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May 4, 2011
DFH_17
22 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hay fever - BG's gone high Hi Heather,My best mate is heavily into herbal treatments so if I mentioned the nettle tea - there would be a lot of approval :-) Thats a great idea - will look into it - where d'you get the sugar diluting liquid? The grassy flavour sounds a bit nasty as I know grass pollen is the reason why I get the hayfever. Cheers again. |
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May 4, 2011
Heather B
20 posts
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Hello, I know that I'm probably going to sound like a hippy but have you tried nettle tea for your hayfever? I find it works better for me than the Piriton that I used to take and it doesn't affect my blood sugars at all. I have a mug of it every day in Spring and Summer and I haven't had any symptoms at all so far (I must admit that I disguise the taste of the tea by adding some sugar free diluting juice as its a bit 'grassy' for my taste!). You can get it in most supermarkets as well as health food shops and it might just be worth a try. |
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May 4, 2011
DFH_17
22 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hay fever - BG's gone high I'm not keen on the cetirizine to be honest - BG's weren't affected at all but I wasn't keen on being drowsy - cetainly wouldnt work if I was at work. Its a mystery then re: Loratadine - I checked several websites and it said it caused insulin resistance - maybe I'm just 1 of the unlucky ones but it definitely affected my BG's.I'll have to try several antihistimines to find the right one I guess. |
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May 4, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Blueberries If you go here it states 50 berries are 9.85g (1CP).........but things like these are only a guide, testing is the best way to find out how X amount effects the BGs........has your counting been working so far............? |
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May 4, 2011
Maura
14 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Blueberries Hi can anyone advise how many blueberries would =1cp, I have been counting them as 5 = 1 cp unsure if this is correct. Thanks |
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May 4, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Android app
Most of the phones out there now have the latest android OS designed for phones, most commonly 2.2, 2.3(Gingerbread) exists and many more advanced users have manually installed this version, some manufacturers have too I believe but testing is still taking place on other phones before they release 2.3 for everyone........ So to answer the question for the majority of Android users, without jail-breaking their devices, only OS versions tested and provided by the Network Operators are released when they see fit...... |
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May 4, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Help ! Any Thoughts Please. I haven't heard of this happening to the levels you have described unfortunately...................however I am aware that the insulin Levemir is slightly acidic and can cause allergic reaction and some time burning quite often in a lot of people.....This wouldn't explain your reaction to the analogue insulin's like Novorapid etc...............as these insulin's have been made in a lab the problem may lie with that fact, maybe some animal insulin may solve your problems............. I hope you find some answers............. 
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May 4, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Background Insulin As Chris mentioned, the 'Dawn Phenomenon' is the most likely culprit and its something that everyone probably experiences, only some, like myself, struggle to tackle it....What have your readings been at 3am then, if you have monitored them and they look fine, as mine do, then the Dawn Phenomenon is the most likely cause.... My unprofessional advice would be to start increasing your background dose, if split, then the evening dose should be increased, do some 3am test again to see what effect its having, it may help tackle the highs...it might not eliminate them completely but it may help................... |
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May 4, 2011
Simon
578 posts
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Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Android app No problems - also a question for the Android owners, are you free to upgrade your version of the Android OS, or does your network provider decide which one you're allowed to use? |
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May 4, 2011
Lizzie
87 posts
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Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Android app Great news Simon. I am on 2.1. Thankyou for offering to do this. |
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May 3, 2011
marke
686 posts
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I take Cetirizine hydrochloride based tablets and these don't affect my blood sugar. I found Loratadine based tablets didn't work very well on my allergies. Its worth trying both types to see which work best and have the least effect on yout BG. I agree with others the lactose content should not have a noticable effect on your BG. |
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May 3, 2011
DFH_17
22 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hay fever - BG's gone high It is a pain. It might be that I'm a bit susceptible to this type of antihistimine.I think I panicked when I saw my BG before was only 5.0 - I tend to panic a bit if the BG readings arent perfectly in the 'zone'. So from now on - less panicking. chrisinbrum - I might have to check out the tablets your taking. I've already had different reactions to 2 antihistimines - with cetirizine after 1 tablet I became a zombie - completely knocked me out and with the loratadine - although the tablets are tiny it took 4 days before I felt the effect - it didnt matter what I did with corrections nothing worked, hence when I came off the tablets I've been able to control my BG's better and the corrections are now working. |
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May 3, 2011
chrisinbrum
41 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Background Insulin Have you been doing blood tests during the night then? Has that shown what your BG is doing during the night, and does it show your BG going up at a particular time?On our DAFNE course we were told about the 'dawn phenomenon'. Basically I think your body releases hormones before you wake up to get your body ready for the day ahead, and this can make your body release it's own glucose stores...so your BG starts going up. |
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May 3, 2011
chrisinbrum
41 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hay fever - BG's gone high I take desloratidine (neoclarityn) tablets for my hayfever and they don't seem to cause a problem, or I haven't noticed that they do anyway!I'd be surprised if it was the lactose in the loratadine tablets - they're still small and I'm sure you'd need a lot to equal just 1CP. |
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May 3, 2011
deanna
8 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Background Insulin Recently i have been waking up in the morning with high glucose readings from anywhere between 10.5 - 16.0, no matter what reading i go to sleep on. I have been diagnosed for over 2 years now and apart from these last few months, have had no problems or bad reactions to any insulin i have been taking.At first nurses and doctors thought that i could be experiencing hypos during the night which could result in a high glucose level in the morning, however, i have been monitoring this possibility for over a month now, and i feel that i should now rule that out of the equation. Has anyone got any ideas what could be causing this ? |
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May 3, 2011
deanna
8 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Help ! Any Thoughts Please. I have been a diagnosed diabetic on insulin for over 2 years now, however recently i have been finding it extremly difficult to control my Blood Glucose Levels.I have been becoming extremely sensitive to my insulin, having to experiment, and trial and error with doses, ( Quick activing - Novorapid, Humulin S, Humalog. Background - Insulatard, Levemir). The reaction i am getting at the moment is not so much sensitive but a burning feeling under the skin, which has become agonising. I am told this is not common. If anyone should possibly know of a reason for this please let me know, i am at a loss at the moment. Any ideas are welcome, i would try anything. Thank you. |
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May 3, 2011
Karl
83 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Id cards have a look at this post http://www.dafneonline.co.uk/forums/1/topics/419 |
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May 3, 2011
Carolin
83 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Help with insulin and ratio Hi Derek,With BI that you take twice a day (i.e. anything other than Lantus), it's recommended that you take your first dose on getting up in the morning and your second dose as you go to bed. The main thing to be careful of is that the doses are no closer than 7hrs apart. This will mean that you get an overlap of the doses through the morning, however this is beneficial to help counteract the Dawn Phenomenon. Most health professionals who do not 'use' DAFNE (and some who do it has to be said) don't understand how to get the best out of the insulin regimen in Type 1 diabetes, so don't feel that you've missed out or been misinformed. I think the majority of people (apparent from the posts on here) realise that what they've been taught previous to DAFNE often has to be 'unlearned' when they begin to apply DAFNE principles. I'm sure you'll get there in time, Carolin 
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May 3, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Help with insulin and ratio Hi Derek...................I would of suggested you ignore the maximum correction unit of 8, as I have been successful taking more, fortunately you have not needed to exceed 8, and yet your still high.....Are you confident your BI is correct......by looking at you results from bed to morning the majority of them are steady or going down with only a few rising. You should try 3 consecutive days eating your evening meal then having no carbs till breakfast the next day, you should then see what your current PM BI dose is doing, it may need tweaking, however you may need to increase your AM BI, this unfortunately need some testing, so more carb free meals im afraid..................getting more BI in might let you drop your QA ratios............ I seen you were using an analogue and animal insulin, have you been told to do this, using one would be a good place to start to see whats most effective, you may need both though, I can only speculate.... Being on a 4:1 all day is quite resistant, have they offered any other oral medications to help with this, increased muscle activity will help with that. Even the smallest of movements like lifting a small weight, going for a walk............ I hope we can help you a bit........... |
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May 3, 2011
derekh1965
95 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Help with insulin and ratio Hi CarolinThanks for your reply. I have noticed my breakfast BGs being high and wasn't sure whether to increase BI. I increased from 14 to 16 and then I tried 18 last night but it bwas stilll high this morning 12.9. Thanks for informing me about the best times to take BI at night, I will take it later tonight. The conhfusion I have is when |I wa on Humiklin Isophane ws told to take it at dinnertime and with that being an isophane. So I suppose best time is at bedtime? I am taking 20 units of Isopohane first thing in the morning (9am), would you say that is correct time? This morning at 9am I was 12.9, had 3.5 cps and took 14+10, also 20 units of BI and by 1.30pm my bs was 9.8!! thought I would have been a lot lower than that. I will try a 5:1 ratio tomorrow at breakfast and see how that goes, allso a carb fre meal at lunchtime. best regards Derek |
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May 3, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hay fever - BG's gone high It is a pain they cant make these medications without it, it must be an active ingredient......Theoretically you should not need to snack overnight, if you do then its likely you need to drop your BI dose, in the evening if split............the DAFNE targets say you should be higher before bed but a 5.0 is ideal for me... Have a look round and investigate other possible meds that can be prescribed or bought that might limit the impact or eliminate the undesirable diabetic effects.... |
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May 3, 2011
Carolin
83 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Help with insulin and ratio Hi Derek,Sorry, you don't appear to have had any feedback since your post on 24th April (people too busy with bank holidays & weddings no doubt  )I'd advise you to just keep going, following the step-wise approach as you appear to be doing. One thing I would comment on is that with Isophane Background Insulins it is best to try to take your evening dose as late as possible and I notice (maybe just coincidence) that your morning BGs have tended to be higher when you've taken your BI earlier the previous evening. I wouldn't be surprised if you end up needing a higher ratio in the morning, compared to other times of the day as your BG does go up between breakfast and lunchtime even on 4:1, but re-evaluate this once you're taking your night BI later more consistently. Another useful thing to do to assess your morning BI is to try missing a meal (or doing carb-free). This is a good strategy to ensure you're doing right in increasing ratios, rather than needing more BI. Good luck, Carolin |
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May 3, 2011
DFH_17
22 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Hay fever - BG's gone high Me too - although I think I spoke too soon as my BG's have been rubbish all day today :-( My BG was a bit low before bedtime yesterday - was 5.0 so I had a 1CP snack and this morning my BG was 11.7 - was disappointed - I think it would have been better to have not had the snack and lunchtime's was 10.1 even though I corrected at breakfast. I'm thinking maybe the Loratadine is still in my system so will need a few days to calm down. Plus am back to work today so that's added to the stress.I looked up Loratadine on the internet yesterday evening and it basically said that in Type 1 diabetics it causes insulin resistance/blood glucose intolerance so thats answered the issue. As said each time I take these tablets I'll need to adjust my insulin - find it really annoying - why cant the manufacturers of antihistamines create a tablet that doesnt contain lactose!! |
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May 3, 2011
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Help I like to have something to eat before bed as well, but I have to choose wisely in order to dampen the effects of dawn phenomenon, I often find myself having slowly absorbed carbs, like crispbread with banana on top, doesn't sound to good but its actually nice, other than that 2 slice of toast is usually my next choice.What would you have that's carb free at night, if you can get the dose and timing right you could have anything theoretically, so better choice of more lower calorie items........... |
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May 3, 2011
derekh1965
95 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Help Thanks for your replies.Novorapidboi your right |I shoulfd concentrate on my HbA1c first. I have always took less insulin to hopefully help with not gaining weight, well that approach obviously doesn't work. I am not a big eater and don't have many snacks, recently been trying low carb/high fat and obviously too high fat calorie wise, hence the difficuklty losing any weight. Since doing dafne I realise | have not been taking anywhere near enough insulin , last night before dinner at 7pm I was 7.7, had 24 units for 6 CPs, previously i would have taken around 14 units, and by bedtime at 11:45 my BS was 8.3. I thought I would have hypo with all that insulin. One very bad habit I have is eating at bedtiome and it is something I have done since I was old enough to make my own supper. t is a very hard habit to break, I can have my dinner at 6pm and have nothing to eat all night, until bedtime and I psychologically/mentally have to eat something. Perhaps cognitive therapy or something along those lines would help? The bedtime snack has always been carb free in the past 6 months, not that it's an excuse it's still calories. You will be getting fed uip reading my woes lol. All the best and be happy Derek |