Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Aug 3, 2012

Sue L 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / changing to levemir- advice please

I've just finished the DAFNE course & they say a minimum of 7 hours between the 2 doses so if you take the morning at 8am then you should be able to take the the evening dose at a time between 3pm and 11pm. I think it is a good idea to start about 12 hours apart and see how you get on, but don't see why you could not start at 8am and 6pm as long as you are aware of when the overlaps are.

I started taking mine at 8am and 10pm - I picked times that I knew would be convenient both for the week and weekend as you need to stick to the same times each day.

Good Luck!

Aug 3, 2012

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Site Development / Auto calculate QA from BG - let's get it right

It's been awfully quiet since the update, has nobody managed to break it?

Aug 3, 2012

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Site Development / Averages

Hi Richard,

Thanks Very Happy

It's a simple average, takes all of the entries and averages the BG results which aren't zero or empty.

Aug 3, 2012

richard.arkle 16 posts

Topic: Site Development / Averages

When the averages are shown what are the bases for calculation?

Does the time period between two readings influence the average or is it just a straight average of all the days readings?

Great app Simon, nice to see really relevant apps developed by people who know what they are talking about.

Aug 3, 2012

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb counting help!!!

Depends on the food. Couple of questions:
Is there no labelling? If not, your best bet is to do a good old fashioned google search for the brand and product name if you can translate it.
Do you know the polish word for carbohydrates ? I found knowing that for Japanese was very helpful for my holiday in Japan.
Failing that, weigh it and take an educated guess... might even be worth checking the ingredients to see how likely it is to have carbs.

I tip I have is to look at keeping a calculator in the kitchen as well as some scales (on the note of scales, I even take them out with me to restaurants if I know I can't get food information online). I find the calculator very helpful while I'm doing a total up of my carbs, making me swiftly ready to sign in my diary and take my dose. ^_^

Aug 3, 2012

helen73 1 post

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb counting help!!!

Has anyone any information on carb counting for polish food. I am always travelling in Europe but dont always get the cps correct. Any internet sights would be great.

Aug 3, 2012

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Motion Sickness: Hypo cause or just symptom?

Heya

There seems be a lot of debate potential at the moment about site choice... this thread for example as well as this one... perhaps it doesn't matter as much as we think it does? I wonder if this is something that can be agreed upon professionally at some point but in the meantime, it's probably completely fine to continue as we are.

I'm hoping to get some comparisons for this motion sickness thing eventually. Unfortunately, it's not something that happens very often to me and it's seems to be more common to be a symptom than a cause based on other diabetic websites...

This link suggests symptom only:

Blood Disorders --- Blood disorders, such as high blood pressure, anemia, hypoglycemia and high cholesterol, can decrease the amount of blood that gets to your brain, resulting in motion sickness.

..and this link as well:

Autonomic symptoms include sweating, trembling, feelings of warmth, anxiety, and nausea.

Can't find much on Diabetes UK... I dunno. Maybe I should just leave it and guess I'll just have freak hypos when traveling. :/
If I get another case with any hypos or motion sickness involved, I will give this thread the heads up. XD

Aug 3, 2012

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Medical Bracelet

I have been using a silver SOS talisman necklace for years. Have tried the bracelets and what not but I find the SOS necklace to be my favourite option. I keep it on all the time and have invested in a stronger and shorter neck chain when it has once snapped because of getting caught a lot. I love the St Christopher icon on the back too. Smile

Aug 3, 2012

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / NHS Medication Changes: Are you affected?

my DAFNE nurse said:
Some surgeries are changing patients to these meters as the strips are cheaper than most others on the market but are just as reliable/easy to use.

I was randomly issued one of these iCare Advanced machines yesterday after calling up for an emergency prescription.. I'm currently using a One Touch Ultra which I find very helpful because I'm able to look at my BG results on the computer. I'm a bit unsure what to make of this iCare machine... they're not forcing me to use it yet but I'll have to keep it in mind I suppose if what my DAFNE nurse said is true.

Have any of you been issued this iCare Advanced machine by your GP surgery?
If you're already using it, how have you got on with it?

Thanks for any replies. Smile

Aug 2, 2012

Mel44 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Medical Bracelet

Was thinking of getting tattoos on wrists, has I have had bad hypos out and about before and once someone thought I was drunk!
I just wear a necklace sometimes, but I don't like wearing it all the time.

Aug 2, 2012

Mel44 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Motion Sickness: Hypo cause or just symptom?

Hey everyone!

Right, it was my doctor at the hospital that said I should take my BI in my belly, after he went to a diabetic conference in America and he told me that research has found that the BI works better in the belly. I never inject in the same place and PLEASE do not think that I know better!!
As am continunally learning and am a baby compared to some of you.

JWo, can't wait for you to know more about the motion sickness, has I sometimes feel sick-??

NIght and have a good day everyone!
- Am going to listen to my weight loss hypnosis app!

Xx

Aug 2, 2012

Mel44 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Weight loss ?

Ann, thanks novorapidboi26 and yeah I think your right ketosis... Is not good!
I think it was the desperation to loose weight quickly talking!!
I will go and see the dietician and am cutting down on the treats!

Aug 2, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Injection sites

Novorapidboi, I must admit that's what I thought...that as it is absorbed slowly, as long as the site is not lumpy then it shouldn't matter where...

Aug 2, 2012

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / time change of BI

Only thing I can think of at the moment is, what happens if you put your evening dose down now you've changed the dose taking time?
Will you wake up high like before?

If you can, use the BG diary feature on this site to post your BG results in the thread. Sometimes it can be other factors - especially if you're an active person.

Take care. I hope the hypos stop for you soon so you can get a good night's sleep again. Sad

Aug 2, 2012

AnnaConstant... 5 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / time change of BI

Have been taking Humulin I since diagnosis, (over 12yrs ago) at bedtime. Over the years the dosage increased ending up taking around 35-37 units each night. A year ago i did the DAFNE course and it was suggested that i split my dosage to 18unit in the morning and 18 at night as my BG was quite often high before dinner. This seemed to be working fine but i did begtin to notice that my BG would quite often double over night. I could go to bed at anything between 6 and 8 but would wake up 12+. This wouldn't happen all the time. When i mentioned this at my most recent clinic appointment my doctor suggested i bring my bedtime injection forward and do at dinner time. Since doing this i am having hypos more regularly in the middle of the night, this week 2 nights in a row around 1am. If i'm reading the graph right for insulin activity i should be getting the biggest hit after 4-6hrs of taking which would be around the 1am mark for when i'm taking it. i am thinking of going back to taking it at bedtime. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Aug 2, 2012

michdash 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is Hba1c related to the averages in blood glucose diaries

Thanks Guys - I'm going to try those formulas, hopefully it will help me in keeping things in target...

This is a great forum as a newbie to diabetes -)

Michelle

Aug 2, 2012

RichFreed 51 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Blood Testing Meters

We got given Accu-check mobiles at the DAFNE course I did in May this year. We were warned that there were serious question marks over their accuracy and to use with caution.

They are truly a convenient design and that is the only reason I have persevered with it til now.

Unfortunately I have to accept defeat and relegate it to the annals of my diabetes history. Even after isolating it from light source contamination it is inaccurate by not a small amount. At least 20% wrong on low and high readings (consistantly). Reasonably accurate for in target readings however. It is prone to completely spurious readings every now and then eg today after my bike ride I tested 2 different fingers twice and got readings between 9.1 and 11.6 meaning my BS had not dropped at all during the ride hence the multiple testing. Just before I was about to decide to do a +6 for lunch I retested from the same sample points with my Exced, 6.0 on both attempts!

I wanted it to work for me but its testing technology is ancient & simply not up to modern day standards!

It gets 10 out of 10 for design and convenience and 1 out of 10 for result trust from me.
I would warn against using it if anyone asked me.

Aug 2, 2012

RichFreed 51 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is Hba1c related to the averages in blood glucose diaries

I should have added that conversely to estimate an upcoming hba1c one would look at your own average over the preceding 3 months add 6 then divide by 2. Obviously the more reading you take the more closely I'd expect the answer to match the real result.

Aug 1, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / how to test

you want to miss a meal ideally, but if not, have a carb free meal, then test your BG every hour for the next 5 hours, this means that the only insulin in your system will be your Lantus, if its held steady (within 1-2mmol/l) then its working, if it goes up, more insulin is needed, goes down, less insulin is needed........

you should repeat the test for 3 days, at different times for a better picture, in order to make sure any adjustment is actually needed................and remember, Lantus takes a few days to start working after adjustment....

good luck..... Wink

Aug 1, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / QA and BI preferred injection sites

Thanks for that...............

I would like to see if there is any evidence to suggest keeping BI in the same area is in fact more consistent/manageable.........purely as for me personally my injecting BI anywhere is working.......... Very Happy

Aug 1, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Injection sites

I mentioned in the other thread that I inject my BI anywhere as its been designed to be absorbed slowly, so wont be effected by how quickly each specific areas responds.........but I have still to check the thread where I asked for HCP opinion............

Aug 1, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / changing to levemir- advice please

I take mine at 6:30am and 9:30pm, so about a 15 hour split, its meant to last 12 - 18 hours, so it must do so for me, but might not for others.............

I take it later in order to give me more BI in my system at the time of the dreaded Dawn Phenomenon, which for me is bout 4:30 - 5:00 am.......

I would start with a 12 hour split, or breakfast and dinner kinda thing, see how it goes, then move it to later if its more convenient and record the results.......you might find it starts to run out at 8.30pm, or has depleted completely by then, in which case having it earlier or compensating with dinner QA will be needed..... Very Happy

Aug 1, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is Hba1c related to the averages in blood glucose diaries

The formula I use to estimate HbA1c is HbA1c = 90Day Average + 2.52 / 1.583.............

Can I explain why its that? No?

But its online somewhere and came from a study...........

It has never been bang on for me though, I suppose it never can be........

Aug 3, 2012 Sue L 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / changing to levemir- advice please I've just finished the DAFNE course & they say a minimum of 7 hours between the 2 doses so if you take the morning at 8am then you should be able to take the the evening dose at a time between 3pm and 11pm. I think it is a good idea to start about 12 hours apart and see how you get on, but don't see why you could not start at 8am and 6pm as long as you are aware of when the overlaps are. I started taking mine at 8am and 10pm - I picked times that I knew would be convenient both for the week and weekend as you need to stick to the same times each day. Good Luck!

Aug 3, 2012 Simon 578 posts	Topic: Site Development / Auto calculate QA from BG - let's get it right It's been awfully quiet since the update, has nobody managed to break it?

Aug 3, 2012 Simon 578 posts	Topic: Site Development / Averages Hi Richard, Thanks It's a simple average, takes all of the entries and averages the BG results which aren't zero or empty.

Aug 3, 2012 richard.arkle 16 posts	Topic: Site Development / Averages When the averages are shown what are the bases for calculation? Does the time period between two readings influence the average or is it just a straight average of all the days readings? Great app Simon, nice to see really relevant apps developed by people who know what they are talking about.

Aug 3, 2012 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb counting help!!! Depends on the food. Couple of questions: Is there no labelling? If not, your best bet is to do a good old fashioned google search for the brand and product name if you can translate it. Do you know the polish word for carbohydrates ? I found knowing that for Japanese was very helpful for my holiday in Japan. Failing that, weigh it and take an educated guess... might even be worth checking the ingredients to see how likely it is to have carbs. I tip I have is to look at keeping a calculator in the kitchen as well as some scales (on the note of scales, I even take them out with me to restaurants if I know I can't get food information online). I find the calculator very helpful while I'm doing a total up of my carbs, making me swiftly ready to sign in my diary and take my dose. ^_^

Aug 3, 2012 helen73 1 post	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb counting help!!! Has anyone any information on carb counting for polish food. I am always travelling in Europe but dont always get the cps correct. Any internet sights would be great.

Aug 3, 2012 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Motion Sickness: Hypo cause or just symptom? Heya There seems be a lot of debate potential at the moment about site choice... this thread for example as well as this one... perhaps it doesn't matter as much as we think it does? I wonder if this is something that can be agreed upon professionally at some point but in the meantime, it's probably completely fine to continue as we are. I'm hoping to get some comparisons for this motion sickness thing eventually. Unfortunately, it's not something that happens very often to me and it's seems to be more common to be a symptom than a cause based on other diabetic websites... This link suggests symptom only: Blood Disorders --- Blood disorders, such as high blood pressure, anemia, hypoglycemia and high cholesterol, can decrease the amount of blood that gets to your brain, resulting in motion sickness. ..and this link as well: Autonomic symptoms include sweating, trembling, feelings of warmth, anxiety, and nausea. Can't find much on Diabetes UK... I dunno. Maybe I should just leave it and guess I'll just have freak hypos when traveling. :/ If I get another case with any hypos or motion sickness involved, I will give this thread the heads up. XD

Aug 3, 2012 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Medical Bracelet I have been using a silver SOS talisman necklace for years. Have tried the bracelets and what not but I find the SOS necklace to be my favourite option. I keep it on all the time and have invested in a stronger and shorter neck chain when it has once snapped because of getting caught a lot. I love the St Christopher icon on the back too.

Aug 3, 2012 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / NHS Medication Changes: Are you affected? my DAFNE nurse said: Some surgeries are changing patients to these meters as the strips are cheaper than most others on the market but are just as reliable/easy to use. I was randomly issued one of these iCare Advanced machines yesterday after calling up for an emergency prescription.. I'm currently using a One Touch Ultra which I find very helpful because I'm able to look at my BG results on the computer. I'm a bit unsure what to make of this iCare machine... they're not forcing me to use it yet but I'll have to keep it in mind I suppose if what my DAFNE nurse said is true. Have any of you been issued this iCare Advanced machine by your GP surgery? If you're already using it, how have you got on with it? Thanks for any replies.

Aug 2, 2012 Mel44 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Medical Bracelet Was thinking of getting tattoos on wrists, has I have had bad hypos out and about before and once someone thought I was drunk! I just wear a necklace sometimes, but I don't like wearing it all the time.

Aug 2, 2012 Mel44 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Motion Sickness: Hypo cause or just symptom? Hey everyone! Right, it was my doctor at the hospital that said I should take my BI in my belly, after he went to a diabetic conference in America and he told me that research has found that the BI works better in the belly. I never inject in the same place and PLEASE do not think that I know better!! As am continunally learning and am a baby compared to some of you. JWo, can't wait for you to know more about the motion sickness, has I sometimes feel sick-?? NIght and have a good day everyone! - Am going to listen to my weight loss hypnosis app! Xx

Aug 2, 2012 Mel44 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Weight loss ? Ann, thanks novorapidboi26 and yeah I think your right ketosis... Is not good! I think it was the desperation to loose weight quickly talking!! I will go and see the dietician and am cutting down on the treats!

Aug 2, 2012 DianeW 115 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Injection sites Novorapidboi, I must admit that's what I thought...that as it is absorbed slowly, as long as the site is not lumpy then it shouldn't matter where...

Aug 2, 2012 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / time change of BI Only thing I can think of at the moment is, what happens if you put your evening dose down now you've changed the dose taking time? Will you wake up high like before? If you can, use the BG diary feature on this site to post your BG results in the thread. Sometimes it can be other factors - especially if you're an active person. Take care. I hope the hypos stop for you soon so you can get a good night's sleep again.

Aug 2, 2012 AnnaConstant... 5 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / time change of BI Have been taking Humulin I since diagnosis, (over 12yrs ago) at bedtime. Over the years the dosage increased ending up taking around 35-37 units each night. A year ago i did the DAFNE course and it was suggested that i split my dosage to 18unit in the morning and 18 at night as my BG was quite often high before dinner. This seemed to be working fine but i did begtin to notice that my BG would quite often double over night. I could go to bed at anything between 6 and 8 but would wake up 12+. This wouldn't happen all the time. When i mentioned this at my most recent clinic appointment my doctor suggested i bring my bedtime injection forward and do at dinner time. Since doing this i am having hypos more regularly in the middle of the night, this week 2 nights in a row around 1am. If i'm reading the graph right for insulin activity i should be getting the biggest hit after 4-6hrs of taking which would be around the 1am mark for when i'm taking it. i am thinking of going back to taking it at bedtime. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Aug 2, 2012 michdash 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is Hba1c related to the averages in blood glucose diaries Thanks Guys - I'm going to try those formulas, hopefully it will help me in keeping things in target... This is a great forum as a newbie to diabetes -) Michelle

Aug 2, 2012 RichFreed 51 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Blood Testing Meters We got given Accu-check mobiles at the DAFNE course I did in May this year. We were warned that there were serious question marks over their accuracy and to use with caution. They are truly a convenient design and that is the only reason I have persevered with it til now. Unfortunately I have to accept defeat and relegate it to the annals of my diabetes history. Even after isolating it from light source contamination it is inaccurate by not a small amount. At least 20% wrong on low and high readings (consistantly). Reasonably accurate for in target readings however. It is prone to completely spurious readings every now and then eg today after my bike ride I tested 2 different fingers twice and got readings between 9.1 and 11.6 meaning my BS had not dropped at all during the ride hence the multiple testing. Just before I was about to decide to do a +6 for lunch I retested from the same sample points with my Exced, 6.0 on both attempts! I wanted it to work for me but its testing technology is ancient & simply not up to modern day standards! It gets 10 out of 10 for design and convenience and 1 out of 10 for result trust from me. I would warn against using it if anyone asked me.

Aug 2, 2012 RichFreed 51 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is Hba1c related to the averages in blood glucose diaries I should have added that conversely to estimate an upcoming hba1c one would look at your own average over the preceding 3 months add 6 then divide by 2. Obviously the more reading you take the more closely I'd expect the answer to match the real result.

Aug 1, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / how to test you want to miss a meal ideally, but if not, have a carb free meal, then test your BG every hour for the next 5 hours, this means that the only insulin in your system will be your Lantus, if its held steady (within 1-2mmol/l) then its working, if it goes up, more insulin is needed, goes down, less insulin is needed........ you should repeat the test for 3 days, at different times for a better picture, in order to make sure any adjustment is actually needed................and remember, Lantus takes a few days to start working after adjustment.... good luck.....

Aug 1, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / QA and BI preferred injection sites Thanks for that............... I would like to see if there is any evidence to suggest keeping BI in the same area is in fact more consistent/manageable.........purely as for me personally my injecting BI anywhere is working..........

Aug 1, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Injection sites I mentioned in the other thread that I inject my BI anywhere as its been designed to be absorbed slowly, so wont be effected by how quickly each specific areas responds.........but I have still to check the thread where I asked for HCP opinion............

Aug 1, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / changing to levemir- advice please I take mine at 6:30am and 9:30pm, so about a 15 hour split, its meant to last 12 - 18 hours, so it must do so for me, but might not for others............. I take it later in order to give me more BI in my system at the time of the dreaded Dawn Phenomenon, which for me is bout 4:30 - 5:00 am....... I would start with a 12 hour split, or breakfast and dinner kinda thing, see how it goes, then move it to later if its more convenient and record the results.......you might find it starts to run out at 8.30pm, or has depleted completely by then, in which case having it earlier or compensating with dinner QA will be needed.....

Aug 1, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is Hba1c related to the averages in blood glucose diaries The formula I use to estimate HbA1c is HbA1c = 90Day Average + 2.52 / 1.583............. Can I explain why its that? No? But its online somewhere and came from a study........... It has never been bang on for me though, I suppose it never can be........