Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Feb 23, 2015

hypo 18 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

I use the carbs and cals all the time it is available as an app and has more foods on that as it keeps updating new ones.

Feb 23, 2015

Debcj75 4 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

I bought the carbs and cals app but didn't really use it. I prefer the my fitness pal app. Especially with the barcode scanner, although you have to be careful as occasionally the barcode is in fact for a different product.

Feb 23, 2015

David Hales 12 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

Thank you for the quick reply. I think I'll invest!javascript:emoticon(' Confused

')

Feb 23, 2015

Vickyp 137 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

I use the carbsandcals almost every day, but haven't really used the DAFNE app. The carbsandcals gives you pictures so it makes it much easier to guesstimate the carbs compared to just a specific amount if unable to weigh etc

Feb 23, 2015

David Hales 12 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

Is the carbs and Cals app any better than the DAFNE app for carbs? I don't want to waste Â£3.69 :>)javascript:emoticon(' Very Happy

')

Feb 23, 2015

dunkers7 24 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Traveling: Storing Medication

As long as you can keep the stored insulin relatively cool you should be fine. Personally I choose not to put the insulin in a fridge after flying long distance as it would have been out the fridge for a while by that point.

Your insulin should *not* be stored in your main luggage when you travel, because if it goes in the hold it would freeze and become ineffective.

Finally it's also worth considering how you're going to handle the time zone difference. When I was flying over to the US recently, I took on a few shots of QA and delayed taking the BI for a few hours until we got to 7am US time. On reflection, might have been better to just stick to UK time when getting there as it's harder to inject when there's turbulence!

Feb 23, 2015

Samantha San... 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Traveling: Storing Medication

Hi, I was just wondering regarding these Frio packs... This might sound silly but I just wanted to make sure. I'm going to stay in a hut for 3 days in Thailand and I just wanted to double check that you literally keep soaking the gel packs now and again while i'm there? This is just as good as storing your insulin in the fridge? Also, whilst you're in the these hot climates do you tend to keep the insulin you're using at the time cool too? As i know it's meant to be room temperature. Thanks

Feb 22, 2015

Crystal_Clear 4 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

Oh, forget the scanner meters for just now. Stick with the sticks, focus on average BG levels.

Feb 22, 2015

Crystal_Clear 4 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

Thank you for feedback. The price of sticks has always been a bone of contention as far as I am concerned. I use Freestyle, 50 sticks in a tub. I was offered a leaflet advertising the new Freestyle Libre meter at the DAFNE course. There are other companies selling meters which scan. This type of meter would be ideal, but for the fact the sensors are so expensive. I am tired of the daily scourge of testing so I thought to write to these companies to make inquiries about the price. I will certainly have a discussion with my DAFNE educator at the review session.

Feb 22, 2015

Vickyp 137 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

I use the freestyle too as they are the only strips compatible with the omnipod pump PDM! I don't see why you couldn't get more on prescription if you speak to gp, originally I got 4 boxes which I could just about stretch out to cover a month but told them I test upto 10times or more a day (which I do depending on activities/hypos etc) so could I get 6 boxes and there wasn't the slightest issue....all she said was 'you're poor fingers!'

Feb 21, 2015

TimE 2 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Can you download to a Blackberry

As a new DAFNE graduate and a Blackberry user, can I add my request for an app. I know that Android apps can be packaged for the BB - my HSBC app is a case in point.

Feb 21, 2015

TimE 2 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

My surgery tried to restrict me to two tubs a month, but have not done so since I pointed out that not only did my consultant require me to test 4-6 times a day, but that also the DVLA required me to test before driving.

Feb 21, 2015

Vickyp 137 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

I test 8+ times a day on average, so a box of 50 only lasts around 5-7days, my gp happily gives me 6boxes a month.

Feb 21, 2015

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

Tricky issue! How many strips in a tub? My One Touch Ultra strips are 50 to a tub, and I use 6+ every day (meals, exercise, driving, hypos etc) which means a maximum of 8 days (and usually less than that) per tub. The there's the needles issue - should we use a new needle for every injection?

The key issue is that good diabetes management is not only good for you & me personally, it saves the NHS loads in the long run. I think that unnecessary scrimping on strips, needles etc. is very much a false economy. A GP practice might feel that there's money to be saved by encouraging someone with type 1 to test less frequently or use needles more than once, but with the advent of CCGs the funding for the hospital treatments ultimately will come from the group which they are part of!

Stew

Feb 20, 2015

Crystal_Clear 4 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks!

hi, I recently graduated and now am going through a tub of freestyle sticks within 10 days. this is expensive for my gp's pratice. I noticed the abbott meter which scans is Â£450 on ebay. this is a lot of money. I said to my gp I would ask my educator at the review in 3 weeks time about this issue. could you be good enough to advise me on what I can do and how other diabetics using the dafne system cope with this. thank you.

Feb 19, 2015

dunkers7 24 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / exercise

Figured that an example should be included to put the above in context. So here's the diary for today.

Feb 19, 2015

marke 681 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Test to send Robs BG results to James

Hi, you have sent EVERYONE you data Very Happy

If you look in help in the Diary pages it will explain how to share your diary with specific users rather than posting it in the forums.

Feb 18, 2015

dunkers7 24 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / exercise

Is there a place you can feedback on what you find useful to manage BGs during exercise? Hopefully by posting here it will help someone...

I was used to seeing a very big drop in blood glucose levels when going out running, starting exercise on a blood glucose of 15 mmol/l and finishing on a blood glucose of 5 mmol/l was not uncommon. Eventually got to the point of actually accepting that the pre-exercise blood glucose had to be a higher than desirable to avoid hypo, just couldn't seem to start off under 12 mmol/l and NOT hypo, I was already reducing insulin and maxed out on how many carbs I could take on during the run.

Now I'm trying a different approach which is over and above the usual advice of reducing insulin and taking on more carbs.

If exercise is close to a meal time, I've started doing the exercise before the meal instead of after it. At first I'd expected going out for a run on an almost fasted BG would be a recipe for a hypo, but it wasn't. It actually seems to help because it (at least partially) isolates one of the things likely to cause a blood glucose drop: the QA insulin.

I initially found out when deviating a little from my normal routine by running before dinner. My blood glucose didn't drop as much as I expected it to. Tried it a number of times now, and consistently I've found the same pattern - the blood glucose drops are less. Basically it means I'm finally able to start exercise on a lower blood glucose, and with less risk of a hypo.

Readings around a 45 min run last night were:

Before - 6.9 mmol/l (took on 2 CPs)
After - 8.1 mmol/l

Maybe it's unconventional, and not quite DAFNE, but it seems to work!

Feb 17, 2015

Abling22 1 post

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Pineapple

I know pineapple is low GI. Does this mean I should inject half the insulin for it. I do seem to go low after injecting the full amount.

Feb 16, 2015

RobPowell 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Test to send Robs BG results to James

Hi James just seeing if I am able to send you my data
Rob

Feb 15, 2015

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Driving and blood glucose testing

I think it is because we have a "number" and it is easy to quantify a number. Other conditions are less able to specify an exact "number".

I am happy with "the 5 to drive' although sometimes it means I catch the bus to school with the g'kids as we will be late if I wait for the BG to come up to five, I like real food rather than the gels etc so it takes about 10 mins. I am fortunate in that I get silent migraines at about 4.2 in the awake hours. For me it is very reliable as a warning. On a pump and get <3% readings below 4 and most are in the middle of the night. I wake at about 3.7. Never had the need for any help...god bless silent migraines!

Went to the theatre the other day, after the show realised I was heading low (silent migraine) tested and it was 4.5 so I HAD to have a gourmet vanilla bean ice-cream ..it was delicious and took about 10 mins to savour. BG 5.1 and able to drive.... Bonus!

Helen

Feb 15, 2015

Donnellyboy 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / English v. Scottish Diabetes care

I'm in Scotland (West Lothian), I've been Type-1 diabetic since I was 11 and I've never used my GP surgery as my Principle Care Team - it's always been a diabetic clinic at the local hospital. I started off at a hospital clinic at the Sick Kids in Edinburgh, then moved to my local hospital when I was a teenager and been there ever since.

Due to complications from not taking proper care of things when I was younger, I get seen every 3 months at the clinic, can email/phone them regularly, & they have both doctors and nurses as part of the clinic team. I can even pop in to see them on the off chance, and as I ended up living next to hospital sometimes I even just pop in to have a chat with my nurse who's been looking after me since I was 15.

I've had 3 different GP's surgeries over the years due to moving home, and had some pretty horrific experiences in getting normal GP appointments/scripts filled etc, so the idea of changing my care team over to my GP and relying on them and their availability to take care of my diabetes, especially with the complications I've caused with it would terrify me Sad

. Whilst my new GP seem to be really good at general medical care, they admitted to being relieved I was part of the Clinic as it took the responsibility off of them & they didn't have the expertise/resources to provide the level of care I would need to support/manage my diabetes. My other 2 previous GP's were of a similar opinion.

IMO the level of support/care I get through the clinic setup I have is 2nd to none, a dedicated team of diabetic focused specialists, whether it be consultants, nurses, dieticians, psychiatrists etc will always trump a GP run clinic, whilst it may 'cost' more, provided the patient is willing to listen to the advice (unlike I was in my 'youth') given, then the savings of a healthy diabetic over a poorly controlled one should surely be a no-brainer to any bean-counters in the NHS?

Feb 15, 2015

Donnellyboy 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Driving and blood glucose testing

@HelenP - I know when I queried this the response I was given by the DVLA regarding 'hypo's was/is:

"A hypoglycaemic event that required the assistance others to resolve".

Essentially the 'mild' hypo's most of us tend to go through where a quick corrective CP here and there isn't an issue, if you however are having regular hypo's requiring the use of hypo-stop gel, glucagon or where you need help from others to treat it as you're not fully in control of your own faculties are their primary concern. They'll also check with your diabetes care teams if they feel it's necessary to see if you've reported any loss in hypo-sensation, and if you are testing regularly, and if they believe you'd be a risk on the roads.

It still beggars belief for me that the rule is '5 to drive' Rolling Eyes

, I become aware of being low at pretty much 3.6 dead on, and wouldn't drive at that point, but at anything above that I feel no different than I do at 5.0 or above...I know it's to account for any small drops in BG as you're driving but recently, because I've been having low BG's in the AM, I'm having to get up 1 hour early to test my bloods and then correct with 1 or 2cp's just to make sure I've been 5.0 or above for more than 30/40 mins before driving...it's ridiculous! There are plenty of other medications/conditions out there that affect peoples ability to drive and put other drivers/pedestrians at more risk that aren't monitored by the DVLA, as much as I agree that that our licences require extra considerations before being issued, some of the archaic expectations the DVLA set really need to be reviewed, or at least the playing field needs to be levelled to include all medications/conditions to be subject to similar limitations/restrictions IMO.

Feb 15, 2015

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE MONITORING DIARIES

David, Assuming you're asking about printing data entered into dafneonline, then the capability exists under the DAFNE Tools option on the top line of the site, providing you're signed in. In there you can select the date range to view online or to export. The export offers XML, CSV and PDF formats. For printing the PDF version should give you what you need. Personally I export to Excel in CSV format and have a spreadsheet to reformat the data so that meals are aligned as I find it easier to interpret the data like that.

Feb 23, 2015 hypo 18 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? I use the carbs and cals all the time it is available as an app and has more foods on that as it keeps updating new ones.

Feb 23, 2015 Debcj75 4 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? I bought the carbs and cals app but didn't really use it. I prefer the my fitness pal app. Especially with the barcode scanner, although you have to be careful as occasionally the barcode is in fact for a different product.

Feb 23, 2015 David Hales 12 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? Thank you for the quick reply. I think I'll invest!javascript:emoticon('')

Feb 23, 2015 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? I use the carbsandcals almost every day, but haven't really used the DAFNE app. The carbsandcals gives you pictures so it makes it much easier to guesstimate the carbs compared to just a specific amount if unable to weigh etc

Feb 23, 2015 David Hales 12 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? Is the carbs and Cals app any better than the DAFNE app for carbs? I don't want to waste Â£3.69 :>)javascript:emoticon('')

Feb 23, 2015 dunkers7 24 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Traveling: Storing Medication As long as you can keep the stored insulin relatively cool you should be fine. Personally I choose not to put the insulin in a fridge after flying long distance as it would have been out the fridge for a while by that point. Your insulin should not be stored in your main luggage when you travel, because if it goes in the hold it would freeze and become ineffective. Finally it's also worth considering how you're going to handle the time zone difference. When I was flying over to the US recently, I took on a few shots of QA and delayed taking the BI for a few hours until we got to 7am US time. On reflection, might have been better to just stick to UK time when getting there as it's harder to inject when there's turbulence!

Feb 23, 2015 Samantha San... 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Traveling: Storing Medication Hi, I was just wondering regarding these Frio packs... This might sound silly but I just wanted to make sure. I'm going to stay in a hut for 3 days in Thailand and I just wanted to double check that you literally keep soaking the gel packs now and again while i'm there? This is just as good as storing your insulin in the fridge? Also, whilst you're in the these hot climates do you tend to keep the insulin you're using at the time cool too? As i know it's meant to be room temperature. Thanks

Feb 22, 2015 Crystal_Clear 4 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! Oh, forget the scanner meters for just now. Stick with the sticks, focus on average BG levels.

Feb 22, 2015 Crystal_Clear 4 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! Thank you for feedback. The price of sticks has always been a bone of contention as far as I am concerned. I use Freestyle, 50 sticks in a tub. I was offered a leaflet advertising the new Freestyle Libre meter at the DAFNE course. There are other companies selling meters which scan. This type of meter would be ideal, but for the fact the sensors are so expensive. I am tired of the daily scourge of testing so I thought to write to these companies to make inquiries about the price. I will certainly have a discussion with my DAFNE educator at the review session.

Feb 22, 2015 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! I use the freestyle too as they are the only strips compatible with the omnipod pump PDM! I don't see why you couldn't get more on prescription if you speak to gp, originally I got 4 boxes which I could just about stretch out to cover a month but told them I test upto 10times or more a day (which I do depending on activities/hypos etc) so could I get 6 boxes and there wasn't the slightest issue....all she said was 'you're poor fingers!'

Feb 21, 2015 TimE 2 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Can you download to a Blackberry As a new DAFNE graduate and a Blackberry user, can I add my request for an app. I know that Android apps can be packaged for the BB - my HSBC app is a case in point.

Feb 21, 2015 TimE 2 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! My surgery tried to restrict me to two tubs a month, but have not done so since I pointed out that not only did my consultant require me to test 4-6 times a day, but that also the DVLA required me to test before driving.

Feb 21, 2015 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! I test 8+ times a day on average, so a box of 50 only lasts around 5-7days, my gp happily gives me 6boxes a month.

Feb 21, 2015 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! Tricky issue! How many strips in a tub? My One Touch Ultra strips are 50 to a tub, and I use 6+ every day (meals, exercise, driving, hypos etc) which means a maximum of 8 days (and usually less than that) per tub. The there's the needles issue - should we use a new needle for every injection? The key issue is that good diabetes management is not only good for you & me personally, it saves the NHS loads in the long run. I think that unnecessary scrimping on strips, needles etc. is very much a false economy. A GP practice might feel that there's money to be saved by encouraging someone with type 1 to test less frequently or use needles more than once, but with the advent of CCGs the funding for the hospital treatments ultimately will come from the group which they are part of! Stew

Feb 20, 2015 Crystal_Clear 4 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Too Many Sticks! hi, I recently graduated and now am going through a tub of freestyle sticks within 10 days. this is expensive for my gp's pratice. I noticed the abbott meter which scans is Â£450 on ebay. this is a lot of money. I said to my gp I would ask my educator at the review in 3 weeks time about this issue. could you be good enough to advise me on what I can do and how other diabetics using the dafne system cope with this. thank you.

Feb 19, 2015 dunkers7 24 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / exercise Figured that an example should be included to put the above in context. So here's the diary for today.

Feb 19, 2015 marke 681 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Test to send Robs BG results to James Hi, you have sent EVERYONE you data If you look in help in the Diary pages it will explain how to share your diary with specific users rather than posting it in the forums.

Feb 18, 2015 dunkers7 24 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / exercise Is there a place you can feedback on what you find useful to manage BGs during exercise? Hopefully by posting here it will help someone... I was used to seeing a very big drop in blood glucose levels when going out running, starting exercise on a blood glucose of 15 mmol/l and finishing on a blood glucose of 5 mmol/l was not uncommon. Eventually got to the point of actually accepting that the pre-exercise blood glucose had to be a higher than desirable to avoid hypo, just couldn't seem to start off under 12 mmol/l and NOT hypo, I was already reducing insulin and maxed out on how many carbs I could take on during the run. Now I'm trying a different approach which is over and above the usual advice of reducing insulin and taking on more carbs. If exercise is close to a meal time, I've started doing the exercise before the meal instead of after it. At first I'd expected going out for a run on an almost fasted BG would be a recipe for a hypo, but it wasn't. It actually seems to help because it (at least partially) isolates one of the things likely to cause a blood glucose drop: the QA insulin. I initially found out when deviating a little from my normal routine by running before dinner. My blood glucose didn't drop as much as I expected it to. Tried it a number of times now, and consistently I've found the same pattern - the blood glucose drops are less. Basically it means I'm finally able to start exercise on a lower blood glucose, and with less risk of a hypo. Readings around a 45 min run last night were: Before - 6.9 mmol/l (took on 2 CPs) After - 8.1 mmol/l Maybe it's unconventional, and not quite DAFNE, but it seems to work!

Feb 17, 2015 Abling22 1 post	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Pineapple I know pineapple is low GI. Does this mean I should inject half the insulin for it. I do seem to go low after injecting the full amount.

Feb 16, 2015 RobPowell 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Test to send Robs BG results to James Hi James just seeing if I am able to send you my data Rob

Feb 15, 2015 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Driving and blood glucose testing I think it is because we have a "number" and it is easy to quantify a number. Other conditions are less able to specify an exact "number". I am happy with "the 5 to drive' although sometimes it means I catch the bus to school with the g'kids as we will be late if I wait for the BG to come up to five, I like real food rather than the gels etc so it takes about 10 mins. I am fortunate in that I get silent migraines at about 4.2 in the awake hours. For me it is very reliable as a warning. On a pump and get <3% readings below 4 and most are in the middle of the night. I wake at about 3.7. Never had the need for any help...god bless silent migraines! Went to the theatre the other day, after the show realised I was heading low (silent migraine) tested and it was 4.5 so I HAD to have a gourmet vanilla bean ice-cream ..it was delicious and took about 10 mins to savour. BG 5.1 and able to drive.... Bonus! Helen

Feb 15, 2015 Donnellyboy 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / English v. Scottish Diabetes care I'm in Scotland (West Lothian), I've been Type-1 diabetic since I was 11 and I've never used my GP surgery as my Principle Care Team - it's always been a diabetic clinic at the local hospital. I started off at a hospital clinic at the Sick Kids in Edinburgh, then moved to my local hospital when I was a teenager and been there ever since. Due to complications from not taking proper care of things when I was younger, I get seen every 3 months at the clinic, can email/phone them regularly, & they have both doctors and nurses as part of the clinic team. I can even pop in to see them on the off chance, and as I ended up living next to hospital sometimes I even just pop in to have a chat with my nurse who's been looking after me since I was 15. I've had 3 different GP's surgeries over the years due to moving home, and had some pretty horrific experiences in getting normal GP appointments/scripts filled etc, so the idea of changing my care team over to my GP and relying on them and their availability to take care of my diabetes, especially with the complications I've caused with it would terrify me . Whilst my new GP seem to be really good at general medical care, they admitted to being relieved I was part of the Clinic as it took the responsibility off of them & they didn't have the expertise/resources to provide the level of care I would need to support/manage my diabetes. My other 2 previous GP's were of a similar opinion. IMO the level of support/care I get through the clinic setup I have is 2nd to none, a dedicated team of diabetic focused specialists, whether it be consultants, nurses, dieticians, psychiatrists etc will always trump a GP run clinic, whilst it may 'cost' more, provided the patient is willing to listen to the advice (unlike I was in my 'youth') given, then the savings of a healthy diabetic over a poorly controlled one should surely be a no-brainer to any bean-counters in the NHS?

Feb 15, 2015 Donnellyboy 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Driving and blood glucose testing @HelenP - I know when I queried this the response I was given by the DVLA regarding 'hypo's was/is: "A hypoglycaemic event that required the assistance others to resolve". Essentially the 'mild' hypo's most of us tend to go through where a quick corrective CP here and there isn't an issue, if you however are having regular hypo's requiring the use of hypo-stop gel, glucagon or where you need help from others to treat it as you're not fully in control of your own faculties are their primary concern. They'll also check with your diabetes care teams if they feel it's necessary to see if you've reported any loss in hypo-sensation, and if you are testing regularly, and if they believe you'd be a risk on the roads. It still beggars belief for me that the rule is '5 to drive' , I become aware of being low at pretty much 3.6 dead on, and wouldn't drive at that point, but at anything above that I feel no different than I do at 5.0 or above...I know it's to account for any small drops in BG as you're driving but recently, because I've been having low BG's in the AM, I'm having to get up 1 hour early to test my bloods and then correct with 1 or 2cp's just to make sure I've been 5.0 or above for more than 30/40 mins before driving...it's ridiculous! There are plenty of other medications/conditions out there that affect peoples ability to drive and put other drivers/pedestrians at more risk that aren't monitored by the DVLA, as much as I agree that that our licences require extra considerations before being issued, some of the archaic expectations the DVLA set really need to be reviewed, or at least the playing field needs to be levelled to include all medications/conditions to be subject to similar limitations/restrictions IMO.

Feb 15, 2015 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE MONITORING DIARIES David, Assuming you're asking about printing data entered into dafneonline, then the capability exists under the DAFNE Tools option on the top line of the site, providing you're signed in. In there you can select the date range to view online or to export. The export offers XML, CSV and PDF formats. For printing the PDF version should give you what you need. Personally I export to Excel in CSV format and have a spreadsheet to reformat the data so that meals are aligned as I find it easier to interpret the data like that.