Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Jun 15, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

its the amount of carbs per portion.......I feel that its a lotta lotta carbs for a little bit of food ! or perhaps I'M just greedy ! I did DAFNE at Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hb1Ac results

Its amazing some of the attitudes HCP had back then, I have never been below 7.9, but I dont get moaned at as its hard, even with 110% effort........and also harder back in the day when even the HCPs understanding was limited in comparison to the likes of the DAFNE principals..............

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

Before DAFNE I was on a mixed insulin and never knew about insulin regimes such as MDI, just couldn't believe that I wasn't told this much earlier............

It is simple maths at the end of the day, theres just no way I could back.............

What are you struggling with Neil......?

Were did you guys do the course...........?

Jun 15, 2011

dafne-dude 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

before dafne i would always guess the amount of qa and never get the dose correct but hopefully this will come with time and be able to be confident when eating them as noodles and rice are my fav foods.. Unfortunatley i don't have an iphone but the dafne carb counting book is practically glued to me i take it everywhere..

The other week i got a chicken noodle soup and if i have this correct it took 9qa to cover it, which i thought at the time it was a huge amount but turned out to be spot on..

Jun 15, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

ARGH ......don't mention noodles or pasta...still struggling myself. If you have an I phone download carbs and cals...not only does it give a weight to carb value but also give pictures of portion sizes which is great when out and abou

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

I do have takeaway food and yes, it is sometimes difficult to get the carb count right...........if you get similar things on a regular basis, then you can weigh out things like noodles, rice, naan bread and then you will know what it is next time, assuming they come in the standard/similar box sizes.................

For me personally a takeaway is a treat, and so I dont mind roughly guessing as I am treating myself............

But as you say, it does get easier as time goes by and the more you count carbs.........

Jun 15, 2011

dafne-dude 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

cheers novorapidboi26,

i'am enjoying food now even the sweet things ha, can i ask do you eat takeaway food?? reason i ask is i'am sorta struggling working out the carbs in things such as noodles, i kno theres a section in the booklet but even then i always take too much qa, suppose it's just a live n learn thing eh....

Jun 15, 2011

Michaela 13 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

Hypothyroid? when you no longer produce the thyroid hormone or produce very little. In my case I do not produce thyroxine so have to take a replacement pill. There are several different types and causes apparently. Overdosing on soy can have a negative effect on the thyroid. I still eat tofu and use soy sauce. I do have soy butter sometimes and rarely soy milk but now I am using almond milk. I don't really need a milk replacement except for the occasional recipe.

BTW I eat a very wide variety of food. I had PBJ for lunch Very Happy

which is something you would not do if you were carb or calorie counting. Of course, I do not eat them every day and as in my previous post my PB is palm oil free so a bit less in fat than some others even though it's not a 'light' version.

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

I second that............

Welcome to the forum................... Cool

Jun 15, 2011

dafne-dude 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Great

Hello all,

I have recently graduated from dafne and i must admit what a great course it is, so educational i have lived with diabetes for 17yrs and what i've learned in that week was just amazing..

cheers dafne

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy

I think that minor retinopathy can be reversed if the weakened blood vessels are allowed to heal and strengthen through normal, stable blood sugars, and even so with laser treatment, but I think the use of the laser will cause some damage of its own as opposed to the retinopathy causing it........

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

Michaela said:
(a problem if you have Hypothyroid like me)

Whats that, I suspect my thyroid isn't perfect..........

Jun 15, 2011

Michaela 13 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

Agreed. You can still get fat on whole food if you eat a lot of fat, but avoiding all the processed foods with it's added sugar, salt, soy (a problem if you have Hypothyroid like me) and fat will be better for you in the long run even if you aren't trying to lose weight.

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

Michaela said:
I do have meat occasionally, usually when going out (but not always if I can find a decent vegan option).

Part timer........lol............. Very Happy

My sister was vegan, her daughter has always been........what you say is probably right..........I dont know if I could do it though, there is a fine line between wanting to stay skinny and enjoying a wide variety of foods........

Although I know most vegans would tell you their choice to be so is down to many more factors.........

Jun 15, 2011

Welshmapleleaf 19 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

'PS I tend to eat whole food and avoid a lot of processed/packaged soy based vegan replacement food.'

That's a biggie for me - I was shocked on my DAFNE course at what some people ate - I wouldn't eat some of it even if I wasnt diabetic!!!

Jun 15, 2011

Welshmapleleaf 19 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How can you work out HBA1c by using your BG averages? Is it possible?

The more I think about this, the more I'm inclined to just test my BG as I do, keep control, and wait for hopefully some good news at every review! I guess using the average BG readings on the DAFNE online diary will give you some sort of pointer to what expect, and tbh I am just enjoying re-learning what my body's doing after a period of little BG awareness! Very Happy

Jun 15, 2011

Michaela 13 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

This is why I went vegan. I appreciate it's not for everyone. I was a confirmed omnivore but haven't found giving up meat and dairy all that hard actually. I love vegetables, pulses, fruits, pasta, grains and I can have peanut butter and Jam etc. I do not carb count and I do not calorie account. Of course if I just ate chips all day long I probably wouldn't lose weight.

I think fat is very important. I do have meat occasionally, usually when going out (but not always if I can find a decent vegan option). I do, however, avoid dairy when I eat out. As much as I love cheese and creamy sauces that is where the majority of your calories and carbs lie in many meals.

One of the fat pitfalls with being vegan is Palm Oil which is high in saturated fat. Unfortunately it's used in a lot of vegan and vegetarian products like peanut butter and tortilla wraps. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

On this way of eating I've actually reduced my carbs and fat quiet a bit without really trying because I tend to eat wraps more than bread (although most bread is suitable for vegans), I'm not eating a lot of fat from meat or dairy. Most things I do eat are naturally low in calories.

I've also replaced sugar almost completely with Agave Nectar which I find suitably sweet enough for me. Heck I even made Peanut Butter cookies with it Wink

Anyway, this is just my experience and I can attest that in the last 3 wks I've lost 6lbs and I haven't been hungry, felt deprived, had hypos or had very high blood sugar unless I didn't calculate something correctly.

PS I tend to eat whole food and avoid a lot of processed/packaged soy based vegan replacement food.

Jun 15, 2011

Welshmapleleaf 19 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy

Sorry, I forgot to say in my original post that I've had two lots of laser treatments, both for only about ten seconds, and the Consultant told me I only had a minimal leakage, which was expected in somebody who has been type 1 for 20 years as I have.

I'm just worried that in the middle of improving my BG levels, I will have to endure another round of lasering, and I guess I would like to know whether this extra need for retinopathy will signal a permanent worsening in the condition or whether through better BG control, this will diminish or indeed be reversed.

Jun 15, 2011

Michaela 13 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Metformin /Type 1

I take it because I have PCOS. At this dose it has only a minor effect on my symptoms, however, I cannot take higher doses as they give me horrible side effects and make me feel physically sick all the time even the slow acting.

For weight loss (and help with my myriad of other problems including Diabetes) I went vegan and it actually works. Personally have no problem with it as I eat quite a variety of food and make sure I get plenty of carbs.

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy

Hi,

I am not an HCP but I would like to contribute............

High blood sugars over long periods of time can cause retinopathy, as can just being diabetic for many years, changes are bound to happen..........at least that's what they tell us...... Wink

...........I have some background retinopathy myself......

Another factor to consider with this and with any other micro vascular diabetic condition is the speed at which blood glucose levels change, if you were suffering retinopathy through high sugar levels, then went on DAFNE and very quickly dropped you levels, this quick change could actually cause further damage, so its important to consider slow gradual improvements when suffering from these things..........

Normal BG levels as well as steady ones are both required to have the least impact on the veins, large or small......

Thats my understanding anyway, someone may be along with a more technical explanation.............

Jun 15, 2011

Welshmapleleaf 19 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

Sadly, that is one of the annoying bits of being type 1 - everyone else just needs to eat right and exercise! Confused

And people think it's as simple as "Oh, you can't have that cake, can you?" !!!!!!

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals

I am the same in terms of snacking, I dont snack, well, only occasionally at the weekends, in between meals through fear of messing up my BG results.................I eat salads and 4 bits of fruit at lunch Monday to Friday and have a varied meal for dinner...........

I have upped my activity at night, so I am hoping I can lose some weight, but I fear there may be more to it than simply diet and exercise......... Crying or Very sad

Jun 15, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How can you work out HBA1c by using your BG averages? Is it possible?

The in between meal times are relevant as your BG is higher, sometimes its lower, so your BG at every hour of the day contributes to the amount of glucose that sticks to the blood cells....if you test at the peak then its a more truthful, accurate average inst it

How high do you go before exercise? I try to be on target before exercise or at the higher end, otherwise my BG would rise....... Crying or Very sad

Jun 15, 2011

Welshmapleleaf 19 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy

I graduated from DAFNE last week, and I was advised by my DSN delivering the course that those who have undergone retinopathy should not try to attain strict DAFNE BG targets too quickly, as it could cause further damage.

I didn't pursue this further at the time, but as I have an appointment at the eye clinic next week, I would like to be as well informed as possible, in order to have a meaningful discussion with the Consultant. Could any HCP explain this further to me? Please feel free to be as technical as you want in your explanation! Very Happy

Many Thanks

Richard

Jun 15, 2011

Welshmapleleaf 19 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Metformin /Type 1

Hi Guys,

Can I ask - are you taking Metformin to increase your sensitivity to insulin (and therefore take less insulin), or more as an aid to lose weight? I graduated from DAFNE last week, we discussed Metformin briefly, and I decided to see what happens with my weight in the next six weeks before exploring it further. I'm not sure if I should have posted this in a general discussion forum, but it seemed better to continue this thread. Apologies if my etiquette is wrong!

Jun 15, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great its the amount of carbs per portion.......I feel that its a lotta lotta carbs for a little bit of food ! or perhaps I'M just greedy ! I did DAFNE at Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hb1Ac results Its amazing some of the attitudes HCP had back then, I have never been below 7.9, but I dont get moaned at as its hard, even with 110% effort........and also harder back in the day when even the HCPs understanding was limited in comparison to the likes of the DAFNE principals..............

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great Before DAFNE I was on a mixed insulin and never knew about insulin regimes such as MDI, just couldn't believe that I wasn't told this much earlier............ It is simple maths at the end of the day, theres just no way I could back............. What are you struggling with Neil......? Were did you guys do the course...........?

Jun 15, 2011 dafne-dude 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great before dafne i would always guess the amount of qa and never get the dose correct but hopefully this will come with time and be able to be confident when eating them as noodles and rice are my fav foods.. Unfortunatley i don't have an iphone but the dafne carb counting book is practically glued to me i take it everywhere.. The other week i got a chicken noodle soup and if i have this correct it took 9qa to cover it, which i thought at the time it was a huge amount but turned out to be spot on..

Jun 15, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great ARGH ......don't mention noodles or pasta...still struggling myself. If you have an I phone download carbs and cals...not only does it give a weight to carb value but also give pictures of portion sizes which is great when out and abou

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great I do have takeaway food and yes, it is sometimes difficult to get the carb count right...........if you get similar things on a regular basis, then you can weigh out things like noodles, rice, naan bread and then you will know what it is next time, assuming they come in the standard/similar box sizes................. For me personally a takeaway is a treat, and so I dont mind roughly guessing as I am treating myself............ But as you say, it does get easier as time goes by and the more you count carbs.........

Jun 15, 2011 dafne-dude 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great cheers novorapidboi26, i'am enjoying food now even the sweet things ha, can i ask do you eat takeaway food?? reason i ask is i'am sorta struggling working out the carbs in things such as noodles, i kno theres a section in the booklet but even then i always take too much qa, suppose it's just a live n learn thing eh....

Jun 15, 2011 Michaela 13 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals Hypothyroid? when you no longer produce the thyroid hormone or produce very little. In my case I do not produce thyroxine so have to take a replacement pill. There are several different types and causes apparently. Overdosing on soy can have a negative effect on the thyroid. I still eat tofu and use soy sauce. I do have soy butter sometimes and rarely soy milk but now I am using almond milk. I don't really need a milk replacement except for the occasional recipe. BTW I eat a very wide variety of food. I had PBJ for lunch which is something you would not do if you were carb or calorie counting. Of course, I do not eat them every day and as in my previous post my PB is palm oil free so a bit less in fat than some others even though it's not a 'light' version.

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great I second that............ Welcome to the forum...................

Jun 15, 2011 dafne-dude 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Great Hello all, I have recently graduated from dafne and i must admit what a great course it is, so educational i have lived with diabetes for 17yrs and what i've learned in that week was just amazing.. cheers dafne

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy I think that minor retinopathy can be reversed if the weakened blood vessels are allowed to heal and strengthen through normal, stable blood sugars, and even so with laser treatment, but I think the use of the laser will cause some damage of its own as opposed to the retinopathy causing it........

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals Michaela said: (a problem if you have Hypothyroid like me) Whats that, I suspect my thyroid isn't perfect..........

Jun 15, 2011 Michaela 13 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals Agreed. You can still get fat on whole food if you eat a lot of fat, but avoiding all the processed foods with it's added sugar, salt, soy (a problem if you have Hypothyroid like me) and fat will be better for you in the long run even if you aren't trying to lose weight.

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals Michaela said: I do have meat occasionally, usually when going out (but not always if I can find a decent vegan option). Part timer........lol............. My sister was vegan, her daughter has always been........what you say is probably right..........I dont know if I could do it though, there is a fine line between wanting to stay skinny and enjoying a wide variety of foods........ Although I know most vegans would tell you their choice to be so is down to many more factors.........

Jun 15, 2011 Welshmapleleaf 19 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals 'PS I tend to eat whole food and avoid a lot of processed/packaged soy based vegan replacement food.' That's a biggie for me - I was shocked on my DAFNE course at what some people ate - I wouldn't eat some of it even if I wasnt diabetic!!!

Jun 15, 2011 Welshmapleleaf 19 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How can you work out HBA1c by using your BG averages? Is it possible? The more I think about this, the more I'm inclined to just test my BG as I do, keep control, and wait for hopefully some good news at every review! I guess using the average BG readings on the DAFNE online diary will give you some sort of pointer to what expect, and tbh I am just enjoying re-learning what my body's doing after a period of little BG awareness!

Jun 15, 2011 Michaela 13 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals This is why I went vegan. I appreciate it's not for everyone. I was a confirmed omnivore but haven't found giving up meat and dairy all that hard actually. I love vegetables, pulses, fruits, pasta, grains and I can have peanut butter and Jam etc. I do not carb count and I do not calorie account. Of course if I just ate chips all day long I probably wouldn't lose weight. I think fat is very important. I do have meat occasionally, usually when going out (but not always if I can find a decent vegan option). I do, however, avoid dairy when I eat out. As much as I love cheese and creamy sauces that is where the majority of your calories and carbs lie in many meals. One of the fat pitfalls with being vegan is Palm Oil which is high in saturated fat. Unfortunately it's used in a lot of vegan and vegetarian products like peanut butter and tortilla wraps. I try to avoid it as much as possible. On this way of eating I've actually reduced my carbs and fat quiet a bit without really trying because I tend to eat wraps more than bread (although most bread is suitable for vegans), I'm not eating a lot of fat from meat or dairy. Most things I do eat are naturally low in calories. I've also replaced sugar almost completely with Agave Nectar which I find suitably sweet enough for me. Heck I even made Peanut Butter cookies with it Anyway, this is just my experience and I can attest that in the last 3 wks I've lost 6lbs and I haven't been hungry, felt deprived, had hypos or had very high blood sugar unless I didn't calculate something correctly. PS I tend to eat whole food and avoid a lot of processed/packaged soy based vegan replacement food.

Jun 15, 2011 Welshmapleleaf 19 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy Sorry, I forgot to say in my original post that I've had two lots of laser treatments, both for only about ten seconds, and the Consultant told me I only had a minimal leakage, which was expected in somebody who has been type 1 for 20 years as I have. I'm just worried that in the middle of improving my BG levels, I will have to endure another round of lasering, and I guess I would like to know whether this extra need for retinopathy will signal a permanent worsening in the condition or whether through better BG control, this will diminish or indeed be reversed.

Jun 15, 2011 Michaela 13 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Metformin /Type 1 I take it because I have PCOS. At this dose it has only a minor effect on my symptoms, however, I cannot take higher doses as they give me horrible side effects and make me feel physically sick all the time even the slow acting. For weight loss (and help with my myriad of other problems including Diabetes) I went vegan and it actually works. Personally have no problem with it as I eat quite a variety of food and make sure I get plenty of carbs.

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy Hi, I am not an HCP but I would like to contribute............ High blood sugars over long periods of time can cause retinopathy, as can just being diabetic for many years, changes are bound to happen..........at least that's what they tell us...... ...........I have some background retinopathy myself...... Another factor to consider with this and with any other micro vascular diabetic condition is the speed at which blood glucose levels change, if you were suffering retinopathy through high sugar levels, then went on DAFNE and very quickly dropped you levels, this quick change could actually cause further damage, so its important to consider slow gradual improvements when suffering from these things.......... Normal BG levels as well as steady ones are both required to have the least impact on the veins, large or small...... Thats my understanding anyway, someone may be along with a more technical explanation.............

Jun 15, 2011 Welshmapleleaf 19 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals Sadly, that is one of the annoying bits of being type 1 - everyone else just needs to eat right and exercise! And people think it's as simple as "Oh, you can't have that cake, can you?" !!!!!!

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs v Cals I am the same in terms of snacking, I dont snack, well, only occasionally at the weekends, in between meals through fear of messing up my BG results.................I eat salads and 4 bits of fruit at lunch Monday to Friday and have a varied meal for dinner........... I have upped my activity at night, so I am hoping I can lose some weight, but I fear there may be more to it than simply diet and exercise.........

Jun 15, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How can you work out HBA1c by using your BG averages? Is it possible? The in between meal times are relevant as your BG is higher, sometimes its lower, so your BG at every hour of the day contributes to the amount of glucose that sticks to the blood cells....if you test at the peak then its a more truthful, accurate average inst it How high do you go before exercise? I try to be on target before exercise or at the higher end, otherwise my BG would rise.......

Jun 15, 2011 Welshmapleleaf 19 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE and Retinopathy I graduated from DAFNE last week, and I was advised by my DSN delivering the course that those who have undergone retinopathy should not try to attain strict DAFNE BG targets too quickly, as it could cause further damage. I didn't pursue this further at the time, but as I have an appointment at the eye clinic next week, I would like to be as well informed as possible, in order to have a meaningful discussion with the Consultant. Could any HCP explain this further to me? Please feel free to be as technical as you want in your explanation! Many Thanks Richard

Jun 15, 2011 Welshmapleleaf 19 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Metformin /Type 1 Hi Guys, Can I ask - are you taking Metformin to increase your sensitivity to insulin (and therefore take less insulin), or more as an aid to lose weight? I graduated from DAFNE last week, we discussed Metformin briefly, and I decided to see what happens with my weight in the next six weeks before exploring it further. I'm not sure if I should have posted this in a general discussion forum, but it seemed better to continue this thread. Apologies if my etiquette is wrong!