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I think if possible its always better to get the insulin in before, as it takes a few minutes to get going and sometimes needs more time to be underway to meet the digestion of your meal........

So if your out and don't know the carb count and whether you will finish it all etc, then it w be OK to inject after each course.............I personally would guess the carbs for both courses then inject......

Jan 6, 2013

Stew B 123 posts

Of course, with takeaways it's a good idea to open the containers before injecting, just to make sure that you've got what you think you ordered.. I once injected for the chow mein I thought I'd ordered, only to find chop suey when I opened the container!

Jan 5, 2013

Teanosugar 25 posts

When I eat out I inject per course once the food is at the table as to play safe (usually just before eating depending on my BM). Sometimes I've injected three or four times in a sitting. It's probably good to do the same with a takeaway so you don't inject for all the food and then find that you are full half way through or the insulin kicks in before you've had time to eat everything. It's kind of like 'inject as you go' if you will. I suppose there's more reason to do it per course when eating out so you can actually see the food portions and also to prevent problems if there is a big delay with being served etc.

Jan 5, 2013

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

If I was eating a meal out I think what usually works best for me if I was having a starter then main course is to inject after each course.

Is this is an ok thing to do?

If it is then maybe i should do this when having a takeaway at home too.

Jan 5, 2013

Teanosugar 25 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carb Free/ Exercise Question

Hi everyone,

I am at the high end of my BMI and want to lose about a stone before I am officially classed as overweight. I am just wondering if eating one or two carb free meal at weekends would help with this? I think if I did it through the week while I'm at work I would end up having a hypo or feeling like I was going to hypo because when I get really hungry it's often a similar feeling to when I'm just going into a hypo (even if my blood isn't low). However I am also planning on exercise at weekends when I have some free time so I am thinking that a carb free meal may increase the risk of a hypo?

My blood sugar readings are generally below 10 although every so often my 1 unit to 1 CP ratio inexplicably stops working for a week or so. I hypo about once or twice a week at the moment, but not too seriously.

Has anyone on here got any advice?

Thanks,

Rhys

Jan 4, 2013

Teanosugar 25 posts

Topic: General Discussion / retinopathy

...my first ever post! I graduated from DAFNE around October last year. I have been type 1 for exactly sixteen years come the end of this month (I am now twenty-nine going on thirty). I have had background retinopathy for about three years, and have had two lots of eye surgery in one eye and one lot in the other eye. Apparently I don't have bad leakage; it's just that where the leakage is happening is close to the centre of my vision which is what causes the serious problems. Anyway my experience is that the surgery very slightly damages your vision, but you can only notice it when you shut the eye that hasn't had the surgery. Other people on the DAFNE course said they also noticed changes in their vision after surgery. It's like a little shadowy blip, but a weird blue colour. I feared that having both eyes lasered would mean that I would constantly see these blips all the time, but fortunately this isn't true. Your other eye cancels out the bad vision. And the surgery doesn't hurt although my last lot was very intense and I left feeling exhausted.

Now for some reassurance on this subject: getting your blood sugar under better control can stabilize retinopathy and prevent it from getting worse. I think it can even settle down for various reasons. I asked the specialist doctor this very question on the DAFNE course as I obviously fear serious sight impairment and needed to know the facts. She said it can come and go and stabilize with good control, but the rule of thumb is that the better controlled you are, the slower the rate of nerve damage. I've been going to the hospital every four months for the last three years and since carb counting, it is the first time the eye specialist told me that there's a slight improvement. My HbA1c has come down from an average of 8.5 to my last one being 7.1 since carb counting. I still have to go every four months, but hopefully they may start lengthening the duration to six months and then a year etc.

So basically don't worry too much. It can ebb and flow. Just do your best to keep your blood sugar under control through this carb counting business. Honestly; I wish I had done this from day 1, but back in the mid nineties I was basically told to avoid sugar and guess as best as I can. I had no idea that things had moved on until I finally got worried about my eyes and thought I'd best see someone. Now I feel that I'm on the right track.

Sorry for the massive story.

All the best,

Rhys

Jan 3, 2013

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Warwick said:
Sounds good to me. Possibly depends on how much gravy you have and what is in it. If it has flour, then you may want to account for that too.

Thank you for your reply. I only have a drop of gravy and it's the lazy version of gravy granuels Sad

novorapidboi26 said:
I would also guesstimate around 3/4CHO for the above meal.......

Thank you for your reply Very Happy

Jan 3, 2013

novorapidboi26 1,818 posts

I would also guesstimate around 3/4CHO for the above meal....... Very Happy

Jan 3, 2013

Carolin 83 posts

Topic: General Discussion / diabetic logo tatoo

Hi,

I'm not sure how well the blue circle symbol would be recognised, but the serpent-entwined rod (Rod of Asclepius) is the internationally recognised medical symbol which as Simon rightly says is normally 'worn' close to a pulse point so it's easily seen by emergency staff.

Carolin

Jan 3, 2013

Alan 49 280 posts

Topic: Questions ? / DAFNE Courses

Hello Carolin
I spoke to the Diabetes Centre in Maidstone hospital and they told me that they would be willing to accept somebody outside their catchment area providing they were referred by their GP - as you say. They added that the referred patient would then go on the waiting list for the DAFNE course and the current waiting time is 1 Year! OUCH!!

We certainly need to get as many signatures as possible on that e-petition for more funding. I've just checked and there have only been 1708 signatures so far.

Alan

Jan 2, 2013

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Buffets

Here's how I went on at my buffet

1. eyeball what's what ie carby foods / non carby foods
--- I did this - easy

2. get my plateful of carby foods / non carby foods
--- did this - easy

3. inject according to the amount of carbs on my plate
--- at this point I start to panic even though I've got all the things worked out in my mind or on paper/pc due to seeing lots of different carby things on my plate ie cocktail sausage rolls 2/3 / piece of quiche size less than a 1/4 of the quiche / 2 triangular sandwiches / asda mini haddock & cheese fishcakes 2
--- injected probably 6u QA but no idea why as I'm now in my panic

4. I would now get a dessert (if wanted) and do a second injection for the amount of carbs in this
--- didn't have any dessert

the problem is what would you do if you wanted to pick at anything during the evening / afternoon ie cocktail sausage rolls / vol-au-vents etc?
--- didn't really pick at anything

Jan 2, 2013

Simon 574 posts

Topic: General Discussion / diabetic logo tatoo

Hi there,

I know most paramedics are told to look around the pulse points (bracelets / necklace area) so perhaps there is your best bet. I know a chap who had it tattooed on his forearm as well.

Simon

Jan 2, 2013

shuk-king 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / diabetic logo tatoo

Hi I know the International diabetic tatoo is just a blue ring/circle but what I what to know whether it is recognisable by health practitioners i.e. paramedics & where would they look for one. I mean I don't want diabetic logo tatoo on my forehead!!!
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
SK

Jan 2, 2013

Warwick 434 posts

Sounds good to me. Possibly depends on how much gravy you have and what is in it. If it has flour, then you may want to account for that too.

Jan 1, 2013

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Roast Dinner

I know we're all different but just wondered how much QA/bolus would you have for:
meat
roast potatoes 3/4 small
broccoli
cauuliflower
gravy

according to my carbs and cals book it's 25g cho for my usual portion size of potatoes so I would sometimes do 3u QA and sometimes 4u QA on a 1:10 ratio.

Jan 1, 2013

Garry 328 posts

Good points.
And A Happy New Year to us all.
Regards
Garry

Dec 31, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Obviously you need to check expiry date and other things like what temperature it is kept at and is pen working ok.

Dec 31, 2012

silversurfer 4 posts

Thank you Garry will do that

Dec 31, 2012

Garry 328 posts