Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Nov 3, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

WOW thats a high HbA1c, she must be feeling terrible, and cant be good for the exams...................I hope they can source the problem quickly, if it is the thyroid they can prescribe pills and you might see a reaction to insulin..............

Keep us posted.............

Nov 3, 2010

caroline15 45 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

Garry, Yes, I could keep ketone records in the contents but I use the Dafne online diary for myself. Does anyone know if you can keep records for two people?

Novo , her hba1c was 12.5 yesterday, up from 10.4 in July which was up from 8.7 the time before. I have the dp (going to have cgm soon to confirm this) but I didn't think that she was having that as it is already massively high at 3am.

We're going to bump up the lantus another 2 tonight and see what happens. Hopefully she will be able to go to school tomorrow. She's got some gcse's this month - they do them so early now, I was 16 when I did mine and she was only 14 in August.

Nov 3, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

It might be the thyroid as you wouldn't expect weight gain with high blood sugar.....as the weight piles on, the need for insulin goes up......I should know...lol.....

I think you need to bump up her nightime dose and do more 3am tests...........eventually it will come down, unless there is dawn phenomenon......has she has experienced this before...

I wake up 17-18 every morning.....only a pump will sort that......what was her last HbA1c....if it wad above 8 and there's dawn phenomenon....that might be enough to fast track the pump.......remember it takes a lot more work than DAFNE....and it will be mostly your work as your more experienced...

Nov 3, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

Have to admit to keeping details of my limited ketone records in the comments section of my DAFNE Online diary. Would that work for you?

Nov 3, 2010

caroline15 45 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

She's 14 and is in the queue for a pump. The 3am tests are all in the 20's or HI, even when her bg was 7 before bed. We have been correcting on the basis that one unit takes her down 2.5 so she's been having 6-8 units correction at 3am and still waking with high bloods.

We have increased her lantus from 23 to 36 now and her ratio to 3 units to 1 cp. Previously her blood used to drop overnight with the lantus so I have been scared to increase it too much (I worry that she won't wake up). When she was at clinic yesterday she'd grown 2cm (to 169) and put on 9kg (to 5 Cool

, this is since July this year (they're running tests on her thyroid to see if that's why she's put on so much weight).

These doses seem to work ok in waking hours, which is why we keep getting released from the ward when she's been admitted for ketones. I definitely need to be keeping a record for her so that I can show the hospital and hopefully they will take some action.

Nov 3, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

How old is your daughter...........has a pump been mentioned.........??

What are the conclusions from the 3am tests.......have you reached the maximum dose without going hypo.....

I assume as a dafne graduate you are incorparating the principals into your daughters regime - - ASSUMING ITS MDI?

Nov 3, 2010

caroline15 45 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

I'd like to be able to keep a record for my daughter similar to what I have on the Dafne app and wondered if there was any that also had a field for ketones. We are having great fun (!) with them at the moment, 6.2 yesterday - luckily we were at the clinic and they sent us straight up to the children's ward but of course the ketones and blood sugars came down and they sent us home again in the evening. Ketones 1.5, blood 22 at lunchtime today (after correction doses at 3am and 7am and no food), not as high but still too high for school.

As my daughter isn't keeping a written record I was hoping that I could keep one on my ipod so that I can show the hospital what doses she's had (including the 3am doses she's had every day for the last fortnight) and hopefully they would see that we are doing whatever we can and it's still not working.

Thanks for any advice.

Nov 3, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

Thats a shame, sorry about that, theres several out there, just try all the free ones and pick which on suits best.........

Is it specifically ketones you want to record...?

Nov 3, 2010

caroline15 45 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

I've done a search but it only appears to be Android which I don't have. Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

Nov 3, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

I am on Android but use an app called on track....it will let you input blood glucose, insulin, carbohydrates and can display reports and graphs on those mentioned..........I also think there is some degree of customizing that can be done in order for you to input ketone levels, I know at least you can record comments and any other info within the notes section of that particular day...

Search for it and give it a go.......

Good Luck.....

Nov 3, 2010

caroline15 45 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

I have the dafne app on my ipod touch for my diabetes records and think it is great.

My 14 year old daughter is also Type 1 and we are really struggling at the moment with high bloods and ketones (for over 2 months now). I'd like to be able to keep a diary of her readings etc on my ipod as she is not keeping a record herself - she starts off well but then it trails off.

Can anyone recommend an app (is there one that can record ketones?) preferably free. I've tried Glucose Buddy and couldn't even find out how to enter how much insulin she'd had (maybe I'm tired after a fortnight of 3am testing and correcting!). I also tried Diabetes log and didn't find easy either.

I'd love something that is as easy to use as the dafne app, is there anything out there that you recommend?

Or is it even possible to have two users records on the dafne app?

Here's hoping Smile

Thanks

Caroline

Nov 3, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I'm New

A warm welcome from me, hope you can start a family soon......

Nov 2, 2010

LauraH 6 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?"

I'm a fairly new diabetic, diagnosed about 2 years ago. I was taught never to reuse needles, and I never have, same with leaving a needle on the pen. I think having a reason why to do something or not to do something is the biggest motivating factor for me. I completely understand why I shouldn't reuse needles, so I don't.

I honestly thought, until I read this, that "site rotation" and randomly moving injection sites were the same thing! In answer to that, I clearly don't rotate properly, I pick a new site randomly each time, and I know which places hurt most, so I avoid them.

Also didn't know what lipos were until reading this. My injection sites have been checked once, during the Dafne course, and I understand now that's what they must have been looking for.

I would really welcome this being discussed at clinic appointments, it would give some reassurance. I really enjoyed discussing all these things on the Dafne course. I don't feel particularly sensitive about the subject, although everyone is different, but it would need some tact on the part of the doctor. I would like my doctor to speak to me like an equal, acknowledging that you are health professionals doing this all day every day as part of your job, but that we have a practical knowledge of living with the condition. I don't mind being told I'm doing something wrong, but I don't want to be 'told off' as I have been in the past.

Good idea to discuss this, I think it's definitely needed!

Nov 2, 2010

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I'm New

It's difficult,I know, having just returned to the site having dipped out for a while due to pressure of work. You can always get more diaries from your hospital or there is a service on this site where you can have them posted. Try to fill in the online diary and share it with friends, who can help you to make adjustments and look at how you are going. Also offer a bit of moral support at times. The graphs on the diary are also a great help. You really need to hammer down that CP guessing, no good for you. Keep at it and keep posting.

Nov 2, 2010

chixystix 10 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I'm New

Thanks! I'm the same. I loved it but am so busy I find it hard to dedicate the necessary time to perfecting my control. I still follow it absolutely, but am haphazard with my CP counting - i guess a lot and often get it wrong. And I ran out of space in my DAFNE diary ages ago so haven't been writing things down. I've just discovered the online one here so am hoping that will help me! I've got my hospital appointment next month so am planning to seek baby advice but I'm scared my hba's going to be really high because i've been so preoccupied with my wedding the last few months i've let everything slide...

Nov 2, 2010

donnellysdogs 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi Jenny

I have awful problems with air bubbles too, no matter what I do, I can guarantee 5 hours after cartridge change I will have to do a reprime, and guaranteed the next day I will have to do another reprime. Forum members on a different website have offered advice on this, but it just mainly appears that accuchek pumps reservoirs have worst problems than other pumps. Now I will do a reprime after 4 hours, and really banging the pump on the table to shoft the bubbles that have appeared since loading the cartridge, as I know that this stops the bubbles ahead of them effecting me. I also check the airbubbles first thing the next morning after the cartridge change and do another banging / priming session, and this does then alleviate the problems of levels rising the next day.
I also was advised top change from novorapid to apidra insulin, as bubbles would be less, but that isn't true. I changed to Apidra at the weekend and the bubbles were still a problem, and my bg's have gone up slightly higher too, and this is with fasting at different times of the day.
I actually believe that there are a few pump users that put their higher levels down to their basals or carbs not being right, but if they actually did a reprime with hefty banging that they may see bubbles coming from the lueur connections down the tubes. I don't actually think that the bubbles have always gone in to the tubes, but are stuck in the connector stopping the small push through the tubes for a while.
I know because my diet is pretty much the same with 3 days of salads each week and say 2-3 days of casseroles and possibly a carbonara/tagliatelle (multi wave bolus) that it is the bubbles that cause my problems.
I use lloyds carb counting scales to even weigh my lettuce, cucumber, sultanas, walnuts, tomatoes even garlic. I am very exact, and it is all of these regime that has dropped my hba1c from 7.1 to 6.4 in 3 months.
Pumps I think are more complex than injections, but there are definitely benefits with them, IF you are prepared to do some fasting, check BG's a lot more than on MDI, and be prepared to change basals and bolus yourselfs with minimal guidance from health professionals.
My health professionals when I went over to a pump admitted that they had done the theory training, but only (at the time) had 13 people on pumps, so were learning from the othe pump users and now me. They were suprised that within 1 week I had changed my basals and bolus's etc and that my lelvels had stabilised so much. Again, this was down to another pump user helping me everyday by phone, not down to the training or help from the professionals.

Nov 2, 2010

Stew B 123 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Blood pressure would be good please Simon.

Stew

Nov 2, 2010

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I'm New

Welcome Mia, I did the course about a year ago and found it great, learnt so much but my control is still far from good. Have you managed to follow the recommendations, or does it fade with time? Good luck with the babies, hope you are talking to your nurses and getting that BM level sorted. Sure you will get some good help on here.
Vic.

Nov 2, 2010

Jennypenny 34 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi i too have the accu-chek combo , all what you say i can relate too , im doing a lot of blood tests at mo , im having terrible trouble with the dreaded air bubbles and do notice higher sugar levels when ive found a bubble , But on the positive im noticing really good levels after only 5 weeks on the pump , but like you say thats down to hard work and really wanting to make a difference to my blood sugars - Jenny

Nov 1, 2010

donnellysdogs 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

I am an Accuchek combo pump user since August 13th 2010.

My hba1c was 7.1 but I had awful highs within 1 hour of waking and 2 weeks before I was put on to pump I had a hypo incident one afternoon whilst driving.

A little info...pumps can take up to 6 months to get used to. I had an excellent pump user that helped me by phone everyday initially. Within 10 weeks my levels are now 6.4 my high morning levels have disappeared, and my levels are much more balanced. However, I have been checking my bloods at least 10 times a day to achieve this. During the night I have tested every 2 hours for two nights every 3 weeks. You do have to have a commitment to making a pump work, whether you are the parent of a child or the actual user of it. I have to have household insurance to the value of Â£3500 coverage for an indicidual item, costing about Â£6 extra a year on contents insurance cover.

There are guidelines that the hospitals have to follow to give pumps, your hba1c should be ABOVE 7.5 and your insulin control has been erratic and that all methods of multiple daily injections have been tried. If you are on a single long acting insulin, they may want you to change to two split doses a day before a pump is ocnsidered.

Pumps are not the perfect gadgets, certainly the accuchek combo pumps have an excellent remote control, but there are alot of people that get air bubbles in the insulin/tubes.in body. If you are pumping air, obviously you are not getting insulin, and levels will go up. They do take a bit of thinking about initially, but not too bad if you can 'hook up' so to speak with someone that is an experienced pump user that can give far better experience advice than hospital professionals who are have gone through the theory but actually haven't actually tried using a pump themselves.....

You must be prepared for wearing it 24/7/365 if using an accuchek one, as they have to be taken off for showers and baths, although the cannula's can stay in.

Nov 1, 2010

Adrian_Hill 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi, I don't know the exact cost as there does not appear to be any price lists that I know of. The price that is usually quoted is Â£2000 - Â£5000 for the pump that lasts about 2 years and then some unspecified amount for the other bits you need. The state will provide the actual insulin though which is a help. I would be helpful if anyone has bought one in the Uk could perhaps give us some idea of cost.
By the way I have only achieved a good HbA1c after DAFNE and a total change of life style. I found that having extra injections for snacks a pain so stopped snacking! What I really want to get rid of is the total randomness of some of my BGs and stop having so many hypos.

Nov 1, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Weight please.
Personally prefer kg but I know some may like those funny old imperial units!

Nov 1, 2010

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Can you not buy one yourself? Can you claim it on tax?

Here you can buy one and the amount you get from private health insurance depends on the sort of criteria you seem to have for getting one free. You can buy one even if your HbA1cs are "normal". You just have to pay for it. Quoted prices $AUD5-8000. When I discussed the rebate with my private insurer I was asked if their not covering it would mean I did not get one. I then decided that if they did not cover it I would still seriously consider buying my own. My HbA1cs are light years from 6.2 (Wow, congratulations!) In the great big scheme of things how much would you pay?

Assuming trade ins, upgrades etc it may not be a bad deal and the technology will get better and presumably the price come down (relatively).

Helen

Nov 1, 2010

Simon 574 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Hi Chaps,

I've put this on my to-do list for the next diary update, and I'll also look to getting it integrated to the graphs functionality too. Can you list the measures that you'd like to store? (I already have HBA1C, Cholesterol... any more?)

Simon

Nov 3, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App WOW thats a high HbA1c, she must be feeling terrible, and cant be good for the exams...................I hope they can source the problem quickly, if it is the thyroid they can prescribe pills and you might see a reaction to insulin.............. Keep us posted.............

Nov 3, 2010 caroline15 45 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App Garry, Yes, I could keep ketone records in the contents but I use the Dafne online diary for myself. Does anyone know if you can keep records for two people? Novo , her hba1c was 12.5 yesterday, up from 10.4 in July which was up from 8.7 the time before. I have the dp (going to have cgm soon to confirm this) but I didn't think that she was having that as it is already massively high at 3am. We're going to bump up the lantus another 2 tonight and see what happens. Hopefully she will be able to go to school tomorrow. She's got some gcse's this month - they do them so early now, I was 16 when I did mine and she was only 14 in August.

Nov 3, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App It might be the thyroid as you wouldn't expect weight gain with high blood sugar.....as the weight piles on, the need for insulin goes up......I should know...lol..... I think you need to bump up her nightime dose and do more 3am tests...........eventually it will come down, unless there is dawn phenomenon......has she has experienced this before... I wake up 17-18 every morning.....only a pump will sort that......what was her last HbA1c....if it wad above 8 and there's dawn phenomenon....that might be enough to fast track the pump.......remember it takes a lot more work than DAFNE....and it will be mostly your work as your more experienced...

Nov 3, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App Have to admit to keeping details of my limited ketone records in the comments section of my DAFNE Online diary. Would that work for you?

Nov 3, 2010 caroline15 45 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App She's 14 and is in the queue for a pump. The 3am tests are all in the 20's or HI, even when her bg was 7 before bed. We have been correcting on the basis that one unit takes her down 2.5 so she's been having 6-8 units correction at 3am and still waking with high bloods. We have increased her lantus from 23 to 36 now and her ratio to 3 units to 1 cp. Previously her blood used to drop overnight with the lantus so I have been scared to increase it too much (I worry that she won't wake up). When she was at clinic yesterday she'd grown 2cm (to 169) and put on 9kg (to 5, this is since July this year (they're running tests on her thyroid to see if that's why she's put on so much weight). These doses seem to work ok in waking hours, which is why we keep getting released from the ward when she's been admitted for ketones. I definitely need to be keeping a record for her so that I can show the hospital and hopefully they will take some action.

Nov 3, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App How old is your daughter...........has a pump been mentioned.........?? What are the conclusions from the 3am tests.......have you reached the maximum dose without going hypo..... I assume as a dafne graduate you are incorparating the principals into your daughters regime - - ASSUMING ITS MDI?

Nov 3, 2010 caroline15 45 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App I'd like to be able to keep a record for my daughter similar to what I have on the Dafne app and wondered if there was any that also had a field for ketones. We are having great fun (!) with them at the moment, 6.2 yesterday - luckily we were at the clinic and they sent us straight up to the children's ward but of course the ketones and blood sugars came down and they sent us home again in the evening. Ketones 1.5, blood 22 at lunchtime today (after correction doses at 3am and 7am and no food), not as high but still too high for school. As my daughter isn't keeping a written record I was hoping that I could keep one on my ipod so that I can show the hospital what doses she's had (including the 3am doses she's had every day for the last fortnight) and hopefully they would see that we are doing whatever we can and it's still not working. Thanks for any advice.

Nov 3, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App Thats a shame, sorry about that, theres several out there, just try all the free ones and pick which on suits best......... Is it specifically ketones you want to record...?

Nov 3, 2010 caroline15 45 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App I've done a search but it only appears to be Android which I don't have. Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

Nov 3, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App I am on Android but use an app called on track....it will let you input blood glucose, insulin, carbohydrates and can display reports and graphs on those mentioned..........I also think there is some degree of customizing that can be done in order for you to input ketone levels, I know at least you can record comments and any other info within the notes section of that particular day... Search for it and give it a go....... Good Luck.....

Nov 3, 2010 caroline15 45 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App I have the dafne app on my ipod touch for my diabetes records and think it is great. My 14 year old daughter is also Type 1 and we are really struggling at the moment with high bloods and ketones (for over 2 months now). I'd like to be able to keep a diary of her readings etc on my ipod as she is not keeping a record herself - she starts off well but then it trails off. Can anyone recommend an app (is there one that can record ketones?) preferably free. I've tried Glucose Buddy and couldn't even find out how to enter how much insulin she'd had (maybe I'm tired after a fortnight of 3am testing and correcting!). I also tried Diabetes log and didn't find easy either. I'd love something that is as easy to use as the dafne app, is there anything out there that you recommend? Or is it even possible to have two users records on the dafne app? Here's hoping Thanks Caroline

Nov 3, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I'm New A warm welcome from me, hope you can start a family soon......

Nov 2, 2010 LauraH 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" I'm a fairly new diabetic, diagnosed about 2 years ago. I was taught never to reuse needles, and I never have, same with leaving a needle on the pen. I think having a reason why to do something or not to do something is the biggest motivating factor for me. I completely understand why I shouldn't reuse needles, so I don't. I honestly thought, until I read this, that "site rotation" and randomly moving injection sites were the same thing! In answer to that, I clearly don't rotate properly, I pick a new site randomly each time, and I know which places hurt most, so I avoid them. Also didn't know what lipos were until reading this. My injection sites have been checked once, during the Dafne course, and I understand now that's what they must have been looking for. I would really welcome this being discussed at clinic appointments, it would give some reassurance. I really enjoyed discussing all these things on the Dafne course. I don't feel particularly sensitive about the subject, although everyone is different, but it would need some tact on the part of the doctor. I would like my doctor to speak to me like an equal, acknowledging that you are health professionals doing this all day every day as part of your job, but that we have a practical knowledge of living with the condition. I don't mind being told I'm doing something wrong, but I don't want to be 'told off' as I have been in the past. Good idea to discuss this, I think it's definitely needed!

Nov 2, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I'm New It's difficult,I know, having just returned to the site having dipped out for a while due to pressure of work. You can always get more diaries from your hospital or there is a service on this site where you can have them posted. Try to fill in the online diary and share it with friends, who can help you to make adjustments and look at how you are going. Also offer a bit of moral support at times. The graphs on the diary are also a great help. You really need to hammer down that CP guessing, no good for you. Keep at it and keep posting.

Nov 2, 2010 chixystix 10 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I'm New Thanks! I'm the same. I loved it but am so busy I find it hard to dedicate the necessary time to perfecting my control. I still follow it absolutely, but am haphazard with my CP counting - i guess a lot and often get it wrong. And I ran out of space in my DAFNE diary ages ago so haven't been writing things down. I've just discovered the online one here so am hoping that will help me! I've got my hospital appointment next month so am planning to seek baby advice but I'm scared my hba's going to be really high because i've been so preoccupied with my wedding the last few months i've let everything slide...

Nov 2, 2010 donnellysdogs 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi Jenny I have awful problems with air bubbles too, no matter what I do, I can guarantee 5 hours after cartridge change I will have to do a reprime, and guaranteed the next day I will have to do another reprime. Forum members on a different website have offered advice on this, but it just mainly appears that accuchek pumps reservoirs have worst problems than other pumps. Now I will do a reprime after 4 hours, and really banging the pump on the table to shoft the bubbles that have appeared since loading the cartridge, as I know that this stops the bubbles ahead of them effecting me. I also check the airbubbles first thing the next morning after the cartridge change and do another banging / priming session, and this does then alleviate the problems of levels rising the next day. I also was advised top change from novorapid to apidra insulin, as bubbles would be less, but that isn't true. I changed to Apidra at the weekend and the bubbles were still a problem, and my bg's have gone up slightly higher too, and this is with fasting at different times of the day. I actually believe that there are a few pump users that put their higher levels down to their basals or carbs not being right, but if they actually did a reprime with hefty banging that they may see bubbles coming from the lueur connections down the tubes. I don't actually think that the bubbles have always gone in to the tubes, but are stuck in the connector stopping the small push through the tubes for a while. I know because my diet is pretty much the same with 3 days of salads each week and say 2-3 days of casseroles and possibly a carbonara/tagliatelle (multi wave bolus) that it is the bubbles that cause my problems. I use lloyds carb counting scales to even weigh my lettuce, cucumber, sultanas, walnuts, tomatoes even garlic. I am very exact, and it is all of these regime that has dropped my hba1c from 7.1 to 6.4 in 3 months. Pumps I think are more complex than injections, but there are definitely benefits with them, IF you are prepared to do some fasting, check BG's a lot more than on MDI, and be prepared to change basals and bolus yourselfs with minimal guidance from health professionals. My health professionals when I went over to a pump admitted that they had done the theory training, but only (at the time) had 13 people on pumps, so were learning from the othe pump users and now me. They were suprised that within 1 week I had changed my basals and bolus's etc and that my lelvels had stabilised so much. Again, this was down to another pump user helping me everyday by phone, not down to the training or help from the professionals.

Nov 2, 2010 Stew B 123 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Blood pressure would be good please Simon. Stew

Nov 2, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I'm New Welcome Mia, I did the course about a year ago and found it great, learnt so much but my control is still far from good. Have you managed to follow the recommendations, or does it fade with time? Good luck with the babies, hope you are talking to your nurses and getting that BM level sorted. Sure you will get some good help on here. Vic.

Nov 2, 2010 Jennypenny 34 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi i too have the accu-chek combo , all what you say i can relate too , im doing a lot of blood tests at mo , im having terrible trouble with the dreaded air bubbles and do notice higher sugar levels when ive found a bubble , But on the positive im noticing really good levels after only 5 weeks on the pump , but like you say thats down to hard work and really wanting to make a difference to my blood sugars - Jenny

Nov 1, 2010 donnellysdogs 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps I am an Accuchek combo pump user since August 13th 2010. My hba1c was 7.1 but I had awful highs within 1 hour of waking and 2 weeks before I was put on to pump I had a hypo incident one afternoon whilst driving. A little info...pumps can take up to 6 months to get used to. I had an excellent pump user that helped me by phone everyday initially. Within 10 weeks my levels are now 6.4 my high morning levels have disappeared, and my levels are much more balanced. However, I have been checking my bloods at least 10 times a day to achieve this. During the night I have tested every 2 hours for two nights every 3 weeks. You do have to have a commitment to making a pump work, whether you are the parent of a child or the actual user of it. I have to have household insurance to the value of Â£3500 coverage for an indicidual item, costing about Â£6 extra a year on contents insurance cover. There are guidelines that the hospitals have to follow to give pumps, your hba1c should be ABOVE 7.5 and your insulin control has been erratic and that all methods of multiple daily injections have been tried. If you are on a single long acting insulin, they may want you to change to two split doses a day before a pump is ocnsidered. Pumps are not the perfect gadgets, certainly the accuchek combo pumps have an excellent remote control, but there are alot of people that get air bubbles in the insulin/tubes.in body. If you are pumping air, obviously you are not getting insulin, and levels will go up. They do take a bit of thinking about initially, but not too bad if you can 'hook up' so to speak with someone that is an experienced pump user that can give far better experience advice than hospital professionals who are have gone through the theory but actually haven't actually tried using a pump themselves..... You must be prepared for wearing it 24/7/365 if using an accuchek one, as they have to be taken off for showers and baths, although the cannula's can stay in.

Nov 1, 2010 Adrian_Hill 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi, I don't know the exact cost as there does not appear to be any price lists that I know of. The price that is usually quoted is Â£2000 - Â£5000 for the pump that lasts about 2 years and then some unspecified amount for the other bits you need. The state will provide the actual insulin though which is a help. I would be helpful if anyone has bought one in the Uk could perhaps give us some idea of cost. By the way I have only achieved a good HbA1c after DAFNE and a total change of life style. I found that having extra injections for snacks a pain so stopped snacking! What I really want to get rid of is the total randomness of some of my BGs and stop having so many hypos.

Nov 1, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Weight please. Personally prefer kg but I know some may like those funny old imperial units!

Nov 1, 2010 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Can you not buy one yourself? Can you claim it on tax? Here you can buy one and the amount you get from private health insurance depends on the sort of criteria you seem to have for getting one free. You can buy one even if your HbA1cs are "normal". You just have to pay for it. Quoted prices $AUD5-8000. When I discussed the rebate with my private insurer I was asked if their not covering it would mean I did not get one. I then decided that if they did not cover it I would still seriously consider buying my own. My HbA1cs are light years from 6.2 (Wow, congratulations!) In the great big scheme of things how much would you pay? Assuming trade ins, upgrades etc it may not be a bad deal and the technology will get better and presumably the price come down (relatively). Helen

Nov 1, 2010 Simon 574 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Hi Chaps, I've put this on my to-do list for the next diary update, and I'll also look to getting it integrated to the graphs functionality too. Can you list the measures that you'd like to store? (I already have HBA1C, Cholesterol... any more?) Simon