Recent Posts

Hello sarahg

The other thing you should also take into account is air conditioning,I live in the PRC part time,Heat and cold can take their toil as well towards hypos,Normally drop a couple of units of when here when it is hot,As to food i have found that more restaurants are using sauces that contain high fructose corn syrup and also a lot of bread has sugar added to it as well so be careful when eating out and tell hotel and they will accommodate your needs,Cant say i have never found chinese food same as the UK,As to getting insulin and meds through its very straight forward there but it is a good idea to get letter in the PRC they never bat a eye ball i have found,Sniffer Scanners in HK sometimes alert security that may have something in your bag,Enjoy the PRC and HK, Very Happy

Oct 16, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Accu Chek Aviva Expert Bolus Advisor - and eating out

You will get bolus advice, but it will probably be incorrect as you need to take a BG reading first, and that reading will likely be higher after eating than before.

In these circumstances, I estimate the number of carbs that I am likely to inject, get the bolus advice, and then inject later once I know whether my estimate was in range. If I had less carbs, then I'll reduce the QA dose and if I had more, I'll increase it.

Oct 16, 2013

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Accu Chek Aviva Expert Bolus Advisor - and eating out

Googum said:
Enter the DATA after your meal if your injecting after the meal

Would I still get the bolus advice though?

Oct 16, 2013

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Accu Chek Aviva Expert Bolus Advisor - and eating out

Accu Chek Aviva Expert Bolus Advisor - and eating out

Is there anybody on here who uses this meter & how do you go on when eating out?

When eating out I personally find it much easier to
- order
- test
- eat meal
- then inject afterwords once I know how many carbs I've had rather than testing etc at the time of the meal arriving

the problem is that the meter only gives bolus advice once the carbs are entered.

Oct 16, 2013

Overlis 3 posts

I have done the course before I fell pregnant just don't have the centre code! My problem is I tend to snack at work and because emergencies can crop up there I tend to find I don't get round to getting my insulin done!

Oct 16, 2013

Louise1988 69 posts

Overlis, I sent you a message earlier Smile

Oct 16, 2013

Louise1988 69 posts

I find it harder to control when I'm not at work. I guess because I'm eating more, and if I'm at work, I force myself to go to exercise classes after work, whereas I don't bother if I'm not at work!

Oct 16, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Its funny, i find there much harder to control when not at work. The routine of the work day helps me as without it, at the weekends, I find myself snacking and sometimes not giving myself the insulin for it.......

I see your not a DAFNE graduate, is there any chance you could get on a course? For me and a lot of others it actually motivates you to take control, because it just seems so simple once you have learned how to dose adjust.

Oct 16, 2013

Overlis 3 posts

My blood sugars aren't brilliantly controlled at the minute I stopped checking them after I had my son and have only just started again! I find it much easier to control when am not at work! I have no complications either so I'm lucky however just gets to me sometimes

Oct 16, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Welcome to the forum..........

Its OK to have a rant and moan from time to time as its only natural for the diabetes to get you down sometimes. I suppose it will effect everyone differently.

I have had it 15 years and more than half that time it been controlled badly. Fortunately though I am fairly complication free and so it doesn't bother me. Although even with complications it probably wouldn't bother much either, but that's as everyone is different.

Were all here to support each other though........

Do you currently have any complications or are having issues with your blood sugar or is it just a general feeling...

Oct 16, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Rafa said:
Warwick said:
Excellent Rafa. How exciting.

Thanks a million for all the information, much appreciated. Nervous but looking forward to it. Can i ask would you stop and test the BG much during a marathon?

Again, it will come down to what happens in your training. If you are hypoing often in your training, then yes, do test often. If not, then you may find with the excitement and adrenaline, that you are a little more resistant than usual anyway and don't need to. By the time you are halfway around the course you will probably have a good idea of what your BGs are doing and whether you need to keep testing or not.

I ran a half marathon on Sunday, and didn't test until the finish as I felt fine the whole way around. I was 14.5 at the end then, so I'd had a bit too much sports drink on the way around, although I was running faster than in training which possibly also contributed. It is good to have QA available in your bag that you drop off, so that you can correct if need be before starting and afterwards if BGs have gone a bit high. Just try and make sure that the bag is out of sunlight.

If you think that you might go high, then you could have a friend or family member sited at the halfway point with QA, and take it there if necessary.

I tend to have carbs right before the event so I am starting with BGs about 13 (they usually quickly drop). I haven't hypoed in a marathon yet, although I have a couple of times in half marathons and half ironman events and it's always a pain sitting out for 15 minutes while the BGS go back up.

The TRUE Result Twist is a good BG meter for testing during events although not sure if it is available in the UK. It is nice and small, and you can test while walking so you don't lose too much time.

I reviewed it here last week:

http://needcarbs.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/meters-reviewed-nipro-trueresult-twist/

If you can get hold of one, then I recommend it for taking with you as you exercise.

Oct 15, 2013

claire k 5 posts

Hey it's a bummer alright, have it 30yrs. But ur aloud a rant its good for ya. It can also be a good thing, just need to get a different spin on it. I do it infront of ppl now, didnt for years more fool me. If I didnt know them I would ask first.
I would be a mess if I wasnt a diabetic.

Oct 15, 2013

Overlis 3 posts

In fed up of been diabetic, injecting and testing my blood sugars! I know there is nothing I can do about it I've had it 25 years but today today I really wonder wether it's all worth it! Sorry for the down post but actually today not sure why I'm bothered just know that another 25 yrs of this is unfair fed up of always having to check labels when out with friends and popping off all the time! Sorry rant over

Oct 15, 2013

sarahg 29 posts

Hi Veronica thanks so much for this, I will take your advice on the Lantus cheers :

Oct 15, 2013

Rafa 99 posts

youone said:
Only run 10km (6miles) hope to increase that to 9miles
Good luck and all the best with the London marathon

Thanks very much.

Oct 15, 2013

Rafa 99 posts

Warwick said:
Excellent Rafa. How exciting.

I've run four marathons - the first one pre-diabetes and the last three post diabetes. You will work out most or all of what you need to know in the training that you do for it. Build up the training slowly to avoid injuries - one long run a week supported by a couple of shorter runs per week is good.

For the actual day, I run with one of these:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Drink-Bottle-Holder-Belt-Hydration-Waist-Pack-Nathan-Elite-2V-Plus-Fuel-Belt-New-/330897401499

One 750 ml bottle is ordinary strength sports drink, and the other contains 3 x strength sports drink. I drink the ordinary-strength bottle of sports drink over the first quarter of the event, then stop at a drink station, transfer 1/3 of the concentrated sports drink to the empty bottle, and top it up with water from the drink station. That gets me to half way, then I transfer half of the remaining concentrated bottle to my empty bottle, top both up with water, and I'm good for the rest of the race.

The hydration belt is also good for carrying things like jelly beans, blood glucose meter, hand sanitiser, keys etc.

It's best not to rely on the provided sports drinks at the water stations as they tend to be watered down a lot. Alternatively, you might be able to hand your bottles in to the event prior to running and have them available at the drink stations, but if you do that, then make sure your bottles are very noticeable, e.g. spray paint them pink so that you can work out which is yours from everyone else's.

In training, on your long runs, work out how much carb you need to take while running, and also how much you need to drop your basal by prior to the run. On race day, you will be really prepared for anything that can happen, because it will almost certainly have already happened to you in training.

Testing for hypos is also really important in the 24-48 hours after the event (and training long runs). It is much more likely that you will have them during that period.

I wrote up about my first marathon post diabetes here:

http://needcarbs.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/marathon-number-2/

(note that at the time I was on 2 x basal insulin injections per day with no QA injections).

Marathons 3 and 4, I wrote about here when I was on basal and QA injections:

http://needcarbs.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/finishing-unfinished-business/

That last link also contains a link to Heidi Jane James' website which I'd recommend for info from another type 1 marathoner and ironman.

Thanks a million for all the information, much appreciated. Nervous but looking forward to it. Can i ask would you stop and test the BG much during a marathon?

Oct 15, 2013

Rafa 99 posts

novorapidboi26 said:
No marathon or any running experience, but good luck and well done........

Thanks a lot.

Oct 15, 2013

Veronica 2 posts

I went to China about 7 years ago - brilliant!!! With regards to your Lantus, it depends what time you are travelling. I would be inclined to just miss one basal dose as you will be going forward 8 hours (preferrably a morning dose) With regards to your bolus, I found that the meals were mostly made up of fresh vegetables and meat/fish and most of the carbs just come from rice so I just worked out my bolus dose based on how much rice I ate plus 1CP. Most of the meals we had didn't have a pudding, but fresh water melon was included at the end of the meal (0 carbs) Other than that, just check your BG regularly and make adjustments if you need to. In the 2 weeks I was over there I didn't have any high BGs and only 2 hypos - one on the first day when I had too much insulin because I was expecting Chinese food to be like the Chinese food we get over here, and one when I walked part of the Great Wall! On the return journey, take an extra dose of Lantus (again preferrably a morning dose) halfway between your last Lantus dose in China and your first dose in the UK. You are only going for 10 days, so a few highs or lows won't have much effect on your overall control, just keep your emergency hypo treatment handy at all times, and make sure people around you know what to do to help you.
Good luck, hope you have a great time!
Veronica.

Oct 14, 2013

youone 102 posts

Thanks Warwick I'm sure your links and experience will help Rafa, I myself will try some of your suggestions to reach my next goal....... Cool

Oct 14, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Excellent Rafa. How exciting.

I've run four marathons - the first one pre-diabetes and the last three post diabetes. You will work out most or all of what you need to know in the training that you do for it. Build up the training slowly to avoid injuries - one long run a week supported by a couple of shorter runs per week is good.

For the actual day, I run with one of these:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Drink-Bottle-Holder-Belt-Hydration-Waist-Pack-Nathan-Elite-2V-Plus-Fuel-Belt-New-/330897401499

One 750 ml bottle is ordinary strength sports drink, and the other contains 3 x strength sports drink. I drink the ordinary-strength bottle of sports drink over the first quarter of the event, then stop at a drink station, transfer 1/3 of the concentrated sports drink to the empty bottle, and top it up with water from the drink station. That gets me to half way, then I transfer half of the remaining concentrated bottle to my empty bottle, top both up with water, and I'm good for the rest of the race.

The hydration belt is also good for carrying things like jelly beans, blood glucose meter, hand sanitiser, keys etc.

It's best not to rely on the provided sports drinks at the water stations as they tend to be watered down a lot. Alternatively, you might be able to hand your bottles in to the event prior to running and have them available at the drink stations, but if you do that, then make sure your bottles are very noticeable, e.g. spray paint them pink so that you can work out which is yours from everyone else's.

In training, on your long runs, work out how much carb you need to take while running, and also how much you need to drop your basal by prior to the run. On race day, you will be really prepared for anything that can happen, because it will almost certainly have already happened to you in training.

Testing for hypos is also really important in the 24-48 hours after the event (and training long runs). It is much more likely that you will have them during that period.

I wrote up about my first marathon post diabetes here:

http://needcarbs.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/marathon-number-2/

(note that at the time I was on 2 x basal insulin injections per day with no QA injections).

Marathons 3 and 4, I wrote about here when I was on basal and QA injections:

http://needcarbs.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/finishing-unfinished-business/

That last link also contains a link to Heidi Jane James' website which I'd recommend for info from another type 1 marathoner and ironman.

Oct 14, 2013

sarahg 29 posts