Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Aug 17, 2014

Mairead 10 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Low Carb Cookbooks

Hi Warwick, I am really happy to say it has been going very well, especially in terms of controlling blood sugars and losing weight. So good, it has been terrific for my eyes, the retinopathy has stabalised. The Diabetes Centre and the Eye Dept. are very happy with my results.

Before I went on the DAFNE diet one of my favourite foods was cheese, I used to buy low fat cheddar mostly, but it wasn't really that low in fat. I didn't know that too much cheese can bring about gallstones. And sudden wight loss can aggrevate them. Had gallbladder removal surgery last November and nearly died - this had nothing to do with my diabetes or low carb diet. In fact, I am thankful to the Dafne diet for helping me be fit enough to withstand the surgery.

Now I eat Feta cheese and lots more varieties of low carb foods as well, and was very grateful for the Dafne course in not just helping me with my diabetes but also these other problems I have been dealing with. I am being encouraged to eat a bit more now and have occasional treats. I am now 9st 2lbs in weight - at 5'4" in height, and my Hba1c is 7.1.

Another thing Dafne has helped enormously with is my Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA]. Less fat - less swelling - less pain and damage. I always knew there was a link between sugar and RA control. Also, I take drugs for the RA, and they help, but are significantly helping more since the improved diet - thanks to DAFNE.

I am heartbroken to hear that the Dafne course is no longer available in some diabetes centres, it brings such a positive change to our lives. When we had the course I had hoped we would have a an annual, or even bi-annual, one-day refresher course for the following reasons;

Lifestyles: Our own lives can be busy with work and family commitments, travelling a lot with work, or in managing other illnesses and so on. It is not easy to remember everything we learned at the time of the course. I keep all the material we were given and refer back to that from time to time and it helps, but there are times I wish I could ask the medical staff more questions.and learn more about the latest thinking in controlling the condition.

Changes: Some things had changed in diabetes care over the years that I knew nothing about and Dafne was very beneficial in that regard as well.

The running of the Dafne courses may be expensive, however, the returns in terms of improved health must surely far outweigh such expenses.

Aug 17, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Low Carb Cookbooks

How are you going with this Mairead?

I attended an exercise conference last weekend, and an unintended consequence (well, the organisers of the conference didn't expect this) was that a number of diabetics attending the conference have been experimenting with low-carb diets and almost all have been uniformly positive as to how much easier it has been to control BGs. I have been trying this out this week, and instead of a BG diary resembling massive peaks and troughs, I have seen very smooth looking graphs for the most part and I'm really encouraged by that.

Aug 16, 2014

DebbieB 3 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Ratio

Thanks Warwick, yes 1CP =10g of carb

Aug 16, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Ratio

If you are referring to the DAFNE diary, then it goes the other way - QA:CP, so you would put 1.5:1. By 1 carb, do you mean 1 CP which equals 10g of carb?

Aug 15, 2014

DebbieB 3 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Ratio

My ratio for my insulin is 1carb for 1 1/2 units of insulin, how do I display this when adding my ratio. Is it 1:1.5??

Aug 14, 2014

Rafa 99 posts

Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity

I am the same as Phil. When i exercise i need a lot less insulin.

Aug 14, 2014

Trish Skidmore 18 posts

Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity

Nothing has really changed, dont understand it myself, i have changed to half doses and see how i get on. Thanks for replys

Aug 13, 2014

Vickyp 137 posts

Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity

I always been insulin sensitive and used to hypo loads too, essentially sensitivity is that a small amount of insulin will drop your sugars by a significant amount. I do still drop but generally catch it before gets to hypo stage. This was one of the reasons I went on the pump, so much easier to control insulin delivery and can get tiny doses not possible with injections.

Not sure why suddenly it would happen, unless exercise regime has increased or weight has decreased? Try half doses but remember to give it a few days after a change to see pattern and don't make too many changes at once (ie maybe change breakfast ratio. But no others, then reassess 3 days later etc)

Aug 13, 2014

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity

Not sure why you would suddenly become more sensitive? Has anything changed? Maybe someone else can shed some light on this?

I have become a lot more sensitive to insulin since I have taken up cycling in a big way, the increase in exercise means I need a lot less insulin anyway, but ratios have also halved.

Phil

Aug 13, 2014

Trish Skidmore 18 posts

Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity

Can anyone tell me what insulin sensitivity is, for the past month I have had hypos nearly everyday even just walking the dog and it goes low, I have just started to halve my doses so hope this works, I've been told I may be sensitive to insulin, don't understand it after 20 years, has anyone else experienced this problem.

Aug 13, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Lantus Split & Overnight Basal Testing

Yes. Lantus is largely peak-less, (depends on the individual). All you are doing when you splitting is ensuring that it doesn't run out before the next dose.

Aug 13, 2014

Rafa 99 posts

Topic: General Discussion / no food but blood sugar still increase

I find this as well myself so even if i am not that hungry i eat something small like 2cps and inject and i am fine then for the rest of the morning/day.

Aug 13, 2014

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Lantus Split & Overnight Basal Testing

Can overnight basal testing still be done if your Lantus is a split dose?

Aug 12, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Lantus - Splitting

Yes, and yes. You have it exactly right.

Aug 12, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / no food but blood sugar still increase

Whether you should increase your Levemir or not depends on what happens later in the day. If you continue having to take correctional doses of QA in the afternoon, then that would indicate that your Levemir dose in the morning is too low. If it stays stable through the afternoon, then your Levemir dose is probably fine.

If this happens every time that you miss breakfast, then it could be worth having a small amount (1-2 units) of QA with the Levemir in the morning on days that you miss breakfast. There are lots of reasons that your BGs could rise even without food unfortunately. Stress, dawn phenomenon, excitement, climate temperature, illness, menstrual cycle, level of hydration...

Aug 12, 2014

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Lantus - Splitting

Oh, and when you split, what you do is drop a unit at night, and add a unit in the morning each day until you get your 50/50 split. Don't just drop half your evening basal at night and add it in the morning or you will have wicked highs. If you are on 18 units, then it will take 9 days to get to the split, and a couple of more days after than before things stabilise so don't panic too much if you find your BGs are a little out of control over that period.

So to clarify I'm on 18u at the moment then
1st night take 17u & just 1u the following morning
2nd night take 16u & 2u the following morning
3rd night take 15u & 3u the following morning
4th night 14u & 4u........
5th night 13u & 5u.......
6th night 12u & 6u......
7th night 11u & 7u........
8th night 10u & 8u.......
9th night 9u & 9u ?

Now could the same be done like this if you were going back onto a single dose?

Aug 11, 2014

Marje 3 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Calculating QA with Carb/Sugar Content

Hi Alan. The full carb contact us always how I have calculated and ignored the sugar content. It was just that someone said you have to take the sugar content into account that made me doubt my calculations. It I would be interesting to know why they put the sugar content as well as it only confuses you. Thanks so much for your response. Regards Marje

Aug 11, 2014

Dyonisus 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / no food but blood sugar still increase

This May help. I did once a 36 hour fasting to find out if blood sugar went up in absence of food in the stomach or glucose in the liver.
I found out that when the body can not get glucose it takes it from muscles.
I was told that could not fast at night without risking a hypo.
The truth is that my sugar rises at night without any food.
I use to take 15 units of Lantus before bed time.
Now, I inject 10 units at 6am and 10 at 6pm., my readings have dropped below 10 and keep stable thru out the day. As long as I eat with moderation, and that is reduce the amount of starchy carbs.
Good luck
Dyonisus

Aug 11, 2014

Dyonisus 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Disposing needles

Good for you!
Let's hope the hard of hearing in this part of the Country listen to common sense and this Island will soon be a much cleaner land.
I read on the paper no long ago, that Essex was the County worst managed when it came to diabetes.
As well as you know, We may have "The SUN" alas, little else!

D.

Aug 11, 2014

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Calculating QA with Carb/Sugar Content

As I understand it, the Nutritional Values on most packaged food will contain the sugar content and the Total Carbohydrate value (including the sugars). I always use this value to calculate the CPs of a meal, regardless of the Glycaemic Index, which is normally not shown.

Aug 11, 2014

alturn 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Disposing needles

I live in NE Scotland and local pharmacy now supplies sharps bins and disposes of used bins, so no need for prescription. This change occurred within about last 2 years. Suspect different regions on NHS have different policies. However I use it for lancets and strips as I clip my needles and dispose of the clipper in the sharps bin.

Aug 17, 2014 Mairead 10 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Low Carb Cookbooks Hi Warwick, I am really happy to say it has been going very well, especially in terms of controlling blood sugars and losing weight. So good, it has been terrific for my eyes, the retinopathy has stabalised. The Diabetes Centre and the Eye Dept. are very happy with my results. Before I went on the DAFNE diet one of my favourite foods was cheese, I used to buy low fat cheddar mostly, but it wasn't really that low in fat. I didn't know that too much cheese can bring about gallstones. And sudden wight loss can aggrevate them. Had gallbladder removal surgery last November and nearly died - this had nothing to do with my diabetes or low carb diet. In fact, I am thankful to the Dafne diet for helping me be fit enough to withstand the surgery. Now I eat Feta cheese and lots more varieties of low carb foods as well, and was very grateful for the Dafne course in not just helping me with my diabetes but also these other problems I have been dealing with. I am being encouraged to eat a bit more now and have occasional treats. I am now 9st 2lbs in weight - at 5'4" in height, and my Hba1c is 7.1. Another thing Dafne has helped enormously with is my Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA]. Less fat - less swelling - less pain and damage. I always knew there was a link between sugar and RA control. Also, I take drugs for the RA, and they help, but are significantly helping more since the improved diet - thanks to DAFNE. I am heartbroken to hear that the Dafne course is no longer available in some diabetes centres, it brings such a positive change to our lives. When we had the course I had hoped we would have a an annual, or even bi-annual, one-day refresher course for the following reasons; Lifestyles: Our own lives can be busy with work and family commitments, travelling a lot with work, or in managing other illnesses and so on. It is not easy to remember everything we learned at the time of the course. I keep all the material we were given and refer back to that from time to time and it helps, but there are times I wish I could ask the medical staff more questions.and learn more about the latest thinking in controlling the condition. Changes: Some things had changed in diabetes care over the years that I knew nothing about and Dafne was very beneficial in that regard as well. The running of the Dafne courses may be expensive, however, the returns in terms of improved health must surely far outweigh such expenses.

Aug 17, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Low Carb Cookbooks How are you going with this Mairead? I attended an exercise conference last weekend, and an unintended consequence (well, the organisers of the conference didn't expect this) was that a number of diabetics attending the conference have been experimenting with low-carb diets and almost all have been uniformly positive as to how much easier it has been to control BGs. I have been trying this out this week, and instead of a BG diary resembling massive peaks and troughs, I have seen very smooth looking graphs for the most part and I'm really encouraged by that.

Aug 16, 2014 DebbieB 3 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Ratio Thanks Warwick, yes 1CP =10g of carb

Aug 16, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Ratio If you are referring to the DAFNE diary, then it goes the other way - QA:CP, so you would put 1.5:1. By 1 carb, do you mean 1 CP which equals 10g of carb?

Aug 15, 2014 DebbieB 3 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Ratio My ratio for my insulin is 1carb for 1 1/2 units of insulin, how do I display this when adding my ratio. Is it 1:1.5??

Aug 14, 2014 Rafa 99 posts	Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity I am the same as Phil. When i exercise i need a lot less insulin.

Aug 14, 2014 Trish Skidmore 18 posts	Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity Nothing has really changed, dont understand it myself, i have changed to half doses and see how i get on. Thanks for replys

Aug 13, 2014 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity I always been insulin sensitive and used to hypo loads too, essentially sensitivity is that a small amount of insulin will drop your sugars by a significant amount. I do still drop but generally catch it before gets to hypo stage. This was one of the reasons I went on the pump, so much easier to control insulin delivery and can get tiny doses not possible with injections. Not sure why suddenly it would happen, unless exercise regime has increased or weight has decreased? Try half doses but remember to give it a few days after a change to see pattern and don't make too many changes at once (ie maybe change breakfast ratio. But no others, then reassess 3 days later etc)

Aug 13, 2014 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity Not sure why you would suddenly become more sensitive? Has anything changed? Maybe someone else can shed some light on this? I have become a lot more sensitive to insulin since I have taken up cycling in a big way, the increase in exercise means I need a lot less insulin anyway, but ratios have also halved. Phil

Aug 13, 2014 Trish Skidmore 18 posts	Topic: General Discussion / sensitivity Can anyone tell me what insulin sensitivity is, for the past month I have had hypos nearly everyday even just walking the dog and it goes low, I have just started to halve my doses so hope this works, I've been told I may be sensitive to insulin, don't understand it after 20 years, has anyone else experienced this problem.

Aug 13, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Lantus Split & Overnight Basal Testing Yes. Lantus is largely peak-less, (depends on the individual). All you are doing when you splitting is ensuring that it doesn't run out before the next dose.

Aug 13, 2014 Rafa 99 posts	Topic: General Discussion / no food but blood sugar still increase I find this as well myself so even if i am not that hungry i eat something small like 2cps and inject and i am fine then for the rest of the morning/day.

Aug 13, 2014 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Lantus Split & Overnight Basal Testing Can overnight basal testing still be done if your Lantus is a split dose?

Aug 12, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Lantus - Splitting Yes, and yes. You have it exactly right.

Aug 12, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / no food but blood sugar still increase Whether you should increase your Levemir or not depends on what happens later in the day. If you continue having to take correctional doses of QA in the afternoon, then that would indicate that your Levemir dose in the morning is too low. If it stays stable through the afternoon, then your Levemir dose is probably fine. If this happens every time that you miss breakfast, then it could be worth having a small amount (1-2 units) of QA with the Levemir in the morning on days that you miss breakfast. There are lots of reasons that your BGs could rise even without food unfortunately. Stress, dawn phenomenon, excitement, climate temperature, illness, menstrual cycle, level of hydration...

Aug 12, 2014 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Lantus - Splitting Oh, and when you split, what you do is drop a unit at night, and add a unit in the morning each day until you get your 50/50 split. Don't just drop half your evening basal at night and add it in the morning or you will have wicked highs. If you are on 18 units, then it will take 9 days to get to the split, and a couple of more days after than before things stabilise so don't panic too much if you find your BGs are a little out of control over that period. So to clarify I'm on 18u at the moment then 1st night take 17u & just 1u the following morning 2nd night take 16u & 2u the following morning 3rd night take 15u & 3u the following morning 4th night 14u & 4u........ 5th night 13u & 5u....... 6th night 12u & 6u...... 7th night 11u & 7u........ 8th night 10u & 8u....... 9th night 9u & 9u ? Now could the same be done like this if you were going back onto a single dose?

Aug 11, 2014 Marje 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Calculating QA with Carb/Sugar Content Hi Alan. The full carb contact us always how I have calculated and ignored the sugar content. It was just that someone said you have to take the sugar content into account that made me doubt my calculations. It I would be interesting to know why they put the sugar content as well as it only confuses you. Thanks so much for your response. Regards Marje

Aug 11, 2014 Dyonisus 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / no food but blood sugar still increase This May help. I did once a 36 hour fasting to find out if blood sugar went up in absence of food in the stomach or glucose in the liver. I found out that when the body can not get glucose it takes it from muscles. I was told that could not fast at night without risking a hypo. The truth is that my sugar rises at night without any food. I use to take 15 units of Lantus before bed time. Now, I inject 10 units at 6am and 10 at 6pm., my readings have dropped below 10 and keep stable thru out the day. As long as I eat with moderation, and that is reduce the amount of starchy carbs. Good luck Dyonisus

Aug 11, 2014 Dyonisus 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Disposing needles Good for you! Let's hope the hard of hearing in this part of the Country listen to common sense and this Island will soon be a much cleaner land. I read on the paper no long ago, that Essex was the County worst managed when it came to diabetes. As well as you know, We may have "The SUN" alas, little else! D.

Aug 11, 2014 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Calculating QA with Carb/Sugar Content As I understand it, the Nutritional Values on most packaged food will contain the sugar content and the Total Carbohydrate value (including the sugars). I always use this value to calculate the CPs of a meal, regardless of the Glycaemic Index, which is normally not shown.

Aug 11, 2014 alturn 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Disposing needles I live in NE Scotland and local pharmacy now supplies sharps bins and disposes of used bins, so no need for prescription. This change occurred within about last 2 years. Suspect different regions on NHS have different policies. However I use it for lancets and strips as I clip my needles and dispose of the clipper in the sharps bin.