Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Mar 25, 2011

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Painfull Hands

I've had wrist with some hand discomfort when motorbike riding a lot (particularly clutch control practice) but this has eventually eased off as I carried on. That hand ache was very annoying - couldn't even hold a cup for too long sometimes. Sad

Wore a wrist support for a while too.

My doctor suggested that it might be carpal tunnel syndrome for me but it did clear up on it's own.

I think it's best you ask a doctor rather than try to self diagnose (at least you have the opportunity to be more prepared for the news that it may be arthritis - Type 1 Diabetes and Arthritis are both auto immune (so in the same medical problem family)).

Take care and I hope it gets better!

Mar 25, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Painfull Hands

I couldn't say I have heard of insulin causing such problems..........

Numbness and tingling can be an effect of diabetes after so many years, I would go see the doc if its causing you problems, but to me it sounds like arthritis purely from your symptoms of stiffness.....

Good Luck........... Smile

Mar 25, 2011

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / What made you smile today?

Being told the lumps were benign.

Mar 25, 2011

Possum 7 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Painfull Hands

I am a 58 year old Female and use Novo Rapid & Levemir... has anyone noticed that they get stiff/painfull hands?... is it the Insulin or am I thinking that I am developing Arthritis (Father suffered from it)

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Site Development / Smilie Icons....

brilliant, you didnt waste any time... Shocked

Mar 24, 2011

marke 684 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Iphone Apps

my lifescan meter works fine under windows 7. I used to have Roche Accu-Check meter and SW but gave up on that years ago since I could never get it to work reliably
and they never seemed to support it. If you want specific help you need to tell us what blood meter you have.

Mar 24, 2011

marke 684 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc

I'm with Novarapidboi, I think your major issue is being Type 2 you are battling with Insulin Resistance not just a CP ratio. Your DSN should be aware of this and taking this into account but I'm not sure they are fully. As pointed out when your BG is high a normal 1unit QA to 3mmol doesn't really apply and everyones requirements are different. I know its frustratiing and that its not a simple job getting your BG under control but just keep at it and eventually it will start to happen. Patience is the key, which is one of the key DAFNE principles. Often people make a change and think at their next blood test things will have changed. It doesn't unfortunately happen that way and any change you make will take a few days to take effect.
For me your DSN should be concentrating on the Background dose and getting that right. If you keep having to do corrections the whole time that points towards BI not being right. However as you say, your other problems could be having an affect even if all seems well at the moment. Just keep going, you are not alone. All of us on here at one time or another have had problems getting things back in control and sometimes it feels like its a hopeless cause, however it almost always comes right in the end if you stick with it. So keep the faith and if you want any more help or just support keep posting on the site.

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help

thats seems strange, you should confirm that over a few days, often when a snack comes soon after a meal, a hypo can occur due to the stacking/overlaping of insulin......

Mar 24, 2011

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Site Development / Smilie Icons....

Smilies now available! Very Happy

Mar 24, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help

It seems like I can control BG when I use ratio at meals but any extra CP seems to cause huge rise in BG even if I give QA as per my ratio !
Thanks for your response

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / First week concerns

is that 19 a sugar level...................you will find out even with DAFNE that you will always get unexplicable readings, days, weeks, months.............thats the joy of diabetes...................... Smile

Mar 24, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

Topic: General Discussion / What made you smile today?

Being told I could eat cake on DAFNE course today ....only to find BG of 19 at next test .... Oh how my smile vanished

Mar 24, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

Topic: General Discussion / First week concerns

I am just finishing course this week and can relate to this already ! Just when I think I've got it sussed along comes a cheeky wee 19 !

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc

the key to DAFNE is writing everything down so you can pin point your needs at specific times.................do you know what your insulin production is like, if any..........

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Iphone Apps

maybe you need drivers for the machine, but they may not be developed for 7, check out the manufacturers website.........

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

maybe the drops were very quick, as it was within the hour, I would say that was the case.................

often i find if a low blood sugar comes on slowly, then the signs can be very delayed, getting down to 2.5 or below.................the more quicker hypos seem to be easily detected, suppose it just your body telling your sugar levels are changing........

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help

Hey,

Once you have got your background right and your QA ratios you should be able to eat what you like................after we all eat we should expect a spike of some kind, a way to reduce this is to inject 10, 15, 20, 30 mintutes before you eat, trial and error really...........

starchy foods and things with fat tend to get digested slowly, so getting the insulin in early so it matches the digestion of your food can give better mid meal results......

could you elabotate amy more............

Mar 24, 2011

jondavisbooks 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / 4mm needles

I was on 8mm. 30 years of diabetes. Fatty lumps and scar tissue on thighs, arms and stomach. After DAFNE switched to 4mm. I was sceptical but can now, on advice of HCP, inject with ease in loads of new places. It's amazing - forearms, chest, side of leg, torso side. And my control is so much better for it.

Mar 24, 2011

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

Wierd one for me today, on 3 occasions I had hypo signs, tested between 8-9 yet within an hour on each occasion, I was hypo.

Mar 24, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Iphone Apps

I'm using the DAFNE mobile app and find it a real help for results etc as I can't get any blood meter to work on windows 7 can anyone help with that ??

Mar 24, 2011

Neil Brown 28 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Help

I'm just finishing week of DAFNE and feeling a bit of a downer ! Anytime I try and take that much talked about cake or treat and match cp to qa ratio my sugar hits the roof !!
Does anyone have any suggestions ?

Mar 24, 2011

DerekSav 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc

Thanks novorapidboi26 for swift rtesponse. I do test before most meals & sometimes 2 hours after Regarding basal Levermir: I was taking 60-40 then 60-60 the 66-66 when infection was present Can't remmeber how the nurse calculated that doseage Don't think I've ver experimented in any way to arrive @ correct amount. Hypos are rare mostly my BGs are too high not too low! Means my hbA1c is usually between 8-9 It has improved since I started carb counting/DAFNE I was on Byetta for a couple of months with insulin. Made me too sick but I did lose 10 kilos in weight which has helped. I think you are right regarding correction dose I probbaly need a larger amount in view of insulin resistance. I am suret hat the Diabetes Team have been aiming to reduce my insulin since I was often taking far too much Novorapid without it doing me much good! The aim has been to get the doseage more accurate & appropriateThe specialist dietician who was part of the DAFNE team suggested I stayed with the1:3 ration ( with the aim of reducing it furrther) & use corrective doses if BGs are too high Maybe I should do that but increasewhat I take as a correction Thanks I shall keep on keeping on & hope for better numbers! Cheers D

Mar 24, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc

Welcome to the site and forum.............

Being Type 2 on insulin can be very tricky, and using DAFNE principals may not be suited for everyone....

But it seems that your insulin production may have stopped pretty much all together and/or resistance is high.

From a type 1 perspective I would recommend testing before every meal and recording it, this may not be possible for you, are you able to get strips easily?

Are you confident your background is right............?

Do you ever experience hypos..........?

As your blood sugar rises, the more resistant you become to insulin and therefore need more correction to bring you down, everyone is different in terms of how much 1 unit brings you down...........1 unit dropping you 3 is probably whats happens to someone who is at a normal blood sugar and who can use insulin effectively, in your case I doubt this is enough...........

eg........If I was at 17.5, I would take 12 units to get back on target......

Mar 24, 2011

DerekSav 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc

Hi Everyone First post Trying for some advice & encouragement Although long term Type 2 Diabetes Team have got me ona DAFNE regime Problem is that after nearly 30 years of taking very large amounts of insulin ( too much) I am tryingv to get to a realistic insulin-carb ration Iam following instruction & working on 1 unit: 3 gms CHO ratio Can't seem to get into single figures very often Situation complicated by long term Urinary Tract Infection & antibiotics. No infection showing up at present but today both pre breakfast & pre lunch BGs are over 13 Took prescribed ratio of insulin @ breakfast plus 7 units as corrective dose Thought this would be enough as DSNurse suggests ony 1 unit to bring BG down 3 mmol Disheartened that BG is over 13 still Tempted to think that either ratio is not right for me ( weight, insulin resistance?) &/or corrective dose needs to be higher for me. Any comments welcome Thanks
Taking Novorapid as described Split dose Levemir 66 am & pm currectly & Metformin
Also taking Ramipril Butenamide & Bisoprolol

Mar 24, 2011

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Blog: "DIY DAFNE" - An Diabetic Outsider's View

LOL - YES! That's my first ever finger pricker! XD Thanks! I think I'll save that picture on my computer when I get home so I can show people! Razz

I can see why people hated it but I was genuinely really upset when it broke! I guess I was really uncomfortable with change because I did get put on to one of those more modern looking prickers...

Love the name of it... halarious!

Mar 25, 2011 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Painfull Hands I've had wrist with some hand discomfort when motorbike riding a lot (particularly clutch control practice) but this has eventually eased off as I carried on. That hand ache was very annoying - couldn't even hold a cup for too long sometimes. Wore a wrist support for a while too. My doctor suggested that it might be carpal tunnel syndrome for me but it did clear up on it's own. I think it's best you ask a doctor rather than try to self diagnose (at least you have the opportunity to be more prepared for the news that it may be arthritis - Type 1 Diabetes and Arthritis are both auto immune (so in the same medical problem family)). Take care and I hope it gets better!

Mar 25, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Painfull Hands I couldn't say I have heard of insulin causing such problems.......... Numbness and tingling can be an effect of diabetes after so many years, I would go see the doc if its causing you problems, but to me it sounds like arthritis purely from your symptoms of stiffness..... Good Luck...........

Mar 25, 2011 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / What made you smile today? Being told the lumps were benign.

Mar 25, 2011 Possum 7 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Painfull Hands I am a 58 year old Female and use Novo Rapid & Levemir... has anyone noticed that they get stiff/painfull hands?... is it the Insulin or am I thinking that I am developing Arthritis (Father suffered from it)

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Site Development / Smilie Icons.... brilliant, you didnt waste any time...

Mar 24, 2011 marke 684 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Iphone Apps my lifescan meter works fine under windows 7. I used to have Roche Accu-Check meter and SW but gave up on that years ago since I could never get it to work reliably and they never seemed to support it. If you want specific help you need to tell us what blood meter you have.

Mar 24, 2011 marke 684 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc I'm with Novarapidboi, I think your major issue is being Type 2 you are battling with Insulin Resistance not just a CP ratio. Your DSN should be aware of this and taking this into account but I'm not sure they are fully. As pointed out when your BG is high a normal 1unit QA to 3mmol doesn't really apply and everyones requirements are different. I know its frustratiing and that its not a simple job getting your BG under control but just keep at it and eventually it will start to happen. Patience is the key, which is one of the key DAFNE principles. Often people make a change and think at their next blood test things will have changed. It doesn't unfortunately happen that way and any change you make will take a few days to take effect. For me your DSN should be concentrating on the Background dose and getting that right. If you keep having to do corrections the whole time that points towards BI not being right. However as you say, your other problems could be having an affect even if all seems well at the moment. Just keep going, you are not alone. All of us on here at one time or another have had problems getting things back in control and sometimes it feels like its a hopeless cause, however it almost always comes right in the end if you stick with it. So keep the faith and if you want any more help or just support keep posting on the site.

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help thats seems strange, you should confirm that over a few days, often when a snack comes soon after a meal, a hypo can occur due to the stacking/overlaping of insulin......

Mar 24, 2011 Simon 578 posts	Topic: Site Development / Smilie Icons.... Smilies now available!

Mar 24, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help It seems like I can control BG when I use ratio at meals but any extra CP seems to cause huge rise in BG even if I give QA as per my ratio ! Thanks for your response

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / First week concerns is that 19 a sugar level...................you will find out even with DAFNE that you will always get unexplicable readings, days, weeks, months.............thats the joy of diabetes......................

Mar 24, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: General Discussion / What made you smile today? Being told I could eat cake on DAFNE course today ....only to find BG of 19 at next test .... Oh how my smile vanished

Mar 24, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: General Discussion / First week concerns I am just finishing course this week and can relate to this already ! Just when I think I've got it sussed along comes a cheeky wee 19 !

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc the key to DAFNE is writing everything down so you can pin point your needs at specific times.................do you know what your insulin production is like, if any..........

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Iphone Apps maybe you need drivers for the machine, but they may not be developed for 7, check out the manufacturers website.........

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs maybe the drops were very quick, as it was within the hour, I would say that was the case................. often i find if a low blood sugar comes on slowly, then the signs can be very delayed, getting down to 2.5 or below.................the more quicker hypos seem to be easily detected, suppose it just your body telling your sugar levels are changing........

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help Hey, Once you have got your background right and your QA ratios you should be able to eat what you like................after we all eat we should expect a spike of some kind, a way to reduce this is to inject 10, 15, 20, 30 mintutes before you eat, trial and error really........... starchy foods and things with fat tend to get digested slowly, so getting the insulin in early so it matches the digestion of your food can give better mid meal results...... could you elabotate amy more............

Mar 24, 2011 jondavisbooks 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / 4mm needles I was on 8mm. 30 years of diabetes. Fatty lumps and scar tissue on thighs, arms and stomach. After DAFNE switched to 4mm. I was sceptical but can now, on advice of HCP, inject with ease in loads of new places. It's amazing - forearms, chest, side of leg, torso side. And my control is so much better for it.

Mar 24, 2011 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs Wierd one for me today, on 3 occasions I had hypo signs, tested between 8-9 yet within an hour on each occasion, I was hypo.

Mar 24, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Iphone Apps I'm using the DAFNE mobile app and find it a real help for results etc as I can't get any blood meter to work on windows 7 can anyone help with that ??

Mar 24, 2011 Neil Brown 28 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Help I'm just finishing week of DAFNE and feeling a bit of a downer ! Anytime I try and take that much talked about cake or treat and match cp to qa ratio my sugar hits the roof !! Does anyone have any suggestions ?

Mar 24, 2011 DerekSav 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc Thanks novorapidboi26 for swift rtesponse. I do test before most meals & sometimes 2 hours after Regarding basal Levermir: I was taking 60-40 then 60-60 the 66-66 when infection was present Can't remmeber how the nurse calculated that doseage Don't think I've ver experimented in any way to arrive @ correct amount. Hypos are rare mostly my BGs are too high not too low! Means my hbA1c is usually between 8-9 It has improved since I started carb counting/DAFNE I was on Byetta for a couple of months with insulin. Made me too sick but I did lose 10 kilos in weight which has helped. I think you are right regarding correction dose I probbaly need a larger amount in view of insulin resistance. I am suret hat the Diabetes Team have been aiming to reduce my insulin since I was often taking far too much Novorapid without it doing me much good! The aim has been to get the doseage more accurate & appropriateThe specialist dietician who was part of the DAFNE team suggested I stayed with the1:3 ration ( with the aim of reducing it furrther) & use corrective doses if BGs are too high Maybe I should do that but increasewhat I take as a correction Thanks I shall keep on keeping on & hope for better numbers! Cheers D

Mar 24, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc Welcome to the site and forum............. Being Type 2 on insulin can be very tricky, and using DAFNE principals may not be suited for everyone.... But it seems that your insulin production may have stopped pretty much all together and/or resistance is high. From a type 1 perspective I would recommend testing before every meal and recording it, this may not be possible for you, are you able to get strips easily? Are you confident your background is right............? Do you ever experience hypos..........? As your blood sugar rises, the more resistant you become to insulin and therefore need more correction to bring you down, everyone is different in terms of how much 1 unit brings you down...........1 unit dropping you 3 is probably whats happens to someone who is at a normal blood sugar and who can use insulin effectively, in your case I doubt this is enough........... eg........If I was at 17.5, I would take 12 units to get back on target......

Mar 24, 2011 DerekSav 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios etc Hi Everyone First post Trying for some advice & encouragement Although long term Type 2 Diabetes Team have got me ona DAFNE regime Problem is that after nearly 30 years of taking very large amounts of insulin ( too much) I am tryingv to get to a realistic insulin-carb ration Iam following instruction & working on 1 unit: 3 gms CHO ratio Can't seem to get into single figures very often Situation complicated by long term Urinary Tract Infection & antibiotics. No infection showing up at present but today both pre breakfast & pre lunch BGs are over 13 Took prescribed ratio of insulin @ breakfast plus 7 units as corrective dose Thought this would be enough as DSNurse suggests ony 1 unit to bring BG down 3 mmol Disheartened that BG is over 13 still Tempted to think that either ratio is not right for me ( weight, insulin resistance?) &/or corrective dose needs to be higher for me. Any comments welcome Thanks Taking Novorapid as described Split dose Levemir 66 am & pm currectly & Metformin Also taking Ramipril Butenamide & Bisoprolol

Mar 24, 2011 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Blog: "DIY DAFNE" - An Diabetic Outsider's View LOL - YES! That's my first ever finger pricker! XD Thanks! I think I'll save that picture on my computer when I get home so I can show people! I can see why people hated it but I was genuinely really upset when it broke! I guess I was really uncomfortable with change because I did get put on to one of those more modern looking prickers... Love the name of it... halarious!