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May 23, 2011
JayBee
587 posts
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Being knocked off track feels like a common theme for 2011. I do wonder when I'll be back on track - my body has been hypoing a lot since being ill, I feel like Im a different creature. I would be on 7 MORN 14 EVE BI with the newly found ratios if I was fine, but Ive had to pull back all ratios back to 1:1 and my BIs are currently 5 MORN and 12 EVE. This past weekend has been very hard due to hypos. I look forward to being well again. Its amazing how much mess stomach flu can cause even when you feel better! >_< |
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May 23, 2011
Athena
52 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Information on menstrual cycle I also hope you are feeling better. Obviously this has mucked up looking for patterns etc. so another thing to take you off track. I think I am lucky in that I have quite a discernable pattern. I am now in the tricky part which is the gradually moving the doses up until I hit the all time high of the pre-menstrual one.this is the worst part for me. I think the problem is that the step -wise approach is too slow. You are trying to get a dose and your requirment have shifted on again. I intend to be a bit more gung ho this month and just go for it without waiting for a pattern. Next month I am considering using ratios to sort thing s to see if that helps. I just want to test the difference between the two methods. Of course that wiil mean eating regular carbs and losing the benefits of DAFNE but I have to keep trying things. Anything to feel well. Good luck to all ! PS WOuld be interested in hearing how people on the pump are doing with this. I remember the girl who was about to try it. If you are on line still, pleae let us know how you get on. |
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May 23, 2011
tweety
13 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / So what do you do? Thanks Wullie, I know what u mean. I have spoken to so many line managers as they change so frequently for me. I have noticed that the ones who do understand only understand when it suits them, I've even had to produce letters from my opthamologist to get time of for clinics as im unable to c or drive after my appointment! (I've had laser done a few times now). They are a total nightmare, novorapidboi is right as soon as you mention DDA they couldn't be more helpful although it doesnt last very long. If it werent for my union fightin for me all the time i prob wldnt be there now, bn with company for 13yrs. |
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May 22, 2011
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / DUAG and Hospital Staff I understand what you mean, even if my circumstances weren't the same - I went into hospital only last week because I got hit by stomach flu that was making me very sick and I became seriously dehydrated. I had done a great job of keeping things like ketones at bay and my sugar levels somewhat good despite the sickness, but it was only after I'd started recovering that it became clear that my BI doses were wrong because in the morning, my BGs started dropping (unusually, but this may be due to be illness and it's effects on my body afterwards).Fair enough, but while I was being taken care of, I had explained what times I took my BI doses as soon as I got into the ward because they asked - one at 9pm and one at 7am - and when I showed signs of a hypo in the morning, the staff asked me to wait until a doctor had come to see me after 9am before I took my next BI. I wasn't impressed with what was being asked but I did as asked initially. If I'm going to hypo, I'm going to hypo - I know to put my overnight dose down instead. -_-;;; I did hypo in the end - before I even took my morning BI dose. However, considering it was almost 10am before anyone came, I thought "sod this" and took my morning BI at about 9.45am. I even felt bad that I had to apologise to the nurse for my "naughty" decision but at the same time, I knew full well that my BI overlap is needed in the morning and if I didn't take it, I would be paying for it later. I hope that no one gets me wrong considering they did help me get out of the situation of serious dehydration because I couldn't keep anything down, but in reference to my diabetes care, it was frustrating because I was asked to explain what I do to help myself but I felt I was not taken serious enough. They were overly worried about me hypoing because of taking my next BI dose which was frustrating and did hint at some lack of education. Thankfully a nurse from my DAFNE team did come see me and confirm that I had done very well with dealing with my short term illness but this was after 10am... The diabetes team are a small dedicated team from what I can tell, there doesn't seem to be on ward staff easily available to see patients at non-office hours when the team seem to be in when it comes to DAFNE. I think this is a shame to come across this after many years of not needing assistance like I did last week.... and I'm sorry to hear that your situation was just as frustrating (I would've gone mad if I'd had to put up with it for more than one day I think). I do hope that your idea can go ahead but how well it can be rolled out is another problem of it's own... especially in these harder times, when you start to see news like this (dated yesterday): Diabetes UK: False economy as 200 frontline Diabetes Specialist Nurses go in NHS cost cutting Absolutely shocking.  I shall be continuing to follow Diabetes UK's Twitter feed to see how their fighting response to this news turns out.
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May 22, 2011
derekh1965
90 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Some advice please Hihoping someone can advise me on my diary. My morning BG is always high, no matter how much evening BI I take. Was told the BI would not lower your BS. I knows about the dawn phenomenon and 3am testing. I have tried taking more BI insulin to cover any liver dumps, or less case it was lowering my BS. Last night I took 22 units of BI to see if it would cover the dawn phenomenon. Went to bed at 1am at 8.4, had a carb free supper. The lat QA was at 10.30pm and that would've been in my system upto 3am. But I woke up with a BS of 17.9!! A couple od weeks ago I thought I had it sorted, that didn't last long. The HCP told me it was because I was eating no carbs and my body was craving glucose so sending a message to the liver to give it some. If my sugar is high why is the brain asking for some? am having 2 slices of toast for supper tonight to put that theory to the test. You can see how confused |I am, I hope. thanks in advance and best regards Derek ps weighed myself tonight and I have gained 10lbs since graduating from DAFNE. I blame the massive amount of insulin I am having to inject. |
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May 22, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / What are you reading?
LOL, i have now...........  .....unfortunately i dont read many books so wont be posting here on a regular basis............... 
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May 21, 2011
AK
16 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Old habits die hard...
I can understand why you hate them Wullie, but as someone who has several a day  I can give you some advice. Firstly, you may not treat them early enough if they have such a memory-wiping effect etc, there are tips on the RunSweet website on how to reclaim your early-warning signs. This might make you less afraid of them. Secondly, the Dafne rule about 2.5 - 3 CPs being sufficient really does work! That was a revelation to me as I used to have a similar problem after hypos. I find that if you drink a lunchbox carton of fruit juice (eg Ribena, even Asda own brands) this is the best hypo treatment (although rinse your mouth out as the acid isn't good if you hypo frequently). These not only say they have the correct CP in carb grams on the box so you can rest assured that a whole packet is all you need, they are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream making recovery quicker. I've tried many hypo treatments in my time and they are by far the best. The usual disclaimer that everybody's different applies of course, but there are good objective reasons for this to work for you! Thirdly, look after yourself, don't make yourself carry on after treating a hypo. Take it as me-time and rest somewhere quiet where you won't be afraid of offending anyone etc and take the time you need to recover. I actually find I don't need to rest if I take juice as opposed to glucose tablets etc. Liquids better than solids, and especially those with a fast GI. Sorry if you know all this already! |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Old habits die hard... All you talk of over correcting but I still do both pre and post DAFNE over compensate on hypo's.I hate being hypo, usually can't remember whats happened, what I've done, who've I up-setted and so on. I HATE IT! So when I hypo I munch, munch, munch, drink and munch..... needless to say I end up high for a few days. Any advice? Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Do you usually ignore warnings to diabetics to 'consult your GP before use'? I used to ignore the warning - after all I've had Type 1 diabetes since birth and no problems...... until now when I developed Diabetic Foot Ulcers. I will now adhere to warnings.Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / So what do you do? Tweety usually the best option is to speak to your line manager - it is very much a lack of understanding of how diabetes is treated thast leads to people being unhappy. Imagine how they will feel if you are DAFNE trained.Before jumping on the discrimination line - talk to them. I informed my lline manager (all be it an Agency manager) but she is very aware of what I need to do and why so if any complaints come in she can deal with it appropriately. Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Feeling hungover!! I always always feel hungover after a hypo.... never after a high.In fact I'm knackered and " can't be arsed" when high. Your corrections will very much depend on you. Mine thankfully are 1:1 at the moment but during a spell in hospital they increased slightly. It will very much depend on time, type of day, stress, life....... the list can go on but what you need to do is find what you are both confident and comfortable with. DAFNE is very much trial and error until you get to this point. Any doubts see your DAFNE Educator. Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / What are you reading? I'm very much a Clive Cussler fan and all his books regarding Dirk Pitt, NUMA, etc. I love the fantasy books that could actually be turned into good films :0Anyone notice something by the way....... Think I may have found one of the few message boards that Novorapidboi HASN'T commented on  Only kidding mate Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Android app Makes me glad that I got an iPhoneBut yeah I do have an Android tablet and it is very much when the network decides to update it. It is also very much dependent on where you got your Android.... mines what a cheapy from HMV so it takes forever!!!! But hey ho - love the Iphone and the apps it has Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / DUAG and Hospital Staff OK this might seem a bit out of context but please bear with me.Having recently been admitted to a hospital (which runs DANFE) for Diabetic Foot Complications I was placed in a "diabetic speciality" ward which I would have thought would at least have had a basic understanding on the principles of DAFNE. Needless to say I had many a battle, usually at 06.30 when they woke me up to do my "BM". I had to constantly tell them I am DAFNE trained and to leave me alone. I also had to try and educate them that I did not know what dose of QA insulin I would take until the tray of 'food' arrived from the trolley. It was an ongoing battle at least for the first 5 or 6 days out of my 2 week stay. You may say "so what?" Imagine being woken every night at 23.30 for a blood test to determine your IV Antibiotic level then woke again 1.5 hours later to put up another back of IV Antibiotic only to listen to the pump alarm every 20-30 mins because it was faulty, then to be woken again at 05.00 to have the bag taken down..... it took it's tole on me. My point is 2 fold though...... 1. I was not admitted to the same hospital I did DAFNE at - is there any way the DUAG can ensure consistency in the course education as I noticed some differences in those that had been trained. Even if it meant someone sitting in on the courses - something I would be very happy to do. 2. Can the DUAG provide a free information course day (even 1/2 a day) to allow staff dealing with diabetic patients who are trained in DAFNE some insight to exactly what DAFNE is all about. I ask this as many of the staff I spoke to knew about DAFNE but had no idea what it meant. Again this is something I am very prepared to do. Anyway my soap box is starting to sag under my weight so let me know what you think As I said I can see it 3 ways - I'm a DAFNE Grad, who is also a nurse, who has also seen it from patient side. Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Diabetic Foot Ulcers Ok guys - through no fault of my own I developed infected diabetic foot ulcers on my right foot. It appears that for whatever reason a blister on my second toe that had burst overnight in my sleep became infected and this developed into a severe diabetic foot ulcer infection in no less that 48 hours.IT SHOCKED ME! I don't say I am the best in the world but I did treat it with a dressing and antiseptic cover as quickly as possible. How it happened is neither here nor there but has anyone else had the same in the past, or even thought "it'll never happen to me!" Let's chat here Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Levemir versus Lantus I was put on Lantus but unfortunately it was guestimated that it wasn't even lasting a full 18 hours for me - this said I was going high early evenings. I have actually went back to using insulatard twice daily and get a much much better control from that. The one thing you need to remember is that it is very very much all individual and no matter what is said here - it will very much depend on your reaction and sensitivity. to your insulin.Wullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
WullieIrvine
27 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Penicillin It is entirely possible your antibiotics are lowering your blood glucose levels. I've recently had intravenous Vancomycin and it actually raised my blood glucose levels. Needless to say the sudden unexpected drop I got when I got home and it was out of my system has totally thrown me for a day but hey we live and learnWullie (RNA) |
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May 20, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Penicillin I would say its perfectly possible your antibiotics are having an effect on you..............Some people find there BGs go up with illness and infection, some go down.............so it could be a result of the infection or a combination of the infection, its battle to get rid and also the antibiotic assistance you have been given........ Hopefully it will be a very short term effect, but best to be extra vigilant with your recording and testing..........
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May 20, 2011
Aneirin
15 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Penicillin Was going fine before, in the 5-8 range up until lunch time yesterday when I started taking it. Same ratios, same meals, butI had a hypo after lunch, treated it, hypo before dinner, treated it, hypo before going to bed, treated it, and a hypo after breakfast today.I have been treatign normally (2 fast acting, maybe some additonal CP's if meal is a while away) but I am not going above 6. (ratios are 1.5 to 1 for breakfast, 1 to 1 for lunch, and 2/3 to 1 for dinner. A weird one, but it's the only ratio that works for dinner) |
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May 20, 2011
Aneirin
15 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Penicillin hello. Recently got an infection and need to take peniccilin for a month, and I seem to be getting lower, and am having a lot more hypos.Does penicillin affect blood glucose? And how? And how to adjust? (the penniccilin is flucloxacillin) |
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May 20, 2011
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Information on menstrual cycle
Thanks! Still not quite eating properly (more than nothing!) and tired, but besides that, I'm fine and dandy!
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May 20, 2011
AK
16 posts
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Hope you're feeling better now! |
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May 19, 2011
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Information on menstrual cycle I will be looking into the coil soon then! You sound like you've found it an absolute delight (well, despite the cons of course)! ^_^
On the note of "do we think it's time to raise the BI" question - after all that, I was very very ill on tuesday! Needed to go into hospital for assistance with dehydration prevention and everything! ^___^;; That explained the highs though during the days before considering once I started to stabilise on wednesday, I started to hypo in the morning! ^_^; I've reverted back to the 7 MORN and 14 EVE for now... I'm glad I took that incorrect dose of 16 EVE and 10 MORN though, saved me from raising ketones and the like I think! So at the moment it's been 7 MORN and 14 EVE with a change from all 1:1 ratios to 1:1.5 for breakfast and eve meal.... non-stop! Will it change now my pill taking has stopped? I shall continue my tracking! BTW - best not to measure your temperature from your armpit I've learnt from this experience... it's always lower so when I was ill, I couldn't even tell I was over 37C, let alone what I really was for my TOTM! Also - if you're on a combined pill like me, one of my DAFNE nurse team let me know that I do not ovulate - the pill is designed to prevent it from happening so this may explain some of my body's behaviour? I mean, I feel a bit doubtful that my body temp will rise now knowing this... I will have a think (bit messed up at the moment thanks to the bug). With this, if I find that my body is being consistent so far despite TOTM.... perhaps it is a suggestion that we just still haven't found the right clues to our insulin doses really? I mean, since starting this, I was of the same frame of mind (that my body needed more insulin), but after the BI changes and the ratio changes that I've not got plans on changing back, does suggest a lack of shift during the TOTM... but I will keep tracking myself to be sure. Whatever way we look at it, until we're sure of our doses, we can never be sure what's going on. There's so many factors that can affect it that you can't always pick up on... take for example, me checking my BGs after my evening meal insulin had finished - if I had not started doing that, after so many annoying inconsistent morning BGs, I would've never picked up to change my evening meal ratio - instead I would've been changing my over night BI still! Whatever our problems, keep up the great work all... we can all get there! |
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May 19, 2011
AK
16 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Levemir versus Lantus
Yep... The workload 
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