Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Jul 9, 2012

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

Hi,

Are you guys talking about the old syringe type needles or the screw on pen type? I reuse my pen needles until the insulin runs out (about a week), change the cartridge and the needle.

Never had any issues, what sort of complications are you expecting from this? Interested / worried!

Phil

Jul 9, 2012

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios & Honeymoon Period.

Sadie said:
Hey, just been looking through some old posts for tips and advice. Would you mind explaining what the honeymoon period is? I've never heard of this!
Thanks
Sadie

Nighttime hypos due to being over active Very Happy

Jul 8, 2012

colinlennon 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / macular edema

Just to add that I just had this for the first time last week and honestly, it's really not that bad. I think it's fairly common to need a few of these jags, but now, having had one of them, I'm completely relaxed about the prospect of maybe needing a few more. And I'm not exactly the bravest when it comes to this kind of thing! Laughing

Jul 8, 2012

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios & Honeymoon Period.

Most type 1 diabetics initially have some natural insulin production left as the remaining islets of Langerhans cells in your pancreas continue working...but as time goes on these can stop producing too and we become totally dependant on injected insulin.
As others have said this can last months to years.
My consultant talked about 'a honeymoon period' back in 1979 when I was diagnosed and put me on glibenclamides....I promptly lost 20 pounds....so it's unlikely that I had any honeymoon time.
Glibenclamide replaced with porcine insulin within 10 months. Who knows what my BGs were in those times...back then it was still urinalysis testing.

Regards
Garry

Jul 8, 2012

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

Totally agree with Roger. When I did DAFNE in Feb 2007 the educators checked my injection sites and pointed out lipos (lumps) on my thighs where I had been injecting lantus using needles multiple times. The "blunter" needles were a significant contributer to this, and of course as well as not being a good thing in its own right, it was having an adverse impact on insulin absorption rates. If we're into costs, I'd suggest that the costs to the NHS resulting from diabetes complications will far outweigh costs of single needle use, but what is it with diabetics and guilt (me included)?

Stew

Jul 7, 2012

Sadie 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios & Honeymoon Period.

Hey, just been looking through some old posts for tips and advice. Would you mind explaining what the honeymoon period is? I've never heard of this!
Thanks
Sadie

Jul 7, 2012

Ahmentep 99 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

Hi Alan,

I use Levemir twice a day but cannot comment on your problem as I use needles once only, as you are supposed to do. If you had read the articles that I read about needle use you might be more concerned with your own health than economising on needles. Compared with the amount of money wasted by the NHS the amount such economies can save would not even register.

If you re-use needles then the needle is open to the pollutants in the air for the hours between each use (the cap is not a reliable seal, and of course contains air when you replace it). If the needle remains attached to the pen then any contamination entering the needle can prgress to the phial in the pen. The thing that really got me though, in the article, was the description, backed up by highly magnified photographs, of the burrs that are created at the end of the needle each time it is used and the damage these burrs do to your tissue. This leads to increasing difficulty with injection sites over time.

Kind regards.

Roger

Jul 6, 2012

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy

Thanks Garry and Lyn,
I went and saw the surgeon yesterday (3 days post surgery) and he is talking waiting 2-3 weeks before having the other hand done! This makes sense as I will have my daughter here and she can do the to and froing for me until I get back to it all. The palm of my hand is quite bruised and the wrist is painful...limited driving,,,no lifting etc. I am also the least patient person I know! The wrist is probably as painful as the wrist was presurgery!

Helen

Jul 6, 2012

lynste2 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy

Hi i had CTS surgery about 4 yrs ago, since i would wake during the night in pain or with pins and needles. Apart from the fact that the nurse put the sling support to high which caused some for pain for the first 48hr it was the right decision for me, if or when my left hand starts to become problematic i will opt for surgery again.

Rgards Lyn

Jul 6, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

Until recently, I was on one daily dose of Levemir. This meant I used one needle for my QA (Humalog) and one needle for my Levemir each day (hopefully saving the NHS a bit of money - plus I don't like wasting things) and this worked well.

My HCP suggested that my control could be better and I should change to 2 daily doses of Levemir. I intended to continue using one needle for my QA and one needle for my BI. I found that that when it came to my second dose of Levemir, the needle that I had used for my morning dose was clogged, so I had to use a new one.

Has anybody else noticed this?

Jul 6, 2012

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy

Take a little while but in around three weeks and you will see an improvement I trust.
Hope it is a nice neat job.

Regards
Garry

Jul 6, 2012

Carolin 83 posts

Topic: General Discussion / High morning readings

Hi Mark,

Others have given you some really good comments / suggestions.

The reasons for high morning BG may be:

High BG at bedtime that's not been corrected

Late meal/CPs not sufficiently covered with QA

Bedtime dose of BI not high enough

Bedtime dose of BI 'running out' and not strong enough to counteract the Dawn Phenomenon

Contrary to previous beliefs / advice, research has now proved that it is highly UNLIKELY that a high morning BG is the result of sleeping through a hypo.

Levemir is one of the better insulins for controlling morning BG as it has a fairly 'flat' action and longer duration than isophane insulins, however most people find they need relatively high doses of it and it is best to take it as near to bedtime as possible (rather than at evening meal time).

So if your bedtime BG is in target (6.5-8.0mmol/l), a good 4-5hrs after any carbs or QA, if your bedtime Levemir dose is right your BG should remain stable overnight (with an expected natural dip around 3am which shouldn't drop below 4.5mmol/l).

Hope this helps.

Good luck,

Carolin

Jul 5, 2012

krf 10 posts

Topic: General Discussion / macular edema

Many thanks for comments. I think I will stick with local as I am sick with generals! It has put my mind as rest a bit hearing others that have had it. As the saying goes it wil. Be. "better than a jab in the eye with a pokey stick"

Jul 5, 2012

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy

OK the pain got to me and I had the surgery on Tuesday. I had a BG of 10 when the surgery was about to start and I was happy that it would not go lower but anaesthetist was wary and insisted on a 4% glucose drip! When conscious ...you guessed it BG of 14.2!

Will I have the other hand done? Don't know ask me in a week or so. Helen

Jul 4, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Topic: General Discussion / macular edema

Hi Phil

Well it may well be but they never gave ME that option!!!! Grrrr.

So, krf, if you are really scared about it I would definitely ask.

Jul 4, 2012

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Weight loss ?

John,

Just me two pence.

If food and exercise hasn't altered and control is good (bad control = Atkins diet) and you're still loosing weight I would go to the doctors, might be nothing to do with diabetes?

Phil

Jul 4, 2012

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / macular edema

Hi,

I had an injection in my eye about 5 years ago for retinopathy, being a wimp I opted to be knocked out completely, is this an option?

Phil

Jul 4, 2012

Chard 2 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Sugar Extract from the Liver?

I try to do a bit of exercise here and there but work stops this from happening now and again. Recently i went to a fitness class and was beasted for an hour doing sqauts, lunges and other things which i enjoyed but then the days after were very painful. My legs don't normall use those muscles. 2 days on from the exercise my legs were in pain just walking and going up and down stairs was difficult to say the least. I awoke that morning with a high BG and corrected for it. Retested at 09:43 and BG was the same 13.3 Corrected for it again and it went down but then up again to 10.3. The whole day was quite confusing.

Now it could be that i 'forgot' to take my Background insulin (Lantus) although I'm 99% sure i did so the question i have is:
If your muscles have been damaged and are reparing the fibres, does the body extract glucose from the liver to do this?

Thanks

Chard

Jul 4, 2012

Pepsi 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / High morning readings

Are you going low in the night without knowing?

Jul 4, 2012

thebatoutofhull 60 posts

Topic: General Discussion / High morning readings

Hi, always had the same problem but reajusted the time I took my lantus. I'm just about to start on levemir. I'll let you know how it works out.

Jul 3, 2012

DianeW 115 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Weight loss ?

Sorry for the misunderstanding

Jul 9, 2012 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles Hi, Are you guys talking about the old syringe type needles or the screw on pen type? I reuse my pen needles until the insulin runs out (about a week), change the cartridge and the needle. Never had any issues, what sort of complications are you expecting from this? Interested / worried! Phil

Jul 9, 2012 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios & Honeymoon Period. Sadie said: Hey, just been looking through some old posts for tips and advice. Would you mind explaining what the honeymoon period is? I've never heard of this! Thanks Sadie Nighttime hypos due to being over active

Jul 8, 2012 colinlennon 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / macular edema Just to add that I just had this for the first time last week and honestly, it's really not that bad. I think it's fairly common to need a few of these jags, but now, having had one of them, I'm completely relaxed about the prospect of maybe needing a few more. And I'm not exactly the bravest when it comes to this kind of thing!

Jul 8, 2012 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios & Honeymoon Period. Most type 1 diabetics initially have some natural insulin production left as the remaining islets of Langerhans cells in your pancreas continue working...but as time goes on these can stop producing too and we become totally dependant on injected insulin. As others have said this can last months to years. My consultant talked about 'a honeymoon period' back in 1979 when I was diagnosed and put me on glibenclamides....I promptly lost 20 pounds....so it's unlikely that I had any honeymoon time. Glibenclamide replaced with porcine insulin within 10 months. Who knows what my BGs were in those times...back then it was still urinalysis testing. Regards Garry

Jul 8, 2012 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles Totally agree with Roger. When I did DAFNE in Feb 2007 the educators checked my injection sites and pointed out lipos (lumps) on my thighs where I had been injecting lantus using needles multiple times. The "blunter" needles were a significant contributer to this, and of course as well as not being a good thing in its own right, it was having an adverse impact on insulin absorption rates. If we're into costs, I'd suggest that the costs to the NHS resulting from diabetes complications will far outweigh costs of single needle use, but what is it with diabetics and guilt (me included)? Stew

Jul 7, 2012 Sadie 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios & Honeymoon Period. Hey, just been looking through some old posts for tips and advice. Would you mind explaining what the honeymoon period is? I've never heard of this! Thanks Sadie

Jul 7, 2012 Ahmentep 99 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles Hi Alan, I use Levemir twice a day but cannot comment on your problem as I use needles once only, as you are supposed to do. If you had read the articles that I read about needle use you might be more concerned with your own health than economising on needles. Compared with the amount of money wasted by the NHS the amount such economies can save would not even register. If you re-use needles then the needle is open to the pollutants in the air for the hours between each use (the cap is not a reliable seal, and of course contains air when you replace it). If the needle remains attached to the pen then any contamination entering the needle can prgress to the phial in the pen. The thing that really got me though, in the article, was the description, backed up by highly magnified photographs, of the burrs that are created at the end of the needle each time it is used and the damage these burrs do to your tissue. This leads to increasing difficulty with injection sites over time. Kind regards. Roger

Jul 6, 2012 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy Thanks Garry and Lyn, I went and saw the surgeon yesterday (3 days post surgery) and he is talking waiting 2-3 weeks before having the other hand done! This makes sense as I will have my daughter here and she can do the to and froing for me until I get back to it all. The palm of my hand is quite bruised and the wrist is painful...limited driving,,,no lifting etc. I am also the least patient person I know! The wrist is probably as painful as the wrist was presurgery! Helen

Jul 6, 2012 lynste2 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy Hi i had CTS surgery about 4 yrs ago, since i would wake during the night in pain or with pins and needles. Apart from the fact that the nurse put the sling support to high which caused some for pain for the first 48hr it was the right decision for me, if or when my left hand starts to become problematic i will opt for surgery again. Rgards Lyn

Jul 6, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles Until recently, I was on one daily dose of Levemir. This meant I used one needle for my QA (Humalog) and one needle for my Levemir each day (hopefully saving the NHS a bit of money - plus I don't like wasting things) and this worked well. My HCP suggested that my control could be better and I should change to 2 daily doses of Levemir. I intended to continue using one needle for my QA and one needle for my BI. I found that that when it came to my second dose of Levemir, the needle that I had used for my morning dose was clogged, so I had to use a new one. Has anybody else noticed this?

Jul 6, 2012 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy Take a little while but in around three weeks and you will see an improvement I trust. Hope it is a nice neat job. Regards Garry

Jul 6, 2012 Carolin 83 posts	Topic: General Discussion / High morning readings Hi Mark, Others have given you some really good comments / suggestions. The reasons for high morning BG may be: High BG at bedtime that's not been corrected Late meal/CPs not sufficiently covered with QA Bedtime dose of BI not high enough Bedtime dose of BI 'running out' and not strong enough to counteract the Dawn Phenomenon Contrary to previous beliefs / advice, research has now proved that it is highly UNLIKELY that a high morning BG is the result of sleeping through a hypo. Levemir is one of the better insulins for controlling morning BG as it has a fairly 'flat' action and longer duration than isophane insulins, however most people find they need relatively high doses of it and it is best to take it as near to bedtime as possible (rather than at evening meal time). So if your bedtime BG is in target (6.5-8.0mmol/l), a good 4-5hrs after any carbs or QA, if your bedtime Levemir dose is right your BG should remain stable overnight (with an expected natural dip around 3am which shouldn't drop below 4.5mmol/l). Hope this helps. Good luck, Carolin

Jul 5, 2012 krf 10 posts	Topic: General Discussion / macular edema Many thanks for comments. I think I will stick with local as I am sick with generals! It has put my mind as rest a bit hearing others that have had it. As the saying goes it wil. Be. "better than a jab in the eye with a pokey stick"

Jul 5, 2012 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy OK the pain got to me and I had the surgery on Tuesday. I had a BG of 10 when the surgery was about to start and I was happy that it would not go lower but anaesthetist was wary and insisted on a 4% glucose drip! When conscious ...you guessed it BG of 14.2! Will I have the other hand done? Don't know ask me in a week or so. Helen

Jul 4, 2012 DianeW 115 posts	Topic: General Discussion / macular edema Hi Phil Well it may well be but they never gave ME that option!!!! Grrrr. So, krf, if you are really scared about it I would definitely ask.

Jul 4, 2012 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Weight loss ? John, Just me two pence. If food and exercise hasn't altered and control is good (bad control = Atkins diet) and you're still loosing weight I would go to the doctors, might be nothing to do with diabetes? Phil

Jul 4, 2012 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / macular edema Hi, I had an injection in my eye about 5 years ago for retinopathy, being a wimp I opted to be knocked out completely, is this an option? Phil

Jul 4, 2012 Chard 2 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Sugar Extract from the Liver? I try to do a bit of exercise here and there but work stops this from happening now and again. Recently i went to a fitness class and was beasted for an hour doing sqauts, lunges and other things which i enjoyed but then the days after were very painful. My legs don't normall use those muscles. 2 days on from the exercise my legs were in pain just walking and going up and down stairs was difficult to say the least. I awoke that morning with a high BG and corrected for it. Retested at 09:43 and BG was the same 13.3 Corrected for it again and it went down but then up again to 10.3. The whole day was quite confusing. Now it could be that i 'forgot' to take my Background insulin (Lantus) although I'm 99% sure i did so the question i have is: If your muscles have been damaged and are reparing the fibres, does the body extract glucose from the liver to do this? Thanks Chard

Jul 4, 2012 Pepsi 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / High morning readings Are you going low in the night without knowing?

Jul 4, 2012 thebatoutofhull 60 posts	Topic: General Discussion / High morning readings Hi, always had the same problem but reajusted the time I took my lantus. I'm just about to start on levemir. I'll let you know how it works out.

Jul 3, 2012 DianeW 115 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Weight loss ? Sorry for the misunderstanding