Search the DAFNE Online Forums
15,847 posts found
Mar 17, 2010
Carbtastic
8 posts
|
You apparently dont count the carbs in corn because of the high fibre content. I dont count it and dont have problems. |
Mar 17, 2010
Jennie
1 post
|
Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Indian food and takeways I get the impression that takeaways (Indian in particular) are not just full of fat and salt, but also often have loads of added sugar.Saucey curries that I've not made myself often raise my BG in serious excess of what I'd expect. |
Mar 17, 2010
NiVZ
82 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Bayer Contour USB Meter Hello,Tried out the Contour USB last night. It was a little bigger than I expected (only slightly smaller than my UltrEASY). It does appear to be a very good meter, although as Mark says it doesn't do too much differently. The Pro's are it uses a TINY amount of blood and the result takes a very quick 3 seconds. It's also useful having the software right there on the device so you can connect it to the PC and see the graphs etc, although for Windows you do need to have Java Runtime installed. Con's - The carrying pouch is quite large (bigger than my ultraEASY) and the lancing device isn't quite as good as I'd expected. Overall I do really like it as a meter and it is another step forward, albeit not a huge jump. One more difficulty for me is it looks like it's going to be tough to get at the raw data for my program. It doesn't use a COM port at all. It appears asa USB Composite device with a USB STOR to hold 500mb of your own files, plus an HID device. I'm guessing it's the HID part that handles the communication and Data so I'm off to email Bayer to see if they'll lend a hand. I've just printed the license agreement for Lifescan so hoepfully get back to looking at the UltraSmart as soon as I get their protocol document ;o) I could finish both the Lifescan meters just now, but I'm hoping to get things like the number of records stored on the meter so I can do progress bars, etc and also get at the Insulin and Carb info from the UltraSMART to eliminate manual entries altogether ;) NiVZ |
Mar 17, 2010
marke
681 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Bayer Contour USB Meter I don't think its a simple cost comparison though. The costs of Diabetes are complex, if the right meter means you test regularly and have better control and hence avoid a hypo that results in hospital treatment or avoid complications then that is a major saving to the NHS regardless of the cost of the test strips. I apprciate your concerns relating to cost but its a very complex area.I personnally would not change my meter to the latest and greatest unless I thought there would be a benefit to me. I'm interested in what is available and maybe trying out a new meter, but if it provided no benefit I would stick with my current one. Looking at the Accu-check mobile it STILL has an infra-red interface for connecting to a PC , so I would steer well clear of it. It seems Roche are determined to stay in the 80's while technology moves on. I'm not sure of what the benefits are supposed to be, it has an 'attached' finger pricker and supposedly no test strips to handle, but I can't really rate that as a benefit. I still need to prick my finger, I still need to put blood on the meter so no change there really. I prefer the lifescan ultrasmart. I can enter carbs and other stuff as well as recording BG's and it has a sensible USB interface that works reliably with a PC. We can also read the meter directly for uploading to the site, once the app to do it is complete. I would like to get hold of a Contour USB just to play with it and see if its better, but I wouldn't swap to it unless it is an improvement on my current meter. |
Mar 16, 2010
Matilda
2 posts
|
Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Glucotabs: Where they can be found? I get mine on prescription |
Mar 16, 2010
marke
681 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Diabetes and minor illness no never experienced this, but personal experience is that GP's know about as much about Diabetes as the general public :-( Mine was impressed by 'modern' insulin pens, which told me straight away that I would be staying under my local hospital for Diabetes support for as long as possible. I don't really see why Diabetes would make yoor immune system work harder. If you are well controlled your immmune system is pretty much like everyone elses, with the exception that it ate all your islet cells of course ;^)I do find it can push up my BG's though which 'could' be what is happening to you, what are your BG's when this happens ? higher, lower ? |
Mar 16, 2010
NiVZ
82 posts
|
Topic: Site Development / Meter Upload Development Hello,Not had a chance to do more testing, but I have received the papers from Lifescan to sign to give me access to the UltraSMART protocol, and Bayer have kindly donated me a Contour USB to see if I can get it working too. NiVZ |
Mar 16, 2010
NiVZ
82 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Bayer Contour USB Meter HelloI've read that Ruby is corss platform and that theres a serial library for it. Simon, I think you mentioned you had done a bit of Ruby programming. Not sure if that would be an option? To be honest I've not got any Linux programming experience so it would be a big task to try and figure all that out. I know a lot about Windows and have done plenty of programming and it's been a big challenge getting it to where it is already. Using the AutoIT language was purely for convenience. It's very like Visual Basic syntax, great for rapid prototyping, we use it at work a lot and someone had already started a Serial COM programme so all the pieces just came together at the right time. I'm open to suggestions though and happy to help anyone else get as far as I have if they fancy giving it a go. Figuring out the meter 'language' was the hardest part but once you get it you just basically make sure the meter is ready (initialise) and then ask a question (transmit) and get a reply (recieve) and when you're finished end (disconnect). I've added some extra stuff like trying to automatically figure out which COM port the meter is connected to so that the program is easier to use. NiVZ |
Mar 15, 2010
Rachie Wilson
9 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi VicI do suffer from some hypo's but i usually know when my bloods are dropping as i get really bad headaches. Mine tend to be mid morning or mid afternoon but I have only been on DAFNE since Jan so still a bit of trial and error to be honest. I also do tend to get high's on a morning only and then for the rest of the day I am fine. I really didn't expect my HBAC1 to have dropped that much in such a short time but i am really pleased that it has. I am back for a review tomorrow with the group that did DAFNE in Jan so i am really looking forward to seeing how everyone else is doing. |
Mar 15, 2010
Adam Taylor
1 post
|
Topic: General Discussion / Diabetes and minor illness I have been diabetic for about seven years now. In the past few years I have found that whenever I'm coming down with a cold or a minor bug, often a couple of days before any other symptoms, I'll find that I'm really tired - to the point of falling asleep at work or not being able to get up in the morning.The first couple of times this happened I went to my GP and he said that my immune system was having to work harder due to the diabetes so fighting the bug made me tired. Has anyone else ever experienced this? |
Mar 15, 2010
nbraidwood
2 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Advice on sugar levels after exercise Thank you all for your input. From reading all your responses I think I have the answer. I tend to exercise around 6pm, which is more than 4 hours after my lunchtime QA insulin and just before my split background insulin, so the answer is that I don't have any insulin in my system to handle the energy my body pumps out. I'll try out giving myself a small injection beforehand (assuming my sugar level allows) and see how I get on. For those of you interested I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks again all...... |
Mar 15, 2010
qprfcmark
3 posts
|
Diabetic nurse advised me to split the 22 units of Lantus at 22:00 into 2 separate doses of 12 units at 22:00 and 10 units at 08:00. The results were instant and the BG levels at 18:00 & 22:00 are now on target, so Lantus is now lasting the 24 hour cycle! Regards Mark. |
Mar 15, 2010
vic demain
87 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi,I have probably worded it wrong. We were told on the course that there shouldn't be the need to test more than four times per day, and not to test just for the sake of it. Of course if one feels low then it would be natural to test and confirm. Not concerned about my Lantus running out before the 24 hrs, as I have morning hypo's as well as the occasional high. Fay, I think a one unit adjustment pen would be good for me thanks. Rachie, glad all is going well for you and congratulations on the great results. Given such low overall figures, do you suffer many hypo's? Regards, Vic. |
Mar 15, 2010
Rachie Wilson
9 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne HiI have been on DAFNE since the middle of Jan this year and my HBAC1 was 8.3 just had my HBAC1 done again and it has come down to 6.6 which I am really please about. I really didn't think i would be able to get my HBAC1 down as i always seemed to stick between 7.7-8.3 and have been now for the last two years. Thanks to going on DAFNE i have managed to get it back into target. |
Mar 15, 2010
marke
681 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Advice on sugar levels after exercise Hi, You don't say when you are exercising in relation to your injections. You are not experiencing an 'artificial high' as Alan says its your body pumping out 'energy' for your muscles touse that causes the high and without insulin to make use of it, it stays in your blood. The issue may be that your QA has worn off and so your don't have any insulin to help 'process' the blood sugar. Correction doses after exercise are not a good idea. The effects of exercise can last upto 24 hours afterwards and as soon as you put insulin into your system all that blood sugar can then be used lowering your BG. Thats why its recommended that you reduce your BI before exercise. Without the missing info its hard to give any advice, the same goes for Debs, when you say you exercised before breakfast, is this before any injections ? if so that would make sense for the reasons above, no insulin to process the blood sugar. you have to think about the insulin profile ( its in the DAFNE handbook) and the effect it will have on exercise and food intake. Its important to remember the after effect of exercise as well as this can catch you out hours later ( or even the next day). |
Mar 15, 2010
marke
681 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Vic, I am shocked your were told only to do 4 test per day. I was told to test as many times as necessary and to test more if I'm ill or changing ratio's etc. I was never told that there was 'no need to do more'. If ever you feel low then do a test regardless of the number you have done already.With regards to hypos, it does sound like your background was not correct. I suspect the morning high results are due to the 'dawn phenomenon' (see posts in 'Questions for HCPs' forum), I like probably many other people have the same issue with morning BG's. The problem is BI is probably not going to fix the issue. I won't replicate the discussions here as it has been covered on the other forum. Is it possible to split Lantus into two doses ? Maybe a question for your Diabetes team, I am on Levimir and find it much better now I have split it too two doses one in the evening and one in the morning. I know BI is supposed to be largely even over 24 hours but the reality is often different and splitting it may help resolve the issue, but thats something to decide on advice from experts ( rather than other graduates) |
Mar 14, 2010
danny mcgeehan
2 posts
|
Optium Xceed |
Mar 14, 2010
Fay
4 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi VicMust admit I test my BG more than 4 times per day if I feel I need to. Have been having some highs myself and have been testing up to 7 times a day as have changed my Lantus from 17:30 to 21:00 and found some time ago that it doesn't last 24 hours for me. Whilst having problems, my DSN told me to test during the night between 2-6 am but at diffent times to see if I was hypoing. She said that my BG shouldn't be below 4.5 during the night. May be worth you checking for a week too, just to see. Wonder if it would help you to have 21 units of Lantus. I use an Autopen 24 (green coloured) for my Lantus that goes up in single units. |
Mar 14, 2010
vic demain
87 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi Fay,Thanks for the reply. My ratio's are mainly 1:1 and 20 units of Lantus at bed. Have reduced the BI quite a bit and find on 20 I get high morning results but on 22 run the risk of waking hypo and that continuing through the day. When taking breakfast dose this morning I was 11.3, two hrs later checked and was 14.1, by lunch was 6.2. Was told on the course, we should only do four tests per day, there was no need to do more. No hypo's today and that has to be good, feel so much better for it, although hate running high as well. Regards. Vic. |
Mar 14, 2010
Fay
4 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi VicWhat ratios do you use at mealtimes for your CP/QA and are these correct for you? If they are, try lowering your background insulin and see if this will help sort out the hypos for you. It may also be worth checking your BG 2 hours after a meal. Perhaps if it's low then, you may need to adjust your QA. It's trial and error but remember to adjust just one thing at once. Keep us posted on how it's going! |
Mar 13, 2010
vic demain
87 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne As I stated above, I think DAFNE is great and am determined to stick with it, however 4 months down the line and having followed the rules religiously, I feel terrible a lot of the time. I have had so many hypo's, sometimes three a day, and feel constantly listless and lacking any energy. I fall asleep watching television every night and this is while I am not into my busiest period at work, which is the summer months.I may just be having a bad few days but I am not ill or depressed. Will stick at it though and keep trying to make adjustments and improvements. Vic. |
Mar 13, 2010
Alan 49
284 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Advice on sugar levels after exercise I've been early-morning swimming for some time and I noticed that my BG was higher after the swim than before. I mentioned this on the DAFNE course and was told that the swim induced an 'adrenalin rush', which evidently triggers the release of glucagon from the liver - hence the increase in BG. What I do now is - if the BG before the swim is higher that 6 I give myself 1 unit of QA insulin - that seems to work for me. |
Mar 13, 2010
Debs Ledger
9 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Advice on sugar levels after exercise Hi,I have this problem too! I went swimming first thing in the morning before breakfast, swam 20 lengths & started to feel unwell, got out & tested & was just under 20. The next time I went I started off at 7.0 & after 30 mins was 2.1 I am now worried about exercise on my own, even walking my daughter to school can give me a raging high or a low at about 10am....... I am at a loss as to what to do next! Maybe someone else will be able to help Dx |
Mar 12, 2010
nbraidwood
2 posts
|
Topic: General Discussion / Advice on sugar levels after exercise Can anyone help: After strenuous exerice my sugar readings are sky high! Artificially so because if I do a correction injection I hypo spectacularly after. I now don't do that correction injection, but just wondered how I can avoid my sugar levels going up during the exercise. DAPHNE guidelines suggest eating more cp's before exercise or cutting back on the earlier injection, but there is nothing on what happens in my scenario. Help?! |