Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Sep 12, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

Vic,

You really do sound like the ideal candidate for a pump, the main benefit being the delivery of much smaller doses....

Do you think?

Sep 12, 2012

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

Hi Dave,
I am a sports ground groundsman, have been for the last 15 years. Did Dafne about 3 years ago and am still struggling to be honest to get a settled line. Either low or too high, very few greens. Shortly after Dafne, I was going hypo 3-4 times a day using the 1:1 method, have now dropped it to 0.5:1 during the working day and increase to 1.5:1 in the evening. Because of the nature of the work, control is a nightmare. One day sat on a mower all day doing little, next running behind a pedestrian model or pulling heavy sheets all over the place or worse still top dressing. Always have some Coke close by and try to plan your QA intake by what you will be doing that day. Sorry very vague but its a hard battle. I thought it would be so much better after Dafne but that is not my experience sadly, deapite a huge effort.
Good luck.

Sep 11, 2012

Born Again 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

Hi. I am 35 year Type 1 diabetic and a newbie DAFNE graduate, recently retired Biology teacher and regularly have very active gardening/landscaping days on the several acres of land I have to manage and am frequently involved in busy days of 10 hours and quieter ones when the weather is rubbish. Last year before DAFNE I was all over the place but now, using DAFNE, I have found it vitally important to record every BG and CP QA and BI so that I learn how my different activities affect my BG and am still in the process of making the necessary adjustments so that I don't have hypos. I don't expect I will have to continue making such exact records once I can get a better measure of how my body responds. As a scientist I understand the importance of trying to reduce the number of variables while I learn the ropes, so I have now established my best BI for these busy days and am now making small adjustments to get my dosgae of QA down to target levels. While I am in the learning stages I try to keep my CP easily measured and pretty much the same each day until I get the ratios right for each kind of activity. Hopefully I will be able to make changes to CP with more confidence and the avoidance of hypos which before caused me to lose hope that I would ever get it right. Perhaps this is just missionary zeal on my part so soon after the DAFNE course but I chose my Username to illustrate how I feel after 35 years of guessing! Good luck and I look forward to learning how you get on.

Sep 11, 2012

Nikki H-C 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

Thanks novorapid,

Yes, I do tend to have a drink on either a Friday or a Saturday night, which is why I split out my Mon - Fri and weekends. I suppose I'm not too worried about the hypo's of a weekend as I know I should be injecting less with alcohol knocking around my system... Wink

It's the Monday to Friday bit I think I need to sort.

You're right, I shouldn't reduce my ratio's for GI although until you said it, I hadn't really thought that statement/question through much.

I started doing the "inject early" thing last night, by about 30 minutes and that seemed to do the trick for that one meal. So, early days but I'm going to keep at that and see how I get on.

I now need to stop with the impromptu eating and plan ahead a bit more !! (Like the random, last minute chocolate homemade brownie I had today!! I never eat chocolate/cake.... it must just be my naughty streak coming out with the thought of being more "regulated"!! ho hum!).

Thanks again.... I'll let you know how I get on this week. Very Happy

Sep 11, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Diabetic jokes

There was a diabetic called Wood
Who had a weakness for the occasional sponge pud
But she exercised and injected
And tested and corrected
To ensure her control was still good!

Sep 10, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote

Thanks whiskysmum! I'm sure I will, it's just the nerves of not being "in control" when I'm away from home and a normal regime. Hope you have a lovely time too!

Sep 10, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Diabetic jokes

There once was a diabetic called Evans
Whose BGs were all fours to sevens
His partner, said 'Dai -
You know that's a lie -
You're not going to get to Heaven'.

Sep 10, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

I don't think you should be changing your ratios for different GI food, that's wrong......

The carb/insulin ratio is basically a representation of our resistance to insulin at that time of day, how much insulin we need to process 10g of carbohydrate, so this will not change if your a have a low GI meal or a high GI meal......

GI tells us how quickly the item goes into our blood stream as glucose, and so, in my opinion, its dose timing that would be relevant here as opposed to ratios....

Do you drink at all, like on a Friday night etc...?

If your hypoing between 1-3 most days then you would assume its your lunchtime dose that's too much. Don't eliminate a need to adjust your BI dose though, but you would consider your previous QA dose firstly...

Sep 10, 2012

Nikki H-C 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

Monday to Friday, I've hypo'd between 1pm 3pm so a couple of hours after lunch and a good 4 to 6 hours after breakfast.
Saturday I had a 11.30am and 1pm
Sunday, nearly hypo'd (4.2) 1.30 hours after breakfast.

Note, when I say hypo, I catch them at 3.5mmol to 3.7mmol almost without fail somehow!

I think the trend is definately breakfast and using the 1:1.5 ratio when eating low GI food, but I think I need 1:1.5 with med/high GI food i.e. fruit. In either instance, I can't get to the 8 to 10mmol without a "hypo" and hour or two later.....

I do split my BI already to 8u in the morning (9am ish) and 10u before bed (Levemir) before bed about 11pm.

I notice that my highs tend to be when I inject in my thigh so I try to stick to my spare tyres around my tum.

I'm thinking of sticking to the same food every day for a week and see if I can control it this way (as you suggested).

You're worldly wise novorapidboi...... What do you think? Confused

Sep 10, 2012

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote

DianeW said:
I have also been thinking along these lines as I'm off to Cyprus on Saturday, .

We go to Lanzarote on Sunday Very Happy

. We're going to be there for our silver (25th) wedding anniversary.

DianeW - have a great holiday!

Sep 10, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

When are you having the hypo exactly..........? Same time every day......?

Are you on a single or split dose of BI?

Remember to reduce the spike after eating you need to give your insulin 15 minutes at least before eating, sometime difficult to do I know....

Sep 10, 2012

Nikki H-C 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

Oh ok.... so maybe don't panic too much then....

I'm finding that I'm having a daily hypo at the moment so have reduced my ratio's back to 1:1 - however today, with wholemeal toast, I was 18mmol after 2 hours and 15mmol after 3 hours..... I've got a way to go yet before this is properly figured out!

As per Novorapidboi.... maybe I'll have to stick to the same foods every day.... Crying or Very sad

Thanks everyone, no doubt I'll be back to ask more questions of you all very soon!

Sep 10, 2012

meltow 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

My last HbA1c taken in May 2012 was 6.5; twelve months before that it was 7.2
Not too bad, I reckon Wink

Sep 10, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote

I would wait and see what your results are like the first few days, you might find that you are getting more hypos, but it could be down to the extra activity [walking, exploring etc..] and so a reduction of QA from the previous meal may be better suited, especially if you think you will be doing more activity one day to another....

if you find after a few days that your having hypos, say before every meal, and not so quick to manifest itself then a BI reduction would be better....

that's my thinking anyway.......

I think when easting out you should just inject after you have ordered or when you receive the meal, same rules when back home eating out really..........if you strive to leave some time injecting and eating you should be OK........

Sep 10, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote

I have also been thinking along these lines as I'm off to Cyprus on Saturday, the first holiday abroad since DAFNE. I'm a bit apprehensive!

It will be a lot hotter than here and I will be doing a lot more exercise and eating less carbs. Of course I can calculate what QA I need, but should I reduce my BI or just see what my results are like after a couple of days?

This whole thing about eating out...on holiday we will go out and then it could be half an hour before I actually eat, taking into account walking to restaurants, choosing one, then waiting for food. I just haven't a clue what's best to do.

Sep 10, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote

The food you have listed seems quite normal to me when on holiday.........mostly just bread as the main carb in the meals, which for the most part is easy to count, even when you don't have the exact nutritional info to hand, most bread is also absorbed reasonably quickly so you wont need to worry about timing your dose to suit slower acting carbs......

Just keep the carbs low and try and eat meats etc.........[sausage, beacon, steak, kebabs]....

For me the heat/climate is enough to add another dimension to the battle before any carbs have been counted.......

Have fun.......... Very Happy

Sep 10, 2012

Nikki H-C 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating

Hi Meltow,

So is your HbA1c generally about 6 even though your post food levels are not the recommened 7?

Sep 10, 2012

mum2westiesGill 502 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote

I'm going to Lanzarote for 14 days Very Happy

.

I've been before, we own an apartment there. However I've not been since May 2011 &amp; whenever I've been in the past I've not been carb counting / not really watching BS levels etc etc. It's only really since last September when I met my new DSN and also joining this forum that I've been at grips with everything ie testing when I should / carb counting / watching BS levels etc. I would appreciate any diabetic advise as to food when I'm there.

We're staying in an apartment not our own as we currently have a long term tenant in there.

My typical food In Lanzarote would be:

Breakfast - toast (in the apartment)
or
cooked breakfast (egg, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, toast sort of thing) (done by OH &amp; If I'm lucky enough for him to be doing this!)
or
full english breakfast or any other type of breakfast thing ie scrambled eggs &amp; toast (at out Timbayba, a favourite restraunt)

Lunch - toastie sandwich (at Sirocco, a favourite sea front restraunt watching the planes)
or
sandwich back at the apartment

Dinner - anything ie meals out at restraunts

Ps jjjerk - if you read this, hope you enjoy your holiday in Turkey re your topic "Holiday in Turkey"

Sep 9, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

that is one method detailed in the DAFNE course, but I think with a job like gardening, where the activity is spread over long periods you need to consider the BI as the effects of the activity will be felt over the longer term, however it is possible to use both QA and BI reductions..........

have a look at the online handbook, it will go into more detail than I can recall about what scenarios warrant what......

Sep 9, 2012

Dave Lyons 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

Hey thanks for your input, I am still trying various things, I doubt very much if there is a definitive answer so I will keep persevereing!!! : Smile

Regards dave

Sep 9, 2012

Dave Lyons 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

I have tried adjusting my QA by 10-20 & 30% but to no avail!

Sep 9, 2012

Dave Lyons 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

I have tried adjusting my QA by 10-20 & 30% but to no avail!

Sep 9, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

being as active as you are i would think it wise to test your background insulin, it will probably need reduced........

you might also want to consider reducing it by a certain percentage on the days you know you are going to be moderately active for long periods of time....

this is just me taking points from the handbook really, i aint that active you see,........ Very Happy

have you tested your BI recently........?

Sep 9, 2012

Dave Lyons 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession

I have tried adjusting my QA by 10-20 & 30% but to no avail!

Sep 12, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession Vic, You really do sound like the ideal candidate for a pump, the main benefit being the delivery of much smaller doses.... Do you think?

Sep 12, 2012 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession Hi Dave, I am a sports ground groundsman, have been for the last 15 years. Did Dafne about 3 years ago and am still struggling to be honest to get a settled line. Either low or too high, very few greens. Shortly after Dafne, I was going hypo 3-4 times a day using the 1:1 method, have now dropped it to 0.5:1 during the working day and increase to 1.5:1 in the evening. Because of the nature of the work, control is a nightmare. One day sat on a mower all day doing little, next running behind a pedestrian model or pulling heavy sheets all over the place or worse still top dressing. Always have some Coke close by and try to plan your QA intake by what you will be doing that day. Sorry very vague but its a hard battle. I thought it would be so much better after Dafne but that is not my experience sadly, deapite a huge effort. Good luck.

Sep 11, 2012 Born Again 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession Hi. I am 35 year Type 1 diabetic and a newbie DAFNE graduate, recently retired Biology teacher and regularly have very active gardening/landscaping days on the several acres of land I have to manage and am frequently involved in busy days of 10 hours and quieter ones when the weather is rubbish. Last year before DAFNE I was all over the place but now, using DAFNE, I have found it vitally important to record every BG and CP QA and BI so that I learn how my different activities affect my BG and am still in the process of making the necessary adjustments so that I don't have hypos. I don't expect I will have to continue making such exact records once I can get a better measure of how my body responds. As a scientist I understand the importance of trying to reduce the number of variables while I learn the ropes, so I have now established my best BI for these busy days and am now making small adjustments to get my dosgae of QA down to target levels. While I am in the learning stages I try to keep my CP easily measured and pretty much the same each day until I get the ratios right for each kind of activity. Hopefully I will be able to make changes to CP with more confidence and the avoidance of hypos which before caused me to lose hope that I would ever get it right. Perhaps this is just missionary zeal on my part so soon after the DAFNE course but I chose my Username to illustrate how I feel after 35 years of guessing! Good luck and I look forward to learning how you get on.

Sep 11, 2012 Nikki H-C 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating Thanks novorapid, Yes, I do tend to have a drink on either a Friday or a Saturday night, which is why I split out my Mon - Fri and weekends. I suppose I'm not too worried about the hypo's of a weekend as I know I should be injecting less with alcohol knocking around my system... It's the Monday to Friday bit I think I need to sort. You're right, I shouldn't reduce my ratio's for GI although until you said it, I hadn't really thought that statement/question through much. I started doing the "inject early" thing last night, by about 30 minutes and that seemed to do the trick for that one meal. So, early days but I'm going to keep at that and see how I get on. I now need to stop with the impromptu eating and plan ahead a bit more !! (Like the random, last minute chocolate homemade brownie I had today!! I never eat chocolate/cake.... it must just be my naughty streak coming out with the thought of being more "regulated"!! ho hum!). Thanks again.... I'll let you know how I get on this week.

Sep 11, 2012 DianeW 115 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Diabetic jokes There was a diabetic called Wood Who had a weakness for the occasional sponge pud But she exercised and injected And tested and corrected To ensure her control was still good!

Sep 10, 2012 DianeW 115 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote Thanks whiskysmum! I'm sure I will, it's just the nerves of not being "in control" when I'm away from home and a normal regime. Hope you have a lovely time too!

Sep 10, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Diabetic jokes There once was a diabetic called Evans Whose BGs were all fours to sevens His partner, said 'Dai - You know that's a lie - You're not going to get to Heaven'.

Sep 10, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating I don't think you should be changing your ratios for different GI food, that's wrong...... The carb/insulin ratio is basically a representation of our resistance to insulin at that time of day, how much insulin we need to process 10g of carbohydrate, so this will not change if your a have a low GI meal or a high GI meal...... GI tells us how quickly the item goes into our blood stream as glucose, and so, in my opinion, its dose timing that would be relevant here as opposed to ratios.... Do you drink at all, like on a Friday night etc...? If your hypoing between 1-3 most days then you would assume its your lunchtime dose that's too much. Don't eliminate a need to adjust your BI dose though, but you would consider your previous QA dose firstly...

Sep 10, 2012 Nikki H-C 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating Monday to Friday, I've hypo'd between 1pm 3pm so a couple of hours after lunch and a good 4 to 6 hours after breakfast. Saturday I had a 11.30am and 1pm Sunday, nearly hypo'd (4.2) 1.30 hours after breakfast. Note, when I say hypo, I catch them at 3.5mmol to 3.7mmol almost without fail somehow! I think the trend is definately breakfast and using the 1:1.5 ratio when eating low GI food, but I think I need 1:1.5 with med/high GI food i.e. fruit. In either instance, I can't get to the 8 to 10mmol without a "hypo" and hour or two later..... I do split my BI already to 8u in the morning (9am ish) and 10u before bed (Levemir) before bed about 11pm. I notice that my highs tend to be when I inject in my thigh so I try to stick to my spare tyres around my tum. I'm thinking of sticking to the same food every day for a week and see if I can control it this way (as you suggested). You're worldly wise novorapidboi...... What do you think?

Sep 10, 2012 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote DianeW said: I have also been thinking along these lines as I'm off to Cyprus on Saturday, . We go to Lanzarote on Sunday . We're going to be there for our silver (25th) wedding anniversary. DianeW - have a great holiday!

Sep 10, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating When are you having the hypo exactly..........? Same time every day......? Are you on a single or split dose of BI? Remember to reduce the spike after eating you need to give your insulin 15 minutes at least before eating, sometime difficult to do I know....

Sep 10, 2012 Nikki H-C 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating Oh ok.... so maybe don't panic too much then.... I'm finding that I'm having a daily hypo at the moment so have reduced my ratio's back to 1:1 - however today, with wholemeal toast, I was 18mmol after 2 hours and 15mmol after 3 hours..... I've got a way to go yet before this is properly figured out! As per Novorapidboi.... maybe I'll have to stick to the same foods every day.... Thanks everyone, no doubt I'll be back to ask more questions of you all very soon!

Sep 10, 2012 meltow 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating My last HbA1c taken in May 2012 was 6.5; twelve months before that it was 7.2 Not too bad, I reckon

Sep 10, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote I would wait and see what your results are like the first few days, you might find that you are getting more hypos, but it could be down to the extra activity [walking, exploring etc..] and so a reduction of QA from the previous meal may be better suited, especially if you think you will be doing more activity one day to another.... if you find after a few days that your having hypos, say before every meal, and not so quick to manifest itself then a BI reduction would be better.... that's my thinking anyway....... I think when easting out you should just inject after you have ordered or when you receive the meal, same rules when back home eating out really..........if you strive to leave some time injecting and eating you should be OK........

Sep 10, 2012 DianeW 115 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote I have also been thinking along these lines as I'm off to Cyprus on Saturday, the first holiday abroad since DAFNE. I'm a bit apprehensive! It will be a lot hotter than here and I will be doing a lot more exercise and eating less carbs. Of course I can calculate what QA I need, but should I reduce my BI or just see what my results are like after a couple of days? This whole thing about eating out...on holiday we will go out and then it could be half an hour before I actually eat, taking into account walking to restaurants, choosing one, then waiting for food. I just haven't a clue what's best to do.

Sep 10, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote The food you have listed seems quite normal to me when on holiday.........mostly just bread as the main carb in the meals, which for the most part is easy to count, even when you don't have the exact nutritional info to hand, most bread is also absorbed reasonably quickly so you wont need to worry about timing your dose to suit slower acting carbs...... Just keep the carbs low and try and eat meats etc.........[sausage, beacon, steak, kebabs].... For me the heat/climate is enough to add another dimension to the battle before any carbs have been counted....... Have fun..........

Sep 10, 2012 Nikki H-C 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testing 2 Hours After Eating Hi Meltow, So is your HbA1c generally about 6 even though your post food levels are not the recommened 7?

Sep 10, 2012 mum2westiesGill 502 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday in Lanzarote I'm going to Lanzarote for 14 days . I've been before, we own an apartment there. However I've not been since May 2011 &amp; whenever I've been in the past I've not been carb counting / not really watching BS levels etc etc. It's only really since last September when I met my new DSN and also joining this forum that I've been at grips with everything ie testing when I should / carb counting / watching BS levels etc. I would appreciate any diabetic advise as to food when I'm there. We're staying in an apartment not our own as we currently have a long term tenant in there. My typical food In Lanzarote would be: Breakfast - toast (in the apartment) or cooked breakfast (egg, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, toast sort of thing) (done by OH &amp; If I'm lucky enough for him to be doing this!) or full english breakfast or any other type of breakfast thing ie scrambled eggs &amp; toast (at out Timbayba, a favourite restraunt) Lunch - toastie sandwich (at Sirocco, a favourite sea front restraunt watching the planes) or sandwich back at the apartment Dinner - anything ie meals out at restraunts Ps jjjerk - if you read this, hope you enjoy your holiday in Turkey re your topic "Holiday in Turkey"

Sep 9, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession that is one method detailed in the DAFNE course, but I think with a job like gardening, where the activity is spread over long periods you need to consider the BI as the effects of the activity will be felt over the longer term, however it is possible to use both QA and BI reductions.......... have a look at the online handbook, it will go into more detail than I can recall about what scenarios warrant what......

Sep 9, 2012 Dave Lyons 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession Hey thanks for your input, I am still trying various things, I doubt very much if there is a definitive answer so I will keep persevereing!!! : Regards dave

Sep 9, 2012 Dave Lyons 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession I have tried adjusting my QA by 10-20 & 30% but to no avail!

Sep 9, 2012 Dave Lyons 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession I have tried adjusting my QA by 10-20 & 30% but to no avail!

Sep 9, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession being as active as you are i would think it wise to test your background insulin, it will probably need reduced........ you might also want to consider reducing it by a certain percentage on the days you know you are going to be moderately active for long periods of time.... this is just me taking points from the handbook really, i aint that active you see,........ have you tested your BI recently........?

Sep 9, 2012 Dave Lyons 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Landscaping/gardening as a profession I have tried adjusting my QA by 10-20 & 30% but to no avail!