Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Feb 15, 2010

John Roscoe 14 posts

Hi Diane,
I have porridge most morning and I count 3.5 CP's for 30g of oats and 350 mls semi skimmed milk. The oats I use are 2.75 CP's per 45g so the amount of oats I use is equivalent to 1.8 CP's and the 350 mls of milk 1.75 CP's. This works well for me. It may be worth checking the carbohydrate value on the pack of oats you are using. I think the DAFNE CP value may be wrong.
Good luck.
John

Feb 15, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge

Hi Everyone,
I eat porridge a lot too and agree that the 3 CP thing is about right. I am still in honeymoon (11 months since diagnosed) and I find that porridge is barely enough for me in the mornings. If I exercise at all after breakfast (eg cycle to work or walk the dog) then I can approach a hypo rather easily. Mornings are my challenge and I guess that porridge is fine but rather slower an energy release than I had imagined. Even before I was diabetic I used to feel really hungry within a hour of eating porridge. It never seemed to be sustaining though I know how great oats are. All of this isn't that relevant perhaps but don't be put off good ol' porridge it is a wonderful food.
Mike the Newbie

Feb 15, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Hi Ruth,
Great story. We are being given every chance to have a good life. A very positive place to be. The way I have thought about it has been that as a diabetic I know I now HAVE to do the right things to look after myself as against non-diabetics who have the apparent choice to chance their luck. I am grateful for the advance warning which shakes off any complacency I had. It kills off spontaneity a bit tho' but. I am very glad to be otherwise-healthy and if I have to have any condition then I am happy to settle for this one.

My attitude as an optimist helps and I have taken a light-hearted approach to the diabetes most of the time. Not suffering pain with the condition is a great relief. I do have low days and sometimes can't believe what has happened to me. Sitting amongst the DAFNE students was one such moment on Day three. I felt slightly trapped. The feeling passes fortunately - one reason for that is how this condition demands an hour by hour awareness and keeps one tuned in to the here-and-now and therefore not overwhelmed by the long-term reality of it all.

Another feeling that is possibly peculiar to me as is one of feeling slightly like a student rather than a patient. Managing my BG is a strange kind of serious game where my BG readings are like 'scores' and that maintaining these is something I need to do to be a 'good patient/student'. It is more a vague feeling than a real belief of course but now and again I have a reality check wash over me when I realise the obvious point that I am ultimately on my own with looking after myself. Getting these 'scores' wrong can wreck my health. That is frightening. The consequences of getting it wrong are rather worse than a getting a 'bad report'. If you like the matter is very very live, very much now. It is happening every minute of every day. You don't take time off from it nor can you cruise along if you are bored or inattentive. So many things in life are just not that important. I realise that this is one of the few things in my experience that demands my attention to concentrate on it and get it right, no option. In terms of analogies I can't stop the merry-go-round to take a break, or back off from a difficult rock climb which intimidates me. All obvious stuff but it makes one grow up (at whatever age and I am 44) and learn discipline more than anything else before.

My experience of hospitals is fortunately very very small and I am so glad for decent health to date. Being sent to A&E with suspected diabetes was a weird experience and I was totally reassured by the specialist team which attended to me over the 4 days I was in. I do feel privileged that the NHS (Wythenshawe UHSM) staff were so caring and professional and interested in getting me on track. I am deeply grateful to them for that.

So I guess my initial question on this 'thread' was worth asking. You all sound determined and positive people. I will try to be the same. Thanks.

Feb 15, 2010

marke 686 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge

I would suggest its more likely your breakfast ratio, remember that you are more likely to have higher BG's ( and possibly a higher ratio) in the mornings because of the hormones our bodies release to wake us up. Most people tend to need more insulin in the morning, but the key to all of this is 'most' we are all different and even though the CP value is correct it doesn't necessarily mean that your insulin requirements for that amount of CP's are 'standard'. basically the only solution is trial and error. I think its very unlikely you are hypoing, so would suggest upping your insulin a bit and seeing what effect it has. Again remember the key to these things is a step wise, change one thing approach.

Feb 15, 2010

Simon Quinnell 16 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge

Hi Diane.

I've had porridge for breakfast for the past 20 years and never get bored of it! I make mine this way:- 1 cup of porridge , 200ml of soya milk, 150ml of water, and 15g of raisins. I count that as 6 CPs in total and I've haven't had any problems with high BG before lunch.

I would say that the 3 CP value is correct.

Some questions to ask yourself:-

Are you having hypos after breakfast? Is your QA/CP ratio correct at breakfast? Are you getting a "bounce-back" effect from night-time hypos? Are you active in the morning? Is your BG OK before breakfast?

Feb 15, 2010

Diane Macfaden 1 post

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge

When I use the info in my Dafne Carb book to work out 3 carbohydrate portions of porridge -i.e. 50g of dry porridge oats and make it into porridge using half milk and water, I always end up with a really high blood sugar result by lunch time as if there is much more than 3 CP's in this amount of porridge.
has anyone else found this? Or does the 50g relate to 50g of cooked porridge.
I would be grateful for some clarification on the true carbohydrate content of porridge oats.

Feb 14, 2010

Simon 578 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE strapline poll

Hi, the results are available now and have been shared with the DAFNE Executive. You can see them on the poll page or via this link

Feb 14, 2010

dafra 2 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE strapline poll

where is the result?
Oh i see it is coming to DAFNE Poll page!

Feb 13, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Indian food and takeways

Hi there,
Recent graduate calling...I have had my first Indian takeaway in ages today and have had fun trying to work out the CP content. The Carb booklet was very helpful with samosas and the rice. Seems very accurate.

However, not sure if it is possible to work out what the actual main dish contained by way of CPs? It isn't always just fats and protein. My choice tonight was a so-called Nepalese dish which contained lychees, lamb, ginger and spices in a thick sauce. It tasted very sweet to me and I am not sure if the dish is made sweet by just the bits of fruit or whether they add sugar. I could have asked I suppose - but being a Saturday the place was humming and there was no time to ask.

Possibly a daft question as there are too many variables. Perhaps the more regular consumers of Indians out there might have worked out a rule of thumb for this kind of dish?

Thanks Mike
PS. I won't order it again as it wasn't savoury enough for my palate.

Feb 13, 2010

ruthhutchinson 39 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1970 I thought my world had come to an end. I was 11 and had no understanding of what it meant. A clergyman visiting the lady in the next bed to mine came to speak to me one day. He said" You are lucky. You've been given the ticket to a long and healthy life". I thought he was crazy until he explained what he meant. "You wll eat healthily, you will exercise regularly, you will live the life the rest of us should live and will have regular health check ups which the rest of us would love to have." Forty years later I now realise that he was right. I'm now 51 and I don't plan on dying anytime soon. Keep thinking postively. It works.

Feb 13, 2010

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Mike,

To respond to your earlier questions. I did my DAFNE course just over 2 years ago, being lucky enough to get a place on the first course that UCLH had run. Yes I did notice a difference. It was effectively the first diabetes education I'd received in 40 years. I already had some knowledge of DAFNE as my sister had done the course several years earlier and it made a tremendous difference for her. So I was expecting alot, and wasn't disappointed. My control is much better, and although not perfect, I at least now know enough to make sensible decisions about what to change. I'm a big fan of the DAFDNE approach and hence stood for election last year to what is now called the DAFNE User Action Group (DUAG) and am pleased to be having input into decisions anout how DAFNE should be taken forward.

Feb 12, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / First illness since dafne

Hi there,
Sorry you are sick. I am new to DAFNE as I only did it in January and am a newbie to diabetes in 2009 too. I am reassured that DAFNE has a system to deal with illness. I hope it works for you. | do admit to worrying about getting sick as learning to have good control has been enough of a challenge!
Cheers Mike

Feb 12, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Thanks Simon and Vic. Good points. Type 1 is different for sure and it is quite 'fun' being part of a smaller (more select?) group relative to Type 2. Sorry to hear about your parents Vic, I have a partner enduring cancer treatment presently and I have reflected on the two conditions (that and diabetes). I consider myself lucky in many ways and feel very much for her as it has been a tough journey for her.
It is good to know how highly rated DAFNE is and I feel reassured by this. My dietitian hinted to me that I should do this course from early on. Glad I did it. Yes, we have a choice - that is one of the really good things. We have the choice to be healthy and are equipped to manage that. I do realise that.
Best Wishes M

Feb 12, 2010

vic demain 87 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Hi Mike,

Firstly can I say that having watched both parents die from cancer and still living around cancer, I would not swap my diabetes for it at all. Personally, I think to lump the two together is little short of ridiculous. Yes diabetes is a major illness but not remotely as life threatening as cancer.

I have lived with diabetes for 30 years without understanding it until November 2009, when I was lucky enough to be invited onto a DAFNE course. My control for those 30 years has been at best up and down. I have lost count of the times, I was told to improve my control by some well meaning person but the truth is I didn't know how.

You are fortunate in that you have a choice. You have been given the tools during your course to allow you to control your illness. You can grasp those tools and live a healthy lifestyle or you can ignore them and live life to the full for how long? With diabetes you may eventually lose a limb or your eyesight, god forbid, with cancer you wont, very often, get away with your life.

Diabetes is tough but it doesn't have to be life threatening does it?

You are in control of your situation my friend.

Feb 12, 2010

Paul G Wales 8 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios tryed them all

hi john i think ou are right ! i was on 52 BI and a 3:5 ratio before dafne (of my own concoction) so i will laugh if i end up back there < my bloods were better this morning so today will be a good test of the BI and my Ratio thanks for the advice... Paul

Feb 12, 2010

John Roscoe 14 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios tryed them all

Paul, Thanks for sharing your diary I do think the key to your high blood sugars is related to your BI. I suggest that you continnue with splitting your BI but try to keep the injections 12 hours apart (I think that is what the general recommendation is) however the main thing is that I think you need to increase the dose possibly to 25 each time. If you do make the change make sure you test a bit more frequently just incase it does send you hypo. If you are not confident at making the increase in one step then approach it gradually. Good luck.
Cheers
John

Feb 12, 2010

Simon 578 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Hi Mike,

I'd add to Peter's comments too - you mention that a radio show stated that most diabetics die from the complications. I know when I was diagnosed a large proportion of diabetics (90%+ I think) were Type 2, and Type 1s were definitely in the minority. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed as a result of finding complications, which means they are already there and affecting the person, e.g. neuropathy, retinopathy, heart problems etc., whereas people with Type 1 are diagnosed with the symptoms of high blood sugar (chronic thirst, tiredness, etc.). The good news there is that Type 1 people can guard against and avoid the complications by keeping their blood sugars under control - something DAFNE definitely helps with.

I guess the bottom line here is don't worry too much - the media seems to lump all people with diabetes together which is simply not fair - we are all different, with different types, different regimes, complications and lifestyles. If you take care of yourself and look after your blood sugars you should live a long, happy and complication free life.

Simon

Feb 11, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Thanks Peter,
It is reassuring to hear that. I am a worrier despite being an optimist - some combination! Sounds like you are doing well with your long experience. How long since you took up DAFNE? Did you notice a difference? I think I am too new to really spot the difference although I appreciate the scrutiny that DAFNE offers.

Feb 11, 2010

Peter 109 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Mike,
Diabetes UK award a medal to all diabetics reaching the milestone of living with the condition for 50 years. The number of medals they award has increased significantly over the years showing the benefits of better insulin regimes, blood glucose control etc. and over the last 10 years, DAFNE. In my case I have just over 6 years until I'm due for the Diabetes UK medal, so I would suggest that you shouldn't be worrying yet and following DAFNE will definitely reduce the risk of complications occurring for you.

Feb 11, 2010

Mike Dagley 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics?

Hi there,
I am a new DAFNE graduate from course 23 in Manchester. I have been diagnosed type 1 just under a year and must say that it has gone pretty well. I have had great help from the hospital team. I am learning all the time and want to make the most of the online help. Being new to this I am unsure of quite a lot of things. Though I have had good advice - from what I can make out - some of what I have been told by non-expert medics has occasionally been contradictory. Nothing serious though. Anyway, my question is perhaps a bit morbid - and I am not sure how to ask it really. Do diabetics have a reduced life expectancy? I hate asking it as it seems a negative thing to dwell on. But now I am diabetic 11 months I am starting to get used to it and to reflect on what is happening to me. I am a natural optimist so like to think bad things cannot happen to me. That's a laugh. I have had a very positive approach since diagnosis as I have been previously blessed with good health and so wanted to tackle my new condition with good humour and a positive approach. I love being active and have felt confident about keeping fit and active for the rest of my life. However the wind was taken out of sails a bit when half-listening to a recent Radio 4 programme on cancer. One person compared cancer to diabetes and seemed to be saying something on the lines of " diabetics usually die of complications linked to their condition". This is a likely misquote but it dipped my mood somewhat. I want to believe that my health is not overly compromised by diabetes as long as I am prepared to work hard at controlling my BGs and exercising and eating well etc. This radio quote just worried me into thinking that whatever I do that I am 'doomed' by this condition sooner or later. Of course we all have to die of something - but short of an accident or something is that the way it is likely to go for a diabetic. Apologies for the question but does any positive evidence exist out there? Promise not to be so low energy next time. Cheers MD

Feb 15, 2010 John Roscoe 14 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge Hi Diane, I have porridge most morning and I count 3.5 CP's for 30g of oats and 350 mls semi skimmed milk. The oats I use are 2.75 CP's per 45g so the amount of oats I use is equivalent to 1.8 CP's and the 350 mls of milk 1.75 CP's. This works well for me. It may be worth checking the carbohydrate value on the pack of oats you are using. I think the DAFNE CP value may be wrong. Good luck. John

Feb 15, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge Hi Everyone, I eat porridge a lot too and agree that the 3 CP thing is about right. I am still in honeymoon (11 months since diagnosed) and I find that porridge is barely enough for me in the mornings. If I exercise at all after breakfast (eg cycle to work or walk the dog) then I can approach a hypo rather easily. Mornings are my challenge and I guess that porridge is fine but rather slower an energy release than I had imagined. Even before I was diabetic I used to feel really hungry within a hour of eating porridge. It never seemed to be sustaining though I know how great oats are. All of this isn't that relevant perhaps but don't be put off good ol' porridge it is a wonderful food. Mike the Newbie

Feb 15, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Hi Ruth, Great story. We are being given every chance to have a good life. A very positive place to be. The way I have thought about it has been that as a diabetic I know I now HAVE to do the right things to look after myself as against non-diabetics who have the apparent choice to chance their luck. I am grateful for the advance warning which shakes off any complacency I had. It kills off spontaneity a bit tho' but. I am very glad to be otherwise-healthy and if I have to have any condition then I am happy to settle for this one. My attitude as an optimist helps and I have taken a light-hearted approach to the diabetes most of the time. Not suffering pain with the condition is a great relief. I do have low days and sometimes can't believe what has happened to me. Sitting amongst the DAFNE students was one such moment on Day three. I felt slightly trapped. The feeling passes fortunately - one reason for that is how this condition demands an hour by hour awareness and keeps one tuned in to the here-and-now and therefore not overwhelmed by the long-term reality of it all. Another feeling that is possibly peculiar to me as is one of feeling slightly like a student rather than a patient. Managing my BG is a strange kind of serious game where my BG readings are like 'scores' and that maintaining these is something I need to do to be a 'good patient/student'. It is more a vague feeling than a real belief of course but now and again I have a reality check wash over me when I realise the obvious point that I am ultimately on my own with looking after myself. Getting these 'scores' wrong can wreck my health. That is frightening. The consequences of getting it wrong are rather worse than a getting a 'bad report'. If you like the matter is very very live, very much now. It is happening every minute of every day. You don't take time off from it nor can you cruise along if you are bored or inattentive. So many things in life are just not that important. I realise that this is one of the few things in my experience that demands my attention to concentrate on it and get it right, no option. In terms of analogies I can't stop the merry-go-round to take a break, or back off from a difficult rock climb which intimidates me. All obvious stuff but it makes one grow up (at whatever age and I am 44) and learn discipline more than anything else before. My experience of hospitals is fortunately very very small and I am so glad for decent health to date. Being sent to A&E with suspected diabetes was a weird experience and I was totally reassured by the specialist team which attended to me over the 4 days I was in. I do feel privileged that the NHS (Wythenshawe UHSM) staff were so caring and professional and interested in getting me on track. I am deeply grateful to them for that. So I guess my initial question on this 'thread' was worth asking. You all sound determined and positive people. I will try to be the same. Thanks.

Feb 15, 2010 marke 686 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge I would suggest its more likely your breakfast ratio, remember that you are more likely to have higher BG's ( and possibly a higher ratio) in the mornings because of the hormones our bodies release to wake us up. Most people tend to need more insulin in the morning, but the key to all of this is 'most' we are all different and even though the CP value is correct it doesn't necessarily mean that your insulin requirements for that amount of CP's are 'standard'. basically the only solution is trial and error. I think its very unlikely you are hypoing, so would suggest upping your insulin a bit and seeing what effect it has. Again remember the key to these things is a step wise, change one thing approach.

Feb 15, 2010 Simon Quinnell 16 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge Hi Diane. I've had porridge for breakfast for the past 20 years and never get bored of it! I make mine this way:- 1 cup of porridge , 200ml of soya milk, 150ml of water, and 15g of raisins. I count that as 6 CPs in total and I've haven't had any problems with high BG before lunch. I would say that the 3 CP value is correct. Some questions to ask yourself:- Are you having hypos after breakfast? Is your QA/CP ratio correct at breakfast? Are you getting a "bounce-back" effect from night-time hypos? Are you active in the morning? Is your BG OK before breakfast?

Feb 15, 2010 Diane Macfaden 1 post	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / porridge When I use the info in my Dafne Carb book to work out 3 carbohydrate portions of porridge -i.e. 50g of dry porridge oats and make it into porridge using half milk and water, I always end up with a really high blood sugar result by lunch time as if there is much more than 3 CP's in this amount of porridge. has anyone else found this? Or does the 50g relate to 50g of cooked porridge. I would be grateful for some clarification on the true carbohydrate content of porridge oats.

Feb 14, 2010 Simon 578 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE strapline poll Hi, the results are available now and have been shared with the DAFNE Executive. You can see them on the poll page or via this link

Feb 14, 2010 dafra 2 posts	Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE strapline poll where is the result? Oh i see it is coming to DAFNE Poll page!

Feb 13, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Indian food and takeways Hi there, Recent graduate calling...I have had my first Indian takeaway in ages today and have had fun trying to work out the CP content. The Carb booklet was very helpful with samosas and the rice. Seems very accurate. However, not sure if it is possible to work out what the actual main dish contained by way of CPs? It isn't always just fats and protein. My choice tonight was a so-called Nepalese dish which contained lychees, lamb, ginger and spices in a thick sauce. It tasted very sweet to me and I am not sure if the dish is made sweet by just the bits of fruit or whether they add sugar. I could have asked I suppose - but being a Saturday the place was humming and there was no time to ask. Possibly a daft question as there are too many variables. Perhaps the more regular consumers of Indians out there might have worked out a rule of thumb for this kind of dish? Thanks Mike PS. I won't order it again as it wasn't savoury enough for my palate.

Feb 13, 2010 ruthhutchinson 39 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1970 I thought my world had come to an end. I was 11 and had no understanding of what it meant. A clergyman visiting the lady in the next bed to mine came to speak to me one day. He said" You are lucky. You've been given the ticket to a long and healthy life". I thought he was crazy until he explained what he meant. "You wll eat healthily, you will exercise regularly, you will live the life the rest of us should live and will have regular health check ups which the rest of us would love to have." Forty years later I now realise that he was right. I'm now 51 and I don't plan on dying anytime soon. Keep thinking postively. It works.

Feb 13, 2010 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Mike, To respond to your earlier questions. I did my DAFNE course just over 2 years ago, being lucky enough to get a place on the first course that UCLH had run. Yes I did notice a difference. It was effectively the first diabetes education I'd received in 40 years. I already had some knowledge of DAFNE as my sister had done the course several years earlier and it made a tremendous difference for her. So I was expecting alot, and wasn't disappointed. My control is much better, and although not perfect, I at least now know enough to make sensible decisions about what to change. I'm a big fan of the DAFDNE approach and hence stood for election last year to what is now called the DAFNE User Action Group (DUAG) and am pleased to be having input into decisions anout how DAFNE should be taken forward.

Feb 12, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: General Discussion / First illness since dafne Hi there, Sorry you are sick. I am new to DAFNE as I only did it in January and am a newbie to diabetes in 2009 too. I am reassured that DAFNE has a system to deal with illness. I hope it works for you. \| do admit to worrying about getting sick as learning to have good control has been enough of a challenge! Cheers Mike

Feb 12, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Thanks Simon and Vic. Good points. Type 1 is different for sure and it is quite 'fun' being part of a smaller (more select?) group relative to Type 2. Sorry to hear about your parents Vic, I have a partner enduring cancer treatment presently and I have reflected on the two conditions (that and diabetes). I consider myself lucky in many ways and feel very much for her as it has been a tough journey for her. It is good to know how highly rated DAFNE is and I feel reassured by this. My dietitian hinted to me that I should do this course from early on. Glad I did it. Yes, we have a choice - that is one of the really good things. We have the choice to be healthy and are equipped to manage that. I do realise that. Best Wishes M

Feb 12, 2010 vic demain 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Hi Mike, Firstly can I say that having watched both parents die from cancer and still living around cancer, I would not swap my diabetes for it at all. Personally, I think to lump the two together is little short of ridiculous. Yes diabetes is a major illness but not remotely as life threatening as cancer. I have lived with diabetes for 30 years without understanding it until November 2009, when I was lucky enough to be invited onto a DAFNE course. My control for those 30 years has been at best up and down. I have lost count of the times, I was told to improve my control by some well meaning person but the truth is I didn't know how. You are fortunate in that you have a choice. You have been given the tools during your course to allow you to control your illness. You can grasp those tools and live a healthy lifestyle or you can ignore them and live life to the full for how long? With diabetes you may eventually lose a limb or your eyesight, god forbid, with cancer you wont, very often, get away with your life. Diabetes is tough but it doesn't have to be life threatening does it? You are in control of your situation my friend.

Feb 12, 2010 Paul G Wales 8 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios tryed them all hi john i think ou are right ! i was on 52 BI and a 3:5 ratio before dafne (of my own concoction) so i will laugh if i end up back there < my bloods were better this morning so today will be a good test of the BI and my Ratio thanks for the advice... Paul

Feb 12, 2010 John Roscoe 14 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios tryed them all Paul, Thanks for sharing your diary I do think the key to your high blood sugars is related to your BI. I suggest that you continnue with splitting your BI but try to keep the injections 12 hours apart (I think that is what the general recommendation is) however the main thing is that I think you need to increase the dose possibly to 25 each time. If you do make the change make sure you test a bit more frequently just incase it does send you hypo. If you are not confident at making the increase in one step then approach it gradually. Good luck. Cheers John

Feb 12, 2010 Simon 578 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Hi Mike, I'd add to Peter's comments too - you mention that a radio show stated that most diabetics die from the complications. I know when I was diagnosed a large proportion of diabetics (90%+ I think) were Type 2, and Type 1s were definitely in the minority. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed as a result of finding complications, which means they are already there and affecting the person, e.g. neuropathy, retinopathy, heart problems etc., whereas people with Type 1 are diagnosed with the symptoms of high blood sugar (chronic thirst, tiredness, etc.). The good news there is that Type 1 people can guard against and avoid the complications by keeping their blood sugars under control - something DAFNE definitely helps with. I guess the bottom line here is don't worry too much - the media seems to lump all people with diabetes together which is simply not fair - we are all different, with different types, different regimes, complications and lifestyles. If you take care of yourself and look after your blood sugars you should live a long, happy and complication free life. Simon

Feb 11, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Thanks Peter, It is reassuring to hear that. I am a worrier despite being an optimist - some combination! Sounds like you are doing well with your long experience. How long since you took up DAFNE? Did you notice a difference? I think I am too new to really spot the difference although I appreciate the scrutiny that DAFNE offers.

Feb 11, 2010 Peter 109 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Mike, Diabetes UK award a medal to all diabetics reaching the milestone of living with the condition for 50 years. The number of medals they award has increased significantly over the years showing the benefits of better insulin regimes, blood glucose control etc. and over the last 10 years, DAFNE. In my case I have just over 6 years until I'm due for the Diabetes UK medal, so I would suggest that you shouldn't be worrying yet and following DAFNE will definitely reduce the risk of complications occurring for you.

Feb 11, 2010 Mike Dagley 12 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Is life expectancy limited for diabetics? Hi there, I am a new DAFNE graduate from course 23 in Manchester. I have been diagnosed type 1 just under a year and must say that it has gone pretty well. I have had great help from the hospital team. I am learning all the time and want to make the most of the online help. Being new to this I am unsure of quite a lot of things. Though I have had good advice - from what I can make out - some of what I have been told by non-expert medics has occasionally been contradictory. Nothing serious though. Anyway, my question is perhaps a bit morbid - and I am not sure how to ask it really. Do diabetics have a reduced life expectancy? I hate asking it as it seems a negative thing to dwell on. But now I am diabetic 11 months I am starting to get used to it and to reflect on what is happening to me. I am a natural optimist so like to think bad things cannot happen to me. That's a laugh. I have had a very positive approach since diagnosis as I have been previously blessed with good health and so wanted to tackle my new condition with good humour and a positive approach. I love being active and have felt confident about keeping fit and active for the rest of my life. However the wind was taken out of sails a bit when half-listening to a recent Radio 4 programme on cancer. One person compared cancer to diabetes and seemed to be saying something on the lines of " diabetics usually die of complications linked to their condition". This is a likely misquote but it dipped my mood somewhat. I want to believe that my health is not overly compromised by diabetes as long as I am prepared to work hard at controlling my BGs and exercising and eating well etc. This radio quote just worried me into thinking that whatever I do that I am 'doomed' by this condition sooner or later. Of course we all have to die of something - but short of an accident or something is that the way it is likely to go for a diabetic. Apologies for the question but does any positive evidence exist out there? Promise not to be so low energy next time. Cheers MD