Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Feb 23, 2010

DavidJ 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Type 1 Diabetes and working shifts

Hi,
I've been diabetic for almost 28 years and been working shifts for the past 17 years (days and nights). Pre DAFNE I would often work a full night shift and every test would be below 4.0 (not often, but it did happen). I did the DAFNE course in June 2009 and the change from day shift to night shift still goes wrong sometimes. Your body is not a machine and sometimes unpredictable results happen (unlike in the DAFNE handbook, when corrections work perfectly). I can get unpredictable results on days as well, so I'm not blaming working shifts or the DAFNE guidelines. Fortunately, I haven't had the paramedics out, but it can be very frustrating when you apply the rules and the complete opposite happens to what you would expect. I don't think Non Diabetics or HCP's believe you. Best Wishes Dave.

Feb 22, 2010

Cameron Lockie 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Travelling Tips

Hi everyone
I am living in New Zealand and we are going to USA for a family holiday. I have been to Australia and had no problems with insulin taking (only a 2 hour time difference) but going to the States the time difference is greater. Does anyone have any tips for me to keep my diabetes under control and when I should be taking my insulin (NZ time or US time?).
Thanks for your help.
Cameron

Feb 21, 2010

Yokel 3 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Rationale - Please read

I too would love an iphone app for Dafne. I have an ipod touch so am not always online - it would be ace to be able to check CPs using my ipod instead of carrying my book everywhere :-)

Feb 21, 2010

sj61angel 9 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Rationale - Please read

Hi, I find the mobile version very useful (especially when working out my CP's). I'd love to see a built in graphs page as this is one of my favourite features of the main site as it's encouraging to be able to see clear trends and patterns at a glance.
I think that the idea of an iPhone app is fantastic I'll be one of the first to download it.
Looking forward to future developments

Sarah x

Feb 21, 2010

Karen Westwood 38 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

Hi all,

I completed my DAFNE course at the end of July 2009 after being type 1 for 28 years (29 years on Friday!). Like Vic said I learnt more about my condition during that week than I had picked up over the previous 28 years. DAFNE has totally turned my life around and I can't believe that I put off doing the course for a whole 12 months because I thought at the time that a week was too long a time to take out of my busy life. How wrong I was!!!

I am now, some 7 months later still sitting looking for patterns but just understanding the whys and hows has made life so much easier. I have lost just over 6 stones since doing DAFNE and my insulin requirements have reduced dramatically. I finally feel like I can live with diabetes and understand the fluctuations in BG levels. My last HBA1 was 6.7 so obviously I must be doing something right!! LOL!!

My fear was always that I would not be here to see my 2 lovely sons grow up and have families of their own but thanks to DAFNE and my weight loss I am now able to do many more things with them and hope to be around to be a doting grandma in many years to come!!!

I have learnt so much from these forums too. It is so nice to be able to discuss topics with other like minded diabetics.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Karen x

Feb 21, 2010

Peter 109 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Hypo recognition.

Vic,

I find that there are two factors that influence when I get hypo symptoms. The first, and the one that everybody (including HCPs) talks about, is the absolute level and this has been dealt with above. The other factor, which I have seen very little discussion on, is the rate of change of the BG level. For me if the BG level is falling rapidly I will get symptoms well above 4.0 mmol/l, and I have certainly had them at 8 as you mention. Then I find, in an hour or so, I will be below 3.5 and well and truely hypo. I wonder whether you are seeing something similar? The solution that has worked for me is to treat the symptoms and I have found that I am within targets during the next few hours despite taking extra CHO at 8 mmol/l.

Good luck
Peter

Feb 21, 2010

marke 681 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

I think the fact that you are all on here, means you have benefited from DAFNE and want to continue to do so. We have seen very little negative feedback on the course although Vic is correct that maybe not everyone will continue to follow DAFNE principles.
However I would prefer to look at the positives, even if you don't follow DAFNE religously if you test your BG's more or even just take
your Diabetes more seriously then DAFNE has had a positive effect on you. I think too many people set themselves very high targets
and expect to be able to keep their BG's perfect using DAFNE. Sadly life is not that simple, as Vic correctly says it requires continued
effort and dedication and not everyone can manage that. Hopefully this site will help people with that by letting them talk to other graduates and get encouragement from others. But don't be discouraged if it all seems to go wrong, just keep at it, keep believing and ask others
if there are things you are struggling with. One of the great things for me about the course was to sit in a room with other Diabetics and realise my problems were the same as theirs, i wasn't unique or alone in my struggle with BG's others were exactly the same.

DAFNE is fantastic and hopefully one day all Diabetics will be able to benefit from it, once we convince PCT's that short term investment can provide long term savings in reduced treatment for Diabetics.

Feb 21, 2010

Fay 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

Hi

Before DAFNE I used to suffer with bad night-time hypos. I didn't used to wake up and went unconscious. My husband used to have to bring me round with hypostop. Since DAFNE these are a thing of the past for which I'm so grateful. I still have highs and lows with my BG, but at least I can go to sleep at night now without worrying about debilitating hypos.

Feb 21, 2010

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

Hi, I completed my course in November 2009. Having had type1 for the best part of 30 years. DAFNE taught me to understand diabetes and how to cope with it. I learnt more in a week than I had in the past 30 years. But the main thing I took from the course, is that it is not a quick fix and requires a great deal of effort and patience also a willingness to conform and be brave. I do believe that a great number of people who are fortunate enough to be invited onto the course will unfortunately not see it through, and I guess that will be reflected on this message board. Those wanting to work will come on whilst others will not. 3 months on from the course, my control is a lot better but by no means sorted, I am struggling to get results in the green section but will keep on persevering.
Good luck to you. Vic.

Feb 21, 2010

sj61angel 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

Hi Benji, I have to agree Dafne is amazing it's been a week since I completed my course with some fabulous people and educators. Although I've had some serious ups and down with the help of Dafne I've been able to look at my BG results and take the step-wise approach to getting some normality. And in the last 12hours I think I've cracked it My blood Glucose has been stable AND on target.
Thanks Dafne.

Sarah x

Feb 21, 2010

Fay 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Dawn Phenomenon

Hi all

I too sometimes suffer with morning BG's in double figures and get really frustrated by it. I'm on Novorapid at mealtimes and have my Lantus at 17.30 each day. Have done 3 am tests and don't seem to be hypoing. I correct my BG at breakfast time and this usually works for me.

After checking the diabetes-support website that Sam posted above in October, over the past week I've been having a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter at bed-time (and maybe a small snack if necessary depending on my bed-time BG) and have had: 1 morning BG at 3.7, 4 above 7 and 4 between 4-7 mmol. I'm going to keep going with the peanut butter for another few weeks and see how things go before I contact my diabetes team. Has anyone else tried this and what were the results, please?

Feb 20, 2010

benji 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne

Hi all, just finished my dafne on friday and wondered if every1 else thinks its the best thing they ever did! I have also made some fab friends who actually know what im talking about, its great. I only went on it cus i want an insulin pump, but im so glad i did, thanks dafne. x

Feb 20, 2010

laurals11 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE diaries

I print inside pages from here

http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=122

not exactly DAFNE terms CHO not CP, Basal & Bolus not QA & BI
made my own cover using Dafne logo
Laura

Feb 20, 2010

Karl 83 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE diaries

not that i know http://dafneonline.co.uk/forums/1/topics/93

Feb 20, 2010

steve o 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE diaries

I have just been on the DAFNE course last week which i really enjoyed and found it to be really interesting. I was told that i could print off spare pages of the DAFNE diaries on here but am not sure how to do it could someone help me please thanks.

Feb 20, 2010

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Red Wine/Tonic Wine

after duscussion with buckfast (j chandler and co) I was told that there is approximately 92 grams of grape sugar in a 75 cl bottle...

the question now is, is grape sugar the same as nornal sugar (sucrose,fructose).

one gram of sugar is the equivelant to one carbohydrate (10g)...

Feb 20, 2010

sj61angel 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / post meal peaks

Hi Rachel, I hope you've got your post meal peaks back under control. I've been having very much the same problem it seems like the Humalog isn't kicking in untill at least 3hours after taking it which is very frustrating especially after 6months of trial and error (Pre-Dafne) trying to get my background right I'm 99%positive that's not at fault. I've contemplated changing my QA insulin for one which doesn't peak quite so early. But since I've only been a Dafne Graduate for 2weeks I'm reluctant to try anything quite so dramatic just yet.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts and I hope the family planning is going well.

Kind Regards

Sarah

Feb 19, 2010

BigManRestless 2 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Watch out - Corn on the cob!

I still count tinned sweetcorn, even though I get the unsweetened varieties there still seems to be a lot of carbs in there.

Feb 19, 2010

larryjm 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Coeliac as well as Diabetic?

my name is larry
i and i have Coeliac as well as Type 1 Diabetic, trying to find the right food to eat is quick hard some times,
once you find the right things to eat you will be ok it just find the right food and stick to it.
I have at coelac all my life but when I was growing I thouht it at gone
but 4years ago it came back and made my diabetic bad it took a long time to get it right again. but now I am nearly there just hoping my diabetes will get better soon or sooner.
all the best larry or laurence

Feb 18, 2010

sixtall 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Type 1 Diabetes and working shifts

Hi all .I,ve been type 1 for 27 years and worked a regular day shift pattern with very few problems until January 2009 when my employer changed my shift pattern to a double day shift ."6 -2 , 2 -10 " .Since changing I,ve had alot of hypos some disabling .I did the d.a.f.n.e course in January this year and strictly follow the guidelines they set ,but I am still having hypos ,only last week I had one at work so serious the company had to send for the paramedics to sort me out .Has anyone experienced any problems with Type 1 and working shifts , take care all .

Feb 23, 2010 DavidJ 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Type 1 Diabetes and working shifts Hi, I've been diabetic for almost 28 years and been working shifts for the past 17 years (days and nights). Pre DAFNE I would often work a full night shift and every test would be below 4.0 (not often, but it did happen). I did the DAFNE course in June 2009 and the change from day shift to night shift still goes wrong sometimes. Your body is not a machine and sometimes unpredictable results happen (unlike in the DAFNE handbook, when corrections work perfectly). I can get unpredictable results on days as well, so I'm not blaming working shifts or the DAFNE guidelines. Fortunately, I haven't had the paramedics out, but it can be very frustrating when you apply the rules and the complete opposite happens to what you would expect. I don't think Non Diabetics or HCP's believe you. Best Wishes Dave.

Feb 22, 2010 Cameron Lockie 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Travelling Tips Hi everyone I am living in New Zealand and we are going to USA for a family holiday. I have been to Australia and had no problems with insulin taking (only a 2 hour time difference) but going to the States the time difference is greater. Does anyone have any tips for me to keep my diabetes under control and when I should be taking my insulin (NZ time or US time?). Thanks for your help. Cameron

Feb 21, 2010 Yokel 3 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Rationale - Please read I too would love an iphone app for Dafne. I have an ipod touch so am not always online - it would be ace to be able to check CPs using my ipod instead of carrying my book everywhere :-)

Feb 21, 2010 sj61angel 9 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Rationale - Please read Hi, I find the mobile version very useful (especially when working out my CP's). I'd love to see a built in graphs page as this is one of my favourite features of the main site as it's encouraging to be able to see clear trends and patterns at a glance. I think that the idea of an iPhone app is fantastic I'll be one of the first to download it. Looking forward to future developments Sarah x

Feb 21, 2010 Karen Westwood 38 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi all, I completed my DAFNE course at the end of July 2009 after being type 1 for 28 years (29 years on Friday!). Like Vic said I learnt more about my condition during that week than I had picked up over the previous 28 years. DAFNE has totally turned my life around and I can't believe that I put off doing the course for a whole 12 months because I thought at the time that a week was too long a time to take out of my busy life. How wrong I was!!! I am now, some 7 months later still sitting looking for patterns but just understanding the whys and hows has made life so much easier. I have lost just over 6 stones since doing DAFNE and my insulin requirements have reduced dramatically. I finally feel like I can live with diabetes and understand the fluctuations in BG levels. My last HBA1 was 6.7 so obviously I must be doing something right!! LOL!! My fear was always that I would not be here to see my 2 lovely sons grow up and have families of their own but thanks to DAFNE and my weight loss I am now able to do many more things with them and hope to be around to be a doting grandma in many years to come!!! I have learnt so much from these forums too. It is so nice to be able to discuss topics with other like minded diabetics. Keep up the good work everyone! Karen x

Feb 21, 2010 Peter 109 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Hypo recognition. Vic, I find that there are two factors that influence when I get hypo symptoms. The first, and the one that everybody (including HCPs) talks about, is the absolute level and this has been dealt with above. The other factor, which I have seen very little discussion on, is the rate of change of the BG level. For me if the BG level is falling rapidly I will get symptoms well above 4.0 mmol/l, and I have certainly had them at 8 as you mention. Then I find, in an hour or so, I will be below 3.5 and well and truely hypo. I wonder whether you are seeing something similar? The solution that has worked for me is to treat the symptoms and I have found that I am within targets during the next few hours despite taking extra CHO at 8 mmol/l. Good luck Peter

Feb 21, 2010 marke 681 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne I think the fact that you are all on here, means you have benefited from DAFNE and want to continue to do so. We have seen very little negative feedback on the course although Vic is correct that maybe not everyone will continue to follow DAFNE principles. However I would prefer to look at the positives, even if you don't follow DAFNE religously if you test your BG's more or even just take your Diabetes more seriously then DAFNE has had a positive effect on you. I think too many people set themselves very high targets and expect to be able to keep their BG's perfect using DAFNE. Sadly life is not that simple, as Vic correctly says it requires continued effort and dedication and not everyone can manage that. Hopefully this site will help people with that by letting them talk to other graduates and get encouragement from others. But don't be discouraged if it all seems to go wrong, just keep at it, keep believing and ask others if there are things you are struggling with. One of the great things for me about the course was to sit in a room with other Diabetics and realise my problems were the same as theirs, i wasn't unique or alone in my struggle with BG's others were exactly the same. DAFNE is fantastic and hopefully one day all Diabetics will be able to benefit from it, once we convince PCT's that short term investment can provide long term savings in reduced treatment for Diabetics.

Feb 21, 2010 Fay 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi Before DAFNE I used to suffer with bad night-time hypos. I didn't used to wake up and went unconscious. My husband used to have to bring me round with hypostop. Since DAFNE these are a thing of the past for which I'm so grateful. I still have highs and lows with my BG, but at least I can go to sleep at night now without worrying about debilitating hypos.

Feb 21, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi, I completed my course in November 2009. Having had type1 for the best part of 30 years. DAFNE taught me to understand diabetes and how to cope with it. I learnt more in a week than I had in the past 30 years. But the main thing I took from the course, is that it is not a quick fix and requires a great deal of effort and patience also a willingness to conform and be brave. I do believe that a great number of people who are fortunate enough to be invited onto the course will unfortunately not see it through, and I guess that will be reflected on this message board. Those wanting to work will come on whilst others will not. 3 months on from the course, my control is a lot better but by no means sorted, I am struggling to get results in the green section but will keep on persevering. Good luck to you. Vic.

Feb 21, 2010 sj61angel 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi Benji, I have to agree Dafne is amazing it's been a week since I completed my course with some fabulous people and educators. Although I've had some serious ups and down with the help of Dafne I've been able to look at my BG results and take the step-wise approach to getting some normality. And in the last 12hours I think I've cracked it My blood Glucose has been stable AND on target. Thanks Dafne. Sarah x

Feb 21, 2010 Fay 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Dawn Phenomenon Hi all I too sometimes suffer with morning BG's in double figures and get really frustrated by it. I'm on Novorapid at mealtimes and have my Lantus at 17.30 each day. Have done 3 am tests and don't seem to be hypoing. I correct my BG at breakfast time and this usually works for me. After checking the diabetes-support website that Sam posted above in October, over the past week I've been having a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter at bed-time (and maybe a small snack if necessary depending on my bed-time BG) and have had: 1 morning BG at 3.7, 4 above 7 and 4 between 4-7 mmol. I'm going to keep going with the peanut butter for another few weeks and see how things go before I contact my diabetes team. Has anyone else tried this and what were the results, please?

Feb 20, 2010 benji 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / How good is dafne Hi all, just finished my dafne on friday and wondered if every1 else thinks its the best thing they ever did! I have also made some fab friends who actually know what im talking about, its great. I only went on it cus i want an insulin pump, but im so glad i did, thanks dafne. x

Feb 20, 2010 laurals11 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE diaries I print inside pages from here http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=122 not exactly DAFNE terms CHO not CP, Basal & Bolus not QA & BI made my own cover using Dafne logo Laura

Feb 20, 2010 Karl 83 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE diaries not that i know http://dafneonline.co.uk/forums/1/topics/93

Feb 20, 2010 steve o 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE diaries I have just been on the DAFNE course last week which i really enjoyed and found it to be really interesting. I was told that i could print off spare pages of the DAFNE diaries on here but am not sure how to do it could someone help me please thanks.

Feb 20, 2010 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Red Wine/Tonic Wine after duscussion with buckfast (j chandler and co) I was told that there is approximately 92 grams of grape sugar in a 75 cl bottle... the question now is, is grape sugar the same as nornal sugar (sucrose,fructose). one gram of sugar is the equivelant to one carbohydrate (10g)...

Feb 20, 2010 sj61angel 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / post meal peaks Hi Rachel, I hope you've got your post meal peaks back under control. I've been having very much the same problem it seems like the Humalog isn't kicking in untill at least 3hours after taking it which is very frustrating especially after 6months of trial and error (Pre-Dafne) trying to get my background right I'm 99%positive that's not at fault. I've contemplated changing my QA insulin for one which doesn't peak quite so early. But since I've only been a Dafne Graduate for 2weeks I'm reluctant to try anything quite so dramatic just yet. I'd really appreciate any thoughts and I hope the family planning is going well. Kind Regards Sarah

Feb 19, 2010 BigManRestless 2 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Watch out - Corn on the cob! I still count tinned sweetcorn, even though I get the unsweetened varieties there still seems to be a lot of carbs in there.

Feb 19, 2010 larryjm 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Coeliac as well as Diabetic? my name is larry i and i have Coeliac as well as Type 1 Diabetic, trying to find the right food to eat is quick hard some times, once you find the right things to eat you will be ok it just find the right food and stick to it. I have at coelac all my life but when I was growing I thouht it at gone but 4years ago it came back and made my diabetic bad it took a long time to get it right again. but now I am nearly there just hoping my diabetes will get better soon or sooner. all the best larry or laurence

Feb 18, 2010 sixtall 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Type 1 Diabetes and working shifts Hi all .I,ve been type 1 for 27 years and worked a regular day shift pattern with very few problems until January 2009 when my employer changed my shift pattern to a double day shift ."6 -2 , 2 -10 " .Since changing I,ve had alot of hypos some disabling .I did the d.a.f.n.e course in January this year and strictly follow the guidelines they set ,but I am still having hypos ,only last week I had one at work so serious the company had to send for the paramedics to sort me out .Has anyone experienced any problems with Type 1 and working shifts , take care all .