Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Feb 5, 2014

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

Warwick, another factor I have found to add to the list is stress.

I can have higher BG after a day at work, but plummet when I get on the bike cos whatever the body is doing to raise BG during stress is relieved during exercise on the bike, double whammy a hypo or carbs needed if caught.

Feb 5, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne

Hello,

Are you using the same doses for Levemir as you were for Lantus? It is quite common to need to increase doses of Levemir to get the same effect as Lantus - sometimes by up to 25%. So if for example, you were on 20 units of Lantus daily, and you have switched to 2 x 10-unit doses of Levemir per day, then you may need to be on as much as 12 or 13 units per Levemir dose.

As Phil says though, test your overnight levels, and if you do increase the dose, then only do it by 10% at a time, and leave for 2-3 days before any further increases.

Feb 5, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

I am reading the Daiabetic Athlete's Handbook by Sheri R. Colberg at the moment which is very good and highly recommended.

Here is what she lists as affecting blood glucose responses to exercise:

Energy system used (exercise duration and intensity)
Blood sugars at start of activity.
Training status (i.e., new versus usual activity)
Prior exercise (same day or day before)
Types of insulin you use
Time you last ate
Temperature and other environmental conditions
Recent or current illness
Phase of menstrual cycle
Type of exercise
Time of day of exercise
Previous episode of hypoglycemia
Timing of last insulin dose
Other glucose-lowering medications that you take
Type of food that you ate
Level of hydration
Pregnancy

So lots of things to consider when exercising. It is still worth it though, even when we get it wrong :-)

Feb 5, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

Changing the t of day that you are exercising can help with this. Exercising before breakfast means that you don't have any QA lingering to worry about, and can also help with dawn phenomenon. I find that I can go for an hour-long run before breakfast and return with BGs similar to what I started with.

Cycling to work after breakfast gives me no trouble, but cycling home 5 hours after lunch is a different issue, where my BGs tend to plunge unless I eat about 30 grams of carbs beforehand.

It is really hard to keep BGs in the right place during exercise though, and frequent testing does seem to be the best way. I did a long-distance triathlon last weekend, and pre-swim was 14.5 (I like to be about 13 beforehand as the swim in open water is the worst place to have a hypo), around 9.5 at transition 1 (swim to bike), but had gone to 24.5 at transition 2 (bike to run).

I still don't know what shot me that high. It had never happened in training. Possibly the meter was at fault - I had it in a bag on my back which was in direct sunlight and the temperature was over 30 degrees so it might have been giving high readings as a result.

I injected 4 units of insulin, and half an hour later was down to 7 while running, and then had to keep on eating to avoid a hypo for the rest of the run.

I was also battling the early stages of a cold and that had been sending my BGs higher recently too, so maybe that was part of the issue too.

I think when it comes down to it though, it becomes a matter of trial and error, and the more you exercise, the better you get to know your body's BG response. 90% of the time, I know how much carb I need before my evening cycle commute. 10 % of the time, I'll get home with high BGs, or occasionally a hypo, and given how many variables there are that affect blood glucose levels, I think that is as good as I am going to get it.

Feb 5, 2014

aprilp 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

I have so much respect for any diabetic who does such huge amounts of exercise as you do, Phil. I find it mind boggling, although I used to run 10 miles in training when I was younger. I hope Neil that you will continue like me to do what we can to stay fit, but I think I feel diabetes as more of a handicap when exercising than at any other time. I am sure you are right, Phil about how it varies each time.

Feb 4, 2014

Mollymynett 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne

Thanks for your advice . I know i will get there just so many changes and I feel awful when in double figures . I will stay positive and be patient . You know what it's like maybe it's just me expecting results straight away . I spoke with my nurse today and she has mentioned something called the dawn phenomina . She has also talked about me going on the pump which I'm not sure about . So much to think about

Feb 4, 2014

alturn 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne

Welcome, hope you find the forums useful.

Try not be frustrated by your levels, it may take a while to adjust to DAFNE and split Levemir. I've just checked my units (keep them all in a spreadsheet as well as in DAFNE) and I increased my Levemir from 9am/7pm to 13am/11pm over about 4 months after DAFNE. BGs vary, had a lot in the 9-13 range recently which really dislike as feel out of control, but with DAFNE now avoiding (most of) very high levels and very low. So last HBA1C was spot-on - but next will probably be a bit higher. It's a continuous process of monitor and adjust.

Feb 4, 2014

Glynis 3 posts

Topic: Site Development / DAFNE Online iPhone application - help with content/design needed

Used to use DAFNE app on Android phone but now have been given my sons old iPhone 4 and have been using DAFNE app on it. Was very disappointed when I found out they are not the same. Gradually getting used to it but surely there must be a way to put all the entries in at once eg blood glucose, carbs and then dose? Hoping it is just me and I have missed something, if so can you advise me how to do it, if not can you fix it so that you can put all entries in and the save. Thanks G Rennie

Feb 4, 2014

neilbunting 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

Thanks phil that does make sense. But putting in to practice is harder. Aprilp you are right it is scary working out. The thought of putting insulin in when exercising I seem to come down really fast. I do quite high intensity training. But fed up of going high after feel like I am always chasing my tail.

Feb 4, 2014

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

runsweet is quite good to see that other diabetics cope, but it is not as well used as here in all honesty.

Plus I think you need to find your own way with exercise, I have big problems as I do 10 - 15 hours cycling, I have gels and sports drinks in every jersey pocket and a special top tube bag for energy bars with slower release carbs as well as pure sugar.

The main problem with CV exercise is your muscles crave sugar to produce power, they send a signal to the liver to kick out glycogen as a fast response, without the pancreas creating insulin this sugar can't get out of the blood, so if you start exercise with little or no insulin on board your BG can shoot through the roof. The problem is too much and you have a hypo during, hence the massive amounts of sugar I carry as a precaution on the bike. For hours after exercise, even up 36 hours if you've done alot the muscles will be repairing and replenishing gylcogen which comes from the sugar in your blood some you may need to lower BI and just be careful with QA (this is trial and error as everytime you exercise is different).

Hope some of that waffle makes sense and helps.

Phil

Feb 4, 2014

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please

novorapidboi26 said:
hearing what you have said its hard to to see anything else lol....

At least I've tried lol!

but yeah, missed corrections...........

Re the corrections I'm doing them but just not entering them as a separate thing in my diary. My correction doses show up on my meter then what I'm entering into the diary is the final dose of QA with the correction included because I can't remember always at the time of entering results on here what they are if that makes sense.

And you should really consider a split dose of background....
What do you see to make you think about a split dose of BI? Also would you start with a 50/50 split?

Feb 4, 2014

aprilp 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

I do my bs frequently at the Gym because of this fear. I am going to have a look on line at a website called runsweet, which was recommended by the Dafne tutors. Maybe you could get some advice too from there. But it is very frustrating, isn't it? Yesterday I wanted to go for a swim but I kept going hypo so couldn't go. Still, I think it is worth it to keep trying as it does make me feel so much better when I do exercise.

Feb 4, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on completing DAFNE......

As Phil says, getting your Levemir dose pinned down is priority at the moment, most people leave DAFNE with this dose not completely sorted, as it can take a few weeks........

Once this is done, you can tweak your QA doses and you should see results......

Remember, your body needs what it needs in terms of insulin, so don't worry if your dose is more than you were previously used to....

Feb 4, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please

hearing what you have said its hard to to see anything else lol....

but yeah, missed corrections...........

its a valid point that you probably aren't correcting because it might drop you below target, but its perfectly likely that 1 units doesn't drop you 3 at all times in a 24 hour period...

DAFNE teaches you that 1 unit drop you by 2 - 3 mmol, so actually 2.5 mmol, at least at the beginning.......

from 6am to 1130am 1 unit drops me by 1.5, the rest of the day is 2.............you can work this out by having a carb free meal with a high number before it.........see what the correction alone does after 4-5 hours...

Don't be afraid to give 1 unit correction.........

And you should really consider a split dose of background.... Smile

Feb 4, 2014

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne

Feeling frustrated is very normal, for me double figures are also quite common Crying or Very sad

If you look at other posts here, the best bet is to do a fasting base level test to check Levemir is correct, go 24 - 48 hours with no carbs (not all together), overnight, then on a dif day miss breakfast and possibly lunch, then on another day miss diner. If levemir is correct it should hold you at roughly (with a few mmol) at the same level for the full 24 hours.

Hope this helps.

Phil

Feb 3, 2014

Mollymynett 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne

Hi I've just recently done the dafne . I've been an insulin dependent diabetic for 33years . Since I was 3 .ive had my ups and downs . Feeling a little down as changed from lantus to lev emir now twice daily . Can't seem to get my levels down from double figures . Feeling slightly frustrated is this normal . Thanks in advance

Feb 3, 2014

neilbunting 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

Hi guy's thanks for the comments. I do find that my sugar s just go down very fast when I work out in the gym. It scars me tgat I will hypo in the gym. So I drink Lucazde then find out after I am always high. Bit of a nightmare. Need to get sorted as love the gym and way it makes me feel.

Feb 3, 2014

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please

Fri 31.01
- 15:59pm- no correction shown on the diary
- 19:47 - ditto

Sat 01.02
15:52 - no correction shown
22:33 - ditto

Sun 02.02
19:20 - no correction shown
22:27 - ditto

Mon 03.02
no corrections again being shown

BG's raising towards the end of the day

This is what I've spotted. Now lets see the difference when you say what you've spotted.

My correction doses throughout the day are 1u drops me by 3mmol - I don't know if you could help me here & there on these looking at my diary also maybe this should be 1u drops me by 2mmol?

Feb 3, 2014

aprilp 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty

I too am struggling a little with the Gym. I find my bs drops very quickly with cv exercise so I take some lucozade during my workout. My consultant has suggested reducing my basal to 50 pc an hour before, during and for an hour after. Also to reduce my bolus with my meal prior to exercise to 50 pc if exercising within 3hours of the meal. But to experiment with the percentages. I am scared of going hypo while exercising, despite having had diabetes for almost 48 years!

Feb 3, 2014

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / different bg reading

Most manufacturer control solutions have a huge range of acceptable results from the meter..."only send us the meter back if outside the range 13.8 to 21.2." What!! I thought at the time, what kind of an acceptable test range is that supposed to be?
Repeat tests using the test solution however, gave me a set of results that did not vary by more than 1 mmol. Meter manufacturers talk about 'precision' and they mean statistical precision...or repeatability.
We always think of accuracy and I have to admit that the language that manufacturers use is deliberate to obfuscate and baffle us into thinking that their meter is the best thing since sliced bread...It ainâ€™t. All they mean is that their meter can potentially give us the wrong answer....repeatedly.
Regards
Garry

Feb 3, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please

What do you see.....?

Very Happy

Feb 3, 2014

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please

Any comments welcomed for results 31.01.2014 - 03.02.2914

Feb 3, 2014

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Kola nut

there may be a small amount of carbs in them, but if your eating lots it will add up.

the thing with nuts is that their digestion/absorption into the blood stream is much slower than the action of the QA insulin's we use, so your background would deal with the glucose from them.

Everyone is different though and some find that nuts do effect them.

From online sources it stated they contain a lot of caffeine, which can increase your resistance to insulin I believe.

Feb 3, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / different bg reading

BG meters have to be accurate to within 20% of the true range which is a really high range of error. Even if you use control solution, there will be variance between two consecutive readings.

Given that it isn't that long ago that urine testing was the norm, hopefully it won't be long until there is a new generation of blood testing meters that are accurate to within 5% or lower.

Feb 3, 2014

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Aviva Expert Meter Discrepancies

It's quite common to get readings that are about 1 mmol/L different on consecutive readings. Blood glucose meters need to be accurate to within 20% of the true reading, so the first reading indicates that your true result was between 7.9 and 11.9.

Your second reading indicates a true reading somewhere between 10.1 and 15.1. Therefore, your true result based on both readings is likely to have been between 10.1 and 11.9.

Having said that, when I first got an Aviva Expert, I compared readings from it with four other meters all using the same blood stream, and within seconds of each other. I found the Expert was always a couple of mmol/L higher than my other meters which were all within 1 mmol/L of each other.

I called Accucheck and complained, and they got me to send back the meter and test strips for testing, and sent me out a replacement meter. I've had no trouble with the replacement meter.

If you feel that the meter is inaccurate, ask Accucheck to send you a replacement and test yours. It is my favourite meter - about as close as you can be to being on a pump while being on MDI and has certainly helped my HbA1c come down significantly.

Feb 5, 2014 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty Warwick, another factor I have found to add to the list is stress. I can have higher BG after a day at work, but plummet when I get on the bike cos whatever the body is doing to raise BG during stress is relieved during exercise on the bike, double whammy a hypo or carbs needed if caught.

Feb 5, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne Hello, Are you using the same doses for Levemir as you were for Lantus? It is quite common to need to increase doses of Levemir to get the same effect as Lantus - sometimes by up to 25%. So if for example, you were on 20 units of Lantus daily, and you have switched to 2 x 10-unit doses of Levemir per day, then you may need to be on as much as 12 or 13 units per Levemir dose. As Phil says though, test your overnight levels, and if you do increase the dose, then only do it by 10% at a time, and leave for 2-3 days before any further increases.

Feb 5, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty I am reading the Daiabetic Athlete's Handbook by Sheri R. Colberg at the moment which is very good and highly recommended. Here is what she lists as affecting blood glucose responses to exercise: Energy system used (exercise duration and intensity) Blood sugars at start of activity. Training status (i.e., new versus usual activity) Prior exercise (same day or day before) Types of insulin you use Time you last ate Temperature and other environmental conditions Recent or current illness Phase of menstrual cycle Type of exercise Time of day of exercise Previous episode of hypoglycemia Timing of last insulin dose Other glucose-lowering medications that you take Type of food that you ate Level of hydration Pregnancy So lots of things to consider when exercising. It is still worth it though, even when we get it wrong :-)

Feb 5, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty Changing the t of day that you are exercising can help with this. Exercising before breakfast means that you don't have any QA lingering to worry about, and can also help with dawn phenomenon. I find that I can go for an hour-long run before breakfast and return with BGs similar to what I started with. Cycling to work after breakfast gives me no trouble, but cycling home 5 hours after lunch is a different issue, where my BGs tend to plunge unless I eat about 30 grams of carbs beforehand. It is really hard to keep BGs in the right place during exercise though, and frequent testing does seem to be the best way. I did a long-distance triathlon last weekend, and pre-swim was 14.5 (I like to be about 13 beforehand as the swim in open water is the worst place to have a hypo), around 9.5 at transition 1 (swim to bike), but had gone to 24.5 at transition 2 (bike to run). I still don't know what shot me that high. It had never happened in training. Possibly the meter was at fault - I had it in a bag on my back which was in direct sunlight and the temperature was over 30 degrees so it might have been giving high readings as a result. I injected 4 units of insulin, and half an hour later was down to 7 while running, and then had to keep on eating to avoid a hypo for the rest of the run. I was also battling the early stages of a cold and that had been sending my BGs higher recently too, so maybe that was part of the issue too. I think when it comes down to it though, it becomes a matter of trial and error, and the more you exercise, the better you get to know your body's BG response. 90% of the time, I know how much carb I need before my evening cycle commute. 10 % of the time, I'll get home with high BGs, or occasionally a hypo, and given how many variables there are that affect blood glucose levels, I think that is as good as I am going to get it.

Feb 5, 2014 aprilp 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty I have so much respect for any diabetic who does such huge amounts of exercise as you do, Phil. I find it mind boggling, although I used to run 10 miles in training when I was younger. I hope Neil that you will continue like me to do what we can to stay fit, but I think I feel diabetes as more of a handicap when exercising than at any other time. I am sure you are right, Phil about how it varies each time.

Feb 4, 2014 Mollymynett 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne Thanks for your advice . I know i will get there just so many changes and I feel awful when in double figures . I will stay positive and be patient . You know what it's like maybe it's just me expecting results straight away . I spoke with my nurse today and she has mentioned something called the dawn phenomina . She has also talked about me going on the pump which I'm not sure about . So much to think about

Feb 4, 2014 alturn 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne Welcome, hope you find the forums useful. Try not be frustrated by your levels, it may take a while to adjust to DAFNE and split Levemir. I've just checked my units (keep them all in a spreadsheet as well as in DAFNE) and I increased my Levemir from 9am/7pm to 13am/11pm over about 4 months after DAFNE. BGs vary, had a lot in the 9-13 range recently which really dislike as feel out of control, but with DAFNE now avoiding (most of) very high levels and very low. So last HBA1C was spot-on - but next will probably be a bit higher. It's a continuous process of monitor and adjust.

Feb 4, 2014 Glynis 3 posts	Topic: Site Development / DAFNE Online iPhone application - help with content/design needed Used to use DAFNE app on Android phone but now have been given my sons old iPhone 4 and have been using DAFNE app on it. Was very disappointed when I found out they are not the same. Gradually getting used to it but surely there must be a way to put all the entries in at once eg blood glucose, carbs and then dose? Hoping it is just me and I have missed something, if so can you advise me how to do it, if not can you fix it so that you can put all entries in and the save. Thanks G Rennie

Feb 4, 2014 neilbunting 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty Thanks phil that does make sense. But putting in to practice is harder. Aprilp you are right it is scary working out. The thought of putting insulin in when exercising I seem to come down really fast. I do quite high intensity training. But fed up of going high after feel like I am always chasing my tail.

Feb 4, 2014 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty runsweet is quite good to see that other diabetics cope, but it is not as well used as here in all honesty. Plus I think you need to find your own way with exercise, I have big problems as I do 10 - 15 hours cycling, I have gels and sports drinks in every jersey pocket and a special top tube bag for energy bars with slower release carbs as well as pure sugar. The main problem with CV exercise is your muscles crave sugar to produce power, they send a signal to the liver to kick out glycogen as a fast response, without the pancreas creating insulin this sugar can't get out of the blood, so if you start exercise with little or no insulin on board your BG can shoot through the roof. The problem is too much and you have a hypo during, hence the massive amounts of sugar I carry as a precaution on the bike. For hours after exercise, even up 36 hours if you've done alot the muscles will be repairing and replenishing gylcogen which comes from the sugar in your blood some you may need to lower BI and just be careful with QA (this is trial and error as everytime you exercise is different). Hope some of that waffle makes sense and helps. Phil

Feb 4, 2014 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please novorapidboi26 said: hearing what you have said its hard to to see anything else lol.... At least I've tried lol! but yeah, missed corrections........... Re the corrections I'm doing them but just not entering them as a separate thing in my diary. My correction doses show up on my meter then what I'm entering into the diary is the final dose of QA with the correction included because I can't remember always at the time of entering results on here what they are if that makes sense. And you should really consider a split dose of background.... What do you see to make you think about a split dose of BI? Also would you start with a 50/50 split?

Feb 4, 2014 aprilp 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty I do my bs frequently at the Gym because of this fear. I am going to have a look on line at a website called runsweet, which was recommended by the Dafne tutors. Maybe you could get some advice too from there. But it is very frustrating, isn't it? Yesterday I wanted to go for a swim but I kept going hypo so couldn't go. Still, I think it is worth it to keep trying as it does make me feel so much better when I do exercise.

Feb 4, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on completing DAFNE...... As Phil says, getting your Levemir dose pinned down is priority at the moment, most people leave DAFNE with this dose not completely sorted, as it can take a few weeks........ Once this is done, you can tweak your QA doses and you should see results...... Remember, your body needs what it needs in terms of insulin, so don't worry if your dose is more than you were previously used to....

Feb 4, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please hearing what you have said its hard to to see anything else lol.... but yeah, missed corrections........... its a valid point that you probably aren't correcting because it might drop you below target, but its perfectly likely that 1 units doesn't drop you 3 at all times in a 24 hour period... DAFNE teaches you that 1 unit drop you by 2 - 3 mmol, so actually 2.5 mmol, at least at the beginning....... from 6am to 1130am 1 unit drops me by 1.5, the rest of the day is 2.............you can work this out by having a carb free meal with a high number before it.........see what the correction alone does after 4-5 hours... Don't be afraid to give 1 unit correction......... And you should really consider a split dose of background....

Feb 4, 2014 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne Feeling frustrated is very normal, for me double figures are also quite common If you look at other posts here, the best bet is to do a fasting base level test to check Levemir is correct, go 24 - 48 hours with no carbs (not all together), overnight, then on a dif day miss breakfast and possibly lunch, then on another day miss diner. If levemir is correct it should hold you at roughly (with a few mmol) at the same level for the full 24 hours. Hope this helps. Phil

Feb 3, 2014 Mollymynett 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to dafne Hi I've just recently done the dafne . I've been an insulin dependent diabetic for 33years . Since I was 3 .ive had my ups and downs . Feeling a little down as changed from lantus to lev emir now twice daily . Can't seem to get my levels down from double figures . Feeling slightly frustrated is this normal . Thanks in advance

Feb 3, 2014 neilbunting 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty Hi guy's thanks for the comments. I do find that my sugar s just go down very fast when I work out in the gym. It scars me tgat I will hypo in the gym. So I drink Lucazde then find out after I am always high. Bit of a nightmare. Need to get sorted as love the gym and way it makes me feel.

Feb 3, 2014 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please Fri 31.01 - 15:59pm- no correction shown on the diary - 19:47 - ditto Sat 01.02 15:52 - no correction shown 22:33 - ditto Sun 02.02 19:20 - no correction shown 22:27 - ditto Mon 03.02 no corrections again being shown BG's raising towards the end of the day This is what I've spotted. Now lets see the difference when you say what you've spotted. My correction doses throughout the day are 1u drops me by 3mmol - I don't know if you could help me here & there on these looking at my diary also maybe this should be 1u drops me by 2mmol?

Feb 3, 2014 aprilp 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / gym and insulin qty I too am struggling a little with the Gym. I find my bs drops very quickly with cv exercise so I take some lucozade during my workout. My consultant has suggested reducing my basal to 50 pc an hour before, during and for an hour after. Also to reduce my bolus with my meal prior to exercise to 50 pc if exercising within 3hours of the meal. But to experiment with the percentages. I am scared of going hypo while exercising, despite having had diabetes for almost 48 years!

Feb 3, 2014 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / different bg reading Most manufacturer control solutions have a huge range of acceptable results from the meter..."only send us the meter back if outside the range 13.8 to 21.2." What!! I thought at the time, what kind of an acceptable test range is that supposed to be? Repeat tests using the test solution however, gave me a set of results that did not vary by more than 1 mmol. Meter manufacturers talk about 'precision' and they mean statistical precision...or repeatability. We always think of accuracy and I have to admit that the language that manufacturers use is deliberate to obfuscate and baffle us into thinking that their meter is the best thing since sliced bread...It ainâ€™t. All they mean is that their meter can potentially give us the wrong answer....repeatedly. Regards Garry

Feb 3, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please What do you see.....?

Feb 3, 2014 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / My Recent BGs - comments wanted please Any comments welcomed for results 31.01.2014 - 03.02.2914

Feb 3, 2014 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Kola nut there may be a small amount of carbs in them, but if your eating lots it will add up. the thing with nuts is that their digestion/absorption into the blood stream is much slower than the action of the QA insulin's we use, so your background would deal with the glucose from them. Everyone is different though and some find that nuts do effect them. From online sources it stated they contain a lot of caffeine, which can increase your resistance to insulin I believe.

Feb 3, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / different bg reading BG meters have to be accurate to within 20% of the true range which is a really high range of error. Even if you use control solution, there will be variance between two consecutive readings. Given that it isn't that long ago that urine testing was the norm, hopefully it won't be long until there is a new generation of blood testing meters that are accurate to within 5% or lower.

Feb 3, 2014 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Aviva Expert Meter Discrepancies It's quite common to get readings that are about 1 mmol/L different on consecutive readings. Blood glucose meters need to be accurate to within 20% of the true reading, so the first reading indicates that your true result was between 7.9 and 11.9. Your second reading indicates a true reading somewhere between 10.1 and 15.1. Therefore, your true result based on both readings is likely to have been between 10.1 and 11.9. Having said that, when I first got an Aviva Expert, I compared readings from it with four other meters all using the same blood stream, and within seconds of each other. I found the Expert was always a couple of mmol/L higher than my other meters which were all within 1 mmol/L of each other. I called Accucheck and complained, and they got me to send back the meter and test strips for testing, and sent me out a replacement meter. I've had no trouble with the replacement meter. If you feel that the meter is inaccurate, ask Accucheck to send you a replacement and test yours. It is my favourite meter - about as close as you can be to being on a pump while being on MDI and has certainly helped my HbA1c come down significantly.