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Jun 9, 2010 Prayer4aCure 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Prayer4aCure Hi, I'm not offended by your opinion, I am quite interested in the discussion, not offended - though I did feel the word "no" was perhaps a little strong when referring to a cure! I have researched many people who are working hard for a cure.... I am personally glad they don't give up on us because then there would be "NO" hope! Perhaps anyone interested in the story I have been following myself would like to take a look at this story at - http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/article/-/article/7189766/guinea-pigs-more-information/ ! There are successful human trials where people have been implanted with encapsulated porcune islet cells already. There is also further information on http://www.lctglobal.com/.... I wish them well....... I'm not really here to argue the HP, Universal Source Energy, God whatever you choose to call it, I really suggested this prayer idea quite innocently & I fully understand that everyone chooses for themselves what they believe about this, join the prayer, don't join the prayer we all have free will. Believe in a cure don't believe in a cure, again we all have feee will & our own belief systems... You seem to have quite a positve attitude toward diabetes management & I have discovered that is important for success myself - I would like to point out my visualisation/prayer/hope is very different to my daily practice of diabetes management & would not recommend anyone stop taking excellent care of themselves (sorry if that was the interpretation), quite the opposite if we are to be recipients of a cure we need to make sure that we have taken excellent care of our bodies until that is possible. Sue J

Jun 9, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? I would need around 100 strips a month to do around 3 tests a day. Im forced to cut down to 2 tests a day at the moment, I bought some test strips from ebay as well, better then retail prices almost half, but I cant afford to do this every month, I dont earn no where near that much to do so (I work in a supermarket) so wages arnt great to say the least. I've received test strips from ebay from other diabetics who have them prescribed and then sell them on eBay (Still with the prescription label on), So some people are obviously got way to many test strips (Enough to sell on ebay and keep the money for themselves), and others like me are struggling just to get the minimum amount I need. I think it may just be a problem with my surgery by the sounds of it, I'll be speaking to my DAFNE instructors next week for a follow up, maybe they can advise me what to do. If you do have any problems, let us know in this forum, it would be helpful to know if it is just me and my surgery or across the UK. DAFNE is great, Im sure you'll learn a thing or two you never knew before, All I can say is PRACTICE it daily, it will become a habit and second nature very easily, and will help your drastically in maintaining a tight Glucose control!! It helped me especially with knowing what foods have carb's in them, I never used to take insulin for milk (But I used to drink around 1 pint of milk with my meals) and this in turn shot my insulin levels through the roof, After DAFNE im much more confident in controlling my Glucose and taking the right amount of insulin to what I eat, It also helped me with issue's with drinking alcohol and allow me to ask questions I had but could never ask anyone before (Dont be afraid to ask ANYTHING, their all there to help!). Let us know how you get on!

Jun 9, 2010 Paul Bignell 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Hi, I am currently undertaking a DAFNE course at Northampton. After being diabetic for 26 years didn't think I could learn a massive deal more but I was quite wrong, very useful info and the help they are giving us in reducing insulin is fantastic. Any way, back to the point. I was talking about test strips with them yesterday and they said that GP's have been told to reduce test strip usage for type 2 diabetics as once they have established their own parameters they then only need to test very occaisonaly but a lot of type 2's were checking two or three times a day. With the DAFNE training we have received we will need around 150 per month to maintain the regime and they told me at the end of the course they will write to our GP's informing the of this. Prior to starting the course I had spent a couple of months trying the 'DAFNE regime' of my own back and had felt guilty about asking for more test strips from my GP so I had been buying them from Ebay. Prices I have paid vary from Â£9 ish upto Â£12 per 50. Less than half the normal retail. Might be worth checking out if you get stuck! Bottom line though is that your GP should not be restricting your access to test strips for type 1 diabetics, in particular for people who have had the DAFNE training which is promoted and provided by the same NHS system! Madness I know but as others have mentioned, funds are tight and will only get tighter.

Jun 8, 2010 louise russell 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hi!..... Im New i did the dafne course in feb this year. i found it was really helpful to manage my diabetes. i found out about the dafne course from my practice nurse at my doctors. i have been a diabetic for 28 years. since doing dafne i have lost nearly 2 stone in weight. i would like to thank dudu,nav and elaine for doing the course. i really enjoyed it from louise

Jun 8, 2010 louise russell 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne i did the dafne course in feb this year and i found it really good. it made me understand my diabetes more. i have been a diabetic for nearly 28 years. i think i got stuck in to how i managed my diabetes from when i was first told i had diabetes. the dafne course really opened up my eyes. since doing dafne i have lost nearly 2stone in weight. my hbc1 has dropped down. my hypos are very rare now. i might have a hypo if i have not eaten enough.

Jun 8, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Yes, I read that same article about cutting BG test strips for Type 2 Diabetics, also, I think this will only affect some people, IF your GP has a large enough budget to allow them to continue issuing test strips, You shouldnt have a problem, Like I said, the problem I have, Is that MY GP has alot of diabetic's regsitered in their surgery, and this means they have to cut back on some BG strips to some patients to stay within budget. If you are part of a surgery that has a large budget, and not many diabetics registered under 1 surgery you should be fine, But something tells me that over the next few years this will affect a percentage of us, because the NHS is so broke at the moment, the "Easy" way to save money is to cut back on issuing test strips. I agree, this will only lead to more problems for some of us in the future, the cost of hospital admissions and diabetic complications drastically outweigh the cost of these test strips, God knows what the NHS will have to do when more people in the future have more complications which in turn.... Cost ALOT MORE Money. Then just issueing the test strips and allowing us to have tighter control over our BG's. Like I said, this may or may not affect all of us, but over the next few years, I suspect the NHS see's this as a "Easy" solution to save money (In the short term). But over the long term... Im not so sure. If you one of the lucky few that have not had their strips cut, Good for you, Don't ask your doctor about it, this may trigger a thought like "Wooah, are we issuing to many test strips to this patient". In my experience from my last review, I was told that I can only do MAYBE 2-3 tests a day, MAX, otherwise I will run out of strips before my next repeat prescription is due, and ill be stuck with nothing. Just want to know if anyone else has had this problem?, or is it just MY surgery. If so, I may be considering changing to another surgery, (I shouldn't really have to do this, I mean my local GP is my local GP, I shouldnt have to travel a few miles to just pick up my prescription should I? If anyone does have any problems what so ever (With ANY prescriptions ie, not just BG Strips), Please post it here, I'm interested if its ONLY me and my surgery or is it across the board.

Jun 8, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Hi Karen, I wouldn't worry, too much, a few GP's seem to have a bee in their bonnet about it but most are fine. Unfortunately my Dr doesn't even know what DAFNE is despite me giving him a letter at the end of the course.

Jun 8, 2010 Kentbabe 10 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? hiya i remember an article about cutting test strips for type 2's in balance magasine last year. I never thought they would do this for type one. Isnt prevention better than cure? And will this not then lead to more hospital admissions for us and un do all the hard work that dafey has done so far? Luckly my GP hasnt restricted my test strips yet. karen

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Hi Sam, Yes I'd love to know how you get on, I want to know if this is a problem just in my area or across the UK. I was doing around 2-4 tests a day in the past (4 as a maximum when im exercising and eating new foods and stuff). Now im FORCED to do around 2 a day MAX, so I really have to think do I need to do this?... Also a big problem is when I have high blood sugars, I experience symptoms of low blood sugars (ie: thirst, hunger, little shakey, need to eat), So the only way I know if im high or low is a BG test. If i was to only rely on my "feeling" I suspect my sugars will rise big time. Really worried about this but I guess we'll see how we get on over the next month or two. Love to know how you get on, If you doctors dont say anything, dont prompt them about it, They may decide "Wooah, hang on, are we giving this guy to many test strips". So if your GP has a big enough budget you may be allright, But I suspect this will affect alot of us over the coming years, Its just not right, Again.. I still feel it is a "Human right" to have the correct amount of medication and resources to manage my diabetes, I can understand they need to save money, but comprimising peoples long term health is just not on. (Also, Ive just ordered a box of test strips with my own money to tie me over "hopefully" for a month or two (Call it a backup box, Just in case, I suspect ill be needing it), but I dont earn enough money to be doing this all the time, so its just a temporary fix for now, I mean Â£15 per pack of 50 is alot of money for me! I cant be doing this forever! What a state our country is in!, I cant even get the medical resources I need to manage my condition, Im sure our taxes will still go up over the next year even though their cutting back our supplies (At our health's expense)) Anyway, Let us know how you get on, really interested!

Jun 7, 2010 Sam 64 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? I'm stunned that this is happening and wondering if that's why my GP put a note on my prescriptions to review. I'm there on Wed morning. The thing is though, on my presciptions they've marked to discuss my insulin and needles, no mention of test strips and that's what I order more frequently. The thing is what do they expect, do they want you to die? You can't be sent on a course to manage your diabetes and then be expected to cut back on testing you BGs. If that is on the agenda then everyone on this site needs to make a stance. We need to show the impotance of it. I'll let you know how I get on. Sam

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / reflexology helping control... Hello! and welcome! Reflexology could help with diabetic Neuropathy (A complication of poor long term diabetes control), Improved blood circulation around the body would help prevent complications like Diabetes neuropathy in your feet especially. Improved circulation will help keep your nerve endings healthy, especially in your feet, where blood circulation isn't as much as the rest of the body. I found that I used to have Cold Feet in the past (Especially in the mornings), after researching on the internet, I found this was because of poor circulation around my body, the remedy was exercise, to allow the heart to beat more blood more powerfully to your feet. After a few weeks of rigorous exercise, My feet are always nice and warm (Even when I wake up in the morning, when they used to be really cold), Improved blood circulation is very important and can help in the long run preventing long term diabetes complications. As for reflexology, unless its done fairly regularly I wouldnt think it has that much of a affect over the long term, better yet, just exercise 2-3 times a week for short amounts. (Particularly Cardio-Vascular Workouts) to strengthen your heart and increase blood circulation around your body. This can have a big affect over the long term of your life, and its keeps you and your heart healthy! I would help your friend out any way, I'd love to educate more people on diabetes as most people are mis-informed about it, This gives you the opportunity to teach them and who knows, maybe you'll learn a helpful thing or too as well!. Exercise is very important, especially for us Type 1's, to help prevent future complications especially nerve damage which is very common. As for the DAFNE, I hope you learned alot, I found it VERY useful and completely changed my Blood glucose for the better, Just Remember to PRACTICE it daily until it becomes a habit. It might seem daunting, but once you learn the CP's of the foods your eat regularly it becomes second nature, and you'll feel much better with the tighter glucose control as well. Hope this helps!

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Yeah, understood, I guess that's just the country we live in (I guess we should be lucky we have a NHS), We have members here from Australia, I wonder what their views are on this, The Aussies and the Germans have a more civilized & fair government & Health Service. Can Anyone from Australia comment on this situation?.. Do you have problems in Australia regarding Test Strip Prescriptions? I guess were just going to have to learn to live with it, I live in a predominately Asian area, Asians tend to have a higher risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes (I'm told) due to their Genome, I think this also plays a part in my problems, Because my GP has so many diabetics registered with their surgery, so its even worse then other parts of the UK I would think. Are their any DAFNE instructors or Doctors on this forum that can provide a insight and or further information into this?

Jun 7, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Pharmacist told me the Accu Check was no more expensive. As for the NHS, unfortunately there are so many people who are given free prescriptions, that it is the poor old person trying to earn an honest crust who has to pay.

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? I tried to change over to the Accu-Chek Mobile as well, but their just not on my GP's prescription list (probably because their so expensive), Looking around on the internet, I reckon the Accu-Chek Mobile ones are more expensive, from my research. Its not fair is it?.. I mean im a UK tax payer, I expect the goverment and NHS to allocate sufficient money and resources to pay for the basic treatment I require. Surley this is some sort of breach of human rights or something, Its not fair I should have to compromise my health because our bullsh*t government cant manage their money and finance's (To busy spending OUR tax payers money on all these EXPENSES scandles and such). (Sorry about the language, but it reflects the seriousness of this topic) Its just not fair why we should suffer, I reckon this will cost the goverment alot more in the long run, (Complications and such) And unfortunately, theirs nothing we can do, perhaps theirs scope for another company to come in and undercut Abbott & the other major players, to just provide a service to our country and NHS? I mean im sure they'd have to make a profit, but Screwing our NHS government and us Tax Payers for MILLIONS in profit isn't really fair is it? Would love to hear other people views on this,

Jun 7, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Same as, can get one box of 50 prescribed but the old 150 has gone missing. %0 last me about 12 days. Tried to get changed over to the Accu Chek Mobile cartridge and told too expensive despite chemist telling me they were about the same price.

Jun 7, 2010 Mossitizer 3 posts	Topic: General Discussion / reflexology helping control... Hi, new to the site. just completed the Dafne course on Friday and in the middle of getting to grips with my new regime. A friend of mine has finished a diploma in reflexology and asked me to be a case study for her course. Seemingly it can help control, circulation etc. Just wondering has anyone else heard/ tried this???

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / I want an insulin pump I don't understand why you would want a pump, Their big a bulky and dont do anything apart from release the insulin you tell it and when you tell it to. Kind of like.... An insulin pen. Pumps are VERY expensive and cost the NHS a lot of money for just 1 patient for just 1 Year. And in our current climate and NHS deficit I don't think you will get one even with a fight, Unless you ABSOLUTELY NEED one. Your HBA1C is very good at 7.9, Perhaps it could come down a point or two. But i'm sure you could manage this by being a bit more vigilant in your control. As for organizations to help, I've been looking around on the internet, and you'll probably be on your own, Pumps are very expensive and are usually a last resort for most people. My diabetes control was poor for about a year, but that was just me being lazy, You just have to get into a habit of testing and correcting, and LEARNING, thats what DAFNE is all about, no one will get it instantly, it takes practice and vigilance, but with a bit of both, you'll have excellent control and you'll feel much better after that. Don't be gutted about not getting a pump, Honestly, I'd feel Insulin pens are much better and more flexible for most our lives. And im sure once you got the pump, you'd still find it frustrating having a to carry around a device the size of a small mobile phone ALL THE TIME, when you sleep, out with friends and such. Here's more info if your interested, but I think its a long shot, especially with our NHS practically being bankrupt: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/Getting-an-insulin-pump.html

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Prayer4aCure Cure for Type 1 Diabetes?... No.. It is a auto-immune diesease that would require a astonishing scientific breakthrough. I dont believe this will happen in our generation but maybe in the future once/If Stem cell research gets approved. But this will not affect us, but maybe give hope to our kids or grand children who may suffer from Type 1. Type 1 isn't that bad, with daily practice and abit of exercise (Which everyone should be doing, not just diabetics) its a VERY manageable disease. It shouldnt affect your life at all providing you maintain control and are confident in your ability to spot and diagnose issue's in your Blood Glucose and food. As for a prayer... I believe if there really is a God or "Higher Power" their wouldn't be any diabetics in the first place, Someone so almighty and powerful and such a simple disease? I guess we can all have "Hope". But I agree with "Stew B". Take a practical Approach, exercise regularly and eat moderately healthy... You are your own God, don't put in on anybody else, Nobody else is looking out for you, and nobody else can manage it for you either. You want something in this world (Fast car, money, better health, better diabetes control), you got to go out their AND GET IT YOURSELF, Nobody is going to hand it to you. If it was that easy, surely we'd all be doing it? Hope I dont offend you, but just my 2 Cents.

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone on more than 3:1 ratio? Hi, Weight has a big issue with insulin in the body. I would personally up the insulin dose to 3:1, and see how that goes, maybe even 4:1 if 3:1 didn't work out very well. Sometimes, when you have a high blood sugar, the toxicity of the Glucose in the system can also have a affect, After around 10.0 BG, the 1 Unit of QA brings down your BG 2-3 mmol rule doesn't apply. So you may need alot more insulin to bring it down. I would recommend exercising abit more if you can (Treadmill, light jogging to start off with). Exercising can help the insulin you take work abit better, (after a few weeks of regular exercise). When my sugars are over 10.0, I take around 1 unit for a 1-2 mmol drop. (Im a slim athletic individual, excercise regularly) I would say to Up your ratio to 3:1, see how that goes, and then to 4:1 if that don't work. Obesity has a huge affect on insulin use in the body, so you most probably need a bit more then what your taking now. Also, I would say after your BG goes above 12.0 mmol, take more insulin and monitor your progress after 3 hours, if its still too high, increase your dose (ONLY when your BG is over 12 mmol), else go back to your normal ratios (In this case 3:1 or 4:1) Just my 2 cents!

Jun 7, 2010 Anil 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone else having problems obtaining BG Test strips from their GP? Hey guys, I've recently had some problems obtaining blood test strips from my GP. I never had this problem in the past, but with the current state of our country and budget deficit in our NHS, GP's have been told by their local PCT that they need to cut down on prescribing people Blood glucose test strips, (To save money). Every GP has an allocated budget and this has been cut down in the recent months and so this means to cut down supply on us (Insulin Dependent Diabetics) (Because test strips are so expensive). I've just recently completed my DAFNE course and Middx Hospital, And have found it very helpful in controlling my BG levels. But Now I'm forced to cut down to 1-2 Blood test's a day which means I can't really practice my DAFNE skills as much because I cant test my sugars. This is a real headache because when I eat new food (From outside, or a takeaway or other) I need to know if I counted the Carb's correctly and estimated it correctly. The only way I can know if I did this correctly is to do a Blood Glucose test after coming home to make sure its in range. As far as im aware, the point of DAFNE is to educate people with their Insulin and improve their long term control (To avoid future complications, which can cost a lot more to treat over the long term). But If im forced to only do 1-2 Blood tests a day, surely this kind of defeats the point of DAFNE (In my case) because without confirming I've taken the correct amount of insulin by doing a BG test my long term control will only spiral out of control eventually, which defeats the point. Anyway, I don't want to ramble on, but surely this will only have a detrimental affect on Type 1 Diabetics and their long term control, The DAFNE definitely takes the guesswork out, but without "Confirming" i've done it correctly (Taken the right amount of insulin), over the long term this will only cost the NHS more (In complications of poor BG control). So basically, just wanted to know, is anyone else having same/similar issues obtaining BG test strips from their GP recently (Last few months) or is it just my GP?

Jun 7, 2010 printbod 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Anyone on more than 3:1 ratio? I was taking a ratio of 3:1 before DAFNE and have lowered it to 2:1 currently, but my readings are dire. I was also on 36 units of Lantus, which, during DAFNE I reduced and split to 12 units 8am and 20 units 8pm. On 2nd June i swapped the doses around to 20 units 8am and 12 units 8pm I know it was a mistake having those Fish & Chips on 1st June after such a high reading but I was shocked that the 16.38 10 units did precisely nothing. That sort of thing has happened quite often i.e a large correction dose has done nothing. Hardest thing is that I work nights and am frequently going to work with ketones and having no opportunity to rest. As you can see, I'm correcting at virtually every meal. Do you think I need to go back to 3:1 ratio? I'm 5'8 and 15 stone so very overweight.

Jun 6, 2010 Prayer4aCure 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Prayer4aCure I found pre DAFNE that I didn't live that happily with Diabetes I struggled with trying to get it perfectly, always getting in trouble with the Dr's for being unable to manage it better & it didn't seem to matter how hard I worked I could not get the results they expected (or I expected for that matter) they kept pumping up my insulin doses & it got harder 2am hypos, dawn phenomenon, anyway it is much easier to live with these days thanks to what I have learned through DAFNE & dose adjustment. Dr's wouldn't let us adjust our own doses so we had to be quite strict. I am also very grateful every day that my disease is diabetes & that I don't have cancer - last week I went to a friend's husband's funeral he died of cancer at 43 and left a wife & two children behind and two days ago a very dear friend, 50, died of cancer and her youngest is just finishing high school, & we still have her funeral ahead this week, my heart is very heavy at the moment loosing so many young people in our community to cancer we lost another friend, 40, just six months ago and she left behind her husband & three young daughters. Since DAFNE diabetes is no longer the great issue it used to be for me & I live quite happily with it but after feeling the effect of cancer very close to home I am more than grateful I only have diabetes to worry about! Sue J