Recent Posts

Hi Simon,

I remember the very old diaries I used to use when first diagnosed where you put the reading on one half of the page and plotted a line graph on the opposite page. It's probably just familiarity that I like the line graph and made mine as shown in the picture.

I do like the graphs in the Blood Glucose Diary as I can see the benefit of showing readings grouped by time of day to help identify if theres a certain mealtime where you are high low, and it's also easy to see how much you change from bedtime to morning to keep an eye on the basal.

Thanks,

NiVZ

Jul 23, 2009

Simon 578 posts

I agree that the advice given here may well be useful - we are all living with diabetes, and anything that can help or make that situation more bearable/manageable is a good thing. We have purposefully put users 'levels' underneath their names on the forums so that you can see if the post has come from a Medical Professional (HCP) or DAFNE Graduate, or someone else. That way users can make informed decisions as to whether to follow advice given on the forums or not. It is true that adjustments made by one person with diabetes may not work the same for another person, but it is also true that the same adjustments may work for both people. My thoughts are this - give advice freely - be open about your experiences, that is what forums are about; but use it with care, if you do make changes do them gradually - as things which are too drastic may have severe effects. If something doesn't work for you, don't hold the advice-giver responsible, it's not their fault it didn't work for you - just try something else, or speak with your DAFNE Specialist. This site was created so Graduates could help each other.

Anyway, sermon over Smile

on to the topic in hand... I often find that if I've had a night-time hypo I'll have a headache - even if my BG is 8.3 or something. I remember also on our DAFNE course one of the guys had to do a 3AM test 3 nights out of the 4, and found that he was having night time hypos so reduced his background insulin.

Thanks,

Simon

Jul 22, 2009

Simon Heller 46 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Protein Supplements

Excess protein supplements are generally excreted without causing any real harm. However, in people who have developed kidney damage there is evidence that high protein diets can increase the amount of protein leaking from the kidneys and perhaps increase the rate of deterioration in kidney function, so probably best avoided. Simon H

Jul 22, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Oops! Hope I haven't offended anyone but I was expressing a personal opinion and please don't forget that this foum is open to the entire public of the world which includes people with diabetes who have and have NOT attended a DAFNE course, their relatives, parents and children.

Not everyone has the DAFNE experience to draw on, not everyone is aware of hypo rebounds, the "dawn phenomenon" and the need for careful monitoring of BG levels. (I have only just stared to take BG monitoring seriously after many many years). I stick to my view that I think it is best to describe experiences and explain reasons for various actions when it comes to dose adjustment rather than to suggest to someone that they "try this". Let others draw on these experiences and apply them to their regime by all means.

Still friends I hope <smiley thing>

Alan

p.s. My experience of the HCP people that ran my DAFNE course is definitely not the same as Lizzie's.

"...all they usually say is 'it could be so-and-so, try doing this and come back in a few weeks' and that is based on reading some books many years ago.."

I have had excellent support - EMails get answered within hours rather than days and they have experience of dealing with many people with diabetes rather than my experience which is dealing with just me!

Jul 22, 2009

Jennifer 11 posts

JWo, that does sound very annoying!! I will bear that in mind when I take mine back!

I ended up having to make an appointment at the surgery to see a doctor & ask if I could get a sharps bin on prescription. Seems a little bit of a waste of an appointment time but....., although my pharmacy had to order it so I haven't actually got it yet!

Jul 22, 2009

Jennifer 11 posts

Hi Widster/Alzibiff,

I spent a couple of weeks a few months ago testing at 3am & 5am and found by BG levels to be ok, it just seems the 2 hours before I wake for the day that something is happening. I have now been advised by my doc to split my BI as they don't think it's lasting even 12 hours, although it should last 24 hours!! At the moment i've had to reduced my dose aswell but my readings are still in the very high teens & am having to correct every meal time. I think i'll just have to spend the next wee while experimenting with levels and discussing with the nurse about what to do next!

It's very frustrating as I feel I am working really hard, being good and getting nowhere. Sad

Thanks for the advice. It's great for me to hear from other diabetics as I don't personally know anyone else that has type 1 diabetes. I also haven't had diabetes for that long so I am still learning all the time. If people are willing to share their experiences or offer me advice about what I can do then bring it on! I also feel the forums are great if people are seeking some help or guidance about their diabetes & want to talk to someone who is living through it and has experience every day of living with diabetes.

Jul 22, 2009

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Dieting

Like Alzibiff, I have found that my eating habits have changed. I used to eat a big breakfast because I wanted to prevent hunger (that was probably being caused by lows) during the morning but since doing DAFNE, I can be a lot more flexible and I know I won't be hungry later on now. Smile

It's heaven now especially considering I don't like to snack between meals.

Not really seen much change in my weight on that note, but I guess everything's just taking a bit of time to adjust! ^_^

Jul 22, 2009

JayBee 587 posts

I took my first sharps bin to do an exchange recently and I've learnt that I'm supposed to take them to my surgery/doctors and not the pharmacy, so considering ChrisS takes it to their pharmacy, I'd say be prepared to go to either on your first trip to get do a bins exchange.

From that experience, I'm a bit annoyed that the first pharmacy told me to visit another pharmacy and then when I visited the pharmacy the first pharmacy suggested, they told me to go back to my surgery/doctors instead. It does seem some places just don't know what's going on hense the mess around. :/

Oh well, thankfully the surgery/doctors was more than happy to take it off me and give me another one. That made it feel a bit better lol. Smile

Jul 22, 2009

Lizzie 87 posts

I agree with Widster. This forum is open to any DAFNE graduate and people will mean well and give different advice and that is good. It is far better to get advice and support from people who have lived with diabetes, than struggle alone with only a yearly visit to the doctor. I am sure as DAFNE grads we will all realise that before making big changes we should ask our doctor, and that everyone is different so what works for one won't work for another, but we also know how to alter out own insulin gradually in order to control our diabetes and there is nothing wrong with that. After all, that is all a doctor can really do, they are not on call 24/7, all they usually say is 'it could be so-and-so, try doing this and come back in a few weeks' and that is based on reading some books many years ago, not living every single day with diabetes. At the end of the day we are all responsible for our own diabetes, if we do not feel comfortable making changes we don't have to, but if we feel happy with making them responsibly then why not?

Jul 22, 2009

Widster 23 posts

Alzibiff/Jennifer,

Yes, i agree that this could be a rebound from a night-time hypo. Setting the alarm at 3am to see what the reading is would be a good way to proceed.

I think this forum is all about advice. Describing personal experiences, what has happened to oneself, how problems were overcome is all advice of one sort or another. People will make their own decisions and i don't think there should be restrictions on what is said, within reason of course! However, as i said, it is always wise to discuss any concerns with a health professional and i think most people who have been on the DAFNE course would realise this.

Don't forget that the whole purpose of DAFNE is to put control back into the hands of the person who has diabetes! We are encouraged to make small, reasoned changes and to see how this affects or overall blood glucose levels. This all contributes to flexibility in our eating habits and the way we live our lives.

Widster

Jul 22, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Jennifer / Widster,
Careful!
A high BG in the morning could be the result of a "rebound" from an early morning hypo whilst asleep. Rather than go ahead and start adjusting your before bedtime BI, it may be worthwhile setting your alarm for 3am and testing your BG to allow you to take this reading into consideration with other factors which may be leading to a high waking BG level.

Personally - and this is my view - I don't think that we should be offering advice to anyone on this forum regarding insulin doses and the like - best to describe personal experiences and let others draw upon those.

Widster - agree that this needs discussion with a HCP though!

Alan

Jul 22, 2009

Widster 23 posts

Jennifer, if your BG is high by morning i would think that you may need to increase your background overnight? I would talk to your diabetes nurse/consultant about this or try it and observe the results? I suppose it depends when you are taking your background. i inject 20 units of lantus just before bed. When my BG was high i realised it was because my background was too low at 16 so i gradually increased it until it is now 20 units and i usually wake up with a reading between 4 and 7 and not over 10. Just my thoughts. Good luck. Paul

Jul 20, 2009

Simon 578 posts

Hi, sorry for the delay in replying to this guys - I've been out of the country for the past week.

NiVZ - Have you seen our Diary Graphs, which are accessible from the BG Diary view (underneath the actual table of entries)? If not, you may find what you are looking for there. If not then what type of graph would you like to see above and beyond what we already have?

Alan - I have implemented both 'mean' and 'modal' versions of this graph, and you can find links to them as 'Daily Trend Charts' in the BG Diary section - is this the kind of thing you are after? If not then let me know and I'll modify it for you.

As always - feedback by all members is encouraged.

Simon

Jul 19, 2009

Sheila_Kay 11 posts

Hello,

I'm Sheila, I live on my own and have two grown up sons who have now left home and I love Dafne.
I have been a Type 1 diabetic since 1982 after the birth of my second son, and like some of you other diabetics I have seen a few changes, but at last with Dafne this insulin/carb ratio makes sense.

I have always tried to follow a sensible diet and attitude towards diabetes, but have not always felt supported by my diabetic consultant. I always felt as is I came away with a pat on the head and a tick in the book. In fact the only real advice I recieved when going through a very stressful divorce was, "Come back in three months."

Over the last couple of years I have been seen by the diabetic nurse at my local surgery where the care has been much more supportive.
Last month I did a Dafne course and now after 27 years I can understand the "How" of putting it all together. Yahoo.

I am still getting to grips with experimenting with the ratios but the experimenting is helping me to be adverturous.
I was pleased to read that others are playing with splitting the BI lantus dose. Since Dafne I now inject at 6pm and have very high readings by 5:30pm so think my lantus is running out, I will try the split.

Does anyone else do shift work? I am a care worker looking after people with learning disabilities. How does it effect your readings? I have had terrible problems which I hope the new Dafne training will help me sort out. I get extremely tired after the long shifts, 8hrs then a sleep in at work, and then another 7hrs. I find my BG goes very high and is often effected the next day.

Thank you Mark for your help getting onto Dafneonline, computers are not my first love, and I often struggle my way around them. I have enjoyed looking at the different comments others have left. I look forward to reading more.

Jul 16, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Dieting

Since being a DAFNE boy, I have lost around 10 pounds without really trying. As I now understand the relationship between insulin doses and the amount of CHO I eat, I have cut down my breakfast for example from a bowl of cornflakes and piece of toast, to just the cornflakes - eating less is no longer a worry as I know how to adjust my insulin - prior to DAFNE it was all a bit of a guess and therefore prone to more hypos ... which led to taking in quick acting carbs - now how can you lose weight like that?

Insulin can also contribute to weight gain - and under DAFNE I am taking less insulin - double bonus!

Alan

Jul 14, 2009

Claire Hough 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public

I also saw this month's reply from the nurse who originally wrote the letter and spotted that she is from Birkenhead where I work. Had me wondering if it could be me she was complaining about, ha ha!

Anyway, I would never have dreamed of injecting in public until I attended DAFNE and I had an epiphany as we all sat in the canteen together eating lunch and doing blood tests and injections in full view of everyone there! We later had a bit of a discussion about it during the course and the lovely other diabetics who were on the course with me gave me more confidence to inject in public.

This has really helped me as previously one of the main issues keeping my BS levels high was not doing my insulin on time and part of this would be because I was waiting for a convenient time to do it! I would have something to eat at work at my desk, but be so busy working it would take me sometimes an hour to get around to nipping to the loo to do my injection. After DAFNE I started doing my injections at my desk very subtley and no one has ever noticed. These days it depends on the situation as to what I will do, if I need to do an injection in my stomach and am wearing a dress I won't do it in full sight of people as that would involve flashing my knickers!! But I just use my common sense and so far no one has ever commented or had an issue. I have injected in shops, on trains and even whilst walking down the street, there's no stopping me now!!

I think that the lady who wrote the letter must have been riled by someone making a big song and dance about their insulin injection, which is not what the majority of us would do, but at the same time I think it was wrong of her to write in to Balance about it as often it takes years for us Diabetics to gain enough confidence to do our injections in public, the last thing we need is an ex-nurse (who you would expect to be sympathetic) to knock us back down again!

Jul 14, 2009

Claire Hough 12 posts

Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE in peril at the Wirral

Hi All,

Just a quick uodate on this, last week I went to see Julia the Dietician who helped to run my DAFNE course and she told me that the decision has now been made to run neither the DAFNE or Whistle course, but to put something together themselves based on the same principles. Julia said she was aware that I had emailed about it and seen what I had written, and we agreed what a shame it is that no more Type 1s on the Wirral will be able to attend the life changing course, but it appears to all be down to funding. My treatment and support will not be affected for the time being as the dietician and DSN are already trained to help me, but I'm not sure what would happen if they were both to leave and be replaced by others without training in the future. Let's hope they don't leve hey?! What a shame for the Diabetics who did not manage to get on the course.

Jul 14, 2009

Claire Hough 12 posts

Hi All, I'm sorry I am only just getting around to introducing myself even though I have already posted a couple of times!

My name is Claire, I'm 29, I live in Cheshire and I was diagnosed Type 1 in 1995, a few weeks before my 15th Birthday. I was given lots of help and support at the time by the hospital and the lovely DSN there, but I don't think my head was in the right place to take it all in at the time. I got by for the first 8 years or so by doing my insulin twice a day (often not at the right time, but a few hours later when I got around to it) and burying my head in the sand. I had a few hypos where I ended up in hospital and one case of DKA whilst on holiday in Spain, but knowing what I do know I think I was lucky to have got away with such few consequences of not really managing my Diabetes. When I did show up for my hospital appointments my Hba1c was usually between 9-11 but I didn't really understand what this meant to be honest! I was totally in denial and just wanted to live a 'normal' life.

Aged 23 I went for an eye check up and for the first time they found little spots on the back of my eye and I finally had the wake up call I needed. I got myself to the hospital and talked to the nurses and doctor (getting a little emotional at times) and asked them for help. The doctor put me on the waiting list for a DAFNE course and the nurses changed me onto Novorapid and Levemir, 4 injections a day and 8mm needles, rather than my mixtard pens and 12mm needles (ow - that shows how out of date I was - I am now on 5mm!!). As a result I lost over a stone in weight and my sugar levels improved, but I still wasn't doing my injections on time or many blood tests. It was only the DAFNE course that really got me doing it all properly and that was because it was the first time since I was 14 that everything was explained to me and I was in the right frame of mind to listen. It obviously took me all those years to come to terms with the fact I am diabetic!

After the course my HbA1c came down to 7.5, the best it has ever been. I now test my sugar levels before every meal, have the confidence and knowledge to correct my sugar levels and manage sick days. I now inject (subtley) in public, always carry fresh orange with me in case of hypo (I never used to carry anything with me - how awful!) and use a new needle for each injection (again something I wasn't doing before!!). The course has empowered me and I now take a much greater interest in my results and HbA1c and in Diabetes as a whole. I slipped back into a few bad habits recently and my HbA1c went back up to 8, purely due to laziness on my own part, but now I am more motivated than ever and am on track for my first ever HbA1c below 7 at my next check up, fingers crossed!

I love this site, it is fantastic, especially because I can access it from my phone and no longer have to carry around diaries and Carb books. It is really helping me to manage my diabetes so thanks very much to the guys that set it up.

Jul 14, 2009

NiVZ 82 posts

Hello,

Finally getting round to introducing myself. I'm Paul, age 31, and live in Aberdeenshire with my wife and 2 year old daughter.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes a few weeks before Christmas in 1996 and attended the very first DAFNE course in Aberdeen and it has made the biggest change to the way I manage my diabetes. My BG was all over the place before DAFNE, but on the week of the course they were all spot on. Since the course my BG's weren't so good and my HbA1C went a bit high, but it's now on the way down again.

Really like this site, and all the features it offers and am looking forward to getting to know you all.

Jul 13, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Having played around with various spreadsheet functions and used a number of meter manufacturers' software over many years, I am a great fan of what I think are described as "time of day modal" graphs. Hope the following makes sense - but please come back at me if not ...

Divide the day into DAFNE type periods: before breakfast, before dinner, before evening meal and then before bed. Now take BG readings over say two weeks for each period and find the modal value for each period - the value which has as many readings above and below it for a particular period - not the average - as the odd very low or very high can make averages meaningless. The modal point of each period is then plotted on the graph and this point is marked with vertical line - representing the range of values associated with it. (Gee - I wish I had an image file to post up at this point).

The idea is that with a graph which shows a time period of one day along the x-axis, you can see how consistent or otherwise the BG readings are at a specific time of the day and also whether there is an underlying trend which will or should enable you to adjust your individual meal or background insulin dose.

The ideal will be a horizonal line (rising slightly at bedtime according to DAFNE rules) and with the vertical lines discussed earlier, non-existent.

Make sense?

Alan

Jul 13, 2009

Jennifer 11 posts

Thanks for your replies. I have just this minute sent an email off to my Dafne nurse asking if she can do that for me! Fingers crossed.

Jul 13, 2009

Jennifer 11 posts

Hi,

My name is Jenni, age 30, living with my partner and son in Aberdeen and getting married next year! (woohoo!)

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in August 2006 and attended the DAFNE course in March 2007. I found it great, it helped me come to terms with my diagnosis as I didn't really know much about how to manage my blood glucose levels. My BG levels were perfect that week but unfortunately not been so great since! I did meet some fab people who shared their experiences as I also don't know many people with diabetes my age.

Generally my BG levels are ok but I am having problems when my BG level has shot up by morning making my HbA1c quite high, seeking advice! I did go through a period of being quite lazy with testing etc...but after having my knuckles rapped at clinic I am getting better!

Jul 13, 2009

ChrisS 12 posts

I've always had a Sharps Bin on my prescription since diagnosis in 2003.
I take the full one to the Pharmacy who then dispose of it.

I would just ask your GP to add it to your prescription.

Jul 13, 2009

NiVZ 82 posts