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Nov 30, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / What are you reading? That's quite impressive meltow! How young were you when you decided to start keeping track? I wish I kept track now! XD I've done a bit of hobby reviewing in my time but I stopped doing that a year or so ago.I think I will see if I would enjoy all these authors we have mentioned - Besides Lee Childs, I'm not sure I've heard of them, which is good - fresh meat so to speak! Thanks for your responses! I got around (finally) to finishing a series I started a few months back - the Aldebaran comic series. This review explains it nicely. I did find it a good sci-fi read and definitely recommend it. I, unfortunately, only grabbed the first set of this series so I shall have to get the Betelgeuse books another time! D'oh! |
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Nov 30, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice on Diabetes Doctors Ah I see. Difficult, but if you are being made uncomfortable, I would report him. Your health is not a joke and sometimes people like that need to be given a clue - but I do understand your feelings. Try applying for a doctor change within the hospital and see how you go if you're not prepared to report him (no shame if you don't, okay?).Hey we were once DAFNE neighbours - cool! I'm very surprised that you're having this trouble considering you live in London... I wonder if there's anyone on here that could suggest someone to contact.... http://www.dafne.uk.com/contact.php maybe a good place to start if not. The main office contact is on the right hand side if you want to give them a ring and find out where the DAFNE teams are stationed in London. Good luck! |
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Nov 30, 2010
chixystix
10 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice on Diabetes Doctors it's hard isn't it - i don't know if i should report him or not, i don't want all the other doctors to think of me as 'the patient that got our friend in trouble'. and he's sort of mean in a jokey tone of voice. arrrgh.i did my DAFNE course in norwich then moved immediately to london, so i didn't have any dafne follow up and don't really have a team as such. i'm trying to get an appointment with the DAFNE coordinator at my new hospital but so far no luck, i'll keep trying. I wish I hadn't moved! The norwich team are lovely! |
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Nov 30, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice on Diabetes Doctors If they're as bad as they sound, I'd at least see about reporting that particular doctor. There must be another doctor available in the same hospital perhaps if you must change...Have you contacted your DAFNE team for advice? They might be more helpful considering even my 'normal' hospital doctor still has to be DAFNE trained.. and I know my GP is somewhat intimidated by it because he doesn't understand it (bless him, he put down my current BI dose amounts on the box when I asked for a prescription despite being aware it shifts when I first met him lol). Ah, how times are changing.. yet it takes so long for the changes to be fully applied! |
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Nov 30, 2010
chixystix
10 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Advice on Diabetes Doctors So I just got back from my 'Annual Review' at the hospital. I've been waiting 18 months for an appointment, my diabetes is completely out of control and my husband and I want to start trying for a baby soon. So I turned up ready to hold my hands up and ask for a lot of help.It basically couldn't have gone worse. The consultant remembered me from my last appointment when we had a disagreement and seemed determined not to help me. (at my last appointment he was insisting i change my insulin doses due to one hypo in my diary, but it was a hypo I could explain so I didn't want to). He'd written in his notes that we'd disagreed before and started laughing when he read it. I told him i wanted to get pregnant and his advice was take folic acid, and dont' have any hypos or your baby will die. I showed him my erratic blood sugars and he said 'what's the problem? are you having too many hypos? your sugars are fine' (they vary between 3 and 17). He said my thyroid levels were wrong and accused me of not taking my medication, when i said i did he said 'i don't believe you.' Despite it being an annual review noone checked my feet or eyes, i didn't see a dietician or a nurse, apart from for my blood tests. I'm so desperate for help and don't know who to turn to. My GPs are nice but their diabetes knowledge is very limited, and DAFNE is a mystery to them. Every hospital appointment I've had in the last 10 years it seems there's a different consultant - some great, but with no follow up because they disappear - and some clueless. Can anyone offer any advice? I'm in London, so don't know if I can be referred to a different hospital? And if i can, does anyone have any recommeendations? I'm so angry right now! Mia x |
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Nov 30, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries It doesn't surprise me that most of us are rather neglectful of our ketone checking - I rarely did it pre-DAFNE myself.... but that was pre-DAFNE, not now.It can be a big help for when your sick or to give you advance warning when an illness is coming... I've had this happen to me from the common cold I had very recently. Unfortunately the spells of ketones and good sugar levels were confusing at first - then the cold kicked in and all became clear and things got resolved very quickly because I responded accordingly!  You may be finding that you're taking a lot longer to recover from illness simply because you're not dealing with your ketones when ill properly. The DAFNE sick day rules are very much ketones dependant after all - it does make sense to check for them (and record them!). I'm happy to use the traditional - / + symbols at the moment considering I use the stix. Shall have to see what the conversion is for the machine test strips later perhaps... if I get a machine like my DAFNE nurse suggested after my common cold spell (hinted that I may be ketones sensitive? Not sure what that means exactly). With how this discussion is going, can I point out this: Page 11 of the DAFNE Guidebook (under Metabolic Control):
I think it's more important than we're happy to admit. |
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Nov 30, 2010
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP thanks for all the advice guys n gals....... |
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Nov 29, 2010
saxman
28 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / glargine thanks for all the feedback, will post my results soon. |
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Nov 29, 2010
HelenP
218 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP Lots of water, lots of tests and lots of sleep. Get well soon.When you are well discuss with your diabetes consultant possible variation to the Dafne rules. I am on high doses of insulin and have discussed extra "correction" injections mid meals (depending on Bgs) and while this does lead to "insulin stacking" the additional doses are only small and with everything else going on when you are sick, with care/vigilance it can smooth out the BGs. My advice here is to discuss it first...do not try this at home! Helen |
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Nov 29, 2010
HelenP
218 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries I also have a Optium Xceed but I need the keytone strips so infrequently that when I reach for them they are out of date...and I feel too sick to go out and get more! And when you are well ... Helen |
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Nov 29, 2010
HelenP
218 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / glargine I also was having probs with Lantus lasting and after much trial (and error) and support from the Endocrinologist now have Lantus in split doses. 6:00am 55% and 6:00pm 45%. When we first split the dose I was on about 80% at 6:00am and the rest before going to bed but the current regime works well especially overnight (no supper though!). I think what you really have to do is watch what insulin is working when. Periods with no carbs makes this assessment easier (although I believe you have to watch the very low GI carbs as they can have a crucial and disproportionate effect). Five hours after my evening meal there is no more QA and having had no more food the Lantus just keeps doing its thing. However if I do have something to eat (and I sometimes do) I have to cover it ...even 1CP. I watch the info people post re doses etc and am constantly amazed at the variation. It really is so individual! Good luck. |
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Nov 29, 2010
Jenny Spollen
13 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Levemir versus Lantus Pre- DAFNE I was on a single dose of Lantus but it turned out that it was not lasting the full 24 hours...far less in fact. Got switched to split-dose of Levemir but that was def far from suitable. Absolutely no rhyme nor reason to any of my readings and had an adverse reaction to it. Currently on a split does of Lantus. Still not ideal but def way better than before and the flexibility that comes with splitting the dose is a def plus!Best of luck  Jenny |
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Nov 29, 2010
SimonC
78 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / glargine Split the Lantus - that what I do, I was on 28 at 2100hrs daily, I noticed it wasn't lasting the full 24hrs and so changed to 14 at 0900 and 14 at 2100, and this works for me.If you get on with the Lantus try splitting first, if you want to go to the Levamir, tell your team the lantus isn't working and convince them to change you over. |
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Nov 29, 2010
saxman
28 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / glargine im taking lantus as my bi,a pattern has emerged over the last week to suggest it stops working after ten hours has anyone else noticed the same, im thinking of changing to levamir to possibly split the dose? any thoughts?? |
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Nov 29, 2010
caroline15
45 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries There's two different types of test strips, one for blood glucose and one for ketones.http://www.abbottdiabetescare.co.uk/your-products/optium-xceed/testing-strips |
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Nov 29, 2010
Simon
578 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries No JWo I just never have ketostix to hand and my meter doesn't do ketones (does it test your blood for them at the same time as glucose? pretty cool if so). I'm still not clear if a numeric field is the right way to go - if you used ketostix would you put the mg/dl value in? I'm only asking as it's easier to decide on this up front than change our database later.
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Nov 29, 2010
caroline15
45 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP I'd increase my ratio as I'd be worried about going hypo overnight if my BI was increased - (something that probably wouldn't worry you with your DP). When Amy was ill we increased her ratio and background but that was over a long period of time, hopefully you will be better in days rather than weeks.Hope you feel better very soon. |
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Nov 29, 2010
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP Thanks for the advice, I will take it on board this evening.......Cant wait to the get the flu jab every year, what was I thinking........ |
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Nov 29, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP Sorry - just to add - Im not sure what percentage would be best to put BI up by but I would look at 2 units of BI if I was correcting with 2 or more units of QA regularly. |
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Nov 29, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP Firstly, well done for getting ketones under control! Now if you are mainly suffering from highs and are having to correct a lot even without food - if it was me, I would consider putting my BI up - ESPECIALLY if the illness is for more than one day (as it suggests in DAFNE guidebook). Get well soon... |
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Nov 29, 2010
novorapidboi26
1,819 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / NEED HELP Got the flu bad, went from not eating and having lots of ketones with avergare BGS, now I have no ketones, I am eating and my BGS are sky high........What have others done, do you increase your BI by a percentage or do you bump up the ratios.............Im lost and ill............ Just a note: the sick day rules work great if your not eating.... |
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Nov 29, 2010
Garry
328 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries I also use an Optium Xceed meter to test for Ketones. Very easy to use with digital value given using a specific test strip ... can recommend. Software called Co-Pilot is available free from Abbot, once registered as a an Optium Xceed meter user, and downloads meter to computer through a specific USB lead and will log ketone info too.Regards Garry |
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Nov 28, 2010
Sbee1980
7 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Pre-conception Plans Hi all, I am hoping to get the go-ahead from HCPs early next year for trying for a baby.. my HBa1c results over the last couple of years have been very high but since doing DAFNE I have really come to understand diabetes a lot better & have made a real effort to get my BG under control. Has anyone requested pre-conception care or been pregnant since completing DAFNE training? Just looking for some pointers & advice.. |
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Nov 28, 2010
JayBee
587 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Using the comments bit is what we're having to do right now... I feel it's easy to be ignored there when getting feedback, but that's me...You're lucky to not have to check for ketones much Simon! Your control must be excellent!
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Nov 28, 2010
Simon
578 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Perhaps it would be best to allow you guys to add ketones as free text (like the comments field), although this may prove difficult to make a chart of, if you wanted that. What do you all think?I rarely test myself for ketones so will take your guidance on what is best. Edit: mg/dl measures the same thing as mmol/l, but with a different scale - the amount of one substance in another. In this case I think it is mg of Ketones per dL (deciLitre?) of urine |