Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Mar 18, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

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

I was diagnosed 47 years ago and spent a week as in In-Patient at King's College Hospital - being 'stabilised'. We were taught the basics of carb-counting - an egg-sized potato was 10g of carbohydrate, as was an apple and an orange and various other foods were also covered. Does this ring a bell? 10g of carbohydrate was called a 'portion' and we were given a diet sheet - say 4 portions for breakfast, 5 for lunch and 6 for dinner. Our meals were prepared in the Diabetic Wing's own kitchen and were really nice. We were taught how to inject and told how much (twice a day - before breakfast and dinner). Of course there were no blood sugar meters in those days - testing consisted of dipping testing strips in urine and you hoped that it showed 'no sugar'. There was nothing you could do if it showed the presence of sugar.

I was quite amused when I went on the DAFNE course and found that the 10g portion had made a come-back. So in my opinion, carb-counting is not new at all.

Mar 18, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

Good luck, keep us informed.............. Smile

Mar 18, 2011

Aneirin 15 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

Thanks, I feel a lot better about doing it now. Trying it today to see what happens. Will ask about a half pen.

Mar 18, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

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

Its amazing how it took so long to organize a simple and effective way of educating us.............you gotta love the Germans...........lol

Mar 18, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

If hypo awareness is gone and is proving difficult to get back then those targets are realistic..........It might prove ineffective in the end but then other causes need to be explored..........

Mar 18, 2011

DFH_17 22 posts

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

I think the DAFNE course is the best thing that's ever happened to my Diabetes. Have been reading through all the posts on here and agree - a lot of what you know is through experience and trial and error but I just think the old regime did not work. It didnt seem to matter what I ate before - even a healthy meal and my BG's would be bad and then I'd eat something 'bad' and my BG would be fine - v confusing.
Before going on the DAFNE course I thought I understood about nutrition but found I didnt really know anything - especially with regards to portion control - was regularly having 200g of pasta or rice with meals thinking that was a normal size portion - but wasnt - now always stick to 100g.
I havent had a negative response about DAFNE just a confused response 'whats that about then?' - family/friends and work colleagues are all interested and am now recommending DAFNE to non-DAFNE diabetics.
Think the carb counting is genius - had not heard of that before - has helped hugely with portion control plus am losing weight which was a important thing for me. And the best bit - am definitely injecting less than before - am lucky to be on a 1:1 ratio at breakfast and lunch and a 1:5:1 ratio at dinner.
Just wish DAFNE had been around sooner - have been Type 1 for 33 years.

Mar 18, 2011

DFH_17 22 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

I always do 4 tests a day now as standard and if I'm feeling a bit weak I'll test plus before exercise/housework etc. I also do random tests. I think the blood test kit I now have helps as well as it doesnt feel like its a chore - I've got the Accu-Chek Compact Plus. This has the test strips on a barrel and the blood pricker attached to the body of the kit. I'm allergic to faffing about - if something isnt quick to use I lose interest.

Am a bit shocked your consultant wants you to run your blood sugars between 8 and 13! I dont want to sound rude but is your consultant DAFNE-trained? Just doesnt sound right to me.

Will be interesting to see how you get on in your next HBAc1 test.

Mar 18, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / glucogel

I am a jelly baby man myself, I think that DAFNE has turned alot of folk towards using jelly babies.................their tasty, and do the job......

Mar 18, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

See, lots of people do it.......

Robby, I take it your very sensitive to insulin, or maybe naturally skinny........lol.............whats your background dose like, if you dont mind me asking.........

Mar 17, 2011

Robby N. 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

I am on 0.5:1 ratio for my 3 doses of QA insulin, I have a half unit pen and find it most useful. Ask your HCP if you can have one.

Mar 17, 2011

Robby N. 7 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / glucogel

I have just graduated from my Dafne course, I find 3 jelly babies (1.5 CP) is better and much better tasting than Glucgel, also you can't spill jelly babies.

Mar 17, 2011

grandma carol 61 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

I have had to change my dinner time ratio from 1-1 down to 0.5-1 and it dose seem to be helping me. But in the mornings I am on 3-1.
I got a 0.5 unit pen and that has helped as going from 2-1 down to 1-1 things were just back and forth I was high and then low and still could not get it right and even with the 1-1 I was still going low and hypo before bed but things are better with the 0.5. I also changed my night time Lantus from having it at 20.45 to having it at 18.00.
Speek to your team and see if you can get a 0.5 pen
I was the same and did not have hypo awarenness but I have it back now so good look Aneirin.

Mar 17, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

You have the right ideas definitely, however some find that dropping their background to stop lows may send them high at some other point in the day, hence the need for a split............

But I would try going for the 0.5 ratio, if your comfortable, speak to your dsn if you need too.............. Smile

Mar 17, 2011

Aneirin 15 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

Thanks a lot. I did consider the bit about background insulin (that I may have to split it), however I take the background after dinner, and it wouldn't make sense if the background insluin was running out for the blood sugars to decrease. If it was rising before I take my background insulin I would, but as my blood sugars are going down before I take it I can only assume it is still working (well, may have to do a few more no carb lunches to check that out)

We have a review in 3 weeks so I can discuss it then. Will try fiddling around for the moment with the half ratio. Thanks a lot.

Mar 17, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

Hey there........

I wouldn't discount the background being off slightly, the dose may be right, but the distribution of the insulin may be out........a way to deal with that is to split your background dose, so a possible scenario for you may be 9 at 7:00am and 13 at 7:00pm, this strategy can compensate for the livers ever changing amounts of glucose secretion......

As you fear your weekends may differ from the week down to activity levels being less at the weekends, I would say that you should try a 0.5:1 ratio, I am aware of a good few people, one who was in my class on DAFNE who are on this ratio...........its undesirable purely because half units are a pain and could complicate things but ultimately you can do whatever is necessary........

Speak with your team, they can give you more professional advice on what to do, especially with your attempt to regain hypo awareness....................

Mar 17, 2011

Aneirin 15 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

By way of additional information, this did not occur during DAFNE traniing and only occurred when I went back to work. (curiously dinner hypo's don't appear to happen at weekends). My first thought was that my work counted as excercize (in which case a half ratio may be appropriateaccording to DAFNE rules) however, my work isn't exactly intensive, being office based, interviewing people, and it does not explain why I raise from morning to lunch, then decrease from lunch to dinner (as I do not do more work in the morning than I do in the afternoon)

Mar 17, 2011

Aneirin 15 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio

Hello there. Just did DAFNE a few eeks ago and am now off on my own. During DAFNE everything was going well, keeping stable on a 1:1 ratio cross the board. Reduced my background insulin from 36 to 24 during the week. Was sufeirng hypo's in the morning but not anymore which is great.

However, I am now suffering hypo's before dinner. I can wind up around 10 before lunch and then 2.5 before dinner. I have lowered my background more since then (to 22) but nothing seems to be happening, and my bloodsugars from night to morning seem to be steady so I dno't beleive it is the background. I know that a 1/2 to 1 ratio isn't something that should be done, so I thought I would get other opinions on it first.

I am trying to run my sugars at higher range of DAFNE targets to regain hypo awareness at the moment. I usually go from 7 to 10 between breakfast and lunch, and I am happy with that at the moment, once I get awareness back, I may change the breakfast ratio.

Mar 16, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

For DAFNE to be effective you really need to test.....more than 4 times a day in my opinion......then you can identify at least when the highest chance of hypo is.........

Mar 16, 2011

Kathryn76 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

I have done the dafne course back in November and I have gained a lot from doing this, however the diabetic consultant has suggested to run my blood sugars high between 8 and 13 which I have been doing for about 4 months now and my hba1c came up to 8, which I was shocked about. However the last 6 weeks or so I have brought them down a touch well to single figures where possible but I have still done blood test on occasion and they have been between 2 and 3 and not felt low at all. The only symptom I say I may get is the feeling of being hungry!
I am still communicating with community diabetic nurses when I have needed to but I see my consultant soon so I will be having another hba1c done so I sill just see what that's like.

To be honest I am not doing as many tests as I should be which was 4 a day, it was running my life and it became a bit OCD! Just feeling proper p***ed off with it all and it's getting me down so I just do them when I think it's needed.

Mar 16, 2011

DFH_17 22 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Not impressed x 2

Dont know if this will help - re: stomach issue - I do my daytime injections in my stomach and my BI in my thighs but split the dose so use both thighs to inject in.

Mar 18, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Blog: "DIY DAFNE" - An Diabetic Outsider's View I was diagnosed 47 years ago and spent a week as in In-Patient at King's College Hospital - being 'stabilised'. We were taught the basics of carb-counting - an egg-sized potato was 10g of carbohydrate, as was an apple and an orange and various other foods were also covered. Does this ring a bell? 10g of carbohydrate was called a 'portion' and we were given a diet sheet - say 4 portions for breakfast, 5 for lunch and 6 for dinner. Our meals were prepared in the Diabetic Wing's own kitchen and were really nice. We were taught how to inject and told how much (twice a day - before breakfast and dinner). Of course there were no blood sugar meters in those days - testing consisted of dipping testing strips in urine and you hoped that it showed 'no sugar'. There was nothing you could do if it showed the presence of sugar. I was quite amused when I went on the DAFNE course and found that the 10g portion had made a come-back. So in my opinion, carb-counting is not new at all.

Mar 18, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio Good luck, keep us informed..............

Mar 18, 2011 Aneirin 15 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio Thanks, I feel a lot better about doing it now. Trying it today to see what happens. Will ask about a half pen.

Mar 18, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Blog: "DIY DAFNE" - An Diabetic Outsider's View Its amazing how it took so long to organize a simple and effective way of educating us.............you gotta love the Germans...........lol

Mar 18, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs If hypo awareness is gone and is proving difficult to get back then those targets are realistic..........It might prove ineffective in the end but then other causes need to be explored..........

Mar 18, 2011 DFH_17 22 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Blog: "DIY DAFNE" - An Diabetic Outsider's View I think the DAFNE course is the best thing that's ever happened to my Diabetes. Have been reading through all the posts on here and agree - a lot of what you know is through experience and trial and error but I just think the old regime did not work. It didnt seem to matter what I ate before - even a healthy meal and my BG's would be bad and then I'd eat something 'bad' and my BG would be fine - v confusing. Before going on the DAFNE course I thought I understood about nutrition but found I didnt really know anything - especially with regards to portion control - was regularly having 200g of pasta or rice with meals thinking that was a normal size portion - but wasnt - now always stick to 100g. I havent had a negative response about DAFNE just a confused response 'whats that about then?' - family/friends and work colleagues are all interested and am now recommending DAFNE to non-DAFNE diabetics. Think the carb counting is genius - had not heard of that before - has helped hugely with portion control plus am losing weight which was a important thing for me. And the best bit - am definitely injecting less than before - am lucky to be on a 1:1 ratio at breakfast and lunch and a 1:5:1 ratio at dinner. Just wish DAFNE had been around sooner - have been Type 1 for 33 years.

Mar 18, 2011 DFH_17 22 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs I always do 4 tests a day now as standard and if I'm feeling a bit weak I'll test plus before exercise/housework etc. I also do random tests. I think the blood test kit I now have helps as well as it doesnt feel like its a chore - I've got the Accu-Chek Compact Plus. This has the test strips on a barrel and the blood pricker attached to the body of the kit. I'm allergic to faffing about - if something isnt quick to use I lose interest. Am a bit shocked your consultant wants you to run your blood sugars between 8 and 13! I dont want to sound rude but is your consultant DAFNE-trained? Just doesnt sound right to me. Will be interesting to see how you get on in your next HBAc1 test.

Mar 18, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / glucogel I am a jelly baby man myself, I think that DAFNE has turned alot of folk towards using jelly babies.................their tasty, and do the job......

Mar 18, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio See, lots of people do it....... Robby, I take it your very sensitive to insulin, or maybe naturally skinny........lol.............whats your background dose like, if you dont mind me asking.........

Mar 17, 2011 Robby N. 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio I am on 0.5:1 ratio for my 3 doses of QA insulin, I have a half unit pen and find it most useful. Ask your HCP if you can have one.

Mar 17, 2011 Robby N. 7 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / glucogel I have just graduated from my Dafne course, I find 3 jelly babies (1.5 CP) is better and much better tasting than Glucgel, also you can't spill jelly babies.

Mar 17, 2011 grandma carol 61 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio I have had to change my dinner time ratio from 1-1 down to 0.5-1 and it dose seem to be helping me. But in the mornings I am on 3-1. I got a 0.5 unit pen and that has helped as going from 2-1 down to 1-1 things were just back and forth I was high and then low and still could not get it right and even with the 1-1 I was still going low and hypo before bed but things are better with the 0.5. I also changed my night time Lantus from having it at 20.45 to having it at 18.00. Speek to your team and see if you can get a 0.5 pen I was the same and did not have hypo awarenness but I have it back now so good look Aneirin.

Mar 17, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio You have the right ideas definitely, however some find that dropping their background to stop lows may send them high at some other point in the day, hence the need for a split............ But I would try going for the 0.5 ratio, if your comfortable, speak to your dsn if you need too..............

Mar 17, 2011 Aneirin 15 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio Thanks a lot. I did consider the bit about background insulin (that I may have to split it), however I take the background after dinner, and it wouldn't make sense if the background insluin was running out for the blood sugars to decrease. If it was rising before I take my background insulin I would, but as my blood sugars are going down before I take it I can only assume it is still working (well, may have to do a few more no carb lunches to check that out) We have a review in 3 weeks so I can discuss it then. Will try fiddling around for the moment with the half ratio. Thanks a lot.

Mar 17, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio Hey there........ I wouldn't discount the background being off slightly, the dose may be right, but the distribution of the insulin may be out........a way to deal with that is to split your background dose, so a possible scenario for you may be 9 at 7:00am and 13 at 7:00pm, this strategy can compensate for the livers ever changing amounts of glucose secretion...... As you fear your weekends may differ from the week down to activity levels being less at the weekends, I would say that you should try a 0.5:1 ratio, I am aware of a good few people, one who was in my class on DAFNE who are on this ratio...........its undesirable purely because half units are a pain and could complicate things but ultimately you can do whatever is necessary........ Speak with your team, they can give you more professional advice on what to do, especially with your attempt to regain hypo awareness....................

Mar 17, 2011 Aneirin 15 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio By way of additional information, this did not occur during DAFNE traniing and only occurred when I went back to work. (curiously dinner hypo's don't appear to happen at weekends). My first thought was that my work counted as excercize (in which case a half ratio may be appropriateaccording to DAFNE rules) however, my work isn't exactly intensive, being office based, interviewing people, and it does not explain why I raise from morning to lunch, then decrease from lunch to dinner (as I do not do more work in the morning than I do in the afternoon)

Mar 17, 2011 Aneirin 15 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Going below a 1:1 ratio Hello there. Just did DAFNE a few eeks ago and am now off on my own. During DAFNE everything was going well, keeping stable on a 1:1 ratio cross the board. Reduced my background insulin from 36 to 24 during the week. Was sufeirng hypo's in the morning but not anymore which is great. However, I am now suffering hypo's before dinner. I can wind up around 10 before lunch and then 2.5 before dinner. I have lowered my background more since then (to 22) but nothing seems to be happening, and my bloodsugars from night to morning seem to be steady so I dno't beleive it is the background. I know that a 1/2 to 1 ratio isn't something that should be done, so I thought I would get other opinions on it first. I am trying to run my sugars at higher range of DAFNE targets to regain hypo awareness at the moment. I usually go from 7 to 10 between breakfast and lunch, and I am happy with that at the moment, once I get awareness back, I may change the breakfast ratio.

Mar 16, 2011 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs For DAFNE to be effective you really need to test.....more than 4 times a day in my opinion......then you can identify at least when the highest chance of hypo is.........

Mar 16, 2011 Kathryn76 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs I have done the dafne course back in November and I have gained a lot from doing this, however the diabetic consultant has suggested to run my blood sugars high between 8 and 13 which I have been doing for about 4 months now and my hba1c came up to 8, which I was shocked about. However the last 6 weeks or so I have brought them down a touch well to single figures where possible but I have still done blood test on occasion and they have been between 2 and 3 and not felt low at all. The only symptom I say I may get is the feeling of being hungry! I am still communicating with community diabetic nurses when I have needed to but I see my consultant soon so I will be having another hba1c done so I sill just see what that's like. To be honest I am not doing as many tests as I should be which was 4 a day, it was running my life and it became a bit OCD! Just feeling proper p***ed off with it all and it's getting me down so I just do them when I think it's needed.

Mar 16, 2011 DFH_17 22 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Not impressed x 2 Dont know if this will help - re: stomach issue - I do my daytime injections in my stomach and my BI in my thighs but split the dose so use both thighs to inject in.