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Oct 28, 2017
Alan 49
284 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carbs and Cals I like to have it handy 'just in case'. I don't have a smart phone for apps, but my son has just given me an iPad - I'll have to ask him if I can put apps on that. Thanks novorapidboi. |
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Oct 26, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carbs and Cals there is an app if that is any use to you.....do you find you need to look back at the book often then? |
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Oct 26, 2017
Warwick
423 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Exercising safely with T1D - AcT1vate Weekend Hello All,Hope it is OK to post this - admins please delete if inappropriate. This post is mainly for Australian-based DAFNErs, but anyone is welcome. HypoActive (http://hypoactive.org) is running another AcT1vate weekend for type 1 diabetics who are interested in meeting up with other T1Ds who exercise, attend lectures on how to exercise safely with T1D, participate in some exercise and generally have a whole bunch of fun. The registration link is here https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=25453 It will be held in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia on the weekend of 2-3 December. |
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Oct 25, 2017
marke
681 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Course Material absolutely !! Bertie is worth checking and speak to your Diabetes team about structured education , everyone should be offered it and its not just DAFNE. It depends on where you live but everyone should have access to some kind of education and a lot of courses ( including DAFNE) do 5 x 1 day courses over 5 weeks. |
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Oct 25, 2017
marke
681 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 Hi, Just thought I would chip in. Now I don't live alone so I can't really put myself in your position, however I travel a fair bit for work and am often 'alone' in hotels for the night. One thing to make clear is a hypo is pretty unlikely to kill you, generally if you have a hypo and go unconscious you WILL recover once your liver pumps out some glucogen. You would have to over dose your insulin by quiet a bit for it to be that serious. That's not intended to dismiss your concerns, its just trying to re-assure you and having people to check on you would not be a bad thing. In this day and age I would suggest that you could manage with a mobile and a text message if you don't mind sharing your mobile number with these people. It might be more flexible than them checking curtains etc.Have you had many night time hypo's ? I ask because mine usually result in me not being able to sleep, having my mind whirling through a thousand things at which point I always think, hold on check your BG you should be sleeping and I have a few carbs to get me back on track..... |
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Oct 25, 2017
marke
681 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Libre to be available on the NHS..... Hi,Not wishing to be negative but it could be a while before you can actually get Libre sensors on the NHS. I asked my consultant at Guy's about it at my pump appointment. She said that although it was going on to the NHS price lists in November there is still a lot of discussion going on to identify who should be eligible for the sensors and what the criteria should be. There is a LOT of work going on in the NHS about this but its complicated and given the price Abbott want per sensor from the NHS it can't be available for everyone. She said if they cost the same as blood test strips then they would be more than happy for everyone to get them but at the current cost the NHS just can't afford to let everyone have them. I can understand this position and am very disappointed in Abbott. Sounds like they are just chasing the money and not taking the wider view of getting more people on them giving them a long term revenue stream. I guess the reality is other companies will soon launch similar devices and if they all get approved for the NHS then the cheapest will win. It sounds to me like another post code lottery in the making..... |
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Oct 25, 2017
Alan 49
284 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carbs and Cals I have an old copy (4th Edition) of Carbs and Cals for Diabetics and wondered whether it has been updated, or whether there is something better. It must have pictures of food, because I have no idea what 35 grams of anything is. Any ideas would be welcome. |
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Oct 24, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Course Material I don't think the DAFNE course material is available to anyone who isn't a graduate unfortunately..........but its still worth asking the question at your clinic as they might provide the handbook....Its available on here once you have received your graduate code.... There is however a good alternative to use if you cant make it along to a course called BERTIE.... It can be found here And of course, any questions you may have can be asked on here..... |
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Oct 23, 2017
Ethan
1 post
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Course Material Hi all,does anyone know where I can get any documentation for the DAFNE course? Unfortunately I work two jobs and I'm studying for my MA so I can't get the time off. I do however need to adopt the plan. I'm currently calculating my units at 2 per 10g of cabohydrate and it seems to be working well, however I'd look more info if I can get it? I wish there was an e-learning course for this as it would help a lot of people who are actively trying to adopt the program, but can't take time off from work. Thanks, Ethan |
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Oct 23, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Confused.com So are you saying that the nurses on your team are not DAFNE trained.....?Stick to the DAFNE principles for sure......no doctors or nurses should be telling you to do it differently..... You can always ask in here or one of the other UK forums for help on any thing you need... As far as monitoring diaries are concerned I actually made my own up with a spreadsheet.....this was before the pump came along and now I only write it down when I need to assess a dose change.... |
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Oct 21, 2017
Peter
109 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 Definitely worth discussing your anxiety about an overnight hypo with your diabetes team as fear of hypos is one of the criteria for more advanced treatment e.g. pump or CGMS.In the meantime have you tried a Libre so you would get a clear understanding of what is happening overnight? Remember though it is NOT a CGMS, so won't sound an alarm should you BS level drop too far but it will give a historical view of what happens each night for 2 weeks. You could also self fund a CGMS, but that's even more expensive than a Libre although, if you're lucky, you may meet the local criteria for a Libre when they start rolling out over the next few months. Again, your diabetes team should be able to advise on whether you're likley to meet the local criteria for that. Good luck. |
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Oct 21, 2017
ACampa
1 post
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1
Why not try a pump, CGM is built in and it switches off if you go low... |
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Oct 20, 2017
sjohno
37 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 FelixThere is nothing wrong with being anxious about it as long as the hypo thought is not allowing you to sleep  You'll be great at keeping yourself safe, maybe get into a routine at night (depending on your plans/activity) and things will be đź‘Ť Good luck with everything. Sarah |
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Oct 20, 2017
Muncle
9 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Confused.com Hi Weendyx1961, I read a book recently by Dr Emma Mardlin who has had Type 1 Diabetes since a child. one thing she says in the book which I found to be very profound and true is "You know your body & your diabetes better than anyone" which includes doctors, nurses and specialists.I understand why Health Care Professionals recommend you keep your BG around 6 - 10 as they are trying a one size fits all but if you are maintaining BG's of say 4 - 7 and it is working for you without going into Hypo too regular, then if it was me I would go for what I think works best for me. If you get chance to Read Emma's book then I can recommend it, it's called "Mind Body Diabetes Type 1 And Type 2: "  |
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Oct 20, 2017
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 novarapidboi spot on. Assessing risk is key here: I think generally the risk is low. So the anxiety is not based on a risk assessment but on a fear, often an irrational one. I think I'm actually doing all the right things. When alcohol is involved, that's when the risk factor really goes up.And posting on this forum is REALLY helping Sarah, yes, flat sharing is a good solution. I'll definitely revisit that idea with some people who might be up for it. The more people involved in a network, the more chance there is of something going wrong but the idea of a list of people who I check in with in the morning is very reassuring. Maybe this is about managing anxiety AND risk.  Felix |
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Oct 20, 2017
wendyx1961
2 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Confused.com I have been doing it the dafne way for years !!! And yes the dafne way is so different to the way I used to do it,before dafne my reading were off the scale so high my monitor couldn’t read them which is why I was put on the dafne course in the first place !!!My blood sugars are as they put it “Normal” !!!! Just like a person without diabetes. But that’s the dafne aim !!! Since they scraped the dafne course through funding their is no one to talk too,if you do have a problem as a lot of nurses and doctors are not trained in dafne,you cannot even get monitoring diaries anymore which is why I’ve had to go online god knows what would happen if I couldn’t !!! As your blood results are key to dafne !!!! Think I’m just going to have to stick to what I know !!!! The dafne course and way is the only thing that got my diabetes under control pitty more doctors and nurses weren’t trained so at least you’d have someone to talk to !!!! |
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Oct 20, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Confused.com Non-HCP here....What does too precise actually mean.....? What are your BG levels at.....? You wouldn't need to ease off in my opinion and certainly after 36 years you shouldn't feel compelled to do anything you don't want to....if its working already.... Was the DAFNE approach much different to what you had been doing before....? Are you comfortable with dose adjustment....? |
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Oct 20, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / NEWBIE As a DAFNE graduate you should have all the tools at your disposal to still manage your BG successfully and have the winter carbs you crave [within reason]....Some people find that seasonal changes may change the background needs and so a basal test would be wise on a regular basis... I know I haven't answered your questions as such but you should be able to adjust doses to compensate for the changing seasons and appetites.... |
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Oct 20, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 I would be assessing the actual risk of night time hypos occurring.....Is the risk low and you are just anxious about it happening....? is the risk high and if so why? what have you tried to eliminate them? |
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Oct 20, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Libre to be available on the NHS.....
Would you really cut out something to make money available for it....? Is it that much of an assistance to you...?......assuming that you're already competent with dose adjustment and carb counting..... |
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Oct 20, 2017
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Benefits of a Insulin Pump to my Life Have you pasted this from somewhere else? |
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Oct 20, 2017
sjohno
37 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 Hi FelixJust friends of friends who have been at University/work through the years. The downsides are: If you are on holiday or off work for a couple of days, having a lie in, not drawing your curtains and end up with ambulance/police bursting through your door  You forget to text. People forget. 7 people is a lot to remember  Any chance of sharing with a flat mate? Sarah |
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Oct 19, 2017
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 Oh, thank you. I'm just realising how much anxiety I have about this.J, 8 point drop over nite is quite big, I guess it's about being predictable and finding the right BG level before bed? Sarah, I generally correct BG to about 8-10 before I sleep. Mostly this works fine and I wake in target, sometimes... Do you know people who have set up support networks and what sort of problems they have encountered? I'm thinking, I can't just ask a couple of people to do this, I probably need a small team, a group who take turns so it doesn't just fall to one or two: So below is what I'm planning, I know it sounds elaborate but I genuinely fear for my life, and even tho my control is good, I still get it wrong sometimes. And living alone means the risk of nighttime unconsciousness and even coma is that much higher. So I find 7 people, one for each night of the week. (maybe I need 2 more to stand in when others are away?) In the evening I text or WhatsApp the appointed person to agree a contact time for the following morning. The next morning, I text them a smiley to say, "I'm awake, I'm alive and my BG is balanced". If they don't get the smiley within 10 mins of the agreed time, they ring me. If they can't raise me on the phone they either come over or call 999 or both. I put a key safe outside the flat so that they or the emergency services can get in. Has anyone ever done something like this, or know someone else who has, as a safety net for living on their own with Type 1? Felix |
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Oct 19, 2017
alturn
78 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Living Alone with Type 1 Can you look back over your BG levels from bed to breakfast? If there are large drops, then maybe best to have some extra carbs, but also depends on level before bed. If they are roughly the same overnight, then less need to be concerned. My DSN said it's better to be a bit higher at breakfast than low overnight.I've always lived by myself (and T1 for 12 years), sometimes drop by up to 8 overnight, other times taken QA before bed as high and gone up overnight, so it's a bit unpredictable. I now live near my sister but we don't have any regular "are you alive" protocol (at present). And I'm still here. Things can go wrong at anytime, so really just have to do the best you can. Happy and uninterrupted sleeps, J |