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This is hopefully also covered in the DAFNE handbook that you would have received a copy of. If you don't have it there is also an electronic copy under DAFNE Tools above - DAFNE Course Handbook. This probably does a better job of explaining how to test that your basal rates are correct. I can't refer you to a specific page as I only have access to the Australian version which differs from the British one.

All the best with it.

Apr 4, 2017

Bananaman 34 posts

Cheers warwick that helped a lot and on my dafne course they took me out the class to get my weight and when I went back they asked who was on steroids and everyone put their hand up and got took into the next room but they wouldnt let me go through so I got a different dafne from everyone else.

Apr 3, 2017

DiabDave 4 posts

Thanks Sarah

Apr 3, 2017

sjohno 37 posts

Hi DiabDave

I was also on Lantus and changed to Levemir because of the amount of exercise that I do. On Lantus I was taking 14 units and on Levemir I still take 14 units. I find it a very flexible insulin and my BG's didn't change or my Novorapid ratios. The only thing that changed was the amount of Levemir that I took on exercise days and non-exercise days. On a non exercise day I take 14 units 5 pm daily and depending on my exercise classes I take 12 or 13 units. I'm very lucky as I seem to find my daily units of Levemir last 24 hours but I have read comments about it not lasting. Good luck!

regards

Sarah

Apr 2, 2017

DiabDave 4 posts

I will have to see how it works for me. Thanks for all your help.

Apr 2, 2017

Warwick 423 posts

To test basal, compare your before bed readings with your waking readings.To have validity, it is best to not have food or QA close to bed time (if your bed time reading is at least 3 hours after carbs and QA, then this test will be much more accurate). If you need to correct with insulin or treat a hypo during the night, then the test isn't valid either. Basically you want to see how your body responds to basal insulin without food or QA.

If your bed time and waking readings are within 1.5 mmol/L of each other, then your basal is considered to be the appropriate dose. If you consistently get differing readings that show a trend (e.g. almost always higher in the morning than at bed time), then follow the DAFNE rules to change your basal by 10% or 1 unit up or down depending on the trend. Monitor again over three days to see if any further dosage changes are required.

Apr 2, 2017

Warwick 423 posts

Every time I injected Levemir I would get a small welt that would last about a week before disappearing. Hugely annoying as I liked everything else about Levemir. It started after about 15 months on Levemir and I got nervous that my body's reaction to it might become more severe so switched back to Lantus.

Apr 2, 2017

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

It's says your a DAFNE graduate.....

You must of learned how to test then surely..

Apr 2, 2017

Bananaman 34 posts

I dont know how to test background.

Apr 2, 2017

Bananaman 34 posts

I decreased the basil to 20 units twice daily and increased the bolus to 1:1 ratio but my blood glucose dropped after breakfast I had a hypo before dinner so im watching everything today but I think 24 for basil would be too much

Apr 2, 2017

DiabDave 4 posts

Hi Warwick. Thanks for your reply. Will look up the book you mentioned as it's been getting to me. Did you mean Levemir caused you lumps as I've noticed the odd one since changing. Were yours regular?

Apr 2, 2017

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / QA Dose too high in work?

Different situations can lead to different insulin needs and if you are finding that you are constantly having hypos when at work, then it is perfectly OK to reduce the dose to a level where you don't hypo. I suggest that you reduce your QA dose at work and monitor your BGLs a little more often than you usually would while doing it just to check that you don't end up with an unexpected high BG reading.

Apr 2, 2017

Warwick 423 posts

It's pretty expensive here in Australia. Like you though, I have found it to be great at telling me when I am trending low and have found that I wasn't as hypo-aware as I believed.

The G5 is also available. It is useful if you want to be monitored remotely or use a phone (good for concerned parents of type 1 kids) but the transmitter on the G5 is hard-coded to only last 3 months as opposed to the G4 transmitter which I can get about a year out of so the G5 works out to be quite a bit pricier for no apparent benefit to me.

Although the G4 sensors are advertised to last 1 week, I usually get 4-6 weeks out of each one with pretty good accuracy. I know others though that struggle to get 1 week out of a sensor though, so it's a case of see what works for you.

All the best with it. If it turns out to be too pricey, then also consider the Freestyle Libre. The main benefits of the Dexcom over the Libre are that it will alert you either audibly or via vibration when you go outside of the target ranges that you program for it, the sensors can last longer than the two weeks of the Libre, and you can see a full 24 hours of readings as opposed to only 8 for the Libre. I did the sums, and found that for me, the Dexcom costs less annually than a Libre would, but in terms of initial outlay, the Libre would likely be quite a bit cheaper unless you have a compatible pump that can display the Dexcom sensor readings.

Apr 2, 2017

Warwick 423 posts

It's actually quite common to need a higher dose of Levemir than Lantus. In Gary Scheiner's book "Think Like a Pancreas", he states that Levemir can require a dose of up to 25% higher than other basal insulin doses.

I am on Lantus, but with the amount that I exercise I far prefer Levemir which is more flexible. Unfortunately it gives me welts when I inject it, so stuck on Lantus for now.

Keep following the DAFNE principles and you will find the best dosage for Levemir that works for you. And if that is higher than previously, then don't worry - it's very common.

Apr 2, 2017

Warwick 423 posts

You might actually want to look at increasing you basal slightly. Your before-bed readings tend to be lower than your waking readings, so increasing your basal at night might help with that. If you have lower readings than you currently do in the morning, then it may help to avoid the highs later on. Basal is always important to sort out first. Without that being correct, bolus calculations just become an exercise in frustration.

Apr 1, 2017

Diabeeto 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / QA Dose too high in work?

First time poster here so hello all.
I have a bit of an odd situation, one that is causing me a fair bit of stress recently.
When i'm at home or off work, my 1.5/1 qa/carb ratio seems fine, sometimes i'm a bit high but i'm still in the process of tweaking it.
This is the case whether i'm sat at home or walking about or doing light exercise.
However, and this is the weird bit, whenever i'm in work, in a relaxed, retail job, doing very little more, if any, exercise then when not in work, my 1.5/1 ratio seems way too high, i've even had cases where i've given myself less than 1/1 ratio and still headed towards a hypo. I'm planning on making an appointment with my doctor this week but does anybody have any input on this?
I've been type 1 for over 10 years if thats helps.
Thanks!

Apr 1, 2017

Simon 578 posts

The price breakdown for Dexcom is available here

I believe you can do without the receiver and use your phone instead.

Apr 1, 2017

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Site Development / Any plans to serve pages over HTTPS?

Hi Alistair,

We are always looking for help, especially when it comes to the Android app. Do you want to drop us an email to [email protected] and we can kick off a conversation about it?

Cheers,

Simon

Apr 1, 2017

alistairmcmi... 5 posts

Topic: Site Development / Any plans to serve pages over HTTPS?

That's great news. Thanks Mark and Simon for taking the time to do this. Sorry for giving your guys a headache. I feel bad for not offering to help out now.

On that subject, I've seen a few comments on here saying that the person that maintained the Android app no longer has the time to do that. I'd like to volunteer to help out there. In my day job I'm a developer for Glasgow City Council, and in my spare time I've contributed to various projects (you can see some here https://github.com/alistairmcmillan). How can I get involved?

Apr 1, 2017

DiabDave 4 posts

Hi first time post here. Recently did DANCE and because I train was changed from Lantus to Levemir. However since this have noticed my BGs seem to run higher. Have upped dosages to 25 (AM and PM) but still correcting a lot. My Lantus doses were 18 and 23? Any advise, assistance or anyone else had the same? Thanks.

Mar 31, 2017

meltow 78 posts

Well, I'm actually looking for a more definitive answer to my actual question - the cost of DEXCOM.
No doubt you will appreciate with my predicament how useful it would be - no, I'm not over exaggerating.
Please don't respond - I don't need any help with my driving capabilities/BG testing, thank you............ Evil or Very Mad

Mar 31, 2017

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

I didn't mean to upset you or anything but if you can't recognise hypos...Just generally then that's a big deal in terms of driving....Whether you check before or not...But you know your own body best...

Mar 31, 2017

meltow 78 posts