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Apr 3, 2014
LadyNovo777 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbohydrate Intolerance?

Has anyone ever experienced or heard of carbohydrate intolerance? When I take very little carbs or have a carb free meal I feel good but when I eat 20g or more I feel very tired very quickly. I thought carbs gave you energy??? I just feel I don't want to eat carbs at all. Any advice?
 
Apr 3, 2014
Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Moderate changes, retinopathy

Going on a pump is likely to assist with dropping your HbA1c and give you greater control. There can be a bit of a learning curve, but once you are over that, it is likely that you would have better control.

Cheers,
Warwick.
 
Apr 2, 2014
Morganite 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Moderate changes, retinopathy

Thanks Warwick,

It's encouraging to hear your approach and I will definitely take your advice on finding out as much as possible and doing what I can to prevent the condition worsening. I had attended the DAFNE course 4 years ago but I was also doing my final university exams and with the stress I was under didn't follow the programme exactly. I'm now trying to have a different take on things and see my health as a priority over everything else and have started to record my BG and work out any patterns.

I'm also considering asking to be put on the pump as I have heard this can help improve control? Thanks again for your comment, I feel a bit calmer about the whole thing now and I think that taking action as you said will help stop me worrying so much!
 
Apr 2, 2014
Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Wrong injection

Been there, on a 1:1 QA ratio I had 16 units of QA instead of BI, had quite a few snacks that day Wink
 
Apr 2, 2014
JennyNZ 29 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Gilluian Barre Syndrome (GBS)

hi, all. this is not a specific topic related to DAFNE but in December last year, I was diagnosed with GBS and spent 2 weeks in hospital then 2 weeks in rehab to help with my walking. it has affected in in a lot of ways but for my diabetes it has completely changed my insulin needs. before I was sick, my background insulin was 10 in the morning and 10 at night. oddly enough that has completely changed. In Hosp it was 9 in the morning only but is now 12 in the morning and 3 at night.. has any one else had GBS or knows of any diabetics who have had it? I would be interested to know how you were affected by it GBS is an auto immune response where the body destroys its own nerve endings (hence loads of pain and problems with walking/hands etc.)
 
Apr 2, 2014
Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Moderate changes, retinopathy

Hi Morganite,

The damage already done to your eyes will be irreversible, but looking at these websites:

http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/tc/diabetic-retinopathy-topic-overview

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_retinopathy

"There are three major treatments for diabetic retinopathy, which are very effective in reducing vision loss from this disease. In fact, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 90 percent chance of keeping their vision when they get treatment before the retina is severely damaged. These three treatments are laser surgery, injection of corticosteroids or Anti-VEGF into the eye, and vitrectomy."

Based on that, I think you can feel positive about reducing the amount of vision loss if you can get your blood glucose under tighter control. If you can get on a DAFNE course, then you would likely find it easier to control your blood glucose levels. My HbA1c dropped from 7.2 to 6.1 after doing the course and I'd highly recommend it.

I can't answer about pregnancy and retinopathy. Having good control is a really good idea before getting pregnant anyway, as I am sure you already know. I would suggest seeking professional advice from your GP about this, and if they don't know, then ask them to refer you to someone who can help.

There are teams that deal with expectant diabetic mothers, and you should be able to referred to a team member to ask your questions and get knowledgeable answers. They will likely be delighted that you are being proactive about it before getting pregnant rather than getting pregnant and then seeking assistance.

High blood pressure also seems to make this condition worse. If you have high blood pressure, then see your GP about getting medication to bring this down. I had to try three different medications before my endo found one that brought my blood pressure down to acceptable levels, so keep on persevering if you need to get this under control.

All the best with it. Be proactive and make a list of what you can do to get help, and you will likely soon stop feeling so worried about it. With diabetes, I've done everything I can to find out as much as possible about it, because if I know what I am up against, then I can fight it more effectively. Get as much information as you can about the retinopathy, and what you can do to fight it, and I'm sure that things will work out better than you think.

Cheers,
Warwick.
 
Apr 1, 2014
alturn 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Wrong injection

This is something I've almost done several times, so you are not alone.

I think I would probably test every couple of hours for up to 24 hours, depending on results and how I felt. If the extra QA was taken when the previous QA still in your system, then your BG might drop more than normal. If minimal QA present, then take some carbs to soak up the extra QA – just handle as an extra meal, using most suitable ratio. Action might also depend on number of units taken - eg if your BI is 20 but your QA is 4 then 20 units of QA would have larger effect than if the numbers were closer Question

You don't say if you took the missed BI. If you didn't, then you'll probably be high for several hours which might need several corrections to bring back to normal.

I did something similar (just once!) - combination of QA's too close and/or miscalculated units. After about 2 hrs, BG dropped dramatically and all I could do was counteract with cartons of juice & carbs (not in a fit state to test). But I think I over-corrected and after another 2 or 3 hrs ended up feeling really ill and with ketones. Treated these for next 24-hrs as in DAFNE (test and inject QA every 2 hours) and then returned to normal. Felt really bad as lost an entire night's sleep with horrendous thumping headache. Sad Sad Sad

Hope this makes some sense and helps
Alturn
 
Apr 1, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Shazell,

There is a heap of support available on this site and most comes from people who have been there, done that!
Stay in touch. Helen
 
Apr 1, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Wrong injection

lel,

We all do it ONCE!

When this happened to me (about 15 years ago!) my endocrinologist told me that I would be very alarmed and would probably not be able to sleep…I didn't ...well not very well. Advice was to eat an extra meal (as soon as I realised based on the size of the dose) and to test every two hours. I (apart from being scared silly) was fine in the morning as you obviously were! I think it also depends on the size of the dose and a heap of other things as well. My endocrinologist also arranged for someone to call me in the morning to see if I was OK…he would have put into train a plan if I didn't answer the phone.

Valuable lesson!
Helen
 
Apr 1, 2014
shazell 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Thank you all for replying, stephenbrowne, thank you too, Im at the moment in the process of trying to find anthor doctors, all I have been told about my hands and feet is to get better control! and to maybe up my insulin 2 units!! (that's all they say, every time I go as my Hb1c is normally around 65! (just in the "poor" area) my diabetic tteam at the hospital are in the middle of moving offices and have canceled my app and cannot give me a date yet for a new app! I was also told today by email, that the fact I have been diabetic for 17 years and not been on a course of any sort was because I live out of the area! Right now I have no support, maybe in a few weeks I will, and to be honest that's why I came on here, its very lovely to hear from diabetics that have putting up with this for 40 years!! I don't think ill make that! Im just trying to get as much information as I can to arm myself as I feel that's the only way, nobody else is going to do it for me, so thank you all for your support, and suggestions atleast now I have something to go on (creams) and names ie peripheral neuropathy thanks again
 
Apr 1, 2014
JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Wrong injection

Long and short of it, it would depend on how many units you took and what your body's specific insulin needs are at the time you took the QA dose. I think you'll probably need to eat something with either option.

1. To go with missing your long acting (BI) dose would be slightly problematic later on with any during day QA doses it normally supports, but it may be worth while for a one off error in the name of life safety. This choice is more of an issue if you take your BI once a day, rather than split it, since then it's most of your daily background support gone if not taken.

2. That said, if you took your BI with the accidental QA anyway, if you knew of a high carbohydrate content snack and had good idea of your QA meal ratio at the time of the dose error (say, if evening, possibly your evening meal ratio), you could possibly eat to compensate for the error. The great thing about QA (Humalog or Novarapid) is they have a working time of 2-5 hours so if you can eat within your ratio okay, you will minimise disruption of your BG control.

It's hard to say for sure when I don't know your specific individual insulin needs. I am also assuming that you are not using a pump (I don't either). Glad you got through it okay though. I hope it didn't throw your control out too much and that you're feeling better now.
Best wishes.
 
Apr 1, 2014
lel 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Wrong injection

For the first time in 32 years the other night I injected my short acting insulin instead of my long acting insulin, as this had never happened before I was wondering (just in case it happens again) what is the course of action to take.
 
Apr 1, 2014
stephenbrowne 37 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Hi Shazell,
I would agree with Garry regarding your hands. It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether your symptoms are due to carpal tunnel syndrome or diabetic peripheral neuropathy but nerve conduction studies ,if considered appropriate by your GP can help to get the diagnosis right. I think the lower limb symptoms are more likely to be due to diabetic neuropathy. There are various treatments available that can ease tge symptoms of peripheral neuropathy including oral medication and topical applications ( i.e. creams) based on capsaicin which can help. It is truethat tight glycaemic control can help but it takes months rather than weeks to show benefit so one has to be very patient.
I have had type 1 diabetes for 47 years and have been on a pump for nearly 2 years. My control was brilliant for over 40 years and only started to become brittle in the past few years for no apparent reason. I used to work as a GP with a particular interest in diabetes but had to retire because of problems in diabetes control. I am no longer registered so am not qualified to give official advice but this is just given as a fellow patient.
I do hope you are able to obtain some help from your GP or local diabetes clinic.
Best wishes,
 
Apr 1, 2014
Morganite 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Moderate changes, retinopathy

Hi, this is my first time posting on this, just feel too worried and hope someone who has been in my situation can share their experience. Basically I was referred to the ophthalmologist for biannual screenings of my eyes. Last week I was told there were moderate changes in my eyes and the doctor was quite straightforward in telling me it was a progressive condition when I asked if I could prevent it getting worse. I know that improved blood sugars can slow down this progression and my last HbA1c was at 7.9% and I'm determined to improve this. Previous years it has been mid-high 8% and I worry A LOT that it might be too late for me and I'm scared that it will get worse as I'm only 24 and have had diabetes for 15 years now. I also would have hoped to have children in the future but I was told that pregnancy can also worsen the condition.

I'm usually quite motivated and excited about my life but after this news I feel constantly worried and negative (and very teary) about the future and how fast my eyesight will worsen or how bad will it get. I'm annoyed at myself as well as I'm not usually a fan of self pity and know worrying won't help either!

Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated!
 
Apr 1, 2014
Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

shazell, welcome Smile
Talk to your GP and they can refer you to a local consultant for examination and, if they consider it appropriate, carry out nerve conduction tests to determine quite how affected you are.
As HelenP mentions, the surgery is not dramatic. I've had both hands done...I'm afraid it is down to one of the effects of long term Type 1 as nerve and tendon sheaths thicken over time, constraining the nerve bundle.
Regards
Garry
 
Mar 31, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Shazell,

The splints were not bad and they did/do enable me to sleep through the night. The surgeon did say that they were not a permanent solution but that they may help. When my hands started to to go numb during the day I sought surgery.

The carpal tunnel done here in Australia is not bad. It is surgery (GA) and I do have two 1cm scars but my hands are better (not numb). I came home in the early afternoon having had the surgery done at 8:00am. Hand is wrapped as if it has a boxing glove on but three days later that comes off and you are left with a manageable "wound covering'. There was some physiotherapy involved but I would say I now have full movement …although my hand strength is reduced.

You have to try and work out what is the cause and unless they can shoot the numbness back to carpal tunnel the surgery will not be the answer.

Keep at it ...diabetes is a marathon!

Helen
 
Mar 31, 2014
shazell 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Hi Thank you for your reply HelenP 40 years is a bloody long time! has this been a recent problem with your hands and feet? My doctor isn't to helpful really, he just said to get tighter control! and all im thinking is (obviously im trying a lot harder to keep a better control) but do I just leave my hands and feet or do I push for something to be done? or wait till its unbearable? I find it so frustrating as I do realise the better control = better health, I think im just in panic mode to be honest and my diabetic nurse is in the middle of moving so all appointments have been canceled? its so scary, and wearing splints must be horrendous and to be honest I used to do care work and cared for a man who had the carpal tunnel done on his hands and that looked very invasive? Thanks again Helen
 
Mar 31, 2014
Fi_feb2014class 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eating

Hi Warwick,
Thank you for you reply, much appreciate. I think I have more of an addiction to things I shouldn't eat, like chocolate, lollies, slices, and more chocolate and lollies, and slices, I just don't stop till it's all gone, no control what so ever, and I've never been this way. I will how ever make some inquiries as Im sure I'm on the Chronic Diease Mangement Program.
Thank you so much for your advice, sometimes helps to ask other diabetics there point of view etc. I'm off for a nice long walk to burn some unwanted fat lol.

Cheers Fi
 
Mar 30, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Shazell…a post script.

A couple of years ago I took my bothersome hands to my GP. He thought the numbness etc that I was describing was carpal tunnel. I was referred to a hand surgeon. His assessment was that there was certainly some carpal tunnel involvement but he was unable to put a percentage on it (50% carpal tunnel/50% diabetic neuropathy?). We tried a splint at night but eventually I decided that I would try the surgery (both my mother and younger sister had had similar surgery). Over a couple on months I had surgery on both wrists. My hands are certainly better but I think the surgeon was right…maybe 60-70% carpal tunnel the rest neuropathy. The numbness has gone but my wrists ache etc if I do not keep them extended at night. Occasionally wear a splint to keep them in a good position if they are really bothering me.

Helen
 
Mar 30, 2014
HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

Hi Shazell,

Yep my hands and feet give me grief. Been a diabetic for nearly 40 years. I do believe that if you can reign in your HbA1c the situation will/may improve. My feet (actually) calves feel as if they have a tight sock on them all the time (it is not painful…just a sensation, day and night) and my hands/arms are most comfortable at night if I lie crucifixion style. This started during an unbelievably traumatic time in my life but has significantly been brought to the manageable state where I am now.

All the best…good luck with your DAFNE course as it will teach you much more about management than you anticipate.

Helen
 
Mar 30, 2014
shazell 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / my feet and hands

hi, just a quick question, I have been diabetic for 17 years on pump for 8 (still awaiting my DAFNE course to come thru!) my hands at night go numb if my arms are bent over (or not actually) but I don't seem to notice in the day time, also my feet feel like they are stuck in a size smaller shoes, my control over the years has been up and down (last hb1c was 65?) which is just in the "poor" area, I am sick with worry about all this and im not coping with it at all to be honest, I have started to really up my game with my sugars but is there any hope that nerves can get better? all I have been told is to get better control, feeling a bit lost to be honest Crying or Very sad can anyone suggest or let me know if they have had the same syptoms Shocked
 
Mar 29, 2014
Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eating

Hey Fi,

I'd recommend having a chat to a dietician about this. They can make recommendations based on your current diet, and suggest ways that would hopefully be helpful.

Are you on a Chronic Disease Management Plan? Through Medicare, you can get a doctor to arrange a Team Health Care Plan which involves seeing 5 medical professionals per year at a reduced cost. Dieticians are one of those so that you don't need to pay the full cost of seeing one. (You can see other health care professionals too at reduced rates such as physios, podiatrists, diabetes educator etc.)

I think for you to be successful, you will need someone who can analyse your current diet, and make recommendations on how to improve that.

I personally struggle with this too. Since being diagnosed with T1 about 3.5 years ago, I've put on an extra 10 kg that doesn't want to come off, and although my diet at mealtimes is excellent, my snacking feels out of control. Part of that is that because of my numerous hypos, I end up training my body to eat when I am not hungry, and that leads to bad habits elsewhere. I am working with my endo on reducing the number of hypos I have in the hope that with reduced hypo food, I'll be able to gain some control over my snacking.

Good on you for seeking help. But please do consider discussing this with a dietician. And if you don't feel that you are getting good value from your dietician, then do feel free to change to a different one. My previous dietician was not particularly knowledgeable about diabetes, so I asked my DAFNE dietician for a recommendation, and I am much happier with the one I now use.

All the best.
Warwick.
 
Mar 29, 2014
Fi_feb2014class 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eating

I'm having big issues with eating things I really shouldn't be,and over eating these things, I seem to have moments of binge eating allmost,am over it, am get bigger, but just seem to keep going.
any ideas anyone willing to share.
Regards Fi
 
Mar 28, 2014
Peter 109 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / How to avoid High glucose when travelling

Justin, I got the CGMS through my role as Chairman of DUAG which means that I am one of the user representatives on the DAFNE Executive which is the group the runs the DAFNE Programme in the UK and RoI. One of the other members of the Executive mentioned in a meeting that their centre were reviewing CGMS and so I commented that I'd be interested in trying one. A few weeks later I was contacted ans asked whether I'd be prepared to provide input into the instructions that were being written for the use of a CGMS in "exchange" for getting one to use myself for a period. Unfortunately not a route that will help you or others much.

I think the main reason that the advice says only correct at mealtimes is to avoid correcting between meals and then correcting again before the next meal and as a result ending up hypo. For me it takes time for a correcting does to work, and so if I test between meals because I'm not feeling right I will correct at that time. The other critical fact to remember is that it can take time for the insulin at one meal to counteract the carbs eaten. This is especially true if you inject after a meal. That's why the 2 hour rule exists as, for most, there will be a peak in BS readings sometime in that period, and if there is no need to correct for that as the pre-meal QA will sort that out eventually.

Assuming you have some knowledge of how long your body usually takes to return the BS to pre-meal levels, then you should be able to identify an unexpected peak which should be treated before the next meal.Unfortunately though, as with all these discussions, what works for one does not necessarily apply to another. So you should only move outside the standard advice if you're confident you know what you're doing, ideally you're not abroad the first time you're doing it and, of course, you've discussed it with your HCP.

Good luck

Peter