Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Jun 5, 2012

Davey-M 3 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher

Thanks for the advice guys. Done quite a few 3am readings and my BGs are sometimes 6 but usually 7 at this time, but then I'm waking up with BGs of 10, 11 and 12. Any suggestions?

Cheers

Jun 4, 2012

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hello

Welcome

I'm sure that others can benefit from a share of your 20 years experience.

Regards
Garry

Jun 4, 2012

Graham Waugh 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hypo Awareness

Hi Phil,

With regards to Hypo Awareness, I myself started losing my awareness around 4 or 5 years ago and it gradually got worse and worse where it's now at the point where there is no warning, I could be sitting here at say 1.8 and feel like I could run a marathon! I think it's really quite rare for you to lose awareness completely and running your BG level a tad higher for a while can bring it back. It sounds as if your control is actually pretty good (as long as you can explain the hypo and why it probably happened!) so wouldn't go mucking about with changing ratio's etc, but speak to your consultant with regards to trying to get your awareness back, they will probably ask you to run your BG a bit higher for a few months.

Jun 4, 2012

Jenkatron 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hello

Just thought I'd put a message on here, graduated end of last year but didn't get round to logging in! DAFNE has completely changed my life being diabetic for 20 years and never really had great control. Not going to lie I still have good and bad days but overall my control is so much better!! Cheers then.

Jun 4, 2012

thebatoutofhull 60 posts

Topic: General Discussion / new meter

This blood monitor is superb.
It is slightly bigger than others but this not a problem as you do not need to carry anything else.I have used one for the last year and is so convenient.

Pros. Quick to use 5seconds, no faff with test strips(the tape on the cassette moves around after your test) no need to carry unused and used test strips. Back lit for night use. Long battery life. Only changed once in a year. Lancet device clips on to the side of the metre. lancet device holds 6 lancets, easy to understand software menu for looking up previous results. 50 equivalent strips on one cassette.

cons. When typing in to your online diary the screen on the metre does not stay on very long. You have to push any button to reset its internal timer. Or you can buy an i.r. usb adapter to download results. I did not bother it is easy to input one at a time on to dafne online.

this is a 9/10 metre for me.

For repeat prescription 'colormetric cassette'

Jun 2, 2012

GordyP 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE has changed my life!

Hi richfreed. Really good to see your results are nearly all green. Keep up the good work. Very Happy

Gordy

Jun 2, 2012

RichFreed 51 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE has changed my life!

Apologies if I'm posting in an inappropriate place.

I have just completed the DAFNE course at the PA Hospital Brisbane AU and thought I'd post my diary of the week.

Remarkable!

Yep those insulin units are not missing a decimal place Very Happy

(Up until 6 months ago I was taking 70U at every meal +70 for night)

Jun 2, 2012

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday blood sugars

Hi Paul...

I go to Korea regularly (from Australia) and whenever I go the BG's get out of whack. Some of it is the change in diet although I try and avoid the 961 varieties of rice. I also find I do more exercise and that the temperature (usually quite a bit lower than at home) helps (I use less insulin in the cold). As it is all unusual that could also have an effect. The pump is also relatively new and in my experience it is a constant balancing trick. I tinker almost constantly.

It usually takes me two to three weeks for things to settle (and that does not necessarily mean go back to exactly what it was before the trip) after I get home.

Be vigilant and enjoy yourself. I know one 20 something who puts herself back on injections when on overseas holidays as she believes that it is more manageable considering different time zones, changes in when and what you eat (and drink) and sleep etc.

Helen

Jun 2, 2012

Macka 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holiday blood sugars

Hi guys

I am currently in icmeler turkey, and since I have arrived I have had trouble with my levels, I am on the pump and have been on it for 5 weeks now , before we came out my sugars were pretty constant and mostly within DAFNE targets, but since we have been here I have been struggling to bring them down, my ratio is 2-1 but I seem to have progressed to 3-1 as in the last 24 hrs I have gone to the new ratio and things have levelled out (a bit ) . Ok your alchahol intake goes up on holiday and you eat more food etc, but to be honest I thought I was pretty good at calculating my CP values, I have beer at home most days and can accomodate it very successfully with DAFNE but unfortunately things abroad have been a bit tricky, has anybody else had the same problems ???

Thanks Paul x

Jun 2, 2012

joanne78 8 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nuts!

I am very interested in this topic as on my mixed nuts there is 8.1g carbs per 31g serve. Would I be expected to weigh how many nuts I have to work out how many CP's I'm having? I tend to eat nuts 1 or 2 hours after dinner while snacking in front of the tv so if i have quite a few that could potentially be 1 to 2 cp plus if I have a milo with milk that could be another 1 cp. I am new here and would love some advice on this.

Jun 2, 2012

joanne78 8 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / new to carb counting

Jenopesda,
I am also new here and have only just graduated, so I don't pretend to be an expert but it is a journey. If I could just make a comment the way you have written in your records appear to be incorrect if you are on a 1:1 ratio. Let's look at monday 23/4 as an example you have recorded your b'fast at 8:53am, you had 4cp's and 5 units, if you were on 1:1 ration that would have been 4 units, but perhaps you meant to write 4+1 for a correction dose which would make sense as your BGL is a high at 10.0 so a 1 correction should make you bgl come down to 7-8mml. So maybe just be mindful that the way you have written your records it can be miscontued. If you have breakfast at 8:30am most days i would recommend you eat your breakfast as per usual, then fast for lunch and then have dinner as per usual if you bgl's remain steady throughout the day you will know that your background insulin is doing its job correctly, if it raises you may have to look at increasing your dose and or splitting your dose.
It appears you may need to change your dinner ratio and adjust accordingly, but as stated you would first fast to check what you BI is doing. I am also on lantus and novo and take some lantus at breakfast and some before dinner which eliminates the possibility of it running out close to that 24 hr duration ( which vary's from person to person). I wish you well.

Jun 2, 2012

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy

Recently (2 years) I have been getting increasingly painful hands/wrists. Initial diagnosis (12 months ago from from GP) was carpal tunnel and a trip to the OT resulted in a splint to wear when painful and especially at night. I believed it helped. Symptoms were pins and needles and numbness and a slight reduction in hand strength. I was warned that I would probably need surgery at some time for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Last week i went back to the GP (I had been kneading bread and my hands were really painful and the splint did not seem to help). His assessment was again carpal tunnel and I was referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon (Hand Specialist). The surgeon is not convinced it is JUST carpal tunnel. He thinks it is a percentage carpal tunnel and a percentage nerve damage from the diabetes. The surgery will only address the percentage that is carpal tunnel. This is difficult to assess. The consequence is that I could have the surgery and get little (if any) relief.

Schroedinger's cat!!!

Any thoughts? Anyone else been in this boat?
Helen

Jun 1, 2012

cathydl 3 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Waxing and diabetes

Hi. I've read a lot of different things on the net about being able to have leg / bikini wax and being a diabetic. Can anyone offer any advice? I can understand if someone had neuropathy not to get a leg wax...... Thanks

Jun 1, 2012

chloe 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / new meter

Yea I got give the meter during the Dafne course and i really like it the only problem was that when i went to my GP they couldnt find the cassette that goes into the back of the meter but i have recently found out that it hust comes under cassette.

Jun 1, 2012

Bakerboy 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / new meter

Hi all ive been offered an upgrade from the nano meter to the Accu-Chek Mobile system is there anybody out there in Dafne land who can give any comments on this meter thanks

Jun 1, 2012

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Morning High

Keep it steady Gordon P - and see how it goes.
If you are repeatedly low on a morning you may need adjust BI again.
Know it's a pain, but as you mentioned, some 03:00 am BGs will help you understand what is happening....and more specifically....when.

Regards
Garry

Jun 1, 2012

GordyP 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hypo Treatment

I find a 150ml can of coke does the job for me, which has 10.6g of carbs, followed by a piece of toast.

May 31, 2012

GordyP 9 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Morning High

3 days after BI increase.....looking better now apart from the morning hypo this morning....

May 31, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hypo Treatment

I drink an energy drink from asda, this works quick and is only 45 calories.......... Wink

May 31, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / High BG at Lunch

As C says, if there is no QA isulin orcarbs having an effect then it must be the BI insulin that needs tested and adjusted.........

the dawn phenomenon may also be contributing, having some carb and insulin is sometimes needed to stop the liver dumping glucose....

May 31, 2012

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher

i would also suggest a 3 am test, as you say you had ben gven the hypo scenario by your mother, so you should have set out to confirm whether this was the case........

May 31, 2012

Anele46 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher

Hi David,
I would do a 3am test (I know this may be unsuitable but maybe at the weekend?) as that will show what your liver and body is doing as there will be no QA insulin in your system at that point and will give you an indication on whether the amount of Lantus your taking before bed is correct.
I tend to agree with your mum and the increases in morning BGs suggest that you may have been having hypos through the night.
Hope this helps Smile

Good luck!
Cheers,
Anele.

May 31, 2012

Davey-M 3 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher

Need some help please. I take a split dose of Lantus, 10 units before bed and 10 units first thing in the morning. My BG in the mornings have been usually 8 with the occasional 9, so just above target. To try and get these readings down I increased my bedtime lantus from 10 units to 12 about a fortnight ago, but then found my morning BGs had jumped to 14, 15 and 17s. My mum suggested I could be having hypos during my sleep. So a week later I reduced my lantus dose from 12 down to 11 and have now found my morning BGs to be around 10, 11 but most often 12s. I'm completely baffled by this, does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? Any response greatly appreciated.

Cheers
David

Jun 5, 2012 Davey-M 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher Thanks for the advice guys. Done quite a few 3am readings and my BGs are sometimes 6 but usually 7 at this time, but then I'm waking up with BGs of 10, 11 and 12. Any suggestions? Cheers

Jun 4, 2012 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hello Welcome I'm sure that others can benefit from a share of your 20 years experience. Regards Garry

Jun 4, 2012 Graham Waugh 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hypo Awareness Hi Phil, With regards to Hypo Awareness, I myself started losing my awareness around 4 or 5 years ago and it gradually got worse and worse where it's now at the point where there is no warning, I could be sitting here at say 1.8 and feel like I could run a marathon! I think it's really quite rare for you to lose awareness completely and running your BG level a tad higher for a while can bring it back. It sounds as if your control is actually pretty good (as long as you can explain the hypo and why it probably happened!) so wouldn't go mucking about with changing ratio's etc, but speak to your consultant with regards to trying to get your awareness back, they will probably ask you to run your BG a bit higher for a few months.

Jun 4, 2012 Jenkatron 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hello Just thought I'd put a message on here, graduated end of last year but didn't get round to logging in! DAFNE has completely changed my life being diabetic for 20 years and never really had great control. Not going to lie I still have good and bad days but overall my control is so much better!! Cheers then.

Jun 4, 2012 thebatoutofhull 60 posts	Topic: General Discussion / new meter This blood monitor is superb. It is slightly bigger than others but this not a problem as you do not need to carry anything else.I have used one for the last year and is so convenient. Pros. Quick to use 5seconds, no faff with test strips(the tape on the cassette moves around after your test) no need to carry unused and used test strips. Back lit for night use. Long battery life. Only changed once in a year. Lancet device clips on to the side of the metre. lancet device holds 6 lancets, easy to understand software menu for looking up previous results. 50 equivalent strips on one cassette. cons. When typing in to your online diary the screen on the metre does not stay on very long. You have to push any button to reset its internal timer. Or you can buy an i.r. usb adapter to download results. I did not bother it is easy to input one at a time on to dafne online. this is a 9/10 metre for me. For repeat prescription 'colormetric cassette'

Jun 2, 2012 GordyP 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE has changed my life! Hi richfreed. Really good to see your results are nearly all green. Keep up the good work. Gordy

Jun 2, 2012 RichFreed 51 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE has changed my life! Apologies if I'm posting in an inappropriate place. I have just completed the DAFNE course at the PA Hospital Brisbane AU and thought I'd post my diary of the week. Remarkable! Yep those insulin units are not missing a decimal place (Up until 6 months ago I was taking 70U at every meal +70 for night)

Jun 2, 2012 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday blood sugars Hi Paul... I go to Korea regularly (from Australia) and whenever I go the BG's get out of whack. Some of it is the change in diet although I try and avoid the 961 varieties of rice. I also find I do more exercise and that the temperature (usually quite a bit lower than at home) helps (I use less insulin in the cold). As it is all unusual that could also have an effect. The pump is also relatively new and in my experience it is a constant balancing trick. I tinker almost constantly. It usually takes me two to three weeks for things to settle (and that does not necessarily mean go back to exactly what it was before the trip) after I get home. Be vigilant and enjoy yourself. I know one 20 something who puts herself back on injections when on overseas holidays as she believes that it is more manageable considering different time zones, changes in when and what you eat (and drink) and sleep etc. Helen

Jun 2, 2012 Macka 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holiday blood sugars Hi guys I am currently in icmeler turkey, and since I have arrived I have had trouble with my levels, I am on the pump and have been on it for 5 weeks now , before we came out my sugars were pretty constant and mostly within DAFNE targets, but since we have been here I have been struggling to bring them down, my ratio is 2-1 but I seem to have progressed to 3-1 as in the last 24 hrs I have gone to the new ratio and things have levelled out (a bit ) . Ok your alchahol intake goes up on holiday and you eat more food etc, but to be honest I thought I was pretty good at calculating my CP values, I have beer at home most days and can accomodate it very successfully with DAFNE but unfortunately things abroad have been a bit tricky, has anybody else had the same problems ??? Thanks Paul x

Jun 2, 2012 joanne78 8 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Nuts! I am very interested in this topic as on my mixed nuts there is 8.1g carbs per 31g serve. Would I be expected to weigh how many nuts I have to work out how many CP's I'm having? I tend to eat nuts 1 or 2 hours after dinner while snacking in front of the tv so if i have quite a few that could potentially be 1 to 2 cp plus if I have a milo with milk that could be another 1 cp. I am new here and would love some advice on this.

Jun 2, 2012 joanne78 8 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / new to carb counting Jenopesda, I am also new here and have only just graduated, so I don't pretend to be an expert but it is a journey. If I could just make a comment the way you have written in your records appear to be incorrect if you are on a 1:1 ratio. Let's look at monday 23/4 as an example you have recorded your b'fast at 8:53am, you had 4cp's and 5 units, if you were on 1:1 ration that would have been 4 units, but perhaps you meant to write 4+1 for a correction dose which would make sense as your BGL is a high at 10.0 so a 1 correction should make you bgl come down to 7-8mml. So maybe just be mindful that the way you have written your records it can be miscontued. If you have breakfast at 8:30am most days i would recommend you eat your breakfast as per usual, then fast for lunch and then have dinner as per usual if you bgl's remain steady throughout the day you will know that your background insulin is doing its job correctly, if it raises you may have to look at increasing your dose and or splitting your dose. It appears you may need to change your dinner ratio and adjust accordingly, but as stated you would first fast to check what you BI is doing. I am also on lantus and novo and take some lantus at breakfast and some before dinner which eliminates the possibility of it running out close to that 24 hr duration ( which vary's from person to person). I wish you well.

Jun 2, 2012 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carpal Tunnel v's Neuropathy Recently (2 years) I have been getting increasingly painful hands/wrists. Initial diagnosis (12 months ago from from GP) was carpal tunnel and a trip to the OT resulted in a splint to wear when painful and especially at night. I believed it helped. Symptoms were pins and needles and numbness and a slight reduction in hand strength. I was warned that I would probably need surgery at some time for carpal tunnel syndrome. Last week i went back to the GP (I had been kneading bread and my hands were really painful and the splint did not seem to help). His assessment was again carpal tunnel and I was referred to an Orthopaedic Surgeon (Hand Specialist). The surgeon is not convinced it is JUST carpal tunnel. He thinks it is a percentage carpal tunnel and a percentage nerve damage from the diabetes. The surgery will only address the percentage that is carpal tunnel. This is difficult to assess. The consequence is that I could have the surgery and get little (if any) relief. Schroedinger's cat!!! Any thoughts? Anyone else been in this boat? Helen

Jun 1, 2012 cathydl 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Waxing and diabetes Hi. I've read a lot of different things on the net about being able to have leg / bikini wax and being a diabetic. Can anyone offer any advice? I can understand if someone had neuropathy not to get a leg wax...... Thanks

Jun 1, 2012 chloe 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / new meter Yea I got give the meter during the Dafne course and i really like it the only problem was that when i went to my GP they couldnt find the cassette that goes into the back of the meter but i have recently found out that it hust comes under cassette.

Jun 1, 2012 Bakerboy 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / new meter Hi all ive been offered an upgrade from the nano meter to the Accu-Chek Mobile system is there anybody out there in Dafne land who can give any comments on this meter thanks

Jun 1, 2012 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Morning High Keep it steady Gordon P - and see how it goes. If you are repeatedly low on a morning you may need adjust BI again. Know it's a pain, but as you mentioned, some 03:00 am BGs will help you understand what is happening....and more specifically....when. Regards Garry

Jun 1, 2012 GordyP 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hypo Treatment I find a 150ml can of coke does the job for me, which has 10.6g of carbs, followed by a piece of toast.

May 31, 2012 GordyP 9 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Morning High 3 days after BI increase.....looking better now apart from the morning hypo this morning....

May 31, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hypo Treatment I drink an energy drink from asda, this works quick and is only 45 calories..........

May 31, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / High BG at Lunch As C says, if there is no QA isulin orcarbs having an effect then it must be the BI insulin that needs tested and adjusted......... the dawn phenomenon may also be contributing, having some carb and insulin is sometimes needed to stop the liver dumping glucose....

May 31, 2012 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher i would also suggest a 3 am test, as you say you had ben gven the hypo scenario by your mother, so you should have set out to confirm whether this was the case........

May 31, 2012 Anele46 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher Hi David, I would do a 3am test (I know this may be unsuitable but maybe at the weekend?) as that will show what your liver and body is doing as there will be no QA insulin in your system at that point and will give you an indication on whether the amount of Lantus your taking before bed is correct. I tend to agree with your mum and the increases in morning BGs suggest that you may have been having hypos through the night. Hope this helps Good luck! Cheers, Anele.

May 31, 2012 Davey-M 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Increased Lantus but BGs now higher Need some help please. I take a split dose of Lantus, 10 units before bed and 10 units first thing in the morning. My BG in the mornings have been usually 8 with the occasional 9, so just above target. To try and get these readings down I increased my bedtime lantus from 10 units to 12 about a fortnight ago, but then found my morning BGs had jumped to 14, 15 and 17s. My mum suggested I could be having hypos during my sleep. So a week later I reduced my lantus dose from 12 down to 11 and have now found my morning BGs to be around 10, 11 but most often 12s. I'm completely baffled by this, does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions? Any response greatly appreciated. Cheers David