Old habits die hard...

Hi all,

After my most recent checkup at the hospital, even now after all this time, I'm still breaking old diabetic habits but they've taken other forms I think since I started DAFNE.

One example is over correcting. I was a right pest for that - so much that, before DAFNE, I was often "boomeranging" up and down. To be fair, I had no idea that correcting within 24 hours after a hypo often would lead to another hypo at that time... but once I did know after doing the DAFNE course, it was a hard habit to break because of my strong... could call it "phobia" of being high (10+ BG).

I've managed to break this vicious cycle, but I think the over correcting cycle still goes on even now... but in a different form.

I'm regularly in contact with my DAFNE team and they often tell me (because they see me posting on here) that I'm very good at advising others but I don't seem to apply it to myself as very well. I put this down to me often putting others before myself but also the fact that I can be very impatient with myself. I can also be rather prideful, in the way I have trouble asking for help myself.

I have found that DAFNE escalates this because I've been known to see it as "I have the tools now, there's no reason for me messing up now!". Of course, I give myself a reality check sometimes but there have been times where I get very frustrated (I will be AMAZED if no one else knows what I mean with this)!

For an example of this "other form" of over correcting - I seem to not give myself enough time to work out if my BI is working properly for me. I exercise the 2 day rule for absolutely everything - but I have been told (possibly reminded but I forget!) that I should leave it at least a week before adjusting my BI again. The 2 day rule does apply, but for BI your body needs more time. Makes sense really, but oh well, sometimes working it all out gets a bit cloudy and why I almost always have my guidebook in my bag wherever I go... I just can't remember everything (though I still try )!

ANYWAY - the point of this post was to ask you all, have you had any personal diabetic habits to break? Any diabetic habit walls to break down? How has it been going? Successful or still trying to break the habit even now?

All tips on tackling these old habits are also welcome of course!

I look forward to discussing this with you all. Breaking my old habits (considering I've been diabetic for 21 years since I was 5, I've definitely had some!) has been my biggest issue when it comes to DAFNE I think...

The only Bad Habit that I have shaken is not testing enough. With DAFNE the testing is of paramount importance.
I have not changed my BI too much and I have waited for my BG readings to settle into a pattern before changing anything.

I still over correct, though it depends on how bad any Hypo is.

Oh golly, that's a blast from the past!

I used to barely test at all during my teen years!! Thankfully wasn't stupid enough to exercise the same with my injections! Once I hit about 17, I soon learnt to appreciate the value of blood testing. Looking back, I tend to see that time as my sort of "denial" stage for myself, but I definitely understand even now how frustrating it can be to get your hands clean for yet another blood test!

I can get quite grumpy if washing facilities aren't available and I want to do a test. lol! ;)

Ive been diabetic for only 12 years and I have heard something regarding hypos leading to hypos , but now I have the DAFNE knowledge I cant understand, when all doses are correct, how this could happen.

For example, my hypo procedure would be to test, treat with 20g QA CPs and that would be it, unless there was exercise involved of course or I felt I wasn't coming up. By my next meal if I was above target I would correct, would you not....?

You mentioned over correcting, was this a conscious decision you made.....? Did you know how corrections worked then...?

I assume your on Lantus which takes a good 3 days to notice real time effect, it might help if you switch to Levemir, gives you more flexibility and means you don't need to wait as long to get a grip of things...

In terms of diabetic habits, up until a few years ago when I started DAFNE I was on 2 a day injections, never tested, sometimes didn't inject as I thought no food, no insulin (not knowing about the liver dumping a continuous supply of glucose which needed covering).......so really I would say I didn't have any habits, good or bad, as I didn't really take an interest in my treatment, so now its all good habits, maybe apart from testing to much.........LOL, but Im trying to get a pump.......

(Pardon in advance the multiple posts - on cheap mobile! All tidied up now!)

Not sure how that works with the hypos if things are insulin sound. Im still finding confidence in my doses (being female means regular shifts) so I find hypos are due to exercise, miscalculation of CPs of unroutine foods or a hormone shift. On page 39 of the DAFNE guidebook, it says your insulin sensitivity increases - perhaps your sensitivity increases more than others when you've hypo'd?

Pre-DAFNE and the course of breaking the habit, I was making a conscious decision, though sometimes I took certain action because I wasnt convinced (joys of learning the hard way...). Pre-DAFNE I managed to get the idea into my head that if I was 12BG, I'd take 2QA to get myself down. If I was 14, Id take 4QA. I was living in a guesswork cloud, I didnt understand what my body wanted and often felt that it was up to me to figure it all out. I got it to a point where I was getting great HbA1c (I still remember now how happy I was to be hitting 6 range!) but the boomeranging got too much. I was hungry and tired all the time, Im still amazed now that Im still alive! When I asked about needing help, DAFNE was being introduced to my hospital and so I got asked if I was interested in being a participant. I did try to do DAFNE before the course, but I was adjusting the CP when it came to changing ratio due to a misunderstanding, but doing the course soon straightened that out lol.

Good guess on thinking I am on Lantus - I was, but I was put on Levermir late 2010 (I think it was October)! I appreciate the heads up about the timing difference however has this information come from advice, experience or is it in the guidebook? On this note I think I will add a note about "after BI change, leave it for a week"!

The Lantus information regarding changing doses came from the DAFNE course and then following months on Lantus......cant remember if its in the handbook, maybe in the onset, peak and duration section........

If you o Levemir you can change a dose and record an accurate response to that change almost immediately....


So are you on Levemir on Lantus?

Im on Levermir now (since about Oct2010 I think). I was advised at my hospital appointment last friday by a DAFNE nurse to leave BI changes for 5-7 days. 2 days isnt enough time for your body to adjust to the new dose.

I wouldn't disregard that advice, do it and see the results............... but for example, I was rising overnight, I could add on some units and see the result/success/unsuccessful the next morning.....I think maybe 5 days is a lot, 3 days max for me.....

On some occasions, I really need to work on my overnight testing to make sure it's not a hypo occurring.
Don't you hate it when you have to wake up more than two days in a row to check at 3am?

Hi
I'm the same and guilty of over correcting, especially after hypos, need to key an eye on that now (only did the course last week!) I also wasn't testing much and have done loads more since the course started last week. I sadly feel that at the moment by control is loads worse but really I think it's because I'm testing more!!
I haven't changed my BI but my amounts I take of QA are much more varied now. I used to have an amount I took then I took a bit less or more depending on what I was eating/doing. Now I have no idea of a set amount and it's just worked out on the foods I'm eating, feels very odd and hope I can carry on doing it once I'm back to work.
Michelle