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Lol@cakes and booze comment! Smile

What "local" are we refering to here? Would these meets be split by county or even country? Organiser volunteers will be needed. Could possibly ask at libraries (especially if they have cafe with cake!) if they'll be happy to accomodate a gathering like this. Smile

Feb 22, 2011

sphillips 24 posts

thanks for your comments. I was hoping that one of our local graduates would set something up with support-if required-from the local educator team. I kind of thought that people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes might also want to come along as there isn't a really anything locally that seems to appeal to people with type 1 diabetes?

Feb 22, 2011

Growler 4 posts

Topic: Site Development / DAFNE Online iPhone application - help with content/design needed

I have the Windows Phone Dev tools and I've been thinking of getting back into programming now the kids are nearly out of nappies so maybe I'll take a look myself.
I'd agree about earlier Windows Mobiles though, I went through that pain myself, but 7 is completely different. Smile

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Or possibly put the pressure on the local hospitals as we overindulge in cakes and booze.............LOL

Feb 22, 2011

marke 686 posts

Topic: Site Development / DAFNE Online iPhone application - help with content/design needed

Not at the moment, we don't really have the time to implement one and have no 'test' bed to test it on. The android app is hardly progressing so taking on another platform is not going to happen very soon. I also think that you need a special version of the development tools to develop for windows mobile, I have 'standard' development tools for windows but NOT for the mobile version. So I would go get your iPhone back ;^) ( I would anyway, I had many fun years with earlier versions of windows mobile and won't be going back to it )

Feb 22, 2011

JayBee 587 posts

I'd be interested in coming along to a DAFNE gathering. Possibly would take pressure off the hospitals! Smile

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

It would definitely be worth trying.............I think informal would be a good place to start until you know people are going to attend for sure.........

Feb 22, 2011

sphillips 24 posts

Dear All
I was wondering if there was any interest in setting up local regular (say 4 x per year) meetings for people who've done a DAFNE course. Just informal to get together and catch up etc or more formal like the DUK meetings with speakers? What do you think?
Sarah Phillips Leicester.

Feb 22, 2011

marke 686 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Dispatches - Hospital Food

When I fully applaud your efforts and aims, I can understand why it doesn't happen. Unfortunately politicans are great at talking not so good at doing. With budgets ever decreasing
and re-organisations on the horizon realistically its going to be low on a PCT's agenda. I'm not suggesting it should be just pointing out the realities. I didn't see the programme so I can't
comment, I tend to avoid stuff like that since they mostly seem to have an agenda before making the programmes and the outcome is always something 'sensational'. A lot of stuff
at hopsitals is now outsourced to the most 'competitive' bidder, this is the root cause to most of these issues. The same thing happens with cleaning at hospitals, the cheapest cleaners not
the best cleaners. Not sure how you 'break' this system.

My biggest issue with hospitals was convincing the HCP's that I could manage my own diabetes and didn't need them to tell me when to test and when to inject. They seemed to want to
'take over' my management for me. This obviously was not going to happen so it caused a few 'tense' moments until they got the idea that they would not be doing it.

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

I wouldn't disregard that advice, do it and see the results............... but for example, I was rising overnight, I could add on some units and see the result/success/unsuccessful the next morning.....I think maybe 5 days is a lot, 3 days max for me.....

Feb 22, 2011

JayBee 587 posts

Im on Levermir now (since about Oct2010 I think). I was advised at my hospital appointment last friday by a DAFNE nurse to leave BI changes for 5-7 days. 2 days isnt enough time for your body to adjust to the new dose.

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

The Lantus information regarding changing doses came from the DAFNE course and then following months on Lantus......cant remember if its in the handbook, maybe in the onset, peak and duration section........

If you o Levemir you can change a dose and record an accurate response to that change almost immediately....

So are you on Levemir on Lantus?

Feb 22, 2011

JayBee 587 posts

(~~Pardon in advance the multiple posts - on cheap mobile!~~ All tidied up now!)

Not sure how that works with the hypos if things are insulin sound. Im still finding confidence in my doses (being female means regular shifts) so I find hypos are due to exercise, miscalculation of CPs of unroutine foods or a hormone shift. On page 39 of the DAFNE guidebook, it says your insulin sensitivity increases - perhaps your sensitivity increases more than others when you've hypo'd?

Pre-DAFNE and the course of breaking the habit, I was making a conscious decision, though sometimes I took certain action because I wasnt convinced (joys of learning the hard way...). Pre-DAFNE I managed to get the idea into my head that if I was 12BG, I'd take 2QA to get myself down. If I was 14, Id take 4QA. I was living in a guesswork cloud, I didnt understand what my body wanted and often felt that it was up to me to figure it all out. I got it to a point where I was getting great HbA1c (I still remember now how happy I was to be hitting 6 range!) but the boomeranging got too much. I was hungry and tired all the time, Im still amazed now that Im still alive! When I asked about needing help, DAFNE was being introduced to my hospital and so I got asked if I was interested in being a participant. I did try to do DAFNE before the course, but I was adjusting the CP when it came to changing ratio due to a misunderstanding, but doing the course soon straightened that out lol.

Good guess on thinking I am on Lantus - I was, but I was put on Levermir late 2010 (I think it was October)! I appreciate the heads up about the timing difference however has this information come from advice, experience or is it in the guidebook? On this note I think I will add a note about "after BI change, leave it for a week"!

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

All standalone spirits have no carbohydrate in them, that's any spirit, so noticing if it has been pre mixed with anything is essential..........but in the context I think you are talking about it will just be spirits on there own......

I am a red wine drinker myself and these have no carbohydrate either, neither do the whites, however there are some varieties out there that may have some, possibly maybe the sweet varieties you mentioned above......

Obviously the beers and ciders have carbohydrates so watch out for them...

As a Scotsman I find myself drinking Buckfast Tonic Wine, looks very similar to a bottle of red however it is packed with natural sugars and caffeine and it doesn't tell you this on the bottle, I had to contact the company for carb values, 90g in it, so considerable, just watch out for things like that, hopefully most of the time these things will seem obvious...

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Dispatches - Hospital Food

Whatever the choice of food you are given, whether it be bad or good food, the hospital staff, being aware of your condition, must make the effort to provide you with accurate carbohydrate values.................yes, as a graduate you can comfortable estimate the carbohydrate values but for some, probably most, an accurate count is what is needed for good results..........

I would expect this from any hospital I attend. Will it happen with everyone, probably not, as not everyone may be as confident or fit to ensure it happens.......

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Type 1 Diabetes and the Art of Parenting...

For me, there was not much parenting going on........I was 15 when I was diagnosed and had moved in with my girlfriend shortly after, so from then on it was purely down to me.........looking back, now split from said partner, I probably regret leaving home so early as my parent(s) would have done a better job at motivating me with my condition, more so as they had experience with my younger brother who was diagnosed at 2 years old, bless him.........

I now have a son and I know its very possible he may one day be struck down with Type 1, but I m prepared for it as i know I can give him the best start and teach him all he needs to know, basically all thanks to DAFNE, just simple education....

To you JWo, I would say, have children whenever you want, the risks are there, for both you and the baby, but there are risks with every pregnancy, so when the time is right, go for it..........

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Thoughts??

Just a few observations for the Friday...................:

8:00am - You corrected 2, 3 units may have been better, if you remember, higher numbers mean more correction.....

12:00 - 6 unit correction is exactly what I would have done for this reading....13-17mmol/l drops me 1unit:1.5mmol/l...

17:30 - No correction, why?

21:00 - 3:1 ratio stated but QA is not 12 as it should be....

All these minor errors don't happen often but thought I would point them out as consistency I feel really does help when managing your sugars on paper....

As JWo has said, increasing your evening BI dose would definitely be my first thoughts, as your consistently rising overnight even at the reasonably high ratio for that time of day, 2.5:1.....I would probably recommend 2 units as your insulin requirements, a bit like me, are quite large.....and also 2 units for any other dose change....

Just keep going up until you wake consistently on target numbers.........!!

On the Saturday evening you had a blood sugar of 5.4, well done, was there any other factors that could of effected that result, extra activity, alcohol?

On the Sunday your on target for dinner this time, this is without any carbs at lunch, only correction, so initial thought would be your BI dose during the day is good, however, using my own correction rules, which don't apply to everyone, I would of corrected anything over 17 with 1unit drops 1mmol/l, therefore 12 units, assuming that you also have similar resistance, in fact your day time BI may be too strong, however a pattern would have to be spotted, maybe a carb free lunch for a few days....

Alot of comments there but hopefully some thought provoking ones.......good luck.........

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Ive been diabetic for only 12 years and I have heard something regarding hypos leading to hypos , but now I have the DAFNE knowledge I cant understand, when all doses are correct, how this could happen.

For example, my hypo procedure would be to test, treat with 20g QA CPs and that would be it, unless there was exercise involved of course or I felt I wasn't coming up. By my next meal if I was above target I would correct, would you not....?

You mentioned over correcting, was this a conscious decision you made.....? Did you know how corrections worked then...?

I assume your on Lantus which takes a good 3 days to notice real time effect, it might help if you switch to Levemir, gives you more flexibility and means you don't need to wait as long to get a grip of things...

In terms of diabetic habits, up until a few years ago when I started DAFNE I was on 2 a day injections, never tested, sometimes didn't inject as I thought no food, no insulin (not knowing about the liver dumping a continuous supply of glucose which needed covering).......so really I would say I didn't have any habits, good or bad, as I didn't really take an interest in my treatment, so now its all good habits, maybe apart from testing to much.........LOL, but Im trying to get a pump....... Smile

Feb 22, 2011

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Dawn Phenomenon

Hey Stew, I think the actual physical act of waking up does not effect your blood sugars/dawn phenomenon, rather your body clock and when your body thinks it will be getting up........

On a Monday to Friday my body clock is tuned to getting up at 6:30am, so in response to that knowledge my body will start to release the mix of hormones a few hours before it expects me to rise so that when I do wake my brain and muscles have the energy right there when they need it.......

If someone suffers from dawn phenomenon its critical they get up, test and get insulin in as soon as possible, even if you want to go back to bed...that's what I do anyway....

So it is to do with waking, or at least when your body expects to wake, if you get up at 11am everyday for example, I would expect the body to start the hormone process about 8am/9am, but most people are up before then.....

As Caroline says, a CGM can be fitted and this can map out the rise and fall of blood sugars when you sleep and is often a very useful tool, especially when establishing basal rates overnight for the pump...

Feb 22, 2011

meltow 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Dispatches - Hospital Food

I've spent the last 4 years encouraging NHS Trusts, local authorities and other public sector bodies to source and supply fresh and better quality foods. This was in the Yorkshire Humberside region. The post was made redundant in December 2010.
I never worked with Sodexho, but the damning evidence of their regenerated meals shown last night on C4 was a disgrace.
I was fortunate to work with Trusts that had their own kitchens on site, and so meals were prepared from a range of ingredients. The Trusts which made a difference over the years were: NHS N Lincs and Goole, NHS Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, and NHS York Teaching Hospitals. There were many that never wanted or were allowed to engage.

If you are admitted to hospital, as a diabetic are you given the CP's for your choice off the menu, thus allowing you to take the correct amount of insulin?

Feb 22, 2011

ReNZoR 5 posts

Thanks very much for your reply mate Smile

I guess I am jumping the gun a bit in reality :/ But thank you once again Smile

Day two is about to start so I better be off and continue getting ready!

Thanks again Smile

Feb 21, 2011

caroline15 45 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Type 1 Diabetes and the Art of Parenting...

Hi

I am T1 and my daughter (who is 14) is T1 also. We have both been diagnosed in the last seven years (me first then my daughter four years later) so do not know how diabetes was treated prior to this. We are both on multi injections and my daughter is starting on a pump next month.

We have always counted our carbs and injected accordingly so we've not had the guilt trips described in the article. My daughter was diagnosed with a peanut allergy when she was three so we have always had to check packets etc anyway.

If there's anything you want to know please ask.

Caroline

Feb 21, 2011

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Thoughts??

It is certainly very interesting that your BGs are starting to become in the good range around dinnertime...

If you were me, I would consider putting your evening BI up by at least one unit because your waking around 10-11 BG in the morning and it is fairly consistent. This may be a good starting point, though please do see what others suggest.

Are you able to have a carb free meal or possibly a carb free day? If not, another possible course of action is to not correct for any meals and see how your BI copes with just the meal insulin ratios alone... things may become a bit clearer.

Best of luck...!

Feb 21, 2011

SimonC 78 posts

Stuart

Welcome and good luck with the course - you will learn loads, and it does help.

The wine, spirits etc should be covered on your course, but as a quick rule of thumb, the normal table wines wouldn't be counted, where as beers will be. From memory it goes along the lines of, those made from grain, you count, and those made from the grape you don't, it gets a little more difficult when you get to the spirits as they have a higher alcohol content and its harder to work out what they are made from.

It should all be covered in your course though.

Feb 21, 2011

ReNZoR 5 posts