Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

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 578 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 1, 2010

Annette Bell 72 posts

Topic: DUAG Committee / workstream 2

I agree with the last statement above. You won't get more DUG members by sending DUG anything! It's the DAFNE graduates that need to be contacted for this purpose surely.

Nov 1, 2010

digth 19 posts

Topic: DUAG Committee / workstream 2

My comments
1. DUG was set up by and for Central DAFNE to have ability to contact users and for central DAFNE to hold contact details as a resource for the DAFNE Collaborative also. The secondary purpose was to create an active user group (ie. DUAG);
Remember process is we contact DUG on a specific matter (either for DAFNE Collaborative, Stakeholder or DUAG) provide information to Users and, if required, ask if they are interested in more information/being involved we give them the contact details of the individual / organisation initiating the request to respond to directly; therefore communications between groups are set up. I really do not see the need to duplicate the database.
Please note the letter as we are sending out asks for responses back to Central DAFNE; if DUAG want to hold their own database this will have to be discussed and sorted out later.

2. Agree, we have already had problems with some folks emails when we sent out email to DUG re QISMET; we had a load of failed delivery messages, so even some of the emails we hold are inaccurate or out of date. We have asked for folk to confirm their email in letter being sent out by Annette.

3. Guess this is one of the areas superseded by events. Letter from Annette had feedback form on for folk to complete and return. Responses will be scanned and forwarded to DUAG - you need to let me know who these need to go to, all of DUAG or just one or two individuals?

4. Agree with sentiments re no point asking for info if not doing anything with this.

Unfortunately I feel that I need to raise my concern regarding the comments about Central DAFNE. Yes we are resource limited, however I would prefer if folk have had any problems on specific issues to discuss these directly with me, rather than generalised statements, which are unhelpful.

We have a very large and diverse remit and a programme of activity, for Central DAFNE to operate work must be integrated into the teamsâ€™ existing work plan. We would find it helpful if we could get an idea of when to expect additional work from DUAG, as we can then plan for activity more effectively and be able to confirm with you when we are able to complete tasks. This would be helpful to the admin team and also Iâ€™m sure for DUAG.

I would like you all to be aware, for example, I received Annetteâ€™s final version of the letter last Thursday and Sharon is sending these to DUG with emails today, and postal letters will go out this week.

I really do not understand the purpose of the last sentence of point four

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

marke 686 posts

Topic: DUAG Committee / Repose Study - Pump v Injections

'if' what do you mean 'if' ! Of course it works ;^)

Oct 31, 2010

Brian Trench 17 posts

Topic: DUAG Committee / Repose Study - Pump v Injections

Hi Guys,

I attended the first meeting of the Steering Group responsible for the management of this REPOSE Study last week. As we have agreed to write very short reports on our attendance at such meetings I have written the attached report for your information: Repose Note for DUAG.pdf If this works my thanks to Mark for his assistance.

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 1,819 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 125 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 125 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 125 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!

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 578 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 1, 2010 Annette Bell 72 posts	Topic: DUAG Committee / workstream 2 I agree with the last statement above. You won't get more DUG members by sending DUG anything! It's the DAFNE graduates that need to be contacted for this purpose surely.

Nov 1, 2010 digth 19 posts	Topic: DUAG Committee / workstream 2 My comments 1. DUG was set up by and for Central DAFNE to have ability to contact users and for central DAFNE to hold contact details as a resource for the DAFNE Collaborative also. The secondary purpose was to create an active user group (ie. DUAG); Remember process is we contact DUG on a specific matter (either for DAFNE Collaborative, Stakeholder or DUAG) provide information to Users and, if required, ask if they are interested in more information/being involved we give them the contact details of the individual / organisation initiating the request to respond to directly; therefore communications between groups are set up. I really do not see the need to duplicate the database. Please note the letter as we are sending out asks for responses back to Central DAFNE; if DUAG want to hold their own database this will have to be discussed and sorted out later. 2. Agree, we have already had problems with some folks emails when we sent out email to DUG re QISMET; we had a load of failed delivery messages, so even some of the emails we hold are inaccurate or out of date. We have asked for folk to confirm their email in letter being sent out by Annette. 3. Guess this is one of the areas superseded by events. Letter from Annette had feedback form on for folk to complete and return. Responses will be scanned and forwarded to DUAG - you need to let me know who these need to go to, all of DUAG or just one or two individuals? 4. Agree with sentiments re no point asking for info if not doing anything with this. Unfortunately I feel that I need to raise my concern regarding the comments about Central DAFNE. Yes we are resource limited, however I would prefer if folk have had any problems on specific issues to discuss these directly with me, rather than generalised statements, which are unhelpful. We have a very large and diverse remit and a programme of activity, for Central DAFNE to operate work must be integrated into the teamsâ€™ existing work plan. We would find it helpful if we could get an idea of when to expect additional work from DUAG, as we can then plan for activity more effectively and be able to confirm with you when we are able to complete tasks. This would be helpful to the admin team and also Iâ€™m sure for DUAG. I would like you all to be aware, for example, I received Annetteâ€™s final version of the letter last Thursday and Sharon is sending these to DUG with emails today, and postal letters will go out this week. I really do not understand the purpose of the last sentence of point four

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 marke 686 posts	Topic: DUAG Committee / Repose Study - Pump v Injections 'if' what do you mean 'if' ! Of course it works ;^)

Oct 31, 2010 Brian Trench 17 posts	Topic: DUAG Committee / Repose Study - Pump v Injections Hi Guys, I attended the first meeting of the Steering Group responsible for the management of this REPOSE Study last week. As we have agreed to write very short reports on our attendance at such meetings I have written the attached report for your information: Repose Note for DUAG.pdf If this works my thanks to Mark for his assistance.

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 1,819 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 125 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 125 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 125 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!