Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Nov 1, 2010

chixystix 10 posts

hey everyone, I'm Mia and i just found you, so thought i'd introduce myself. I did dafne in Norwich about 4 years ago. I think it's amazing but I'm really busy and don't pay it as much attention as I should. Hoping to change that as I just got married and want to be able to have babies soon. Nice to meet you all. xxx

Nov 1, 2010

SimonC 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / HGV Licence and type 1

Richard - it is a blow when this happens, I fought my employer for many years re a driving issue - not HGV or PSV, and pre the Disability Discrimination Act applied to them.

The insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against Type 1 Diabetics, and in my experience they haven't - for the 20 years I have been diabetic. The licence issue is purely down to the DVLA - it a is large, cumbersome and unwieldy organisation, and it takes many years for it to change. One of the problems it has, is that when going on an individual case, there may be some - not you, who may be tempted to lie about their warning signs, having a pump that also measures sugar levels with an alarm may help to mitigate against this, but they are expensive.

The world, and treatments are changing - in the US you can fly a passenger 747 whilst being type 1, and now in the UK you can get a private pilots licence as type 1 - although you must always have a non diabetic PPL holder with you.

I read recently that the DVLA were considering to do away with its restrictions on type 1's as all the evidence - from insurance companies and police etc, was that type 1's were of no increased risk when compared to the rest of the population, although I will believe it when I see it.

Nov 1, 2010

SimonC 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Novorapid - that is precisely the argument my consultant uses - the Hba1c's are very good, and so any relatively minor improvement would not be worth the cost, it may be different in other PCT's as it is very much a post code lottery, there may be some that would agree to fund a pump, but mine won't.

Adrian - I suspect you are right, it will be 20 odd years before we get the opportunity.

The prize for looking after yourself and your body - and keeping NHS costs down by drastically lowering the risk of severe complications, is self satisfaction only

Oct 31, 2010

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / HGV Licence and type 1

Would guess that it probably has a lot to do with the insurance companies. Completely unfair in my opinion.

Oct 31, 2010

Adrian_Hill 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

It all kind of feels like it did 28 years ago when I had to buy my own Novopen and needles and blood testing strips but know things have changed so much and prices have dropped etc. I just wonder if it will be another 20 odd years before pumps are the norm and even us oldies get to have a go!

Oct 31, 2010

Richard 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / HGV Licence and type 1

I became a type 1 diabetic about 3 years ago, therefore losing my HGV licence. At the time I found this very difficult to deal with as driving lorries was my living.
Personally I think it is very harsh for the DVLA to take my licence away as I control my BG levels very well and am always aware of when I am going low. However, I do understand some people do not have warning signs and driving 38 tonne of lorry would not be advisable!
My question is : Why can't the DVLA go on individual cases rather than a blanket ban? Also, I did hear that someone (pos Diabetes UK) were hoping to put a case together and put it to the DVLA. Is anyone else aware of this or no anything about it?

Oct 31, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

I would of thought that if your HbA1c is as good as that, without the hypos then you dont need a pump, you could benefit from one obviously, but at what price........

Oct 30, 2010

Stew B 123 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Thanks Garry. That's a good point, but I'd also like to see the records "collected" together so that, for example, all my hbA1c's can be seen in date order.

Stew

Oct 30, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Just checked and field appears to be 200 characters...so should be plenty for most text entries.
Garry

Oct 30, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Like you Stew I prefer to keep as much as I can in the same place.
Quick fix though if you wish...
Have just been to see our DAFNE diabetic nurse and got latest HbA1c and weight figures and I enter them on the day in the Comments field - both in my DAFNE diary and in the Online diary too.
Not sure what the field character limit is on the Comments field...but I have not been limited yet.
Best Wishes Garry

Oct 30, 2010

Stew B 123 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Hi Simon,
I've been enjoying the "Diabetes Results to You" thread on the general discussion forum, and wonder whether in addition to having the on-line diary facility for storing our BG results etc. we could have somewhere on the site where we could enter and store things like hbA1c, cholesterol, blood pressure results etc. for easy access and retrieval, and perhaps comparison over time? I know that I've got stuff like this on various letters, cards etc. but it would be nice to be able to store it together on-line. Something like that would enable me to bring together results from various sources (GP vs Hospital Clinic for example - it seems that everytime I go anywhere near my GP surgery someone takes my blood pressure!).

Stew

Oct 30, 2010

Stew B 123 posts

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

Good thread! I think that it would be really useful to have some rather more extensive guidelines/advice re. injecting than seem to be available at present, although I know that one of the difficulties is that we're all different and one size won't fit all. It wasn't until I did my DAFNE course that anyone inspected my injection sites, and I discovered what "lipos" are (I had them on my thighs from night-time Lantus injections). What I learned from DAFNE also pursuaded me to only use a needle once. Like others responding to this thread, although I like to think that I rotate my injection sites, I don't do it in any way systematically - what would a good "system" look like? I now have a new consultant, and she actually asks to see my injection sites at my annual review - a bit of a surprise, since I switched my Lantus injections to my buttocks...

Stew

Oct 30, 2010

Jennypenny 34 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

Hi Adrian and Simon , i always think its worth asking you diabetes health team im not sure if different Health care trusts have different criterias ~ jenny

Oct 29, 2010

SimonC 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

I also would like to try the pump route - have been told that as my Hba1C have always been good - currently at 6.2, been down to 5.9, then there is no chance. I have been type 1 for 20 years now and seek that holy grail of normal blood sugars, and whilst I don't do too bad, I feel the pump would help me get that bit closer. I work shifts, in a fairly responsible role, but have been told no way.

Oct 29, 2010

Adrian_Hill 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps

I also suffer hypos in the night but highs at random times during the day possibility caused by the dawn thing but as my HbA1c is running at 6.7 I thought it would be impossible to get a pump. Has anyone managed to get one with ok HbA1C?

Oct 29, 2010

PNThompson 57 posts

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

I used to be one who only used a couple of injection sites as it was only two injections a day, and it was easier.
I later discovered the problems when I had a lot of difficulty in controlling my blood sugars.
Even prior to DAFNE, I learnt to rotate the sites, and didn't reuse the same needle, though I had felt one needle a day wasn't over using the same needle.

I have never left the needle on the pen, unless I needed to take the pen on its own at lunchtime, etc.

I still disagree with the professionals at the hospital on injection sites, and i'll admit that I don't always keep the needle in my arm, leg, etc long enough.

Any topic which generates different views is good news and should be covered somewhere within the forum as it may provide somebody with another view that benefits them!

Oct 29, 2010

marke 643 posts

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

I would just like to add, thank you for rasing these issues and please feel free to do so on our site. I think challenging people to change is a good thing and is one of the key things for DAFNE i.e change the the perception that Diabetics cannot eat certain things, do certain things.
I agree we can all get set in our ways and find it hard to kick habits but with encouragement we can.
I am pleased that someone from the HCP side is again being so pro-active, it helps dispell the idea that some have that the medical profession are all people that don't understand diabetics. I'm not referring to people on this site, before people get upset by my comments !
Brum_taffy are you involved in the DAFNE programme ? I only ask because it would help to have you 'labelled' on the site as a HCP, however I guess I can only do that if you are invovled in DAFNE, unless of course I get permission from the DAFNE programme people to make you a HCP. The reason for needing permission is the access to some of the parts of the site that only DAFNE HCP's have.
The more HCP's we have contributing the better, especially in the 'Questions for HCPs' forum where people often ask Diabetes related questions and having a Diabetes expert rather than other Diabetics answer is often more re-assuring.

Oct 29, 2010

JayBee 582 posts

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

Are these fair subjects for discussion in a consultation?

Hell yes. You're there to help the patient and educate them to a certain degree.

Do your diabetes teams discuss these issues with you?

Yes, and on that note, I'm thankful. I change my pen needle every time now!

Do people with diabetes find these questions sensitive? If so, why is that?

Yes because diabetics take pride in their control. If someone - even another diabetic in a very similar boat - can easily offend a diabetic by suggesting they change something.

For example, I've suggested that a diabetic try adopting the DAFNE regime in the past and what sort of response did it lead to? Her saying to others that I was accusing her of not looking after herself properly without a mention of the term DAFNE in her explaination.

Wow, thanks for listening to me properly. T_T

How should us docs approach a person who is not using their pen device well, and try to persuade them to make some changes?

I'm sure you do it fine, but be prepared for some diabetics to be more awkward or bull headed than others. Sad

Oct 29, 2010

JayBee 582 posts

Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested

I prefer the coloured ruler design because I I feel it puts things into perspective better than the traffic light system does - but I've been a diabetic for a long time. Experience allows me to appreciate the wider range.

I mean, there's many levels to the control of diabetes, not just one point here and one point there like the traffic lights are like. Saying that, the traffic light system may be better for newly diagnosed, to get them off the ground with what to aim for.

Just my 2 pence.

Oct 28, 2010

charlotte77 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested

I've posted my preferences on the Sandwell website. I also think this is a fantastic idea - there's a much stronger possibility of remembering my results between one clinic appointment and the next. I only tend to remember the anticipation of the appointment which is never helpful.

Oct 28, 2010

LauraH 6 posts

Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested

I prefer the traffic lights.

I would LOVE to have my HbA1c sent to me by letter. At the clinic I'm usually stressed and nervous, and although I hear them tell me my HbA1c, I don't have enough time to think about why it's risen / dropped and what I need to do. If I received that letter when I'm in my own home, relaxed and ready to really think about what I need to do I can see huge benefits.

I would also like to be able to keep track of my results over time, I feel like when I ask the clinic for this I'm getting in their way or wasting my time.

Fantastic idea.
Laura.

Oct 28, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

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

I only change the needle once the insulin is depleted or if it gets sore, its bad I know, but its habit (cost effectvie)...lol

I have had no problems with lumps, or at least any that I have noticed as i do rotate, randomly, on my legs, arms, stomach and bum...

And commenting on the point Helen brought up, I do prime every injection, this is a habit I picked up from DAFNE, more often than not, before the priming, I always used to get a misfire with the injection.......but then you dont want to re inject as you cant be sure if you got the dose or not...

Oct 28, 2010

JayBee 582 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb free soups

Thanks for the reply. It certain is looking that way so I'll probably do the salad deal instead!

Oct 28, 2010

HelenP 218 posts

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

Have you asked about "priming"? You may get some surprises there also!

Oct 28, 2010

DavidMansfield 3 posts

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

"a rubbery lump under your skin at injection sites, which stops insulin getting in reliably. "

cheers for the reply - so is this part of injecting the same spot too often?

Nov 1, 2010 chixystix 10 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I'm New hey everyone, I'm Mia and i just found you, so thought i'd introduce myself. I did dafne in Norwich about 4 years ago. I think it's amazing but I'm really busy and don't pay it as much attention as I should. Hoping to change that as I just got married and want to be able to have babies soon. Nice to meet you all. xxx

Nov 1, 2010 SimonC 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / HGV Licence and type 1 Richard - it is a blow when this happens, I fought my employer for many years re a driving issue - not HGV or PSV, and pre the Disability Discrimination Act applied to them. The insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against Type 1 Diabetics, and in my experience they haven't - for the 20 years I have been diabetic. The licence issue is purely down to the DVLA - it a is large, cumbersome and unwieldy organisation, and it takes many years for it to change. One of the problems it has, is that when going on an individual case, there may be some - not you, who may be tempted to lie about their warning signs, having a pump that also measures sugar levels with an alarm may help to mitigate against this, but they are expensive. The world, and treatments are changing - in the US you can fly a passenger 747 whilst being type 1, and now in the UK you can get a private pilots licence as type 1 - although you must always have a non diabetic PPL holder with you. I read recently that the DVLA were considering to do away with its restrictions on type 1's as all the evidence - from insurance companies and police etc, was that type 1's were of no increased risk when compared to the rest of the population, although I will believe it when I see it.

Nov 1, 2010 SimonC 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Novorapid - that is precisely the argument my consultant uses - the Hba1c's are very good, and so any relatively minor improvement would not be worth the cost, it may be different in other PCT's as it is very much a post code lottery, there may be some that would agree to fund a pump, but mine won't. Adrian - I suspect you are right, it will be 20 odd years before we get the opportunity. The prize for looking after yourself and your body - and keeping NHS costs down by drastically lowering the risk of severe complications, is self satisfaction only

Oct 31, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / HGV Licence and type 1 Would guess that it probably has a lot to do with the insurance companies. Completely unfair in my opinion.

Oct 31, 2010 Adrian_Hill 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps It all kind of feels like it did 28 years ago when I had to buy my own Novopen and needles and blood testing strips but know things have changed so much and prices have dropped etc. I just wonder if it will be another 20 odd years before pumps are the norm and even us oldies get to have a go!

Oct 31, 2010 Richard 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / HGV Licence and type 1 I became a type 1 diabetic about 3 years ago, therefore losing my HGV licence. At the time I found this very difficult to deal with as driving lorries was my living. Personally I think it is very harsh for the DVLA to take my licence away as I control my BG levels very well and am always aware of when I am going low. However, I do understand some people do not have warning signs and driving 38 tonne of lorry would not be advisable! My question is : Why can't the DVLA go on individual cases rather than a blanket ban? Also, I did hear that someone (pos Diabetes UK) were hoping to put a case together and put it to the DVLA. Is anyone else aware of this or no anything about it?

Oct 31, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps I would of thought that if your HbA1c is as good as that, without the hypos then you dont need a pump, you could benefit from one obviously, but at what price........

Oct 30, 2010 Stew B 123 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Thanks Garry. That's a good point, but I'd also like to see the records "collected" together so that, for example, all my hbA1c's can be seen in date order. Stew

Oct 30, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Just checked and field appears to be 200 characters...so should be plenty for most text entries. Garry

Oct 30, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Like you Stew I prefer to keep as much as I can in the same place. Quick fix though if you wish... Have just been to see our DAFNE diabetic nurse and got latest HbA1c and weight figures and I enter them on the day in the Comments field - both in my DAFNE diary and in the Online diary too. Not sure what the field character limit is on the Comments field...but I have not been limited yet. Best Wishes Garry

Oct 30, 2010 Stew B 123 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Hi Simon, I've been enjoying the "Diabetes Results to You" thread on the general discussion forum, and wonder whether in addition to having the on-line diary facility for storing our BG results etc. we could have somewhere on the site where we could enter and store things like hbA1c, cholesterol, blood pressure results etc. for easy access and retrieval, and perhaps comparison over time? I know that I've got stuff like this on various letters, cards etc. but it would be nice to be able to store it together on-line. Something like that would enable me to bring together results from various sources (GP vs Hospital Clinic for example - it seems that everytime I go anywhere near my GP surgery someone takes my blood pressure!). Stew

Oct 30, 2010 Stew B 123 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" Good thread! I think that it would be really useful to have some rather more extensive guidelines/advice re. injecting than seem to be available at present, although I know that one of the difficulties is that we're all different and one size won't fit all. It wasn't until I did my DAFNE course that anyone inspected my injection sites, and I discovered what "lipos" are (I had them on my thighs from night-time Lantus injections). What I learned from DAFNE also pursuaded me to only use a needle once. Like others responding to this thread, although I like to think that I rotate my injection sites, I don't do it in any way systematically - what would a good "system" look like? I now have a new consultant, and she actually asks to see my injection sites at my annual review - a bit of a surprise, since I switched my Lantus injections to my buttocks... Stew

Oct 30, 2010 Jennypenny 34 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps Hi Adrian and Simon , i always think its worth asking you diabetes health team im not sure if different Health care trusts have different criterias ~ jenny

Oct 29, 2010 SimonC 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps I also would like to try the pump route - have been told that as my Hba1C have always been good - currently at 6.2, been down to 5.9, then there is no chance. I have been type 1 for 20 years now and seek that holy grail of normal blood sugars, and whilst I don't do too bad, I feel the pump would help me get that bit closer. I work shifts, in a fairly responsible role, but have been told no way.

Oct 29, 2010 Adrian_Hill 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pumps I also suffer hypos in the night but highs at random times during the day possibility caused by the dawn thing but as my HbA1c is running at 6.7 I thought it would be impossible to get a pump. Has anyone managed to get one with ok HbA1C?

Oct 29, 2010 PNThompson 57 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" I used to be one who only used a couple of injection sites as it was only two injections a day, and it was easier. I later discovered the problems when I had a lot of difficulty in controlling my blood sugars. Even prior to DAFNE, I learnt to rotate the sites, and didn't reuse the same needle, though I had felt one needle a day wasn't over using the same needle. I have never left the needle on the pen, unless I needed to take the pen on its own at lunchtime, etc. I still disagree with the professionals at the hospital on injection sites, and i'll admit that I don't always keep the needle in my arm, leg, etc long enough. Any topic which generates different views is good news and should be covered somewhere within the forum as it may provide somebody with another view that benefits them!

Oct 29, 2010 marke 643 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" I would just like to add, thank you for rasing these issues and please feel free to do so on our site. I think challenging people to change is a good thing and is one of the key things for DAFNE i.e change the the perception that Diabetics cannot eat certain things, do certain things. I agree we can all get set in our ways and find it hard to kick habits but with encouragement we can. I am pleased that someone from the HCP side is again being so pro-active, it helps dispell the idea that some have that the medical profession are all people that don't understand diabetics. I'm not referring to people on this site, before people get upset by my comments ! Brum_taffy are you involved in the DAFNE programme ? I only ask because it would help to have you 'labelled' on the site as a HCP, however I guess I can only do that if you are invovled in DAFNE, unless of course I get permission from the DAFNE programme people to make you a HCP. The reason for needing permission is the access to some of the parts of the site that only DAFNE HCP's have. The more HCP's we have contributing the better, especially in the 'Questions for HCPs' forum where people often ask Diabetes related questions and having a Diabetes expert rather than other Diabetics answer is often more re-assuring.

Oct 29, 2010 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" Are these fair subjects for discussion in a consultation? Hell yes. You're there to help the patient and educate them to a certain degree. Do your diabetes teams discuss these issues with you? Yes, and on that note, I'm thankful. I change my pen needle every time now! Do people with diabetes find these questions sensitive? If so, why is that? Yes because diabetics take pride in their control. If someone - even another diabetic in a very similar boat - can easily offend a diabetic by suggesting they change something. For example, I've suggested that a diabetic try adopting the DAFNE regime in the past and what sort of response did it lead to? Her saying to others that I was accusing her of not looking after herself properly without a mention of the term DAFNE in her explaination. Wow, thanks for listening to me properly. T_T How should us docs approach a person who is not using their pen device well, and try to persuade them to make some changes? I'm sure you do it fine, but be prepared for some diabetics to be more awkward or bull headed than others.

Oct 29, 2010 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested I prefer the coloured ruler design because I I feel it puts things into perspective better than the traffic light system does - but I've been a diabetic for a long time. Experience allows me to appreciate the wider range. I mean, there's many levels to the control of diabetes, not just one point here and one point there like the traffic lights are like. Saying that, the traffic light system may be better for newly diagnosed, to get them off the ground with what to aim for. Just my 2 pence.

Oct 28, 2010 charlotte77 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested I've posted my preferences on the Sandwell website. I also think this is a fantastic idea - there's a much stronger possibility of remembering my results between one clinic appointment and the next. I only tend to remember the anticipation of the appointment which is never helpful.

Oct 28, 2010 LauraH 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested I prefer the traffic lights. I would LOVE to have my HbA1c sent to me by letter. At the clinic I'm usually stressed and nervous, and although I hear them tell me my HbA1c, I don't have enough time to think about why it's risen / dropped and what I need to do. If I received that letter when I'm in my own home, relaxed and ready to really think about what I need to do I can see huge benefits. I would also like to be able to keep track of my results over time, I feel like when I ask the clinic for this I'm getting in their way or wasting my time. Fantastic idea. Laura.

Oct 28, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" I only change the needle once the insulin is depleted or if it gets sore, its bad I know, but its habit (cost effectvie)...lol I have had no problems with lumps, or at least any that I have noticed as i do rotate, randomly, on my legs, arms, stomach and bum... And commenting on the point Helen brought up, I do prime every injection, this is a habit I picked up from DAFNE, more often than not, before the priming, I always used to get a misfire with the injection.......but then you dont want to re inject as you cant be sure if you got the dose or not...

Oct 28, 2010 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb free soups Thanks for the reply. It certain is looking that way so I'll probably do the salad deal instead!

Oct 28, 2010 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" Have you asked about "priming"? You may get some surprises there also!

Oct 28, 2010 DavidMansfield 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Please sing to the tune of "How do you like your eggs in the Morning?" "a rubbery lump under your skin at injection sites, which stops insulin getting in reliably. " cheers for the reply - so is this part of injecting the same spot too often?