Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Jun 26, 2010

Nat 30 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE

Jo

Chinese went extremely well and actually had the best morning BG test yet. The Levemir seems to be working well too and actually may not have to need my new 1.5:1 ratio after all but will need to check tomorrow.

It is lovely to be out of that room (it was so hot without any windows or air) and the dog has enjoyed being back to his normal walks. Have you made any adjustments since you got home?

Jun 26, 2010

Jo Penn 24 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE

Hi there Nat x

I thought it was great, and am feeling very positive... how was the takeaway??

Nice to back to normality; missed my dog immensely and we have already had our first walk.. x

Jun 26, 2010

Possum 7 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Risotto "what CP Rating is it?

Can someone advise me please if they have tried risotto (entre size restaurant meal) and what CP rating it is? Do I treat it as steamed rice?

Jun 25, 2010

Nat 30 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / taka way

Hi, you probably have already eaten your takeaway and figured out the carbs but I generally think that one tray is rougly 300g give or take a few grains! Hope your meal was worth all the counting?

Jun 25, 2010

Nat 30 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE

Hi Jo

Wasn't the course fantastic? I feel the same as you shattered with information overload but ready to tackle the future in a completely new light.

Tackling a takeaway tonight (wish me luck). I will let you know the outcome soon.

Hope you got home safely.

Natalie

Jun 25, 2010

Jo Penn 24 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE

Wow just finished DAFNE at Cambridge, and it has been the hardest, most enjoyable yet life enhancing week of my life to date.. but OMG I feel so confident and like I said in my evaluation:
They have helped me save myself from high set doses and overinsulisation (sp)

My name is Jo and I have had the condition for 8 years, and now am realising that I am normal and my experiences of highs and lows and unpredictable sugars seem the trend.

25 years old last December and today (despite being mentally fatigued) feel younger than that..

I am glad I took the plunge, and hope that this site can help me get to my personal goal of HbA1c of 7%

Thanks DAFNE

Jun 25, 2010

meltow 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Corrections

Before bed, if my BG is 8 or above I will use a correction dose. I reckon on 1 unit bringing me down about 3.
Similarly, if my BG is 5 or below I will have 1 CP before bed - usually a hand full or two of sultanas.
I very rarely suffer from hypos, and if I do they tend to happen in the night, and this is likely due to agressive exercising during the day, rather than over or under compensating before bed.

HTH!

Jun 25, 2010

EmmaAngelone 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Corrections

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if we should be correcting at bed time if out of target with insulin or food? or have i got this wrong
I find that if i am 5 at bed time and have one CP my BG will elevate beyond target. Also if i correct for high BG with insulin pre bed i often hypo during the night.

any suggestions would be great

thanks

Jun 25, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / loving the mobile site......

Tried to come here on my mobile a few months back and it wasn't the easiest experience.....

But I have all good comments to give Now......its so good.....all set up nicely for mobile devices....I am on my blackberry now....

There is no excuses now ppl........get into the forums....

Jun 25, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Pizza

its hard one, I would stick with the background increasing ,or try splitting it.

Not everyone is keen but the time it lasts differs from everyone.

Splitting ensures you are covered all 24 hours of the day.

Another option is to inject when you are eating. sugars are going to rise anyway, and it means you can correct before bed as your QA will be running out.

Jun 25, 2010

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens

I have been using a HumaPen Memoir for a couple of years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. At my age 'senior moments' occur several times a day, but the Memoir solves those as far as injections are concerned - it shows the date, time and units of previous injections. Of course it also records the 'priming' of the pen before the actual injection, but you get used to ignoring these if you are scrolling back - they are always within a minute of the real injection. If you are eating out, there's no need to take your diary with you, because you can check the units injected when you get home. A good product.

The only downside to them is that when the battery goes, there's no dial (and no display, obviously), but there are still audible clicks as you dial up the dose. There are no facilities to insert a new battery - it means getting a replacement pen.

Jun 25, 2010

kid127 25 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Pizza

I love eating pizza but always have blood sugar problems afterwards so I decided to try Deborahs example and inject an hour later.
Last night I ate a shop bought pizza (14CPs) and waited an hour before injecting but my sugar levels kept rising through the night.
Does anybody else have this and has anyone else found a technique I can try??
I have tried having an extra unit of background before I eat the pizza but I still rise through the night.
Takeaway or restaurant pizzas are always a gamble so shop bought gives a reliable CP reading to work from
If anyone is wondering about my insulin doses being low i'm still honeymooning i think. Although why it is called honeymooning baffles me, my experiences with it suggest it should be called long and painful divorce instead.....

Jun 25, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump

I am one of thise posts who was slightly negative towards pumps, or not the actual pumps but the motivation behind them.

I have not heard any stories yet on here that to me warrant the use of a pump.

Wanting one purely to make life easier is not an option I beleive, eveyone else has to test and inject and if that is hard for some people, thats unfortunate, but they will get used to it.

I am all for pumps if control is difficult, not purely so you dont need to jag up infront of friends and family etc.

And rememeber, money makes the world go round, pumps must surely be more expensive to maintain and to make the insulin delivery cartridges.

The cost to the NHS is also very relevant, do you know ho many people are diabetic in the UK. (and world)

If you have one enjoy it..........................

Jun 25, 2010

meltow 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens

If its any reassurance to you, Kestle, I think lots of us can forget on the odd occasion, if we have actually injected. I follow the same routine at every meal, injecting 5 minutes before serving. So, occasionally I put the food in front of me and think "did I inject, or didn't I". No, I'm not suffering from senior moments either!
I tend not to risk giving myself a double dose, but just take a BG count in a couple of hours and see what is happening. Then use a correction dose if needed. It works for me : )

Jun 24, 2010

david gillespie 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and high BG

I have just found out about this site and it's like Christmas has just arrived.I'm 46 at got type1 5 years ago and did DAFNE 3 years ago.I do a fair bit of exercise almost daily (usually an 800m swim + 10k run + 1 weekly 70k cycle. I have done 2 marathons since being on DAFNE and took up triathlons almost 4 years ago. I have been hoping against hope I would some day find some other DAFNE exercise addicts and here you all are! I'd really love to hear from anyone who exercise but especially those doing triathlon as to how they balance carbs with insulin etc. Biggest problem I have is cramping when I finish the bike and start to run. I havn't been able to nail down as to whether this is down to the diabetes effect or simply a loss of salt. I'm now taking electrolyte tablets and found the cramps are less severe but i still have not eliminated them.So anyone who is or has been in the same boat please let me have your thoughts. I'm doing my first half Ironman in August (1.9k swim, 90K cycle and 21K run) and as this is a giant step from my usual distance to say I'm scared is an understatement! I'm very sensitive to insulin so have the usual balancing act that I see the other contributors to the forum have.My usual insulin rates are 1 x 4 units of Levemir at night.Morning ratio is 1:1 when not exercising, but maybe just 1 unit of novarapid if I am, 1 unit of Novarapid during day with exercise and same for evening with exercise plus 1 unit to 3CP with evening meal.This obviously varies according to exercise duration + carb intake etc. Look forward to replies.David G

Jun 24, 2010

Katy B 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump

Ah ok Rachie. The posts above all seemed rather attacking rather than supportive to me. Like why would you want one, cost to NHS and turning one down... In response to Anil, they are absolutly not like a pen, where after you have injected you cant take it out, and thinking the day in advance whether you need to adjust background because you're going to be particularly active. They can be suspended completely and the basal rate can be adjusted hour by hour. If you are heading low you turn it off rather than having to eat. You can go out on a jog on the spur of the moment. Why would anyone turn down such a clever, flexible gadget? Yes you tell it when your eating but it can calculate how much active insulin you have left from your last snack and take into consideration your glucose level there and then and it makes its own calculations and delivers the insulin acordingly based on how many carbs you told it you are about to eat! It can deliver insulin over a longer period of time, ie if eating fatty pizza or a curry, tell it so and it can deliver over 45 mins if you so wish, like a real pancreas would and not in some big ball of liquid in your leg.

The cost to the NHS is irrelivant. Its what you want and how you want to be treated that matters. In other countrys they have a much higher pumping rate than the uk.

DAFNE is amazing and im so pleased to hear your HbA1c is fab! Well done as it takes effort and comitment. I personally see the pump as the final step in getting the best contol. Ok it might not be for eveyone (I can not for the life of me work out why anyone wouldnt want the next best thing to having their own pancreas back) but we should support those that do. I didnt want injecting to be part of my life. I hate fiddling with them, I hate disposing of them, I hate getting them out in public or infront of my colleages or family members, I hate the little blobs of blood they leave on my clothes. I love my pump, its amazing.

I didnt have to fit criteria, I showed how passionately I wanted/needed one to be how I percieved as being a normal person if I got one. I showed I had knowledge and understanding and committed to learing the ins and outs of it. My hospital were fab, I asked an I got and my specialist is the most special man to me as its given me everything about a normal life back. Bein DAFNE trained means you are one step closer to getting one if you asked as you have to carb count to use it!

Jun 24, 2010

Sam 64 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP?

Well saw my GP on Monday and nothing was said in terms of how much I was using. The message on my prescription was merley a message to review as they do with all patients. They asked me how I was getting on which was quite nice them. I went to the practice a few months ago to talk to their students about DAFNE and my experience, think they gained alot as I spent more time talking to my GP about DAFNE lol!
I did raise a question to her as my needles has been changed to a "cheaper" version. She assures me it was not at thier end and more the chemist, perhaps they ran out of my novo fine needles. These cheap ones are crap, they leak, hurt and leave bruises..no joke. So I'll be sending in another script to get the proper ones!!

Sam

Jun 24, 2010

Rachie Wilson 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump

Hi Katy

I totally agree with you thats if it is going to help you in the long run then fight for it all the way. All I was trying to say is that since doing DAFNE i have got back some control and I can manage my diabetes really well. As my last HBA1C is now 6.2 which is in the perfect range.

Everyone is different, maybe I have the wrong attitude but I have injected for over 21 years now and I can't remeber any different as far as I am concered injecting is part of my life.

I am glad to hear you had no problems getting your pump, did you have any problems getting it??? As it seems to me depending on where you live depends whether you can have one or not. I am sorry if I upset anyone by what I wrote in my perious post.

Jun 23, 2010

meltow 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Holidays and Insulin

Frio it is for me too. Not only do they keep the insulin at a constant cool temperature, but once the crystals expand they act as a cushion against any rough treatment of insulin pen or insulin cartidges. I do quite a lot of backpacking, usually in the UK but occasionally abroad, and the various Frio products I have, certainly have longevity, and have never failed me. I bought them at least 9 years ago and they are still going strong. Needless to say, I have never had to try any other similar products on the market.

Jun 23, 2010

Katy B 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump

Dear Steve o, I am sorry your consultant didnt seem very forward at helping you. Perhaps maybe he was testing you on how important it was to you and your desire to have one as there is no point in him fighting to get you one if your not passionate about having one. When you next see him, go armed with some research. Look at the different pumps that are funded in the Uk, ie The veo, Accu-chec, and the medtronic. Find some strong resons why you would benefit from one. Do you do shifts? Are you active? Is one day differnt from the next? Do you have lots of hypos? All good reasons to have a pump.

I am rather offended by the other posts on here. Anyone who is trying to improve their control or quality of life should be offerd the chance of having a pump. I understand they are expensive but the cost to the NHS would be lowered due to better control with the pump and thus lowering complications with not only ie, foot ulcers but other things such as depression.

I had reasonable contol after doing DAFNE. My HbA1c wasnt sky high and my hypo awareness is there. I got funding for a pump no problem. It has given me my own normal life back after it was snatched away by the GP who told me I was Type 1 down the phone. I now dont inject in public, my handset tells my pump what to do. My levels are much more stable and consistent instead of peaks and troughs and I have my very own pancreas in my pocket instead of stabbing my poor thigh/tummy/bottom with a nasty needle. I love my pump and it wasnt hard to get but it would be damn near impossible for anyone to take it away from me.

Steve o fight your corner and insist you need one.

Jun 23, 2010

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and high BG

I tend to exercise after work (late afternoon / early evening) before my evening meal. This is at a time when my lunchtime QA is no longer active. I test 30 - 60 minutes before my run and take on carbs according to my level (as a rough guide for me, 1 mile running requires 1cp). By and large I am then in target when I eat after warm-down. Presumeably my background insulin (Lantus) is adequate to deal with the energy conversion stuff (although I haven't given the mechanics too much thought - it just works for me). I adopted this approach because I can't guarantee that a plan to run after work will come off (work just gets in the way sometimes), so adjusting insulin levels at lunchtime to give me a high reading to run against is risky, because if I then don't run I have a large correction to do.

If I exercise when my QA insulin is still active I find life is much more complicated, and even three years after DAFNE I find that I over-compensate to ensure that I don't dip too low during the exercise, which means I end up with a correction to do at my next meal.

I exercise for fun, I do the occasional 10k and play squash regularly, and also do quite a lot of cycling. I'm not a serious athlete any more, so this approach works for me on a level where performance isn't crucial.

Stew

Jun 23, 2010

Rachie Wilson 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

Hi I have being doing DAFNE now since January this year and I just had my second HBA1c done and it is now 6.2. Since doing DAFNE my HBA1c has come down the the 8's and now seems to be sticking in the 6's.

Jun 23, 2010

Karl 83 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Toffee bon bons 1/4

Bon Bons

http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-bassetts-bon-bons-i70402

Wine Gums

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Maynards_Wine_Gums__Review_5404422

Jun 23, 2010

meltow 78 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Toffee bon bons 1/4

Interesting one!
I have taken to a "treat" on Friday evenings on my drive home from work. I buy a quarter of wine gums and have managed to eat the lot just as I park the car up. Needless to say, when I take my BG in front of my evening meal it is in the region of 18 - 20! So I have some adjusting to do....in my case +4 or +5 insulin units.

Jun 26, 2010 Nat 30 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE Jo Chinese went extremely well and actually had the best morning BG test yet. The Levemir seems to be working well too and actually may not have to need my new 1.5:1 ratio after all but will need to check tomorrow. It is lovely to be out of that room (it was so hot without any windows or air) and the dog has enjoyed being back to his normal walks. Have you made any adjustments since you got home?

Jun 26, 2010 Jo Penn 24 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE Hi there Nat x I thought it was great, and am feeling very positive... how was the takeaway?? Nice to back to normality; missed my dog immensely and we have already had our first walk.. x

Jun 26, 2010 Possum 7 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Risotto "what CP Rating is it? Can someone advise me please if they have tried risotto (entre size restaurant meal) and what CP rating it is? Do I treat it as steamed rice?

Jun 25, 2010 Nat 30 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / taka way Hi, you probably have already eaten your takeaway and figured out the carbs but I generally think that one tray is rougly 300g give or take a few grains! Hope your meal was worth all the counting?

Jun 25, 2010 Nat 30 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE Hi Jo Wasn't the course fantastic? I feel the same as you shattered with information overload but ready to tackle the future in a completely new light. Tackling a takeaway tonight (wish me luck). I will let you know the outcome soon. Hope you got home safely. Natalie

Jun 25, 2010 Jo Penn 24 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New to DAFNE Wow just finished DAFNE at Cambridge, and it has been the hardest, most enjoyable yet life enhancing week of my life to date.. but OMG I feel so confident and like I said in my evaluation: They have helped me save myself from high set doses and overinsulisation (sp) My name is Jo and I have had the condition for 8 years, and now am realising that I am normal and my experiences of highs and lows and unpredictable sugars seem the trend. 25 years old last December and today (despite being mentally fatigued) feel younger than that.. I am glad I took the plunge, and hope that this site can help me get to my personal goal of HbA1c of 7% Thanks DAFNE

Jun 25, 2010 meltow 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Corrections Before bed, if my BG is 8 or above I will use a correction dose. I reckon on 1 unit bringing me down about 3. Similarly, if my BG is 5 or below I will have 1 CP before bed - usually a hand full or two of sultanas. I very rarely suffer from hypos, and if I do they tend to happen in the night, and this is likely due to agressive exercising during the day, rather than over or under compensating before bed. HTH!

Jun 25, 2010 EmmaAngelone 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Corrections Hello everyone, Just wondering if we should be correcting at bed time if out of target with insulin or food? or have i got this wrong I find that if i am 5 at bed time and have one CP my BG will elevate beyond target. Also if i correct for high BG with insulin pre bed i often hypo during the night. any suggestions would be great thanks

Jun 25, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / loving the mobile site...... Tried to come here on my mobile a few months back and it wasn't the easiest experience..... But I have all good comments to give Now......its so good.....all set up nicely for mobile devices....I am on my blackberry now.... There is no excuses now ppl........get into the forums....

Jun 25, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Pizza its hard one, I would stick with the background increasing ,or try splitting it. Not everyone is keen but the time it lasts differs from everyone. Splitting ensures you are covered all 24 hours of the day. Another option is to inject when you are eating. sugars are going to rise anyway, and it means you can correct before bed as your QA will be running out.

Jun 25, 2010 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens I have been using a HumaPen Memoir for a couple of years and can recommend them wholeheartedly. At my age 'senior moments' occur several times a day, but the Memoir solves those as far as injections are concerned - it shows the date, time and units of previous injections. Of course it also records the 'priming' of the pen before the actual injection, but you get used to ignoring these if you are scrolling back - they are always within a minute of the real injection. If you are eating out, there's no need to take your diary with you, because you can check the units injected when you get home. A good product. The only downside to them is that when the battery goes, there's no dial (and no display, obviously), but there are still audible clicks as you dial up the dose. There are no facilities to insert a new battery - it means getting a replacement pen.

Jun 25, 2010 kid127 25 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Pizza I love eating pizza but always have blood sugar problems afterwards so I decided to try Deborahs example and inject an hour later. Last night I ate a shop bought pizza (14CPs) and waited an hour before injecting but my sugar levels kept rising through the night. Does anybody else have this and has anyone else found a technique I can try?? I have tried having an extra unit of background before I eat the pizza but I still rise through the night. Takeaway or restaurant pizzas are always a gamble so shop bought gives a reliable CP reading to work from If anyone is wondering about my insulin doses being low i'm still honeymooning i think. Although why it is called honeymooning baffles me, my experiences with it suggest it should be called long and painful divorce instead.....

Jun 25, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump I am one of thise posts who was slightly negative towards pumps, or not the actual pumps but the motivation behind them. I have not heard any stories yet on here that to me warrant the use of a pump. Wanting one purely to make life easier is not an option I beleive, eveyone else has to test and inject and if that is hard for some people, thats unfortunate, but they will get used to it. I am all for pumps if control is difficult, not purely so you dont need to jag up infront of friends and family etc. And rememeber, money makes the world go round, pumps must surely be more expensive to maintain and to make the insulin delivery cartridges. The cost to the NHS is also very relevant, do you know ho many people are diabetic in the UK. (and world) If you have one enjoy it..........................

Jun 25, 2010 meltow 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens If its any reassurance to you, Kestle, I think lots of us can forget on the odd occasion, if we have actually injected. I follow the same routine at every meal, injecting 5 minutes before serving. So, occasionally I put the food in front of me and think "did I inject, or didn't I". No, I'm not suffering from senior moments either! I tend not to risk giving myself a double dose, but just take a BG count in a couple of hours and see what is happening. Then use a correction dose if needed. It works for me : )

Jun 24, 2010 david gillespie 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and high BG I have just found out about this site and it's like Christmas has just arrived.I'm 46 at got type1 5 years ago and did DAFNE 3 years ago.I do a fair bit of exercise almost daily (usually an 800m swim + 10k run + 1 weekly 70k cycle. I have done 2 marathons since being on DAFNE and took up triathlons almost 4 years ago. I have been hoping against hope I would some day find some other DAFNE exercise addicts and here you all are! I'd really love to hear from anyone who exercise but especially those doing triathlon as to how they balance carbs with insulin etc. Biggest problem I have is cramping when I finish the bike and start to run. I havn't been able to nail down as to whether this is down to the diabetes effect or simply a loss of salt. I'm now taking electrolyte tablets and found the cramps are less severe but i still have not eliminated them.So anyone who is or has been in the same boat please let me have your thoughts. I'm doing my first half Ironman in August (1.9k swim, 90K cycle and 21K run) and as this is a giant step from my usual distance to say I'm scared is an understatement! I'm very sensitive to insulin so have the usual balancing act that I see the other contributors to the forum have.My usual insulin rates are 1 x 4 units of Levemir at night.Morning ratio is 1:1 when not exercising, but maybe just 1 unit of novarapid if I am, 1 unit of Novarapid during day with exercise and same for evening with exercise plus 1 unit to 3CP with evening meal.This obviously varies according to exercise duration + carb intake etc. Look forward to replies.David G

Jun 24, 2010 Katy B 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump Ah ok Rachie. The posts above all seemed rather attacking rather than supportive to me. Like why would you want one, cost to NHS and turning one down... In response to Anil, they are absolutly not like a pen, where after you have injected you cant take it out, and thinking the day in advance whether you need to adjust background because you're going to be particularly active. They can be suspended completely and the basal rate can be adjusted hour by hour. If you are heading low you turn it off rather than having to eat. You can go out on a jog on the spur of the moment. Why would anyone turn down such a clever, flexible gadget? Yes you tell it when your eating but it can calculate how much active insulin you have left from your last snack and take into consideration your glucose level there and then and it makes its own calculations and delivers the insulin acordingly based on how many carbs you told it you are about to eat! It can deliver insulin over a longer period of time, ie if eating fatty pizza or a curry, tell it so and it can deliver over 45 mins if you so wish, like a real pancreas would and not in some big ball of liquid in your leg. The cost to the NHS is irrelivant. Its what you want and how you want to be treated that matters. In other countrys they have a much higher pumping rate than the uk. DAFNE is amazing and im so pleased to hear your HbA1c is fab! Well done as it takes effort and comitment. I personally see the pump as the final step in getting the best contol. Ok it might not be for eveyone (I can not for the life of me work out why anyone wouldnt want the next best thing to having their own pancreas back) but we should support those that do. I didnt want injecting to be part of my life. I hate fiddling with them, I hate disposing of them, I hate getting them out in public or infront of my colleages or family members, I hate the little blobs of blood they leave on my clothes. I love my pump, its amazing. I didnt have to fit criteria, I showed how passionately I wanted/needed one to be how I percieved as being a normal person if I got one. I showed I had knowledge and understanding and committed to learing the ins and outs of it. My hospital were fab, I asked an I got and my specialist is the most special man to me as its given me everything about a normal life back. Bein DAFNE trained means you are one step closer to getting one if you asked as you have to carb count to use it!

Jun 24, 2010 Sam 64 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Well saw my GP on Monday and nothing was said in terms of how much I was using. The message on my prescription was merley a message to review as they do with all patients. They asked me how I was getting on which was quite nice them. I went to the practice a few months ago to talk to their students about DAFNE and my experience, think they gained alot as I spent more time talking to my GP about DAFNE lol! I did raise a question to her as my needles has been changed to a "cheaper" version. She assures me it was not at thier end and more the chemist, perhaps they ran out of my novo fine needles. These cheap ones are crap, they leak, hurt and leave bruises..no joke. So I'll be sending in another script to get the proper ones!! Sam

Jun 24, 2010 Rachie Wilson 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump Hi Katy I totally agree with you thats if it is going to help you in the long run then fight for it all the way. All I was trying to say is that since doing DAFNE i have got back some control and I can manage my diabetes really well. As my last HBA1C is now 6.2 which is in the perfect range. Everyone is different, maybe I have the wrong attitude but I have injected for over 21 years now and I can't remeber any different as far as I am concered injecting is part of my life. I am glad to hear you had no problems getting your pump, did you have any problems getting it??? As it seems to me depending on where you live depends whether you can have one or not. I am sorry if I upset anyone by what I wrote in my perious post.

Jun 23, 2010 meltow 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Holidays and Insulin Frio it is for me too. Not only do they keep the insulin at a constant cool temperature, but once the crystals expand they act as a cushion against any rough treatment of insulin pen or insulin cartidges. I do quite a lot of backpacking, usually in the UK but occasionally abroad, and the various Frio products I have, certainly have longevity, and have never failed me. I bought them at least 9 years ago and they are still going strong. Needless to say, I have never had to try any other similar products on the market.

Jun 23, 2010 Katy B 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump Dear Steve o, I am sorry your consultant didnt seem very forward at helping you. Perhaps maybe he was testing you on how important it was to you and your desire to have one as there is no point in him fighting to get you one if your not passionate about having one. When you next see him, go armed with some research. Look at the different pumps that are funded in the Uk, ie The veo, Accu-chec, and the medtronic. Find some strong resons why you would benefit from one. Do you do shifts? Are you active? Is one day differnt from the next? Do you have lots of hypos? All good reasons to have a pump. I am rather offended by the other posts on here. Anyone who is trying to improve their control or quality of life should be offerd the chance of having a pump. I understand they are expensive but the cost to the NHS would be lowered due to better control with the pump and thus lowering complications with not only ie, foot ulcers but other things such as depression. I had reasonable contol after doing DAFNE. My HbA1c wasnt sky high and my hypo awareness is there. I got funding for a pump no problem. It has given me my own normal life back after it was snatched away by the GP who told me I was Type 1 down the phone. I now dont inject in public, my handset tells my pump what to do. My levels are much more stable and consistent instead of peaks and troughs and I have my very own pancreas in my pocket instead of stabbing my poor thigh/tummy/bottom with a nasty needle. I love my pump and it wasnt hard to get but it would be damn near impossible for anyone to take it away from me. Steve o fight your corner and insist you need one.

Jun 23, 2010 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and high BG I tend to exercise after work (late afternoon / early evening) before my evening meal. This is at a time when my lunchtime QA is no longer active. I test 30 - 60 minutes before my run and take on carbs according to my level (as a rough guide for me, 1 mile running requires 1cp). By and large I am then in target when I eat after warm-down. Presumeably my background insulin (Lantus) is adequate to deal with the energy conversion stuff (although I haven't given the mechanics too much thought - it just works for me). I adopted this approach because I can't guarantee that a plan to run after work will come off (work just gets in the way sometimes), so adjusting insulin levels at lunchtime to give me a high reading to run against is risky, because if I then don't run I have a large correction to do. If I exercise when my QA insulin is still active I find life is much more complicated, and even three years after DAFNE I find that I over-compensate to ensure that I don't dip too low during the exercise, which means I end up with a correction to do at my next meal. I exercise for fun, I do the occasional 10k and play squash regularly, and also do quite a lot of cycling. I'm not a serious athlete any more, so this approach works for me on a level where performance isn't crucial. Stew

Jun 23, 2010 Rachie Wilson 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi I have being doing DAFNE now since January this year and I just had my second HBA1c done and it is now 6.2. Since doing DAFNE my HBA1c has come down the the 8's and now seems to be sticking in the 6's.

Jun 23, 2010 Karl 83 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Toffee bon bons 1/4 Bon Bons http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-bassetts-bon-bons-i70402 Wine Gums http://www.ciao.co.uk/Maynards_Wine_Gums__Review_5404422

Jun 23, 2010 meltow 78 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Toffee bon bons 1/4 Interesting one! I have taken to a "treat" on Friday evenings on my drive home from work. I buy a quarter of wine gums and have managed to eat the lot just as I park the car up. Needless to say, when I take my BG in front of my evening meal it is in the region of 18 - 20! So I have some adjusting to do....in my case +4 or +5 insulin units.