Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Oct 3, 2013

Vickyp 137 posts

I have background retinopathy...as shown by last 2 eye scans. Have only been diagnosed diabetic for 18 months!
When having a recent eye test I told the opthalmologist and he had a good check and said its must be minor as he couldn't see any issues, and no change to sight since last eye test. He also said that background retinopathy can come and go and it depends on when scan taken, but it's nothing to worry about!

Oct 3, 2013

Robbo 1 post

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / carbs and cal iphone app

Just wondering if anybody is having trouble using the very useful app " Carbs and Cals". Since doing the update to new software the app appears to freeze.
Find this app very good for eating out etc. Saves carrying the book with you .

Oct 3, 2013

dinaelshurafa 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / eye scan

I have had the same thing - "background retinopathy" - my consultant said to keep a closer eye on my sugars and as long as I have better control, this shouldn't be a problem..

Oct 3, 2013

izzi1234 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eye scan

Thanks for the replies im hoping its just back ground retinopathathy.

Think the letter which is obviously a template should be worded better. I have only been type 1 for 5 years so is a bit worrying im only 26.

Oct 3, 2013

Auffea 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eye scan

I had a letter like that last year saying that I had "background retinopathy" I was so worried that i asked the diabetes specialist at my local hospital who explained that most of the population has background retinopathy and that it doesn't mean that you are in imminent danger of losing your eyesight. He said just keep your blood glucose down within target and everything should be alright. I have had diabetes now for 15 years and that was the first time I'd heard of background retinopathy.

Oct 3, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eye scan

It may of course be something other than diabetic retinopathy. Hopefully your letter will tell you what it is.

Oct 3, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eye scan

Sounds like Diabetic Retinopathy to me:

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

The management section of this article may be helpful.

Definitely talk to someone - opthalmologist or doctor about this. If you aren't happy with the response you get, then get a second opinion. Part of a medical professional's job is to answer your questions and help your management, and if they aren't doing that effectively, then you are well within your rights to find that one does.

Oct 2, 2013

izzi1234 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / eye scan

I have recently had an eye scan and been sent a letter saying that diabetes is affecting my eyes. no treatment required.

I rung my doctors as it says to ring them for more info but they just left a voicemail saying basically nothing other than that its affecting my eyes and will go for another scan in a year.

has any one had this before can it go? its left me a bit worried

thanks

Oct 1, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow!

Hello,

I don't find it sore at all injecting into my bicep. I think it may have hurt a bit injecting into my calf, but I stopped doing that. Everyone is different though, so it would be a case of experimentation.

I use 4 mm needles whether injecting into fat or muscle, but I have very little fat between the skin and muscle of the bicep. An 8 mm needle may be required if more body fat is carried.

If your BGLs are back in a normal zone 3-4 hours after eating, then increasing your QA dose would be a bad idea as it will likely lead to hypos. You would want to look at injecting earlier before meals so that the peak action of the QA matches the peaking of the BGs after eating, or trying the muscle injections.

Oct 1, 2013

sheila 2 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow!

Hi everyone - thank you so much for your interest and speedy replies! The injecting into muscle sounds intriguing, but isn't it a bit sore? Sad

And wouldn't I need longer needles (I have 6mm at the moment)? It definitely sounds like something I'd look into, though, thanks for the suggestion. My BG seems to rise to as high as 19 or 20 an hour after I've eaten, and that's when it's at between 6 and 7 before I eat. This can't be right, surely? I wondered whether I should change my ratios, but it seems to be more to do with when it's rising rather than the amounts? I'm now also seriously considering taking my bolus dose early, though this might not be achievable each time I eat, as sometimes it's more spontaneous than others! Thanks for all your suggestions.

Oct 1, 2013

jlyall 8 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / carbs in turnip

a good helping of mashed turnip instead of potatoes and a bit of butter
possibly count it the next time and see what happens

Oct 1, 2013

Eatonmywords 2 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Ketones at Night

Thanks novorapidboi26 - I think that my BI is holding me steady once I have got rid of the ketones I am back in target and it holds me there. I wondered about increasing my dinnertime ratio in the hope that it would help hold the ketones off. I am on soluble (Humulin S) QA so it hangs around for up to 8 hours.

Oct 1, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow!

Experimenting with the timing as Garry suggested would be my personal choice. Allowing the insulin to get in and going strong would be advantageous to your quick digestion. I injected, and still do bolus with pump, 30 minutes before I eat, in order to get the mid meal spike down as low as possible, so 1.5 to 2 hours later. It works a treat. So definitely worth experimenting with.

Warwick suggestion is good too, if your up for that....

How much of a rise in BG have you observed.....?

Oct 1, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Ketones at Night

how many ketones are you registering? Is it blood ketones?

Ketones usually present them selves when there is lack of glucose energy getting in to the cells and so fat is burned to satisfy that glucose requirement. You seem to be having carbs every few hours with insulin, so you would expect ketone levels to be lower during this time, which is during the day, the time your ketone levels are lower....

I cant really say if its normal for ketones to come and go. I know once they are there they have to processed with insulin just as glucose does....

If the ketone levels are low, so + or ++, then I would recommend doing a BI check overnight. Only if you feel up to it. You would be up every 2 hours anyway, so it would be an excellent opportunity to see what your BI is doing overnight.

Ultimately you aren't getting enough insulin during the night, which is causing the ketones, so getting your BI to do the heavy lifting rather than breaking sleep and giving QA to compensate would be much more appealing....

Very Happy

Oct 1, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / carbs in turnip

was there a lot of turnip?

either way, a few more test with it should confirm if you need insulin........the amount of which will likely be unique to you.... Smile

Oct 1, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / working nights

I agree with Wawrick, taking it at the same time would be the preferred option...

There is no reason why this wont be possible, unless your shift starts at 10 pm. An hour either side of 10 pm wont matter though.......

Enjoy the night shift........

I was on 2 injections a day when I done night shift, it killed me........

Oct 1, 2013

Eatonmywords 2 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Ketones at Night

I discovered two skin infection sites on 27th. The GP nurse prescribed antibiotics to fight the infection. Alongside hot compresses this seems to have worked quite well. I am checking Ketones as I also have a cold. But I am finding that I am clear of Ketones during the day, but they reappear before I go to bed meaning I am having to check 2 hourly through the night (according to the sick day rules).

Is it normal for Ketones to come and go like this? Could I make a change to my INSULIN regime during the day to counteract the Ketones at night?

Sep 30, 2013

Rafa 99 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Weekly readings

Went away to America for ten days and my morning readings went mad. Nearly all between 14-15. I was eating out every night so might have BEEN calculating cps wrong even though i had my notes, carbs and cals with me. Hoping that i am back now i will be able to settle down over the coming days and am BG won't be as high. Before i went my educator advised me to take my evening BI with my dinner at 7.30-8pm due to the am readings and see how it goes. I had been taking my BI at bedtime (10pm-11pm). This was just before i went away. Will give it three days and see how the am read. If not i am thinking my BI in the evening may need to go up.

Sep 30, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Topic: General Discussion / working nights

Hi Dean,

I'd suggest keeping it the same, and doing regular tests. If you find yourself going high or low consistently then you can raise or lower your BI, but it probably won't affect you too much.

Some people take Lantus in the morning, some at night. I take it twice a day - with breakfast and with tea as I find it doesn't last the full 24 hours for me, so taking it around the same time as you already do will probably work fine for you.

Cheers,
Warwick.

Sep 29, 2013

Dean123 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / working nights

hi i have just been told that i am working nights for 3 weeks for 12 hour shifts , how do i go on with my lantus i usely take it at 10pm night, any tips or info would be very welcome . thanks dean

Sep 28, 2013

youone 102 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Skin drug with spin-off benefits for Type 1

I agree, very interesting and another move forward Very Happy

Sep 28, 2013

Warwick 425 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow!

Something I have had great success with recently after hearing about it from Gary Scheiner (author of Think Like a Pancreas) is injecting insulin directly into muscle rather than fat. It gets absorbed twice as quickly. I'm on Humalog which takes about 3 hours to fully absorb, and 90 minutes to peak, but injecting into muscle means it is all used within 90 minutes with a peak at about 45 minutes.

I have only used it so far for when I am high and want to get back down into the normal range quickly, but my HbA1c has gone from 7.2 last year, to 6.1 6 months ago, and 6.2 last week. I inject into my bicep, but I was told that quads and calf muscle could also be used. I haven't had such a good result from either of those (and it can be difficult to inject there if wearing trousers, so I've stuck exclusively to the bicep muscle.

It is also good when I know I am high, but will be exercising within two hours, as I can inject into muscle to bring my down to a good range, and know that all QA will be consumed before I exercise reducing the risk of a hypo during the exercise.

In your case, you could proceed cautiously, and split your dose into two equal injections - one in your normal area of injection, and one into the muscle. Then based on your results, you could increase one and decrease the other depending on what works for you.

Cheers,
Warwick.

Oct 3, 2013 Vickyp 137 posts	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan I have background retinopathy...as shown by last 2 eye scans. Have only been diagnosed diabetic for 18 months! When having a recent eye test I told the opthalmologist and he had a good check and said its must be minor as he couldn't see any issues, and no change to sight since last eye test. He also said that background retinopathy can come and go and it depends on when scan taken, but it's nothing to worry about!

Oct 3, 2013 Robbo 1 post	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / carbs and cal iphone app Just wondering if anybody is having trouble using the very useful app " Carbs and Cals". Since doing the update to new software the app appears to freeze. Find this app very good for eating out etc. Saves carrying the book with you .

Oct 3, 2013 dinaelshurafa 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan I have had the same thing - "background retinopathy" - my consultant said to keep a closer eye on my sugars and as long as I have better control, this shouldn't be a problem..

Oct 3, 2013 izzi1234 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan Thanks for the replies im hoping its just back ground retinopathathy. Think the letter which is obviously a template should be worded better. I have only been type 1 for 5 years so is a bit worrying im only 26.

Oct 3, 2013 Auffea 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan I had a letter like that last year saying that I had "background retinopathy" I was so worried that i asked the diabetes specialist at my local hospital who explained that most of the population has background retinopathy and that it doesn't mean that you are in imminent danger of losing your eyesight. He said just keep your blood glucose down within target and everything should be alright. I have had diabetes now for 15 years and that was the first time I'd heard of background retinopathy.

Oct 3, 2013 Warwick 425 posts	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan It may of course be something other than diabetic retinopathy. Hopefully your letter will tell you what it is.

Oct 3, 2013 Warwick 425 posts	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan Sounds like Diabetic Retinopathy to me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_retinopathy The management section of this article may be helpful. Definitely talk to someone - opthalmologist or doctor about this. If you aren't happy with the response you get, then get a second opinion. Part of a medical professional's job is to answer your questions and help your management, and if they aren't doing that effectively, then you are well within your rights to find that one does.

Oct 2, 2013 izzi1234 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / eye scan I have recently had an eye scan and been sent a letter saying that diabetes is affecting my eyes. no treatment required. I rung my doctors as it says to ring them for more info but they just left a voicemail saying basically nothing other than that its affecting my eyes and will go for another scan in a year. has any one had this before can it go? its left me a bit worried thanks

Oct 1, 2013 Warwick 425 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow! Hello, I don't find it sore at all injecting into my bicep. I think it may have hurt a bit injecting into my calf, but I stopped doing that. Everyone is different though, so it would be a case of experimentation. I use 4 mm needles whether injecting into fat or muscle, but I have very little fat between the skin and muscle of the bicep. An 8 mm needle may be required if more body fat is carried. If your BGLs are back in a normal zone 3-4 hours after eating, then increasing your QA dose would be a bad idea as it will likely lead to hypos. You would want to look at injecting earlier before meals so that the peak action of the QA matches the peaking of the BGs after eating, or trying the muscle injections.

Oct 1, 2013 sheila 2 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow! Hi everyone - thank you so much for your interest and speedy replies! The injecting into muscle sounds intriguing, but isn't it a bit sore? And wouldn't I need longer needles (I have 6mm at the moment)? It definitely sounds like something I'd look into, though, thanks for the suggestion. My BG seems to rise to as high as 19 or 20 an hour after I've eaten, and that's when it's at between 6 and 7 before I eat. This can't be right, surely? I wondered whether I should change my ratios, but it seems to be more to do with when it's rising rather than the amounts? I'm now also seriously considering taking my bolus dose early, though this might not be achievable each time I eat, as sometimes it's more spontaneous than others! Thanks for all your suggestions.

Oct 1, 2013 jlyall 8 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / carbs in turnip a good helping of mashed turnip instead of potatoes and a bit of butter possibly count it the next time and see what happens

Oct 1, 2013 Eatonmywords 2 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Ketones at Night Thanks novorapidboi26 - I think that my BI is holding me steady once I have got rid of the ketones I am back in target and it holds me there. I wondered about increasing my dinnertime ratio in the hope that it would help hold the ketones off. I am on soluble (Humulin S) QA so it hangs around for up to 8 hours.

Oct 1, 2013 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow! Experimenting with the timing as Garry suggested would be my personal choice. Allowing the insulin to get in and going strong would be advantageous to your quick digestion. I injected, and still do bolus with pump, 30 minutes before I eat, in order to get the mid meal spike down as low as possible, so 1.5 to 2 hours later. It works a treat. So definitely worth experimenting with. Warwick suggestion is good too, if your up for that.... How much of a rise in BG have you observed.....?

Oct 1, 2013 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Ketones at Night how many ketones are you registering? Is it blood ketones? Ketones usually present them selves when there is lack of glucose energy getting in to the cells and so fat is burned to satisfy that glucose requirement. You seem to be having carbs every few hours with insulin, so you would expect ketone levels to be lower during this time, which is during the day, the time your ketone levels are lower.... I cant really say if its normal for ketones to come and go. I know once they are there they have to processed with insulin just as glucose does.... If the ketone levels are low, so + or ++, then I would recommend doing a BI check overnight. Only if you feel up to it. You would be up every 2 hours anyway, so it would be an excellent opportunity to see what your BI is doing overnight. Ultimately you aren't getting enough insulin during the night, which is causing the ketones, so getting your BI to do the heavy lifting rather than breaking sleep and giving QA to compensate would be much more appealing....

Oct 1, 2013 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / carbs in turnip was there a lot of turnip? either way, a few more test with it should confirm if you need insulin........the amount of which will likely be unique to you....

Oct 1, 2013 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / working nights I agree with Wawrick, taking it at the same time would be the preferred option... There is no reason why this wont be possible, unless your shift starts at 10 pm. An hour either side of 10 pm wont matter though....... Enjoy the night shift........ I was on 2 injections a day when I done night shift, it killed me........

Oct 1, 2013 Eatonmywords 2 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Ketones at Night I discovered two skin infection sites on 27th. The GP nurse prescribed antibiotics to fight the infection. Alongside hot compresses this seems to have worked quite well. I am checking Ketones as I also have a cold. But I am finding that I am clear of Ketones during the day, but they reappear before I go to bed meaning I am having to check 2 hourly through the night (according to the sick day rules). Is it normal for Ketones to come and go like this? Could I make a change to my INSULIN regime during the day to counteract the Ketones at night?

Sep 30, 2013 Rafa 99 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Weekly readings Went away to America for ten days and my morning readings went mad. Nearly all between 14-15. I was eating out every night so might have BEEN calculating cps wrong even though i had my notes, carbs and cals with me. Hoping that i am back now i will be able to settle down over the coming days and am BG won't be as high. Before i went my educator advised me to take my evening BI with my dinner at 7.30-8pm due to the am readings and see how it goes. I had been taking my BI at bedtime (10pm-11pm). This was just before i went away. Will give it three days and see how the am read. If not i am thinking my BI in the evening may need to go up.

Sep 30, 2013 Warwick 425 posts	Topic: General Discussion / working nights Hi Dean, I'd suggest keeping it the same, and doing regular tests. If you find yourself going high or low consistently then you can raise or lower your BI, but it probably won't affect you too much. Some people take Lantus in the morning, some at night. I take it twice a day - with breakfast and with tea as I find it doesn't last the full 24 hours for me, so taking it around the same time as you already do will probably work fine for you. Cheers, Warwick.

Sep 29, 2013 Dean123 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / working nights hi i have just been told that i am working nights for 3 weeks for 12 hour shifts , how do i go on with my lantus i usely take it at 10pm night, any tips or info would be very welcome . thanks dean

Sep 28, 2013 youone 102 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Skin drug with spin-off benefits for Type 1 I agree, very interesting and another move forward

Sep 28, 2013 Warwick 425 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Think my Novorapid is too slow! Something I have had great success with recently after hearing about it from Gary Scheiner (author of Think Like a Pancreas) is injecting insulin directly into muscle rather than fat. It gets absorbed twice as quickly. I'm on Humalog which takes about 3 hours to fully absorb, and 90 minutes to peak, but injecting into muscle means it is all used within 90 minutes with a peak at about 45 minutes. I have only used it so far for when I am high and want to get back down into the normal range quickly, but my HbA1c has gone from 7.2 last year, to 6.1 6 months ago, and 6.2 last week. I inject into my bicep, but I was told that quads and calf muscle could also be used. I haven't had such a good result from either of those (and it can be difficult to inject there if wearing trousers, so I've stuck exclusively to the bicep muscle. It is also good when I know I am high, but will be exercising within two hours, as I can inject into muscle to bring my down to a good range, and know that all QA will be consumed before I exercise reducing the risk of a hypo during the exercise. In your case, you could proceed cautiously, and split your dose into two equal injections - one in your normal area of injection, and one into the muscle. Then based on your results, you could increase one and decrease the other depending on what works for you. Cheers, Warwick.