Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Jul 22, 2014

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales

The carbs and cals app is excellent - I have it on my iPhone 4S. It's not perfect though - unless you regularly download the images (I don't, as I have memory issues - mainly the phone!) it can be problematic when you don't have Wi-Fi or 3G available at the time you want to use it. When you do have Wi-Fi / 3G, the app has an annoying habit of updating ("this may take a few minutes") before it lets you in. Although it usually only takes a few seconds it can be frustrating if you want to eat NOW! That said, I still wouldn't be without it.

Stew

Jul 22, 2014

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales

The carbs and cals app is excellent - I have it on my iPhone 4S. It's not perfect though - unless you regularly download the images (I don't, as I have memory issues - mainly the phone!) it can be problematic when you don't have Wi-Fi or 3G available at the time you want to use it. When you do have Wi-Fi / 3G, the app has an annoying habit of updating ("this may take a few minutes") before it lets you in. Although it usually only takes a few seconds it can be frustrating if you want to eat NOW! That said, I still wouldn't be without it.

Stew

Jul 21, 2014

Gerryvbc 3 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales

Thanks everyone, I have ordered a set of scales.

I understand that the Carbs/Cals booklet is available as an App. I've resisted getting a smart phone up to now, but that might just tip the balance if you'll excuse the pun!

Jul 21, 2014

Kim Dyos 3 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

Thanks all for replies. Education is offered in my area only three times a year, if you can do all day Thursday for some weeks, during term time. As a seasonal lecturer with a child in infant school, I can't make the very occasional courses run in this area. I have now secured a one to one education, but it is much reduced, and I have had to fight tooth and nail for it!

Jul 20, 2014

marke 681 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

hi, DAFNE and DAFNEOnline are two separate things. I can give a personal point of view from DAFNEOnline and I'm sure Simon will say if he disagrees with me. As far as DAFNE goes you would need to ask them at www,dafne,uk.com.
So my view is DAFNEOnline is a graduate run website for graduates and so we give up all our time and effort free of charge to help other graduates. Carbs and Cals is a charged for service that I assume is run to make a profit. I am not keen on charging people for things that I believe should be provided for free by either the NHS or us. I'm not even happy about graduates having to pay for paper diaries from the website above, but there is nothing I can do about it.
I'm not sure DAFNEOnline should be providing a free service to an app that is charged for. I think if you want this added to the app you should request it from the developers. If they want to do this that's fine, we are happy for people to use any service they find gives them the best facilities.DAFNEOnline will always be free.

Jul 20, 2014

Nat-Sav 15 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob

This is why we need DAFNE Smile

. When it comes to working out QA, carbohydrate info from packets/carbs&cals is not always a sufficient guide on its own. I would get things so wrong without DAFNE training: I now know that nuts, veg, cherries, pulses etc. need to be considered carefully.

Jul 20, 2014

Nat-Sav 15 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

I have just downloaded the Carbs & Cals app (Android version). It's much more comprehensive than I expected - it has a personalised diabetes section where you can record pretty much everything: BG, QA, BI, CPs, exercise - all in DAFNE format! (CPs it can record for you, if you go on each food and 'add to meal'; exercise you can specify time, duration and type from a very exhaustive list.)

However it doesn't yet have a back-up facility or a sharing facility. So if you are relying it to keep all your records, and something goes wrong, you're a bit stuck.

I wonder if it's possible for someone from DAFNE to liaise with Carbs&Cals so that the info we record on the Carbs&Cals app can be integrated with DAFNE online? This would make it so much more practical. I can't really repeat each record manually a second time.

Jul 20, 2014

Nat-Sav 15 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales

I find the Nutriscales useful too. But I tend to use the carb-counting feature only if my food doesn't come with sufficient nutritional info of it's own, because that is usually more accurate.

Jul 20, 2014

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nutritional Values on package food

I have a credit card sized magnifier (with a built-in light!) which I keep in my wallet for reading those pesky tiny-text nutrition details!

Stew

Jul 19, 2014

marke 681 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource?

Hi, I'm curious which area you are in as its a requirement of all CCG's and Trusts to provide Diabetes Education. It is part of what they are assessed on and what they get paid for. If they are not providing it then that is an issue, however it maybe people not telling you the whole truth as its easier fir them not to refer you.

Jul 19, 2014

stephenbrowne 37 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nutritional Values on package food

Hi Alan,
I have also found it helpful to check the nutritional values on packets but as you say it sometimes takes a bit of mental arithmetic if it is in G of cho/100G product instead of per portion and I have occasionaly run in to trouble by making a mistake in my calculation!

Jul 19, 2014

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nutritional Values on package food

I always use the Nutritional Values on package food to calculate my Carbohydrate Portions and most times they are very helpful. When they are in tabular form they are easy to read - there is a column for values per 100g and a separate column for values per pack. I have problems, however, when they are just text - a string of words and numbers. The text size is usually quite small - too small for my poor old eyes - and on a couple of occasions I have used the 'per 100g' value instead of the 'per pack' value and not injected enough QA.

Has anybody else had this problem?

Jul 18, 2014

geordiesgirl 16 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob

Thankyou for your replies. I have always bolused for sweetcorn / corn on the cobs. in the carbs and cals book a 170g cob is 20g cobs

Jul 18, 2014

JennyNZ 29 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob

I don't bolus for corn - low GI Same with popcorn

Jul 18, 2014

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob

I too wouldn't give any QA for veg or salad.

The problem might have been packet food, the carbs a packet reckons there is in something include carbs in veg (which there is), but I wouldn't count as background covers this, so packet amounts often higher than I would guesstimate. I often go hypo if I use figures directly from a packet.

Jul 18, 2014

stephenbrowne 37 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE MONITORING DIARIES

Thanks Stew,
I had forgotten about the CHO counting booklet. The blood sugar DAFNE diary service sounds good. Unfortunately as I have to do so many tests I find I can't get all of one day's readings on to a line which is why I prefer the Diabetes Support Information Exchange version as there is a bit more room. Nevertheless the official DAFNE version is more compact and perhaps useful for holidays/travel.
On the subject of CHO counting I wonder if anyone has an idea of how much CHO thee is in Staffordshire Oat cakes. These are different from scottish oatcakes ( which are a type of biscuit) and really look a bit like pancakes. I try to work in G of carbohydrate rather than carbohydrate portions and I have estimated that one Staffordshire Oatcake is about 15-20 g CHO ( 1 1/2 - 2 CP)

SB

Jul 18, 2014

Vickyp 137 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob

Isn't corn in the cob low GI?? I generally don't bolus for any veg I eat

Jul 18, 2014

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

just wait...I suspect it will happen at sometime, Novorapidboi!

If the small bubbles coalesce to form a larger bubble then it can block the tube and depending on the size you can end up with a "rush" if/when the bubble clears. That is why you are supposed to test at 2 hours and 4 hours.

Helen

Jul 18, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

I use the Medtronic Veo and when I an filling the reservoir there are sometimes bubbles...the big ones I tap up to the top and push them back in thevial but I am still left with a small fizz...it doesn't cause any issues though....

Jul 18, 2014

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi Helen, Yep I do all the right things...take the insulin out of fridge at least 6 hours before anticipated use (usually when the alarm rings). Check for bubbles ...tap the pump base on the tabletop and always keep it "upright" and always prime 16 or more units.. The worst I have had is three in a row fail but I can also go 3 months without a problem. It is just when i need it to work I will run into issues. I am told "shit happens!".

Three can fail: the tube, the cartridge and the infusion set, something can go wrong with anyone of those things. It just shits me...

Helen

Jul 18, 2014

geordiesgirl 16 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob

Has anybody had issues with corn on the cob. Last night had it for my tea...followed the carbs on the food label to work out my insulin bolus. Two hrs later blood sugar went below 4 and took 3 hrs to get it back up despite eating a lot of extra carbs. Where did i go wrong ? Sad

Jul 18, 2014

geordiesgirl 16 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

morning...lol i was just about to ask you about the "sadness course" vickyp. In someways it is a good title. Nice to meet you Helen. Now i know why i couldn't use HelenP as my username......My first name is also Helen and my surname begins with P. Sorry to hear your not happy with your pump helen, how long have you had it ? With regards to the champagne bubbles - do you take your insulin out of the fridge for a little while prior to changing your cartridge ? Have you asked if anyone else is on an Animas and if so are they having the same problems

Jul 18, 2014

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE MONITORING DIARIES

Diaries are available via the dafne.uk.com website at Â£0.75 each. I've ordered them twice now (I get a few at a time) and the service has been very quick and efficient each time. I've also taken the chance to replace my CP portion guide too - it seems to be updated regularly, and mine gets a bit dog-eared.

Stew

Jul 18, 2014

JennyNZ 29 posts

Topic: Site Development / dafne defaulting to "0" as a BGL

hi, all. Me again. I'm using DAFNE online a lot at the moment so have several queries re set up. For the first time, i have sent through results to my doctor straight from the DAFNE site. there is one feature on the results which is extremely dangerous and, quite frankly, a bit stupid. if i have entered CP's, BI or QA without a BGL reading, it automatically puts "0" down as the reading. it doesnt do it on my i pod, but only on the dafne site, so when my stats were all printed there were several '0's which seems crazy - why cant it leave it blank?

Jul 18, 2014

Vickyp 137 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Just noticed autocorrect put sadness not DAFNE!

Jul 22, 2014 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales The carbs and cals app is excellent - I have it on my iPhone 4S. It's not perfect though - unless you regularly download the images (I don't, as I have memory issues - mainly the phone!) it can be problematic when you don't have Wi-Fi or 3G available at the time you want to use it. When you do have Wi-Fi / 3G, the app has an annoying habit of updating ("this may take a few minutes") before it lets you in. Although it usually only takes a few seconds it can be frustrating if you want to eat NOW! That said, I still wouldn't be without it. Stew

Jul 22, 2014 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales The carbs and cals app is excellent - I have it on my iPhone 4S. It's not perfect though - unless you regularly download the images (I don't, as I have memory issues - mainly the phone!) it can be problematic when you don't have Wi-Fi or 3G available at the time you want to use it. When you do have Wi-Fi / 3G, the app has an annoying habit of updating ("this may take a few minutes") before it lets you in. Although it usually only takes a few seconds it can be frustrating if you want to eat NOW! That said, I still wouldn't be without it. Stew

Jul 21, 2014 Gerryvbc 3 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales Thanks everyone, I have ordered a set of scales. I understand that the Carbs/Cals booklet is available as an App. I've resisted getting a smart phone up to now, but that might just tip the balance if you'll excuse the pun!

Jul 21, 2014 Kim Dyos 3 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? Thanks all for replies. Education is offered in my area only three times a year, if you can do all day Thursday for some weeks, during term time. As a seasonal lecturer with a child in infant school, I can't make the very occasional courses run in this area. I have now secured a one to one education, but it is much reduced, and I have had to fight tooth and nail for it!

Jul 20, 2014 marke 681 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? hi, DAFNE and DAFNEOnline are two separate things. I can give a personal point of view from DAFNEOnline and I'm sure Simon will say if he disagrees with me. As far as DAFNE goes you would need to ask them at www,dafne,uk.com. So my view is DAFNEOnline is a graduate run website for graduates and so we give up all our time and effort free of charge to help other graduates. Carbs and Cals is a charged for service that I assume is run to make a profit. I am not keen on charging people for things that I believe should be provided for free by either the NHS or us. I'm not even happy about graduates having to pay for paper diaries from the website above, but there is nothing I can do about it. I'm not sure DAFNEOnline should be providing a free service to an app that is charged for. I think if you want this added to the app you should request it from the developers. If they want to do this that's fine, we are happy for people to use any service they find gives them the best facilities.DAFNEOnline will always be free.

Jul 20, 2014 Nat-Sav 15 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob This is why we need DAFNE . When it comes to working out QA, carbohydrate info from packets/carbs&cals is not always a sufficient guide on its own. I would get things so wrong without DAFNE training: I now know that nuts, veg, cherries, pulses etc. need to be considered carefully.

Jul 20, 2014 Nat-Sav 15 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? I have just downloaded the Carbs & Cals app (Android version). It's much more comprehensive than I expected - it has a personalised diabetes section where you can record pretty much everything: BG, QA, BI, CPs, exercise - all in DAFNE format! (CPs it can record for you, if you go on each food and 'add to meal'; exercise you can specify time, duration and type from a very exhaustive list.) However it doesn't yet have a back-up facility or a sharing facility. So if you are relying it to keep all your records, and something goes wrong, you're a bit stuck. I wonder if it's possible for someone from DAFNE to liaise with Carbs&Cals so that the info we record on the Carbs&Cals app can be integrated with DAFNE online? This would make it so much more practical. I can't really repeat each record manually a second time.

Jul 20, 2014 Nat-Sav 15 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Nutrition Scales I find the Nutriscales useful too. But I tend to use the carb-counting feature only if my food doesn't come with sufficient nutritional info of it's own, because that is usually more accurate.

Jul 20, 2014 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nutritional Values on package food I have a credit card sized magnifier (with a built-in light!) which I keep in my wallet for reading those pesky tiny-text nutrition details! Stew

Jul 19, 2014 marke 681 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Good carb counting resource? Hi, I'm curious which area you are in as its a requirement of all CCG's and Trusts to provide Diabetes Education. It is part of what they are assessed on and what they get paid for. If they are not providing it then that is an issue, however it maybe people not telling you the whole truth as its easier fir them not to refer you.

Jul 19, 2014 stephenbrowne 37 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nutritional Values on package food Hi Alan, I have also found it helpful to check the nutritional values on packets but as you say it sometimes takes a bit of mental arithmetic if it is in G of cho/100G product instead of per portion and I have occasionaly run in to trouble by making a mistake in my calculation!

Jul 19, 2014 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nutritional Values on package food I always use the Nutritional Values on package food to calculate my Carbohydrate Portions and most times they are very helpful. When they are in tabular form they are easy to read - there is a column for values per 100g and a separate column for values per pack. I have problems, however, when they are just text - a string of words and numbers. The text size is usually quite small - too small for my poor old eyes - and on a couple of occasions I have used the 'per 100g' value instead of the 'per pack' value and not injected enough QA. Has anybody else had this problem?

Jul 18, 2014 geordiesgirl 16 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob Thankyou for your replies. I have always bolused for sweetcorn / corn on the cobs. in the carbs and cals book a 170g cob is 20g cobs

Jul 18, 2014 JennyNZ 29 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob I don't bolus for corn - low GI Same with popcorn

Jul 18, 2014 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob I too wouldn't give any QA for veg or salad. The problem might have been packet food, the carbs a packet reckons there is in something include carbs in veg (which there is), but I wouldn't count as background covers this, so packet amounts often higher than I would guesstimate. I often go hypo if I use figures directly from a packet.

Jul 18, 2014 stephenbrowne 37 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE MONITORING DIARIES Thanks Stew, I had forgotten about the CHO counting booklet. The blood sugar DAFNE diary service sounds good. Unfortunately as I have to do so many tests I find I can't get all of one day's readings on to a line which is why I prefer the Diabetes Support Information Exchange version as there is a bit more room. Nevertheless the official DAFNE version is more compact and perhaps useful for holidays/travel. On the subject of CHO counting I wonder if anyone has an idea of how much CHO thee is in Staffordshire Oat cakes. These are different from scottish oatcakes ( which are a type of biscuit) and really look a bit like pancakes. I try to work in G of carbohydrate rather than carbohydrate portions and I have estimated that one Staffordshire Oatcake is about 15-20 g CHO ( 1 1/2 - 2 CP) SB

Jul 18, 2014 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob Isn't corn in the cob low GI?? I generally don't bolus for any veg I eat

Jul 18, 2014 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps just wait...I suspect it will happen at sometime, Novorapidboi! If the small bubbles coalesce to form a larger bubble then it can block the tube and depending on the size you can end up with a "rush" if/when the bubble clears. That is why you are supposed to test at 2 hours and 4 hours. Helen

Jul 18, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps I use the Medtronic Veo and when I an filling the reservoir there are sometimes bubbles...the big ones I tap up to the top and push them back in thevial but I am still left with a small fizz...it doesn't cause any issues though....

Jul 18, 2014 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi Helen, Yep I do all the right things...take the insulin out of fridge at least 6 hours before anticipated use (usually when the alarm rings). Check for bubbles ...tap the pump base on the tabletop and always keep it "upright" and always prime 16 or more units.. The worst I have had is three in a row fail but I can also go 3 months without a problem. It is just when i need it to work I will run into issues. I am told "shit happens!". Three can fail: the tube, the cartridge and the infusion set, something can go wrong with anyone of those things. It just shits me... Helen

Jul 18, 2014 geordiesgirl 16 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Corn on the cob Has anybody had issues with corn on the cob. Last night had it for my tea...followed the carbs on the food label to work out my insulin bolus. Two hrs later blood sugar went below 4 and took 3 hrs to get it back up despite eating a lot of extra carbs. Where did i go wrong ?

Jul 18, 2014 geordiesgirl 16 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps morning...lol i was just about to ask you about the "sadness course" vickyp. In someways it is a good title. Nice to meet you Helen. Now i know why i couldn't use HelenP as my username......My first name is also Helen and my surname begins with P. Sorry to hear your not happy with your pump helen, how long have you had it ? With regards to the champagne bubbles - do you take your insulin out of the fridge for a little while prior to changing your cartridge ? Have you asked if anyone else is on an Animas and if so are they having the same problems

Jul 18, 2014 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE MONITORING DIARIES Diaries are available via the dafne.uk.com website at Â£0.75 each. I've ordered them twice now (I get a few at a time) and the service has been very quick and efficient each time. I've also taken the chance to replace my CP portion guide too - it seems to be updated regularly, and mine gets a bit dog-eared. Stew

Jul 18, 2014 JennyNZ 29 posts	Topic: Site Development / dafne defaulting to "0" as a BGL hi, all. Me again. I'm using DAFNE online a lot at the moment so have several queries re set up. For the first time, i have sent through results to my doctor straight from the DAFNE site. there is one feature on the results which is extremely dangerous and, quite frankly, a bit stupid. if i have entered CP's, BI or QA without a BGL reading, it automatically puts "0" down as the reading. it doesnt do it on my i pod, but only on the dafne site, so when my stats were all printed there were several '0's which seems crazy - why cant it leave it blank?

Jul 18, 2014 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Just noticed autocorrect put sadness not DAFNE!