Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Sep 10, 2011

kay70mea 6 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Do I adjust BI or QA first?

Hi,
Need a little help from anyone,I am taking Levemir for background insulin and NovoRapid for quick acting,I'm on a 2:1 ratio QA and then1:1 for lunch,tea and supper and then the Levemir twice a day 14 at breakfast and 16 at supper time, the problem I'm having is at supper time when it doesn't settle and the levels are high at breakfast time, tested during the night they are ok but by 8 a.m. they are on 13mmols and higher, before supper they run on 9mmols but then higher in the morning any suggestions?

Sep 10, 2011

John Syer 19 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing

Simon said:
Geoff: thinking about it you're right, there is a standard 1.5 CP suggested for a hypo which we probably dont need to adjust manually, so its just the BG:QA ratio which is needed.

I may be missing something, but isn't it QA:CP ratio. Why do you need the BG:QA ratio? My personal experience is that BG:QA is unpredictable, depending on too many factors to make it a useful metric, (weather, temperature. stress levels, exercise, tiredness). I also find that BG:QA relationship changes depending on the value of BG, so it is non-linear.

Regards, John

Sep 9, 2011

Simon 578 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing

Geoff: thinking about it you're right, there is a standard 1.5 CP suggested for a hypo which we probably dont need to adjust manually, so its just the BG:QA ratio which is needed.

Novorapidboi: check your inbox!

Sep 9, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing

Hey, can I be emailed again with the link for the latest release............

Cheers.......... Wink

Sep 9, 2011

Geofftrez 22 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing

Simon said:
I like the idea Geoff, and think it's the right way to go. I thought taking 1 CP was meant to raise your BG by 2-3, so your CP:BG ratio is needed?

Yes but you also have the QA:CP ratio which is used in the DAFNE calculations. CP:BG would I believe only be useful if you wanted to calculate a small corrective carbohydrate dose because you were close to having a hypo and you were not at a mealtime. We would normally have 1CP and do any correction at the next meatime. On this basis the CP:BG ratio isn't really needed. So sayiing as a DAFNE graduate I am a bit of a novice so hope someone will correct me if necessary.

If you were actually having a hypo there would be no correction at the next meal.

Sep 8, 2011

Simon 578 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing

I like the idea Geoff, and think it's the right way to go. I thought taking 1 CP was meant to raise your BG by 2-3, so your CP:BG ratio is needed?

Sep 8, 2011

Simon 578 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Facebook

Yes - https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7325986398

Sep 8, 2011

Pinky 4 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI

swirlygirly said:
Hi Pinky
Sorry to hear about the migraines that can't be fun along with everything else, I hope you get some joy with the mini pill. I was offered this a while back but really did not want to go down that route at the time but I may have to reconsider as my symptoms Diabetes and otherwise seem to be getting worse as time goes by.
I would be really interested in how you get on and would like to stay in touch , PM me if you would rather ,or on this thread . whichever is fine with me.
I am on Lantus and had to change my injection to mornings a long time ago because of nighttime Hypo's ,it did help a bit but like you when you need to really increase the doses you get that backlog ,build up and I still get them a lot at certain times of the month. It is far more hormone related than dose/insulin related with me...and I bet your self and a good few others.
Thanks for the reply and do stay in touch, and yes you can feel very frustrated and alone with it all, big hug!!

Swirlygirly,
I will indeed yet you know how i get on. Build up week next week so will monitor the BG on the new insulin doses and let you know. Mood swing changes may take a while longer to monitor, but will keep you posted. Thank you for the hug. Have you considered changing from Lantus? No nightime hypos gets my vote. I also feel less fuggy during the day.
Pinky.

Sep 8, 2011

swirlygirly 3 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI

Hi Pinky
Sorry to hear about the migraines that can't be fun along with everything else, I hope you get some joy with the mini pill. I was offered this a while back but really did not want to go down that route at the time but I may have to reconsider as my symptoms Diabetes and otherwise seem to be getting worse as time goes by.
I would be really interested in how you get on and would like to stay in touch , PM me if you would rather ,or on this thread . whichever is fine with me.
I am on Lantus and had to change my injection to mornings a long time ago because of nighttime Hypo's ,it did help a bit but like you when you need to really increase the doses you get that backlog ,build up and I still get them a lot at certain times of the month. It is far more hormone related than dose/insulin related with me...and I bet your self and a good few others.
Thanks for the reply and do stay in touch, and yes you can feel very frustrated and alone with it all, big hug!!

Sep 7, 2011

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence.

Couple more links which may be of interest. The DVLA document which has prompted all the comments can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/~/media/pdf/consultations/Proposals to amend Driving Licence Standards.ashx. NB. It's a PDF document.

The original EU guidance is here: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/behavior/doc/diabetes_and_driving_in_europe_final_1_en.pdf

Sep 7, 2011

Pinky 4 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI

Hi Swirlygirly,
Your prementruation BG are a lot like mine. Some months; before Dafne, I would correct every couple of hours and increase my cp.qa ratios from 1:1 to 1:3 and still run at about 16. Then the week during I would require very little of anything. My PMT is also really bad and I too feel life is one big struggle, then I feel like me again. I did see my doctor this week and she has suggested the mini pill which is just progesterone. This is due to migraines, rather than because of your suggested link, but it does seem a logical idea to me. I will let you know if taking it has the desired effect on those pesky BG's and mood swings.
I am now on levemir not lantus and I no longer have night time hypos. This was a bigger problem during the week of my period as I could have up to three a night on really bad weeks. This was probably due to the three day lag effect of lantus and all the increase in dose I had taken to combat high BG. I now take only 3 units of levemir at night, 20 in the morning. I have not as yet had a period since the change in insulin, but the diabetic nurse said I may need to reduce the night time levemir further for that week.
Hope you feel better soon. So good to chat with people going through the smae sort of thing. Can be really lonely.
Pinky

swirlygirly said:
Hi Anthea
May I ask which week you have sorted? I find the week during and just after menstruation the easiest. The week running up besides the REALLY bad PMT I find a struggle.
I exercised this morning usually a locked down insulin to food ratio for me and I end my workout with a Glucose of 4.5, well today usual food usual dose but my Glucose went up instead of down and at the point in my routine where I check and would be at around 10 I was at 22.4...so I had an adjustment which I would normally never dare do during exercise if it was not the week before my period and I only gotmthem down to 17.3......It is like I am insulin sensitive for the majority of the time but the week before a period I lose all sensitivity and I would even go as far as saying I have quiet sever insulin resistance.
Do you ,or anyone else for that matter know if this would be due to Estrogen dominance?????? I'm not that up on Cycle hormones.I do wonder if this is the case that progesterone supplemented would help to stabilise things for us????
I do know I need to see my GP about this because I have got to the stage where I feel Quiet poorly and run down the week before and my moods are terrible...then it's like I'm a new person when my period starts . It really is not just effecting my Diabetes it has a negative effect on mu life overall really.
Thanks Anthea for bringing this up and thanks the DAFNE people for taking this on board.
SG xx

Sep 7, 2011

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence.

DianeH said:
Re the petition, can anyone help?

Diane

Seems to be one here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14125

Only 782 signatures so far....so get signing! The wording with it says:

Diabetes and driving

Responsible department: Department for Transport

We wish the government to urgently re-examine the EU directive which leads to drivers with diabetes being stripped of their licences if they suffer two hypos in a year, even whilst asleep in bed. We ask them to consider the large number of safe and careful drivers with diabetes who, whilst suffering occasional hypos in their sleep, afford no risk in their waking hours on the roads. These drivers will lose their independence and even their work as a result of implementation of this directive.

Sep 7, 2011

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Myths

Lizzie said:
It might be helpful if people who had gone through DAFNE maybe 5 years ago or something like that could be automatically recalled. My clinic was OK on arranging updates directly after the course but these seem to have dried up. And even when offered, the number of places available was inadequate, they were snapped up almost immediately and by the time I had organised a day's leave and my manager got back to me approving it, there were no spaces left. And since it was one day only, you could only choose 2 sessions to attend so you did not get a thorough update on everything that had changed. I realise updates and suchlike are the responsibility of the individual clinic however it would be nice if there was some sort of central DAFNE mechanism to keep us updated if our own clinic does not do so. I just feel graduates of DAFNE should be kept updated with the latest knowledge and way of teaching the course. It is all very well going to it but after a few years the knowledge is old and begins to fade and is changed and updated and you are out of touch.

It's very interesting that you make these comments about follow-on training. It so happens that one of the items that the DUAG team are working on at the moment are questionnaires to get input from Graduates and Educators on what is currently offered, and what is wanted. I finished the draft of the graduate version last weekend, and expect to be publishing a link to it on dafneonline shortly to get input from the users here. That will at least give us some feedback to go to DAFNE Central on what the users want.

Sep 7, 2011

DianeH 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence.

I heard the report on "You and Yours" on Radio 4 today. I was appalled. I am still struggling to get within targets and most of the time I am too high. That means very few hypos and no unpredictable ones. Just as well, by the sound of it. Where I live public transport is almost non-existent: I would not be able to get to work (or do it) without a car, I would not get to most of my medical appointments and I would effectively be stuck in my village or restricted to cycling distance - not very far as I am in my late 50's. Worst of all, I am a folk dance musician. I would lose this and all of my musical activities as there is nothing locally. I am swinging between panic and despair. I was told by Diabetes UK (I got straight on the phone) that there is an online petition that someone has started. Does anyone know how to find it? What can we do? Looking at things like the health bill currently going through parliament I have no faith in the government using common sense or even mild thought. I thought the knee-jerk ban on minibus-driving regardless of one's driving history was bad enough.

Re the petition, can anyone help?

Thanks

Diane

Sep 7, 2011

dragonrat 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Facebook

Is there a Facebook page or group for DAFNE? I've found the Twitter page, but a Facebook account gives more scope.

Sep 6, 2011

MSW 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically

I agree with what novorapidboi26 has said. I have also found that my ratios change over time for no apparent reason. As far as I can tell there is no harm in this as long as you adjust your insulin doses accordingly. Good luck with this.

Sep 6, 2011

swirlygirly 3 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI

Hi Anthea
May I ask which week you have sorted? I find the week during and just after menstruation the easiest. The week running up besides the REALLY bad PMT I find a struggle.
I exercised this morning usually a locked down insulin to food ratio for me and I end my workout with a Glucose of 4.5, well today usual food usual dose but my Glucose went up instead of down and at the point in my routine where I check and would be at around 10 I was at 22.4...so I had an adjustment which I would normally never dare do during exercise if it was not the week before my period and I only gotmthem down to 17.3......It is like I am insulin sensitive for the majority of the time but the week before a period I lose all sensitivity and I would even go as far as saying I have quiet sever insulin resistance.
Do you ,or anyone else for that matter know if this would be due to Estrogen dominance?????? I'm not that up on Cycle hormones.I do wonder if this is the case that progesterone supplemented would help to stabilise things for us????
I do know I need to see my GP about this because I have got to the stage where I feel Quiet poorly and run down the week before and my moods are terrible...then it's like I'm a new person when my period starts . It really is not just effecting my Diabetes it has a negative effect on mu life overall really.
Thanks Anthea for bringing this up and thanks the DAFNE people for taking this on board.
SG xx

Sep 6, 2011

Chris loughrey 21 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically

novorapidboi26 said:
Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............

As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ ..........

This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well.......

If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion.........

good luck and keep us posted.............

Thanks for the advice, funny how after 10 years there's always more to learn!
I think I mostly need to beat the idea that "more insulin=bad", you get into a cycle of thinking toy should take as little as possible but there isn't really any logic behind it, I need as much as I need. And I figured my ratios were low anyway, with any luck having a pump ( when I reach the top of the list!) will be a big help too. Thanks again for your thoughts, it's been a great help.

Sep 6, 2011

Chris loughrey 21 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically

novorapidboi26 said:
Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............

As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ ..........

This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well.......

If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion.........

good luck and keep us posted.............

Thanks for the advice, funny how after 10 years there's always more to learn!
I think I mostly need to beat the idea that "more insulin=bad", you get into a cycle of thinking toy should take as little as possible but there isn't really any logic behind it, I need as much as I need. And I figured my ratios were low anyway, with any luck having a pump ( when I reach the top of the list!) will be a big help too. Thanks again for your thoughts, it's been a great help.

Sep 6, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically

Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............

As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ Laughing

..........

This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well.......

If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion.........

good luck and keep us posted.............

Sep 6, 2011

Chris loughrey 21 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically

I've been diagnosed 10 years.first time I've had such a fast change in ratios though.I was using maximum of 1.25:1 previously and now I'm just heading upwards at all times of the day!

I'm testing BI today but I'm fairly sure it's the ratio needing to go 1.5:1 or more. Just having trouble with the idea of more & more QA being needed. I'm very active and exercise 4-5 days per week without fail(I'm a fitness trainer and sports coach) that's why I'm having trouble understanding the rapid decrease in sensitivities. If anything it should be the opposite.

A week or 2 ago I was using 4-5 units at lunch (0.75:1) and now that's seemed to double, is that possible with no obvious reason?

Sep 6, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / dafne app/carb calculator for Blackberry phones

I believe there are some apps on there for this purpose, a quick search for diabetes may give you some results...............

good luck............

Sep 10, 2011 kay70mea 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Do I adjust BI or QA first? Hi, Need a little help from anyone,I am taking Levemir for background insulin and NovoRapid for quick acting,I'm on a 2:1 ratio QA and then1:1 for lunch,tea and supper and then the Levemir twice a day 14 at breakfast and 16 at supper time, the problem I'm having is at supper time when it doesn't settle and the levels are high at breakfast time, tested during the night they are ok but by 8 a.m. they are on 13mmols and higher, before supper they run on 9mmols but then higher in the morning any suggestions?

Sep 10, 2011 John Syer 19 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing Simon said: Geoff: thinking about it you're right, there is a standard 1.5 CP suggested for a hypo which we probably dont need to adjust manually, so its just the BG:QA ratio which is needed. I may be missing something, but isn't it QA:CP ratio. Why do you need the BG:QA ratio? My personal experience is that BG:QA is unpredictable, depending on too many factors to make it a useful metric, (weather, temperature. stress levels, exercise, tiredness). I also find that BG:QA relationship changes depending on the value of BG, so it is non-linear. Regards, John

Sep 9, 2011 Simon 578 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing Geoff: thinking about it you're right, there is a standard 1.5 CP suggested for a hypo which we probably dont need to adjust manually, so its just the BG:QA ratio which is needed. Novorapidboi: check your inbox!

Sep 9, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing Hey, can I be emailed again with the link for the latest release............ Cheers..........

Sep 9, 2011 Geofftrez 22 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing Simon said: I like the idea Geoff, and think it's the right way to go. I thought taking 1 CP was meant to raise your BG by 2-3, so your CP:BG ratio is needed? Yes but you also have the QA:CP ratio which is used in the DAFNE calculations. CP:BG would I believe only be useful if you wanted to calculate a small corrective carbohydrate dose because you were close to having a hypo and you were not at a mealtime. We would normally have 1CP and do any correction at the next meatime. On this basis the CP:BG ratio isn't really needed. So sayiing as a DAFNE graduate I am a bit of a novice so hope someone will correct me if necessary. If you were actually having a hypo there would be no correction at the next meal.

Sep 8, 2011 Simon 578 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Feedback from Android beta testing I like the idea Geoff, and think it's the right way to go. I thought taking 1 CP was meant to raise your BG by 2-3, so your CP:BG ratio is needed?

Sep 8, 2011 Simon 578 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Facebook Yes - https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7325986398

Sep 8, 2011 Pinky 4 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI swirlygirly said: Hi Pinky Sorry to hear about the migraines that can't be fun along with everything else, I hope you get some joy with the mini pill. I was offered this a while back but really did not want to go down that route at the time but I may have to reconsider as my symptoms Diabetes and otherwise seem to be getting worse as time goes by. I would be really interested in how you get on and would like to stay in touch , PM me if you would rather ,or on this thread . whichever is fine with me. I am on Lantus and had to change my injection to mornings a long time ago because of nighttime Hypo's ,it did help a bit but like you when you need to really increase the doses you get that backlog ,build up and I still get them a lot at certain times of the month. It is far more hormone related than dose/insulin related with me...and I bet your self and a good few others. Thanks for the reply and do stay in touch, and yes you can feel very frustrated and alone with it all, big hug!! Swirlygirly, I will indeed yet you know how i get on. Build up week next week so will monitor the BG on the new insulin doses and let you know. Mood swing changes may take a while longer to monitor, but will keep you posted. Thank you for the hug. Have you considered changing from Lantus? No nightime hypos gets my vote. I also feel less fuggy during the day. Pinky.

Sep 8, 2011 swirlygirly 3 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI Hi Pinky Sorry to hear about the migraines that can't be fun along with everything else, I hope you get some joy with the mini pill. I was offered this a while back but really did not want to go down that route at the time but I may have to reconsider as my symptoms Diabetes and otherwise seem to be getting worse as time goes by. I would be really interested in how you get on and would like to stay in touch , PM me if you would rather ,or on this thread . whichever is fine with me. I am on Lantus and had to change my injection to mornings a long time ago because of nighttime Hypo's ,it did help a bit but like you when you need to really increase the doses you get that backlog ,build up and I still get them a lot at certain times of the month. It is far more hormone related than dose/insulin related with me...and I bet your self and a good few others. Thanks for the reply and do stay in touch, and yes you can feel very frustrated and alone with it all, big hug!!

Sep 7, 2011 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence. Couple more links which may be of interest. The DVLA document which has prompted all the comments can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/~/media/pdf/consultations/Proposals to amend Driving Licence Standards.ashx. NB. It's a PDF document. The original EU guidance is here: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/behavior/doc/diabetes_and_driving_in_europe_final_1_en.pdf

Sep 7, 2011 Pinky 4 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI Hi Swirlygirly, Your prementruation BG are a lot like mine. Some months; before Dafne, I would correct every couple of hours and increase my cp.qa ratios from 1:1 to 1:3 and still run at about 16. Then the week during I would require very little of anything. My PMT is also really bad and I too feel life is one big struggle, then I feel like me again. I did see my doctor this week and she has suggested the mini pill which is just progesterone. This is due to migraines, rather than because of your suggested link, but it does seem a logical idea to me. I will let you know if taking it has the desired effect on those pesky BG's and mood swings. I am now on levemir not lantus and I no longer have night time hypos. This was a bigger problem during the week of my period as I could have up to three a night on really bad weeks. This was probably due to the three day lag effect of lantus and all the increase in dose I had taken to combat high BG. I now take only 3 units of levemir at night, 20 in the morning. I have not as yet had a period since the change in insulin, but the diabetic nurse said I may need to reduce the night time levemir further for that week. Hope you feel better soon. So good to chat with people going through the smae sort of thing. Can be really lonely. Pinky swirlygirly said: Hi Anthea May I ask which week you have sorted? I find the week during and just after menstruation the easiest. The week running up besides the REALLY bad PMT I find a struggle. I exercised this morning usually a locked down insulin to food ratio for me and I end my workout with a Glucose of 4.5, well today usual food usual dose but my Glucose went up instead of down and at the point in my routine where I check and would be at around 10 I was at 22.4...so I had an adjustment which I would normally never dare do during exercise if it was not the week before my period and I only gotmthem down to 17.3......It is like I am insulin sensitive for the majority of the time but the week before a period I lose all sensitivity and I would even go as far as saying I have quiet sever insulin resistance. Do you ,or anyone else for that matter know if this would be due to Estrogen dominance?????? I'm not that up on Cycle hormones.I do wonder if this is the case that progesterone supplemented would help to stabilise things for us???? I do know I need to see my GP about this because I have got to the stage where I feel Quiet poorly and run down the week before and my moods are terrible...then it's like I'm a new person when my period starts . It really is not just effecting my Diabetes it has a negative effect on mu life overall really. Thanks Anthea for bringing this up and thanks the DAFNE people for taking this on board. SG xx

Sep 7, 2011 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence. DianeH said: Re the petition, can anyone help? Diane Seems to be one here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14125 Only 782 signatures so far....so get signing! The wording with it says: Diabetes and driving Responsible department: Department for Transport We wish the government to urgently re-examine the EU directive which leads to drivers with diabetes being stripped of their licences if they suffer two hypos in a year, even whilst asleep in bed. We ask them to consider the large number of safe and careful drivers with diabetes who, whilst suffering occasional hypos in their sleep, afford no risk in their waking hours on the roads. These drivers will lose their independence and even their work as a result of implementation of this directive.

Sep 7, 2011 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Myths Lizzie said: It might be helpful if people who had gone through DAFNE maybe 5 years ago or something like that could be automatically recalled. My clinic was OK on arranging updates directly after the course but these seem to have dried up. And even when offered, the number of places available was inadequate, they were snapped up almost immediately and by the time I had organised a day's leave and my manager got back to me approving it, there were no spaces left. And since it was one day only, you could only choose 2 sessions to attend so you did not get a thorough update on everything that had changed. I realise updates and suchlike are the responsibility of the individual clinic however it would be nice if there was some sort of central DAFNE mechanism to keep us updated if our own clinic does not do so. I just feel graduates of DAFNE should be kept updated with the latest knowledge and way of teaching the course. It is all very well going to it but after a few years the knowledge is old and begins to fade and is changed and updated and you are out of touch. It's very interesting that you make these comments about follow-on training. It so happens that one of the items that the DUAG team are working on at the moment are questionnaires to get input from Graduates and Educators on what is currently offered, and what is wanted. I finished the draft of the graduate version last weekend, and expect to be publishing a link to it on dafneonline shortly to get input from the users here. That will at least give us some feedback to go to DAFNE Central on what the users want.

Sep 7, 2011 DianeH 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence. I heard the report on "You and Yours" on Radio 4 today. I was appalled. I am still struggling to get within targets and most of the time I am too high. That means very few hypos and no unpredictable ones. Just as well, by the sound of it. Where I live public transport is almost non-existent: I would not be able to get to work (or do it) without a car, I would not get to most of my medical appointments and I would effectively be stuck in my village or restricted to cycling distance - not very far as I am in my late 50's. Worst of all, I am a folk dance musician. I would lose this and all of my musical activities as there is nothing locally. I am swinging between panic and despair. I was told by Diabetes UK (I got straight on the phone) that there is an online petition that someone has started. Does anyone know how to find it? What can we do? Looking at things like the health bill currently going through parliament I have no faith in the government using common sense or even mild thought. I thought the knee-jerk ban on minibus-driving regardless of one's driving history was bad enough. Re the petition, can anyone help? Thanks Diane

Sep 7, 2011 dragonrat 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Facebook Is there a Facebook page or group for DAFNE? I've found the Twitter page, but a Facebook account gives more scope.

Sep 6, 2011 MSW 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically I agree with what novorapidboi26 has said. I have also found that my ratios change over time for no apparent reason. As far as I can tell there is no harm in this as long as you adjust your insulin doses accordingly. Good luck with this.

Sep 6, 2011 swirlygirly 3 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI Hi Anthea May I ask which week you have sorted? I find the week during and just after menstruation the easiest. The week running up besides the REALLY bad PMT I find a struggle. I exercised this morning usually a locked down insulin to food ratio for me and I end my workout with a Glucose of 4.5, well today usual food usual dose but my Glucose went up instead of down and at the point in my routine where I check and would be at around 10 I was at 22.4...so I had an adjustment which I would normally never dare do during exercise if it was not the week before my period and I only gotmthem down to 17.3......It is like I am insulin sensitive for the majority of the time but the week before a period I lose all sensitivity and I would even go as far as saying I have quiet sever insulin resistance. Do you ,or anyone else for that matter know if this would be due to Estrogen dominance?????? I'm not that up on Cycle hormones.I do wonder if this is the case that progesterone supplemented would help to stabilise things for us???? I do know I need to see my GP about this because I have got to the stage where I feel Quiet poorly and run down the week before and my moods are terrible...then it's like I'm a new person when my period starts . It really is not just effecting my Diabetes it has a negative effect on mu life overall really. Thanks Anthea for bringing this up and thanks the DAFNE people for taking this on board. SG xx

Sep 6, 2011 Chris loughrey 21 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically novorapidboi26 said: Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............ As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ .......... This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well....... If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion......... good luck and keep us posted............. Thanks for the advice, funny how after 10 years there's always more to learn! I think I mostly need to beat the idea that "more insulin=bad", you get into a cycle of thinking toy should take as little as possible but there isn't really any logic behind it, I need as much as I need. And I figured my ratios were low anyway, with any luck having a pump ( when I reach the top of the list!) will be a big help too. Thanks again for your thoughts, it's been a great help.

Sep 6, 2011 Chris loughrey 21 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically novorapidboi26 said: Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............ As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ .......... This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well....... If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion......... good luck and keep us posted............. Thanks for the advice, funny how after 10 years there's always more to learn! I think I mostly need to beat the idea that "more insulin=bad", you get into a cycle of thinking toy should take as little as possible but there isn't really any logic behind it, I need as much as I need. And I figured my ratios were low anyway, with any luck having a pump ( when I reach the top of the list!) will be a big help too. Thanks again for your thoughts, it's been a great help.

Sep 6, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............ As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ .......... This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well....... If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion......... good luck and keep us posted.............

Sep 6, 2011 Chris loughrey 21 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help! Ratios moving around very erratically I've been diagnosed 10 years.first time I've had such a fast change in ratios though.I was using maximum of 1.25:1 previously and now I'm just heading upwards at all times of the day! I'm testing BI today but I'm fairly sure it's the ratio needing to go 1.5:1 or more. Just having trouble with the idea of more & more QA being needed. I'm very active and exercise 4-5 days per week without fail(I'm a fitness trainer and sports coach) that's why I'm having trouble understanding the rapid decrease in sensitivities. If anything it should be the opposite. A week or 2 ago I was using 4-5 units at lunch (0.75:1) and now that's seemed to double, is that possible with no obvious reason?

Sep 6, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / dafne app/carb calculator for Blackberry phones I believe there are some apps on there for this purpose, a quick search for diabetes may give you some results............... good luck............