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Nov 6, 2014
BeccyB 50 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

I think a lot of people would find the change daunting and want to stick to the blood glucose as it's all so new with relatively little knowledge around it. marke has mentioned being in IT as am I so I think we're naturally attracted to playing with the latest gadget Very Happy

At the end of the day it's given us all more choice in how we look after ourselves which must be a positive.
 
Nov 6, 2014
BeccyB 50 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How long do carbs take to 'process'

Thanks guys. Will have to start noting what I'm eating rather than just the carbs!
 
Nov 6, 2014
novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

you have all sold quite well actually........it does make sense about the accuracy of a finger test too.........

 
Nov 6, 2014
marke 686 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How long do carbs take to 'process'

Hi, I think the reason that there is nothing that tells you is that there is no straightforward answer. Everyone is different and food is processed by their bodies differently, so any answer for you may not apply to me and vice-versa. There are also lots of other factors like previous exercise and illness etc,etc, bummer huh ? Life would be so much simplier if it was all consistent and everyone was the same.
The only real answer is experimentation to see how things work for you . The GI will give you some idea but it is a guide not a hard and fast rule.
 
Nov 6, 2014
marke 686 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

why would you do it ? Because there is no better way, you can't test BG continuously in a cost effective manner. You can, almost, do it with these kind of devices. The fact that it may be 10 mins out from your actual BG is largely irrelevant because we can't accurately test BG anyway. All a finger prick does is give you a rough estimate, so why not use something that is no worse BUT lets you view post meal spikes and the general pattern of your BG. I'm not entirely sure why it confuses people, but then I have been lucky enough to be able to use one for two weeks and seen the benefit.

On the negative side, abbott don't see that holding all the data on the meter only as being a problem, they confirmed this to me in an email this week. Personnally I find this amazing and very poor, they might have a great new device but their software support is worse than rubbish in my opinion and is putting me off using the device in the long term. Manybe the next company to release one will be more enlightened.

Lastly the response on injecting near the sensor site was 'I am not aware of any specific research done on injections around the area of insertion of the sensor. It should be discussed each time with a healthcare proffessional each time before injection. It seems to be advisable to inform HCP before any medical procedure that such a sensor is been placed.' Not a very good response in my opinion. Others have praised the Abbott support, my experience is that its not very good at all but maybe I'm asking the wrong questions Confused
 
Nov 6, 2014
marke 686 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Tell them about DAFNE !!

Just added a news item that I would like you to read ! its here
 
Nov 6, 2014
stephenbrowne 37 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

Having been on it for nearly 2 weeks I've found it quite helpful. At times it is within 0.1 mmol/l of the Countour link finger prick result. I find it an advantage that you get a graph as well as an arrow indicating the rate of change of the blood sugar reading , i.e. steady , rising slowly, rising rapidly, falling slowly, falling rapidly. This makes it easy to avoid hypos while exercising as one can take appropriate amounts of rapid release CHO in good time. Usually when sugars are going low I have found the Freestyle libre gives a lower reading than the finger prick so this gives good warning. I have not found the 5-10 min delay much of a problem but I always use a finger prick test before driving or meals.
 
Nov 6, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

We are on the old money so it was 7.6.

I spoke to someone with the CGM and her HbA1c has gone from the mid 7s to the low 6s. She has it on all the time and says that once you get used to it you are reluctant to take it off. Does acknowledge the time difference but says it is the trend function that she really likes. Initially was only going to use it to fine tune the basals but now with the specialist's help is thrilled with the increasingly good HbA1cs. Consecutive days with all readings well within target. Failures with the pump and you are alerted to these much more quickly especially during the night.

My hypos are not a problem as I get "silent migraines" when BG gets to about 3.8 and sometimes as early as 4.2. They are the best sort of migraines and totally reliable as a hypo warning. Tesselation pattern in my L eye graduating to blind spots but no pain.

I also think it is a lot of money but I want to be in better health when I am older!

Helen
 
Nov 6, 2014
BeccyB 50 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

Is a 5-10 minute delay that relevant generally? If I have to get my kit out and do a blood test I would do it before the food was being served so my kit wasn't on the table in the way, with the FGM being easier and less faff I can scan those few minutes later so they are effectively measuring at the same time...

I can see that if you are doing strenuous exercise or something that will cause a rapid change it could matterl but for the everyday stuff my level a few minutes ago is more than enough info
 
Nov 6, 2014
novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

any meter with a delay [libre, CGM], just seems to be confusing for people...............why would you do it.......

these things are good for getting a good basal insulin delivery, what else........?
 
Nov 6, 2014
novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

What was your last HbA1c?

It seems like a lot of money to me............

I still cant get on board with having a CGM full time unless you need it to identify hypos if your unaware of them.........

The readings you get aren't in real time and you need to calibrate the CGM regularly with blood glucose results.........

They would be good for overnight testing as well especially if your on a pump as you can program your basal every half hour........

so good in the short term yeah..........

but for constant use, I don't see why........... Smile
 
Nov 6, 2014
novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How long do carbs take to 'process'

are you asking if your mid morning snack has left your system by lunch?

did you take insulin for your snack? If not then you should correct.....

I tend to think a meal as lasting the same as my insulin, so 4 hours..........a snack may be less, but if its mid morning, its very likely still going to be working......however, if you have gave yourself insulin for it, the insulin will also be working away, and so then you wouldn't correct your pre lunch BG.......
 
Nov 6, 2014
BeccyB 50 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How long do carbs take to 'process'

Does anyone know how long carbs take to get into your system?

I often have a mid-morning snack and then I don't know if it's all been absorbed yet when I get my lunchtime glucose level and whether I need to factor it in to any corrections. I know it will depend on the GI value but would be handy to have a rough idea for either end of the scale.

I had a quick hunt online but could only find lists of 'quick' and 'slow' foods not an idea of how slow 'slow' actually is!

Any info much appreciated...

Beccy
 
Nov 5, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi Novorapidboi!

The pump is technically 4 years old although about two years ago I was given an updated version. My private health fund "believes" I still have the original. Here in Australia if you have private health insurance often your health fund will pay for the pump thinking it will cost them less in the long run. So the fund paid the $AUD7000
and if I can persuade them to replace it I will get a new one when mine is 5 years old and technically out of warranty. The pump I have has the CGM function so what I have to buy is the receiver ($AUD810), the transmitter ($AUD580) and a pack of 5 sensors ($AUD410). I am told by the company that the sensors last 7 days but trawling the net tells me that by fiddling with the pump you can persuade it to restart on the existing sensor as if it is new and get another 7 days. People have recorded that they have had them last for as long as 30 days but a significant number report a life of between 20-25 days. Therefore price is expected to be between $12 and $4 a day just for the sensors. Problems with keeping it in place seems to be another issue... The tape gunk etc will add to the cost. So $AUD1000 to start and them the daily cost of the sensors!

Another issue I have is that the companies seem to lose interest in you once they have their money so when I am due for a new one I was thinking of changing to a Medtronic (we seem to have only two types available here).

The health fund will not come to the party with the CGM but I am having increasing difficulty keeping the BGs "flat" and my HbA1c is slowly rising. so I thought I would look at the CGM. Something to do with age/insulin sensitivity? Feeling very frustrated.

Helen
 
Nov 5, 2014
BeccyB 50 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cyborg Times (new BG meter)

Bit of an update to the last post - I'm now on Day 5 and the latest Libre result is still about 3mmol/l below my usual meter. I also did blood test using the libre with the same finger prick (I already use a freestyle meter so have the right strips) and interestingly it matched exactly to the 'normal' libre result which could suggest they are right about the shorter delay between the 2 types of reading.

I'm still left with the dilema of which machine do I trust - if the libre says I'm 6.0 do I celebrate at being in target, or correct because I'm probably actually at 9ish. I guess most people would be able to trust their feelings when dropping low and see which machine reflects it, unfortunately I've been uncontrolled for ages so if my results is 3.0 is it a true hypo or just me feeling low at 6.0 because I've been high for so long!! Confused

 
Nov 5, 2014
novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Review of BG Diary

if your waking up high, then you should try increasing your bedtime 16..............

do some 3 am tests to confirm its working and to identify the dawn phenomenon if it exists..........Smile

if you can get your waking result down to a reasonable level, then you will be in a better position to make an AM BI dose change.........

if your carb free most mornings, that's an excellent opportunity to do hourly tests to see what your BI is doing over that time..........
 
Nov 5, 2014
novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

how old is your pump Helen?

If I remember correctly you had to buy your own pump?

Does that mean you will be getting a new one soon?

It sounds as though your thinking of replacing the pump with a CGM, but obviously that isn't how it works........Smile
 
Nov 5, 2014
Shafiq 6 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Can't set QA:CP ratios on iOS

Many thanks Simon
Really appreciated!
 
Nov 5, 2014
Simon 578 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Can't set QA:CP ratios on iOS

Hi Shafiq,

I've fixed this now as its in the latest version of the app which is now on the App Store (version 2.0.3). Sorry for the inconvenience!

Simon
 
Nov 4, 2014
BeccyB 50 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How to Remember If You've Done an Injection

I'm _exactly_ like you Teanosugar!

Thanks for starting this thread asI didn't think there was a 'memory' Novopen available - I'm getting straight on to my DSN!! Very Happy

 
Nov 3, 2014
Shafiq 6 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Can't set QA:CP ratios on iOS

Thanks Chris!
 
Nov 3, 2014
Chris Salter 8 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Can't set QA:CP ratios on iOS

Hi, I emailed the developer Simon about this. It appears to be a problem with iOS 8 and is due to be fixed soon!

I hope this helps!

Chris
 
Nov 3, 2014
Chris Salter 8 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Review of BG Diary

Hi guys, fairly new to DAFNE and have made a few changes to my insulin, but am still not quite right. I recently reduced my lunch ratio from 1.5:1 to 1.25:1 as was having hypo sometime between afternoon and tea, but still feel my morning to lunch sugar is too high! I rarely have breakfast, so can only think of increasing my am BI to 16??? Any thoughts???
 
Nov 3, 2014
hypo 18 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Jelly Babies

It's Jelly Babies for me 2 is usually enough and Bassett's are lovely and like Alan says they are a treat It's a good job it is only occasionally they are needed