it provides you with a lot more knowledge on how to deal with it when things go wrong, such as illness and hypos etc!! I met my good friend Sally on the course, the first diabetic my age I had met! We went on to attend a course through Diabetes UK called 3d and we have since set up a fab group called Circle D, its basically 18-30 yr old diabetics who meet up for support but also we have lots of socials and fun nights out, you can find out more at www.circledrocks.co.uk. I would urge every diabetic to do DAFNE I think its fantastic!! Shelley x

Feb 10, 2009 Nigel C 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hello, My name is Nigel, and I'm a 57 year old DAFNE Graduate from the Pennine Acute NHS Trust course which was held in May 2006. I have been diabetic since I was about 16. Since then, I've relied on doctors and dietitians to advise me on insulin dose and diet. I used to make many changes to my insulin dose, but no matter what I did, I could not improve my control. What a difference DAFNE made! - I didn't think I would get the carbohydrate counting correct, but it soon became fairly simple. I didn't think I would I be able to perform all the blood tests on a regular basis, but I have, and I now l wonder what all the fuss was about. I no longer see diabetes as an illness, but more of a game - the better I play, the lower my HbA1c! Best of all, I'm in control!

Feb 10, 2009 Becky 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi! My name's Becky. I'm 29 & have been type 1 for 21 years. I did the DAFNE course at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral in June 2007. I really enjoyed the course & it's really made me take a more responsible view of my diabetes. I've not been a particularly well behaved diabetic over the years but I've really turned things round since I did DAFNE. My highest HbA1c was nearly 13% but it's now 6.8%. I'm feeling really proud of myself for getting it under control again! Not all of my blood sugars are perfect but most are pretty good. Unfortunately, I've got a few complications although not as many as some people. After all the messing around I've done with my diabetes there was no way I was ever going to get away scott free! I have neuropathy in both feet & some damage to my eyes. Thankfully I was introduced to DAFNE & I can try to prevent these problems getting any worse. XxX

Feb 10, 2009 The Chief 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi Just signed up and am looking forward to exchanging thoughts and ideas. I contracted Diabetes at the ripe age of 25 (after just one year of marriage. I "coped" with things really until I went on the Daphne course in 2003 at The Leicester Royal Informary. Waht a revelation- freedom to eat what and when I liked and keep my blood sugars under control. I take every opportunity to spread the good word to anyone I know with Diabetes. Now the only invention left for some bright inventor is to make a carbohydrate scanner- point it at the food and get an accurate CHO reading- I HAVE A DREAM!

Feb 10, 2009 Widster 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions HI, I'm Paul and aged 38. I was diagnosed with type 1 in Aug 2004. Leicester is one of the leading centre's for DAFNE study and as soon as i found out about the DAFNE course i had my name on the list, about one year from diagnosis. My Hba1c was initially 6.9 but has recently climbed to 7.5 and now down to 7.1. I try to keep on top of things but like everyone other things get in ther way. I sometimes eat the wrong things, forget to inject, take the wrong insulin dose, lazily work out the carbohydrates........ I think it's being human. My main aim is to reduce complications as i work as an Occupational Therapist and i see the results of people who have not, for whatever reason, been able to control their diabetes. I had a recent result of 'background retinopathy' which has caused me to become more focused on my diabetes and has got me over a lazy period where i stopped recording and looking at my results. I think DAFNE is brilliant and i think this forum is just what is needed. I look forward to liaising with others and discussing the the ups and downs of life with diabetes. Well done to those who have made the effort to get this forum started!

Mar 13, 2009 Phil Kane 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi and Good Day from Ireland. My name is Philip K and I have just finished my course which was held in Beaumont hospital Dublin . Many thanks to both Sonja and Emer who were very patient in my many ramblings and questions during the last five days. Been one of the first to register from Ireland it is always great to see that progress in the form of DAFNE is begining to take off and in time people will see this as an imperitive stepping stone in getting educated to what exactly you can do with Diabeties. I look forward to looking throught this site during the next few months/years, Best regards and Wishes Phil Kane

Mar 18, 2009 Amy 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi I'm Amy, I did DAFNE in April 2007 in Norwich. I was diagnosed as type 1 in 2004 at the age of 21. I was studying in America when I became ill and lost a lot of weight but it wasn't until I returned to the UK that I got myself to the doctors and was diagnosed, just in time for my final year of uni! Pre DAFNE I think I rebelled a bit against being diabetic, very determined that I wasn't going to let it affect me to such an extent that I nearly ignored it at times. Since DAFNE I have had far better control of my diabetes and I'm so pleased I had the oportunity to do the course. I also took up running after DAFNE and completed my first half marathon last year, currently training for a 10k in 3 1/2 weeks time.

Mar 20, 2009 Damo 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi Im Damian I am from Penzance originally but now living in London i was introduced to the DAFNE course last March in Chelsea & Westminster. I would like to say how motivational the staff were, and how much Alison and Miranda devote their time and efforts to DAFNE. Its apparent it is not just a job, and that firstly encouraged me on to the course and secondly made me feel comfortable and confident dealing with the change. I found out i had diabetes at 15, and that means next year will be 20 years. I was the first patient my doctor diagnosed, and I will never forget the look on his face when I entered his room at the end of surgery saying I had a drink problem. One way to explain the symptoms of dehydration! A few hospital hypos and one episode of keytoaci.... whatever its called after and DAFNE came along to rescue me. I am one that has found DAFNE not so much of a lifestyle change (as I have always tended to do what i wanted to do), but more of a liberation. I was able to exercise and loose weight, which before was thwarted with hypos dealt with by chocolate indulgence, or standing in front of the fridge until I felt better. DAFNE does mean more of a choice and control - I think the slogan should be "feel normal again". I would recommend DAFNE to anyone who is in need of understanding why there is a need to test. It certainly helps to understand what to do with the results which before were meaningless. Thanks for setting up this group, I had tried myself to do a social network for members on our course and we did manage meeting up a few times, but this chart and graph analysis as well as the forums is exactly what I need to keep me motivated and to better manage my diabetes. Damian.W

May 14, 2009 John 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi Just signed up to Online DAFNE after completing an evening refresher course at Northumbria NHS just last night. It was good to catch up on some mistakes I was making and which healthcare folk had advised wrongly on - or the advice has changed. I think the online diary and course handbook are magic. My original course was a full week at the Wansbeck General Hospital in Northumberland and I'd say i felt very empowered afterwards. It was over 4 years ago so since things have moved on and I've got rusty the evening refresher was a real bonus. Now I can see my out of target BG in bright red in the online diary I'm sure I'll try harder and last night's refresher will help me understand better how to fix it. Thanks to the online team for setting it up John 14 May 2009

May 15, 2009 richard_g 14 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi, I've also just signed up after the Northumbria NHS refesher course. The refresher course was a useful reminder and it has encouraged me to get out the diary again. DAFNE's great as it gives you much more control and freedom and the website is a great addition. Particularly as the latest course notes are now on line. Having had a quick flick through the forums I'm somewhat suprised at some of the news and views being expressed but if the site can bring issues to everyone's attention it can only be a good thing. Hopefully we will get more contributions as more Dafne graduates are made aware of the Website. Richard

May 17, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Richard, I'm glad you are finding the website useful as you say the more graduates we get signed up the better ! All views are welcome both positive and negative. Making all sides aware of issues can only improve DAFNE as a whole and help ensure that those who control it are aware of issues and can hopefully do something about them. Welcome on board !

May 22, 2009 TerryG 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions I'm Terry and a graduate of the inaugural Croydon Dafne course held in May 2007. Diagnosed in 2003, I had the same level of education about the condition that most people get - 10 minutes on how to inject, some fixed doses of mixed insulin and a handful of NHS leaflets on eating for a healthy heart. Before long I was using the internet to solve treatment conundrums and tap the experiences of other diabetics, notably on the ASDUK newsgroup, which has since descended into pretty much of a bun fight, though there are still pearls to be found amid the argy-bargy there. This led to me pushing for basal bolus and to dose adjustment according to carb intake, establishing the appropriate basal level etc. What I hadn't realised is that I was so unusual and that many other T1s had never, apparently, got past those initial fixed doses and restrictive insulins. So, for me, Dafne wasn't the Road to Damascus moment it was for others on the course. But it was significantly valuable in formalising a lot of knowledge picked up randomly elsewhere. And perhaps most significantly, it represented a rubber-stamp the professionals, particularly GPs, accepted, suddenly allowing me to have some sort of recognised input into my own treatment. My passion for spreading peer knowledge led me into online forums and, when one of the better ones was threatened with closure, I became one of the founders of a replacement, in diabetes-support.org.uk. I believe Dafne (or one of its clones, such as Bertie) is an absolutely essential starting point for any newly diagnosed T1. And, as with all such education templates, I think there is huge value in the likes of this forum where shared knowledge can enhance individuals' ability to adjust and refine those principles to meet their own targets and particular needs. I look forward to getting to know you all here.

May 23, 2009 Pattidevans 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hello you lovely people, may I introduce myself please. I am TerryG's partner in the diabetes-support.org.uk forum. I have never met him in person, the nearest we have come in "real life" is a couple of phone calls, but he is a person I respect and he is a firm friend in real terms. I "know" Terry and he has helped me as much as anyone since diagnosis in May 2003. I should really not belong here because I am officially diagnosed as T2 and therefore do not qualify for DAFNE. However, I took oral meds for only 4 weeks before the medics realised they were doing nothing and I was then put on Novomix insulin. Because of my age I was diagnosed T2. I have educated myself, I have managed on insulin alone (with no meds) since June 2003 and achieved an Hba1c sub 6 ever since. I have no hope of a DAFNE course, because although it has now been decided that I am "possibly LADA" but that doesn't qualify me either, perhaps this doesn't matter. I am now on Levemir and Novorapid - soon, very soon, to go onto Apidra as the rapid insulin. What I am passionate about is education for people with diabetes. I am truly passionate about everyone having the best chance they can to manage the disease without complications. Education, education, education. For all people with diabetes, not just T1s but everyone.

May 27, 2009 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hello everyone. My name is Jennifer and I'm 24. I was diagnosed in March 1989 at the age of 5 and so I've been diabetic for roughly 20 years. When I was 20 years old, I felt my control was starting to slip and I couldn't understand why. I think I was doing some form of "counting in a cloud" because I'd say "okay, sandwich is about 4 units" and what not, but it had reached a point where my memory was letting me down or my body was changing now the hormones were calming down (I'm becoming an old lady as the doctor put it haha)..... and so I was introduced to DAFNE. To put it simply, I am so glad I was. I did my course in April/May 2009 so I'm fairly newish. I only had my first post-course check up the other day. Luckily my HbA1c has usually been okay, but with DAFNE, I now have a lot better understanding on what's happening with my body but I still have some issues to resolve... for example, after the recent check up, I've begun looking at splitting my Lantus dose into two injections because it appears to not be working over the 24 hours. Despite issues like that, I do feel I've got my control back again and I'm definitely a lot more confident and happy for it. It's certainly good to see some other people around my age on here too. When I attended my course, I was the youngest by quite a bit with so many of the others having complications that I just simply did not have (nor want to have) and some having many years on top of my little 20 years of experience! I do appreciate the experience though, but it's definitely good to see some similar ages too. ^_^ Another perk about it as well is the fact DAFNE makes explaining to loved ones a lot easier. Naturally my boyfriend is very curious and keen to learn more about my condition so he can help me if I need it and DAFNE has been such a help to us with that. I now have a lot of faith that my loved ones will be able to cope and understand things a lot better now. I love Nigel C's comment: "I no longer see diabetes as an illness, but more of a game - the better I play, the lower my HbA1c! Best of all, I'm in control!" Has inspiration written all over it! <3

May 27, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Welcome on board Jennifer, most of the people on my course had their background insulin split into 2 doses, however most of us were using Levemir. It certainly made a difference to me, but as ever we are all different. It can be a big jump of faith splitting the dose, I just thought I would let you know it has worked for me. I would discuss it with the people that ran your course and or your Diabetes Team and then maybe give it a try. My course was full of people of a similiar age, a fair bit older than you ;-) but not old :-) We all had different issues and also a lot of similiar ones. This is one of the great things about the course, the chance to spend a week with people who understand EXACTLY what you are going though. Slowly it seems the message about this site is being distributed by the different DAFNE centres and so hopefully the site will become more useful as graduates of all ages join increasing the age spread and thus ensuring there are people of a similiar age that can exchange information as well as exchanging views with the whole 'community'.

May 28, 2009 JennyS 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Ooops! - How rude of me, I registered and started posting without saying Hello first. I'm now 59 but 18 in my head and TBH haven't decided exactly what I want to do when I grow up yet. I've been a Type 1 since July 1072 (I meant 1972 but I think I'll leave that; think it must have been a Freudian typo) Anyway someone bought me a keyring in 1990 that says "39 forever" which I still have - so it must be true. A few years ago any control I had took a nose-dive, but then of course like everyone at that time I'd been given the insulin but not the education and was even told by a DSN at the hospital clinic at the very same moment as my Humulin I and S pens were handed over to stop counting carbs, that was terribly old fashioned and I mustn't do it with these new insulins. Well guess what happened to my control after that, guys? After that I had a hysterectomy so went through the menopause - and no-one ever told me that my hormones would affect my BS in the first place - still not a lot of point when I was hitherto using one jab a day of 80u per ml Lente insulin derived from piggy pancreases, eh? Anyway same time as that, I built up antibodies to the old animal insulins, hence why I landed up on Humulin. Anyway I lost my hypo symptoms and nearly killed myself on the M42 a couple of times and had worse control anyway on it than I had ever had with Lente. As soon as I ever heard about Glargine I was begging for Lantus and went onto it and Novorapid as soon as I could. That would be about the same time I started begging for DAFNE - no-one at the hospital clinic, or at my doctors surgery had even heard of it - so eventually I stopped banging my head on a brick wall. I then went down the tubes quite a lot - mental health-wise and BS wise - but no-one ever mentioned that stress causes BS to rise, I just thought I must have built up antibodies again, but all the docs I saw said that defo couldn't happen, so said I was talking rubbish. The inference was always this was MY fault. I was losing weight and mental capability with the constant swings to the 30's and the 2's (and below) and eventually after a couple of years culminating in my thumping a desk and shouting quite a lot, my GP decided to ask me if I'd like to see a DSN. (They had been moved out of the hospital and I couldn't find out where I could contact them) The DSN mentioned a Carb Counting course amongst other things which I instantly put my name down for, but nothing happened for months and months so eventually I literally said Sod this - and did what I swore I'd never do - I Googled for Diabetes! It took me some months to work my way through all the sites and forums and adverts for Miracle Cures - but eventually I found a forum populated by people that gave me some of the education I'd never had and I started to make sense of it all. (Patti and Terry were just two of those people - I was subsequently asked to become a founder member of their new forum and was very pleased to do so) I too had probs with Lantus - it always stung incredibly as I injected it and I seemed to have the choice of injecting at bedtime and being hypo about 5am or on rising (with a high fasting BS) then high again from about 8pm. So I split it. I tied every combination and timing of dose that was possible and nothing worked reliably although I used to get fairly good results after the intitial 3 days, for the next 15-20 days, then it would all come unravelled again. Eventually I just got bored with the totally unequal struggle and actually demanded Levemir, which I got and I have literally never looked back since. I take 11u on waking and 4u in the evening (some time between dinner and bedtime, erring towards bedtime, actual exact timing seems to make very little difference) Small wonder an insulin that releases itself in a level fashion didn't suit me, then! Meanwhile I'd got onto the (BERTIE based) Carbs training course for the following January and using the education the forum had given me, I reduced my HbA1c between the October 2007 when I went onto Levemir and the January 2008 when I went on the course - by 15%. (8.4 down to 7.3) Since then I've had a 'nervous breakdown' and also coped with the stress reasonably well, helped loads by my cyber-friends and my DSN. MY Hb has been up into the 8's again but is recently back down to 7.3 again now and whilst it's by no means perfect 'yet' it is so much better! It's a matter of discovering what your own body specifically does, and at what time of day it does it - we are all completely different and some of us like me are just downright weird - you are sposed to need as much insulin at night as during the day cos your body is really hard at work at night while you're asleep. Clearly mine thinks its perfect anyway so doesn't need to expend nearly so much energy (that's a joke LOL) as the next person's. Yours will no doubt be quite different to mine or anyone else's, so it's a matter of adjusting your basal requirements to fit you personally. And splitting Lantus could well be the very thing that works exactly right for you. I understand that DAFNE will have told you how to do this; they say (I believe) that carb-free meals are the way to go whilst doing this however - if it has no carbs the body will just use protein to convert into energy (or of course into fat if it gets too much, same as excess carbs) BERTIE teaches much the same method - but actually physically missing a meal to do the deed. It is quite simple but you obviously should never never try to adjust all of it for the whole day, in one fell swoop - one meal at a time spread out over however long you need to, I did mine one meal at a time at weekends, made any doseage adjustment on the Monday and tried it for a week at least before I missed the next meal. (Not long of your life anyway in comparison to how much longer you intend to be here!)

May 28, 2009 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Thanks for the welcome marke. I have been on the Lantus BI split dose for the past 7 days (when it was suggested to me, I was fairly confident I would be alright so I didn't hesitate to try it! I'm currently doing 12 at night and 4 at breakfast) and it's been a bit strange but, as you suggest, I have been speaking to the lovely nurses who ran the course I went on and so I'll be adjusting. I'm determined to get it right! Yes, it certainly was a good thing that we all had that similarity through diabetes, though it was most likely other interests that made it difficult. I did enjoy the company of everyone on my course, though I did feel a bit of an "outsider" at times (not really anyone's fault though). On that note, I was thinking this morning if it was a good thing that friendships form from diabetes alone... I don't think it is, but at least with those you know you can give each other advice. I hope to maybe make some new friends here with similar interests.... shall have to see! Haha, I did that too JennyS. ^_^; Luckily I spotted this thread while having a look around after my first post! How good to hear you feel so young! I'm sure you're happier for it! I'm glad that I'm not alone with the Lanus split. I do think my insulin runs out around 2pm when I only did my evening dose.... considering I've not been on the split for too long, I'm still waiting to see how it goes. I hope I have better luck than you did JennyS. We'll see. I have not heard of BERTIE. I will have to research that because it sounds worth at least knowing about. I've been fairly okay with my CP counting so far so I might not look into using it myself. Shall see (again!). It's so amazing hearing all these experiences that I just have no clue of myself. Thank you all for sharing them. Since I don't get to speak to other diabetics in my day to day life, having DAFNE set this site up has been very nice for me (which I get the impression others very much feel the same way).

May 28, 2009 JennyS 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions A number of us from another Forum I belong to took part a couple of months ago in some quite in depth research about why forums for health seem to help people so much. We haven't had the results of that research yet (part-funded by both the dear ole NHS and DUK) but there was certainly no bias for or against Forums that any of us detected during the questioning. However I believe it engenders a sense of community above all else - which is what the courses (whatever they are called LOL) also do rather well. Incidentally I don't think you'll find BERTIE if you just search for that, you would need to go to the Website for Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrinolgy Centre and follow the links from there. (Link is on on the right hand side of the screen if I remember correctly) I was never scared of adjusting my doses - it was just terminally frustrating when I kept proving to myself (by my meter) that I really hadn't got much of a clue. By the time I had got a clue - I seriously wondered how I'd ever managed to keep alive - let alone virtually complication-free - between 1972 and 2008!!! (I have a tiny pin-prick of background retinopathy well away from the centre on one eye that was first noticed by my optician at least 15 years ago prior to retinal photgraphy, at the time my hospital consultant said 'Well he's got better eyesight than me then, cos I can't see it at all !' - the Consultant was quite a bit younger than the Optician AND had the benefit of drops in my eyes too - anyway it's been there just exactly the same every time I've had a photo taken in the last ???? 10 years)