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Jun 20, 2011
Karen Westwood
38 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please You may find that as it is a different insulin that you will need different doses anyway and only time will tell.I have found that splitting 50/50 has worked for me but you will probably have to do a few alterations before you find the dose that is right for you. My main advice would be to change one thing at a time and then give it about 3/4 days to look at your results and then decide what may need changing next. It took me months to finally get my lantus at the correct levels so don't worry about things not happening over night. When you do get there all the hard work will eventually pay off. It might be worth speaking to your diabetic nurse to discuss what levels of lantus you should start off on after the change from Isophane. Did they not tell you this when they changed you over to lantus? Karen x  |
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Jun 19, 2011
derekh1965
90 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please Hi KarenThanks for your input. I was taking 30 units Isophane in the evening and 22 12 hrs later (10:30 am and pm}. Total of 52 BI. Do you think splitting it I should take 26 units each time? I have taken my 32 tonight and will see what my BS is tomorrow morning and take it from there. |
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Jun 19, 2011
Karen Westwood
38 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please Hi there, just been reading your posts and thought I would just mention that when you make changes with Lantus it can take (from my experience) upto 3 days for the changes to actually work fully so don't worry about highs in the meantime, just give the lantus a few days to settle.I too used to take all my Lantus in the evening and then I tried splitting it 50/50 morning and night. I take it at 8.30 in the morning and again at 8.30 in the evening. I have an alarm set on my mobile phone to remind me!!! Personally I have found this has worked really well. Hope this helps Karen x |
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Jun 19, 2011
deanna
8 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice if possible. Novorapidboi26 – the burning under the skin comes from my QA insulin, considerably less often from my BI. I have tried novorapid, humulinS and im now on humalog. I am unsure about what causes my physical symptoms at the moment, as my average BG is around 7-8 I don’t know if this is just too high for my body. I have seen my doctors frequently, but they keep trying to put me on anti-depressants to help deal with my mood, headaches and pain-receptors. I am still unsure.Athena – I didn’t realise that your honeymoon period could still be going on even after 2 years, although my diabetes was caught very early, so this could be true in my case. Those with the dawn phenomena, have you tried testing to see if your split dose of BI is lasting the correct amount of time over night, as I myself am unsure if I am experiencing the dawn phenomenon or if my BI is running out to soon. I have tested and recorded my BG over many months now and my BI, Levemir, seems to only last 6-7 hours during the night before my BG starts to rise (for example, from 6.5 to 14.0 in the space of 2 hours in the morning around 7oclock). I have started waiting to take my BI as late as possible, resulting in a habit of going to sleep about midnight. This seems to be working at the moment, as my BG only rises between 3-5 points and doesn’t make me feel as much like ive had a hyper in the night. Welshmapleleaf I think that if you are having difficulties with your BI, in my personal opinion it would probably be worth changing to a split dose BI (even if its just to see how effective it works for you) as it is easier to control and adjust so you can get the dosage right, without having to deal with the consequences for too long if you accidently get the dose wrong, i.e. 10-12hrs instead of 20-24. x |
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Jun 19, 2011
deanna
8 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice if possible.
Okay i understand what you mean. However in my case it is the QA insulin not the BI that cause me these problems, so if these facts are true what could be the cause. It doesnt make sense does it really aha x |
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Jun 19, 2011
deanna
8 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice if possible.
Thank you Garry for the advice on exercise i'll look into it
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Jun 19, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please The most significant peak that I have used is humulin I, both Lantus and Levemir don't have any noticeable peak, but everyone is different.............It will make your BG drop if the dose it too much defo......... Could you take your daytime dose with your breakfast, this might drop down your breakfast ratio as well.............. |
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Jun 19, 2011
HelenP
218 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Eye Screening Hi,I have been a diabetic now for 33 years and had my first experience with a minor retinal bleed about 20+ years ago. The opthamologist recommended laser and I was so terrified of losing my sight that I readily agreed. I have since had three additional treatments (so a total of two on each eye) over the last 20 years. I have a check up every second year or so and no further treatment has been deemed necessary. I dislike the procedure but the outcome is very good. My vision is good and I still drive without glasses. Wear them for reading but can almost read the newspaper without them. My daughter-in-law believes my colour perception is shot. I put navy socks on my grandson when his mother thought I ought have sort out brown. I thought his pants were a funny grey but she insisted they were brown! I can live with that! Up until I did Dafne my control was less than satisfactory but since Dafne it is much more regular. The opthamologist believes the tighter control is at least in part responsible for the lack of further damage/deterioration. I have a friend who has also been a long term diabetic and she had a less than satisfactory experience with laser and was off work for quite some time. I literally had it done, waited until my pupils were reactive to light and then went back to work that afternoon. Did get a black eye after one episode though. The technology must have come a long way in twenty years. For memory my last lot of laser was 10-12 years ago. Helen |
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Jun 18, 2011
derekh1965
90 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please Yes I'm going t stick with the 32 at 22:30 and maybe take 22 at 10:30. The trouble I was having with the Isophane was the peak was making my BS go low. Although they will tell you BI doesn't lower your BS it clearly does. n An example is Tuesday 3am test I was 5.6 then at 8:30 I was 14.7!!Isophane peaks between 4 to 6 hrs. Lantus (Glargine) has a much less defined peak than Isophane. Never mind, one of these days I'll be hunkey dorey. |
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Jun 18, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Eye Screening Hey, welcome to the forum.............From the stories I have heard laser treatment is successful in stemming any minor leaks, there may be minor leaks around the outside but its ones near the middle that may effect the sight.............I have had it for 12 years, diabetes that is, and I have background retinopathy, its normal I suppose after so long.............. being referred doesn't mean you will have to get the laser, just means some more in depth investigation is needed, but if you do, don't worry, it will help......................and remember retinopathy can improve if you can lower your BG levels nice and slowly........ I am sure someone with more first hand experience will be along soon......... |
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Jun 18, 2011
Third Lanark
3 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Eye Screening Having had diabetes for 13 years have thankfully not had any problems with my eyesight. However just got a letter sent from the eye screening unit that there have been changes to my eyesight because of diabetes and that I am being referred to an eye specialist.Been a bit of a fright to say the least and am now seriously worried about my vision, dont get me wrong I havent noticed any changes but thats the thing you dont until it can be very late. The information sheet provided with the letter states that laser surgery can be used to treat retinopathy. Does anyone know how successful this type of treatment is? Been getting quite worried about it |
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Jun 18, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please I don't know it all, just using what I have learned....................but I like helping if I can............are you talking about splitting the evening dose, before bed and then in the morning..........that's a new one to me........... I think the 32 before bed is the best option, its seems to have given you a good result, so if this continues you know your have the right dose..................I think taking less before bed is just reducing your chance of waking on target...... on the wed night you were 9.0, so assuming the QA was right, then it looks as if the 30 was just short of what you needed............. So my non professional advice would be to take the 32 at 22:30, the your 22 when you get up, so the chances of waking in single figures is greatest and then your giving yourself more BI to stop any rise from breakfast to lunch.............. what has your team been saying........... |
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Jun 18, 2011
Peter
109 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Newer Insulins under pressure from QIPP Mark, Don't forget, as Carolin said, that the second part of the message given at the DAFNE Collaborative was "ANY type of BI taken twice daily was better than analogue taken just once daily". |
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Jun 18, 2011
derekh1965
90 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please Hi NovprapidboiI was well chuffed but true to form for me it doesn't last. I have decided to go back onto Lantus. 32 units at 22:30. When I took it before I am sure I took 2 injections. 1 in the am and 1 pm but can't remember how much. My first evening taking the Lantus I woke with a BS of 7.3 which I was delighted with. Then last night I thought I would try splitting the dose as it's duration is 18 - 24 hrs. Took 18 last night with the intention of taking 12 this morning but woke with a BS of 13.7. I am probably too early to receive a reply this morning but worth as try. Should I take 32 this morning and 32 tonight or what do you think? You have a great knowledge concerning all this and I fully appreciate all the help you are giving to me. best regards Derek |
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Jun 17, 2011
Jenny
27 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI I'm glad I'm not the only one. I think those insulin pumps with the continuous glucose monitors are the only way to solve the problem! I've tried to predict changes but can never get it right. Everything changes week by week so by the time you have gathered evidence to talk to someone everything has changed again. |
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Jun 17, 2011
marke
681 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Newer Insulins under pressure from QIPP since I know at least one of the DAFNE 'top brass' read this forum I will let them give a 'full' answer if they wish too. However at last weeks DAFNE Collaborative I attended a workshop that contended that NPH could well be preferrable to newer analogue insulins. Indeed the original DAFNE program was and still is based on NPH insulin NOT the newer insulins.One of the problems with new analogues is there is not the long term evidence and experience of using them like there is NPH. It was said at the DAFNE workshop that if they had known years ago what they now know about NPH insulins they would use them differently and more effectively. Newer is not always best ! Although all new insulins have obviously been safety tested before being generally available that is not the same as years of experience of using them over a very wide range of people who are all different. Perhaps QIPP is just trying to trying to avoid the 'newer is better' syndrome, or maybe not, I can't really comment on that. |
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Jun 17, 2011
Karen Westwood
38 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hb1Ac results
Been a little off track of late and not done the testing that I should have been and my HbA1 has increased from my previous post DAFNE 6.7% to 8.1%, So I am now back to testing before each meal again .... back on track ..... onwards and upwards from here!!!! 
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Jun 17, 2011
marke
681 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / iPhone BG Meter nothing on their websites, just press releases at various other sites so I guess its not acutally available commercially yet. It looks potentially interesting but why plug it directly into an iphone, a bit of a strange decision. The connector looks weird sticking out of the side, presuming its not retractable its likely to potentially get battered in use. Also using something like bluetooth would mean you could connect it to any device that you wrote the software to talk to it on, opening up a bigger market with android, windows mobile etc. Anyway as I said it looks interesting, would be very interest to hear if anyone gets their hands on one. |
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Jun 17, 2011
marke
681 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / How can you work out HBA1c by using your BG averages? Is it possible? Carolin has asked me to post the table below from the new handbook ( available online shortly) that she thinks will help. It basically what she posted on this thread previously but laid-out in the same way as the handbook. (if you are reading this in an email, it won't display properly. You can only view it on the site) |
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Jun 17, 2011
Ray O'Toole
4 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / iPhone BG Meter Does anybody know where can I purchase the iBGStar iPhone meter?Regards, Ray. |
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Jun 17, 2011
Athena
52 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice if possible.
Think you would need to think of Levemir or Insulatard. Lantus can be split but I know at our centre, they are not finding this to be successful as it is really meant to be used as a one off once daily injection. I would e-mail your DSN and ask for advice. levemir is supposed to be one of the worst for reactions, so it may be a problem for you. We have been told that old-fashioned insulatard works well with DAFNE so you could ask about that too. Good luck, you really need to get something sorted out with this. |
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Jun 17, 2011
Athena
52 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Menstrual Cycle, BI Hi All,Just to update you that I did not hear back from the DAFNE folk. No reply to my e-mail about including this aspect of control on future courses so no luck there. I also think that lots of gals won't realise what the problem is and so when DAFNE Extra becomes available no -one will include this in the course. I said to people on my course that maybe this was why they couldn't get control. They had not recognised the problem and now see a pattern to their BI changes. I have told my DSN's but nothing is mentioned in our follow up meetings. i wish they would address this. Why would they keep pretending that one BI is what you should aim for and will do you? It seems such an oversight. Anywya, hwo are we all getting on? I am not much fourther forward. I can predict the time of rise but not how much to raise it. I am now trying doses for one day only and changing the next day if not working. This is because I know when I am on the way up, and when I am on the way down. I think changes are required more quickly thatn the step- wise approach allows, especially on the way down of course when menstruation occurs and the insulin has to be whacked right down right away. I suspeact as other says that DAFNE jsut can't help with this and we all need to find our own pattern. Good luck all! |
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Jun 17, 2011
Athena
52 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hb1Ac results
That's interesting Sara. I thought I would point out to patients in Scotland that they can register to get their results on - line. Google My diabetes myway if interested. Once registered all HBa1C, blood pressure, cholesterol etc, results from previous years are available to you , and like SAra you can see trends over the years. |
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Jun 17, 2011
Athena
52 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stimulants Anyone got any advice/ experience of using herbal or pharmecutical stimulants to stay awake with diabetes? I have looked into this and found a few rememdies. I am about to try Guarana and then other stuff like diet pills. Coffee is just not strong enough to deal with diabeteic tiredness especially with DAFNE where bg's seems to be higher than on normal MDI. Just not getting used to the higher levels so need to do something about it until I get my doses sorted. Any advice welcome.thanks |
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Jun 17, 2011
Welshmapleleaf
19 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice if possible. I'm on Lantus - as it is supposed to be a 24hr ish BI, can you split it or would I need to consider going on to levemir? |
on the opening Forum page - use the search facility to search for Exercise. Brings up about six threads to have a look at.