Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Nov 16, 2009

Katy B 8 posts

Im not a HCP but I think there at least 3 options for you. If you normally go to bed in range and wake up in range and think you wont go hypo if you skip your breakfast meal then simply take your Levimir as normal but dont eat 6cps and dont take the Lispro. If you think you may go hypo for missing breakfast then you could reduce your evening meal ratio so just on this occasion you could go to sleep higher than normal, and wake up higher than normal and therfore avoid going low in the morning/afternoon while skipping breakfast. Or finally, Have your breakfast with your fast acting insulin before 7am. No matter which option you choose, you should always take your Levimir as normal.

I have just noticed the date on your post and see that my comment for you is now not usefull but I shall post it incase anyone else has the same question now i've written it!!! How did you manage in the end Vashcrof?? I hope it went well for you. Katy x

Nov 15, 2009

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / BG Diary at Clinic

Hi Guys,

This certainly sounds like something that would be useful. Echoing what Stew said, we need to ensure that the data we present isn't too high-level and may disguise/ignore any underlying problems. It would be useful to get some feedback from the DAFNE HCPs on what they think would be valuable in a 1-page summary.

We could certainly do something where you had a week-by-week or month-by-month summary - just need to know what goes in there!

Cheers,

Simon

Nov 15, 2009

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / BG Diary at Clinic

Hi John

I'm sure that a summary (whether pre or at a review) would be useful. My concern would be that given the pressures that many, if not most, hcps are under, a summary that appears to show that all is well might hide underlying patterns that are potentially problematic, so it would be really important to look at the diaries in full at the review. Maybe if your hcp signed up to DO you could look at your on-line diary and all the accompanying graphs and tables while you are with her? I always spend time before my review identifying things that I think are going OK, things that I'm concerned about or any unexplained/strange results - I write them down (terrible memory) for discussion with my hcp.

Stew

Nov 15, 2009

Stew B 125 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and diabetic control

Hi Sheila

I can identify with the motivation issue... I like to "run" (a rather overstated description of my efforts) and I've found that (a) having a target such as a 10k event (not as horrible as it sounds as there are lots of events that attract more fun-runners than proper athletes - google your County and 10k runs) to aim for - I do a couple a year - and (b) finding a friend to run with, have really helped. Each week my friend Tracey and I fix a time to run after work, and I've found that this really helps (otherwise I get home from work with good intentions and then find myself still on the sofa two hours later). We've even been out in the rain the last two weeks! Its definitely worth it - not just for the positive impact on BG levels but also for the rather smug sense of well-being.. Good luck!

Stew

Nov 14, 2009

john day 54 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / BG Diary at Clinic

Hi All ..

As I am off for a dafne review in a couple of week I emailed my hcp, asking if she could register on DO and she could then see my Diary before the review.

Unfortunately they are short staffed and time pressure would prevent any pre-review activity of several a4 pages of diary data.

This seemed a fair point in the circumstances, so how about making available on DO a simple table summary for hcps use covering (say), for various periods (eg 1 week, 1 month ..)

Average BGs' at various time (ie lunch, bed etc)
Average QA's & BI Dosages
Ratios used and Comments made
No of Hypos, No of high rdgs

These are just the things that come to mind immediately but if we had an hcp on DO who could specify what they really would like to see in such a summary prior to Review this could be a starting point.

The summary might cause the hcp then to request the full diary for check before the Review, hopefully leading to better outcomes!

Comments please to the forum.. and let's hope Simon has yet another pair of hands in addition to the half dozen he already seems to have!

John

Nov 14, 2009

Debs Ledger 9 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Hi!..... Im New

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say Hi. I have just compleated a DAFNE course run by Janet Barber & Katie Vautier in Broadstaires Kent. I was diagnosed Type 1 just over 4 yrs ago. I was never taught to carb count or change ratios. After a terrible struggle since diagnosis DAFNE has explained so much that I didn't understand & now I have some answers to why everything was out of control! I know its not going to happen over night but I have already seen an improvement in control & my outlook on life is a tad Sunnier than a week ago!
Thankyou Janet & Katie you are true stars!

Debsx

Nov 13, 2009

Alann 12 posts

Topic: Site Development / Searches

Great work !!!! Smile

Nov 13, 2009

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Site Development / Searches

We've just rolled out some search functionality for your enjoyment.

In the handbook, see the search box at the bottom of the contents page. This will search both topic titles and body text. In the forums, see the search link at the top of the page. This will search topic titles for your chosen text.

As always wigth new and existing features, let us know what you think.

Simon

Nov 11, 2009

LizB 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Swine Flu

Hi Sam
I had a letter from my GP practice last week offering the H1N1 vaccine as I am in the "highrisk" category of having a pre-existing condition. Clinics are happening this week...

Nov 11, 2009

Sheila_Kay 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / A wee story.....

Hi Sam, I had a slight problem but not as drastic as yours. The Dr was reluctant at first to issue the Ketone test strips due to cost, she relented when I explained they were for emergancies only. But then when I next ordered the ordinary BG strips they gave me the Ketone ones as well, so I then feel guilty for spending money unnecessary. Ho Hum.

Nov 11, 2009

Sheila_Kay 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and diabetic control

Does anyone else have "Motivation" problems re exercise? I have lots of good intentions but all my plans seen to come to nothing. I know excerise is essential for good diabetis control but getting into a routine of doing it is hard. Any ideas would be welcomed.

Nov 11, 2009

Sheila_Kay 11 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Swine Flu

Hi Sam, I have my doubts about the vaccine for swine flu, I don't feel it has been tested adequately as yet. If I am called up to recieve it I shall have a few questions to ask. Having said that I always go for my annual flu jab, I have been told it is cheaper for the nhs to give me the jab than treat me in hospital with full blown flu, so diabetics do need to weigh up the pros and cons. Sheila

Nov 11, 2009

shaun 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Coeliac as well as Diabetic?

i am a well and have been for about 4 years and it is hard as welll 2 get all the nice food that u like 2 eat
and all my blood glucose r all over the place at this time as i have just done the dafne

Nov 10, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Topic: General Discussion / post meal peaks

What does "lipos" mean? Not a term I have seen before.

Alan

Nov 10, 2009

john day 54 posts

Topic: Site Development / Recipes

Hi Simon..

Following from previous post, a few more thoughts pursuing the importance of including CP values:

In the recipe ingredient list perhaps zero CP items (most?) could be listed separately and so highlight the remaining CP items that matter.

Those items with CP could pehaps have values automatically derived from the exisiting Carb Counter info. This would encourage/enforce new entries to the CC info prior to adding a recipe, adding to the overall usefulness and awareness.

I haven't myself yet seen any recipes, hardcopy or printed, with CP values.. even Balance mag only seems to give Cals & Fat, so DO could have a first!

No doubt a bit tricky technically to do the item matching for the calculation, so perhaps the way forward is to build the recipe online by adding or selecting existing items with the Carb Counter, amending the quantity of each as required.

This would probably need the CC handling & display options to be improved a bit but would make the addition of CP calculated recipes easier with time for all users, CP beginners or experts.

Also the ingredient CP verification process might need to be tighter/quicker if anybody can be found to undertake this unenviable task!

Hope this helps promote others' thoughts, Cheers, John

Nov 10, 2009

vashcroft 1 post

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Day Surgery

I am going into hospital for an investigation under general anaesthetic at 1230 on Friday 13th November 2009. I have been told not to eat after 7am. What do I do about my insulin. I usually eat 6 cp's and have 12 units lispro and 11 units levemir at breakfast time. I have 23 levemir before bed.

Nov 10, 2009

NiVZ 82 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Testers required for Meter upload

Hello,

Can anyone with a OneTouch UltraEasy who fancies testing meter uploading please reply here or send me a private message.

I've got the program working where it will read the date and BG from the UltraEasy and display them on screen. I want to check this works on other peoples meters before I try the actual upload part to the website.

If it's successful I'll try and extend it to other meters.

(Thought I'd post in here to as it would get more coverage)

NiVZ

Nov 9, 2009

Simon 578 posts

Topic: Site Development / Recipes

So what are everyone's thoughts on the recipes? Here at the DAFNE Online office (currently on a train from Glasgow to Liverpool) we are keen to implement what our users want/need. Is a 'sticky' thread on the forums enough to track recipes, or would you like something more sophisticated that allowed you to enter the info to your database, in a similar fashion to John's form?

Either way works for us - we'd just like to know what information you'd like to track/add with your recipes.

Simon

Nov 7, 2009

retzy11 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Dawn Phenomenon

Hi Sam,

Yes i was told that I suffer with the dawn phenominum. When I am working i usually get up at 6.30 and find that my BG levels are not to bad. However at the weekend when i enjoy having a lay in- everything seems to spin totally out of control and I spend the best part of the day struggling to bring my BG down to an acceptable level. I am usually very ratty and have zero tolerence for other people whilst this is going on. I also skip meals because I feel to unwell to eat. I have been seen by my diabetes specialist nurse who made suggestions on what I could do. So having listened and taken there advice but it has had little impact, leaving with the choice of resting and suffering or getting up at 6.30am everyday!!! Great choice! Lol

Nov 5, 2009

NiVZ 82 posts

Topic: Site Development / Meter Upload Development

Hello,

Any Lifescan OneTouch UltraEasy users fancy doing some 'beta' testing?

If so, please reply here or drop me a private message.

At the moment it won't upload, but it will read all the BG data from your meter and display it on the PC screen, but if the reading part works then the uploading should be fairly straight forward (famous last words)

Thanks,

NiVZ

Nov 5, 2009

NiVZ 82 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / How do you caluculate...

Hi Gill,

DAFNE covers a wide range of topics, including illness, alcohol, as well as food.

For the food part of things it's just a case of applying a ratio of insulin to carbohydrate. In DAFNE 1CP (Carbohydrate Portion) is 10g of carbs. Therefore a 1:1 ration means 1 unit of insulin to 10g of carbs. Some people will be on 2:1, so thats 2 units to 10g or even 0.5:1 so thats half a unit for 10g.

There are already Carboydrate counting scales, such as the Salter Nuri-weigh range which can help with these calculations but I suppose this could be extended by allowing you to enter your ratio and the device could tell you how much insulin to take although the maths is usually quite easy. Just divide food label carbohydrate by 10 to turn g into CP (and divide or multiply by the portion size if necessary, especially if they've used 'nutrition onfo per 100g' for example) and then multiply by ratio.

Hope that helps and good luck with your device.

NiVZ

Nov 5, 2009

Gill28 1 post

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / How do you caluculate...

Hello,

I'm a final year Design student, trying to design a device which make it alot easier for diabetics to manage their food.
I'm trying to understand how DAFNE actually works.
I'd be very grateful if someone could please take the time just to quickly explain what DAFNE involves and what calculations you have to make in order to work out how much insulin you need to take?

Cheers,

Gill

Nov 4, 2009

DavidJ 23 posts

Topic: General Discussion / post meal peaks

Hi Rachel. I have a couple of ideas, although they are speculation reallly because one day is not enough to draw a pattern. I don't know the profile of Humalog, but the hypo is 6.5 hours after the meal and I think your QA insulin should be gone by then, which would leave your BI. The other idea is insulin resistance and/ or lipos, which can reduce the effectiveness of the insulin and produce unpredictable results. Your Diabetic Specialist Nurse should be able to help with the second point. It's very frustrating when you try to do things correctly and your body just will not behave itself.

Nov 16, 2009 Katy B 8 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Day Surgery Im not a HCP but I think there at least 3 options for you. If you normally go to bed in range and wake up in range and think you wont go hypo if you skip your breakfast meal then simply take your Levimir as normal but dont eat 6cps and dont take the Lispro. If you think you may go hypo for missing breakfast then you could reduce your evening meal ratio so just on this occasion you could go to sleep higher than normal, and wake up higher than normal and therfore avoid going low in the morning/afternoon while skipping breakfast. Or finally, Have your breakfast with your fast acting insulin before 7am. No matter which option you choose, you should always take your Levimir as normal. I have just noticed the date on your post and see that my comment for you is now not usefull but I shall post it incase anyone else has the same question now i've written it!!! How did you manage in the end Vashcrof?? I hope it went well for you. Katy x

Nov 15, 2009 Simon 578 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / BG Diary at Clinic Hi Guys, This certainly sounds like something that would be useful. Echoing what Stew said, we need to ensure that the data we present isn't too high-level and may disguise/ignore any underlying problems. It would be useful to get some feedback from the DAFNE HCPs on what they think would be valuable in a 1-page summary. We could certainly do something where you had a week-by-week or month-by-month summary - just need to know what goes in there! Cheers, Simon

Nov 15, 2009 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / BG Diary at Clinic Hi John I'm sure that a summary (whether pre or at a review) would be useful. My concern would be that given the pressures that many, if not most, hcps are under, a summary that appears to show that all is well might hide underlying patterns that are potentially problematic, so it would be really important to look at the diaries in full at the review. Maybe if your hcp signed up to DO you could look at your on-line diary and all the accompanying graphs and tables while you are with her? I always spend time before my review identifying things that I think are going OK, things that I'm concerned about or any unexplained/strange results - I write them down (terrible memory) for discussion with my hcp. Stew

Nov 15, 2009 Stew B 125 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and diabetic control Hi Sheila I can identify with the motivation issue... I like to "run" (a rather overstated description of my efforts) and I've found that (a) having a target such as a 10k event (not as horrible as it sounds as there are lots of events that attract more fun-runners than proper athletes - google your County and 10k runs) to aim for - I do a couple a year - and (b) finding a friend to run with, have really helped. Each week my friend Tracey and I fix a time to run after work, and I've found that this really helps (otherwise I get home from work with good intentions and then find myself still on the sofa two hours later). We've even been out in the rain the last two weeks! Its definitely worth it - not just for the positive impact on BG levels but also for the rather smug sense of well-being.. Good luck! Stew

Nov 14, 2009 john day 54 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / BG Diary at Clinic Hi All .. As I am off for a dafne review in a couple of week I emailed my hcp, asking if she could register on DO and she could then see my Diary before the review. Unfortunately they are short staffed and time pressure would prevent any pre-review activity of several a4 pages of diary data. This seemed a fair point in the circumstances, so how about making available on DO a simple table summary for hcps use covering (say), for various periods (eg 1 week, 1 month ..) Average BGs' at various time (ie lunch, bed etc) Average QA's & BI Dosages Ratios used and Comments made No of Hypos, No of high rdgs These are just the things that come to mind immediately but if we had an hcp on DO who could specify what they really would like to see in such a summary prior to Review this could be a starting point. The summary might cause the hcp then to request the full diary for check before the Review, hopefully leading to better outcomes! Comments please to the forum.. and let's hope Simon has yet another pair of hands in addition to the half dozen he already seems to have! John

Nov 14, 2009 Debs Ledger 9 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Hi!..... Im New Hi Everyone, Just wanted to say Hi. I have just compleated a DAFNE course run by Janet Barber & Katie Vautier in Broadstaires Kent. I was diagnosed Type 1 just over 4 yrs ago. I was never taught to carb count or change ratios. After a terrible struggle since diagnosis DAFNE has explained so much that I didn't understand & now I have some answers to why everything was out of control! I know its not going to happen over night but I have already seen an improvement in control & my outlook on life is a tad Sunnier than a week ago! Thankyou Janet & Katie you are true stars! Debsx

Nov 13, 2009 Alann 12 posts	Topic: Site Development / Searches Great work !!!!

Nov 13, 2009 Simon 578 posts	Topic: Site Development / Searches We've just rolled out some search functionality for your enjoyment. In the handbook, see the search box at the bottom of the contents page. This will search both topic titles and body text. In the forums, see the search link at the top of the page. This will search topic titles for your chosen text. As always wigth new and existing features, let us know what you think. Simon

Nov 11, 2009 LizB 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Swine Flu Hi Sam I had a letter from my GP practice last week offering the H1N1 vaccine as I am in the "highrisk" category of having a pre-existing condition. Clinics are happening this week...

Nov 11, 2009 Sheila_Kay 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A wee story..... Hi Sam, I had a slight problem but not as drastic as yours. The Dr was reluctant at first to issue the Ketone test strips due to cost, she relented when I explained they were for emergancies only. But then when I next ordered the ordinary BG strips they gave me the Ketone ones as well, so I then feel guilty for spending money unnecessary. Ho Hum.

Nov 11, 2009 Sheila_Kay 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Exercise and diabetic control Does anyone else have "Motivation" problems re exercise? I have lots of good intentions but all my plans seen to come to nothing. I know excerise is essential for good diabetis control but getting into a routine of doing it is hard. Any ideas would be welcomed.

Nov 11, 2009 Sheila_Kay 11 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Swine Flu Hi Sam, I have my doubts about the vaccine for swine flu, I don't feel it has been tested adequately as yet. If I am called up to recieve it I shall have a few questions to ask. Having said that I always go for my annual flu jab, I have been told it is cheaper for the nhs to give me the jab than treat me in hospital with full blown flu, so diabetics do need to weigh up the pros and cons. Sheila

Nov 11, 2009 shaun 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Coeliac as well as Diabetic? i am a well and have been for about 4 years and it is hard as welll 2 get all the nice food that u like 2 eat and all my blood glucose r all over the place at this time as i have just done the dafne

Nov 10, 2009 Alzibiff 21 posts	Topic: General Discussion / post meal peaks What does "lipos" mean? Not a term I have seen before. Alan

Nov 10, 2009 john day 54 posts	Topic: Site Development / Recipes Hi Simon.. Following from previous post, a few more thoughts pursuing the importance of including CP values: In the recipe ingredient list perhaps zero CP items (most?) could be listed separately and so highlight the remaining CP items that matter. Those items with CP could pehaps have values automatically derived from the exisiting Carb Counter info. This would encourage/enforce new entries to the CC info prior to adding a recipe, adding to the overall usefulness and awareness. I haven't myself yet seen any recipes, hardcopy or printed, with CP values.. even Balance mag only seems to give Cals & Fat, so DO could have a first! No doubt a bit tricky technically to do the item matching for the calculation, so perhaps the way forward is to build the recipe online by adding or selecting existing items with the Carb Counter, amending the quantity of each as required. This would probably need the CC handling & display options to be improved a bit but would make the addition of CP calculated recipes easier with time for all users, CP beginners or experts. Also the ingredient CP verification process might need to be tighter/quicker if anybody can be found to undertake this unenviable task! Hope this helps promote others' thoughts, Cheers, John

Nov 10, 2009 vashcroft 1 post	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Day Surgery I am going into hospital for an investigation under general anaesthetic at 1230 on Friday 13th November 2009. I have been told not to eat after 7am. What do I do about my insulin. I usually eat 6 cp's and have 12 units lispro and 11 units levemir at breakfast time. I have 23 levemir before bed.

Nov 10, 2009 NiVZ 82 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Testers required for Meter upload Hello, Can anyone with a OneTouch UltraEasy who fancies testing meter uploading please reply here or send me a private message. I've got the program working where it will read the date and BG from the UltraEasy and display them on screen. I want to check this works on other peoples meters before I try the actual upload part to the website. If it's successful I'll try and extend it to other meters. (Thought I'd post in here to as it would get more coverage) NiVZ

Nov 9, 2009 Simon 578 posts	Topic: Site Development / Recipes So what are everyone's thoughts on the recipes? Here at the DAFNE Online office (currently on a train from Glasgow to Liverpool) we are keen to implement what our users want/need. Is a 'sticky' thread on the forums enough to track recipes, or would you like something more sophisticated that allowed you to enter the info to your database, in a similar fashion to John's form? Either way works for us - we'd just like to know what information you'd like to track/add with your recipes. Simon

Nov 7, 2009 retzy11 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Dawn Phenomenon Hi Sam, Yes i was told that I suffer with the dawn phenominum. When I am working i usually get up at 6.30 and find that my BG levels are not to bad. However at the weekend when i enjoy having a lay in- everything seems to spin totally out of control and I spend the best part of the day struggling to bring my BG down to an acceptable level. I am usually very ratty and have zero tolerence for other people whilst this is going on. I also skip meals because I feel to unwell to eat. I have been seen by my diabetes specialist nurse who made suggestions on what I could do. So having listened and taken there advice but it has had little impact, leaving with the choice of resting and suffering or getting up at 6.30am everyday!!! Great choice! Lol

Nov 5, 2009 NiVZ 82 posts	Topic: Site Development / Meter Upload Development Hello, Any Lifescan OneTouch UltraEasy users fancy doing some 'beta' testing? If so, please reply here or drop me a private message. At the moment it won't upload, but it will read all the BG data from your meter and display it on the PC screen, but if the reading part works then the uploading should be fairly straight forward (famous last words) Thanks, NiVZ

Nov 5, 2009 NiVZ 82 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / How do you caluculate... Hi Gill, DAFNE covers a wide range of topics, including illness, alcohol, as well as food. For the food part of things it's just a case of applying a ratio of insulin to carbohydrate. In DAFNE 1CP (Carbohydrate Portion) is 10g of carbs. Therefore a 1:1 ration means 1 unit of insulin to 10g of carbs. Some people will be on 2:1, so thats 2 units to 10g or even 0.5:1 so thats half a unit for 10g. There are already Carboydrate counting scales, such as the Salter Nuri-weigh range which can help with these calculations but I suppose this could be extended by allowing you to enter your ratio and the device could tell you how much insulin to take although the maths is usually quite easy. Just divide food label carbohydrate by 10 to turn g into CP (and divide or multiply by the portion size if necessary, especially if they've used 'nutrition onfo per 100g' for example) and then multiply by ratio. Hope that helps and good luck with your device. NiVZ

Nov 5, 2009 Gill28 1 post	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / How do you caluculate... Hello, I'm a final year Design student, trying to design a device which make it alot easier for diabetics to manage their food. I'm trying to understand how DAFNE actually works. I'd be very grateful if someone could please take the time just to quickly explain what DAFNE involves and what calculations you have to make in order to work out how much insulin you need to take? Cheers, Gill

Nov 4, 2009 DavidJ 23 posts	Topic: General Discussion / post meal peaks Hi Rachel. I have a couple of ideas, although they are speculation reallly because one day is not enough to draw a pattern. I don't know the profile of Humalog, but the hypo is 6.5 hours after the meal and I think your QA insulin should be gone by then, which would leave your BI. The other idea is insulin resistance and/ or lipos, which can reduce the effectiveness of the insulin and produce unpredictable results. Your Diabetic Specialist Nurse should be able to help with the second point. It's very frustrating when you try to do things correctly and your body just will not behave itself.