Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Jul 2, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: Site Development / On line carb counter

ok, ok, I admit I got it wrong :-) I will get it corrected ASAP, sorry.

Jul 2, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Useful link for looking up CPs

Ian, I have put your question to the nice ladies at DAFNE Central. i will update you when I have a reply. In the mean time you can always use the online version, it should be identical to the paper version.

Jul 2, 2009

ianmac 3 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Useful link for looking up CPs

Is it possible to order the Dafne carb counter book which were given on the course

graduated 6 weeks ago and have seen marked improvement on blood glucose levels but still a lot to learn esp on takeaways

Thanks

Ian

Jul 2, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Topic: Site Development / On line carb counter

Had me reaching for my mighty DAFNE CP List book there Thea. Mine is issue 8, October 2008 and shows exactly as you say: Chick Pea and potato curry, 200g, 2.5 CP. (pages 18 and 35).

Alan

Jul 2, 2009

Anne-Marie 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Introductions

Hi all. I'm Anne-Marie and I have had Type 1 diabetes since 2001, when I was diagnosed half way through my primary degree (what timing!).

I have recently completed the DAFNE course in St Vincents hospital in Dublin. I have been watching DAFNE for the past few years, always interested in it - so when the programme moved to Ireland I jumped at the opportunity to change hospitals to one where DAFNE is practiced - best decision I have ever made.

As I am only a new graduate from DAFNE (June 2009), I am still trying to get all the sugar levels as I would like them. It will probably take a couple of weeks- but I am already delighted at how much more stable and also predictable my sugar levels are. I am no longer going to bed at night, or out with my friends, with the terror of an unexpected hypo. DAFNE has helped to make it all make sense and the freedom I have found in truly life changing.

I found this website last week and it is a great facility to have - so nice to talk to other DAFNE users and pick up any tips. I find non-DAFNE users don't really understand the concept yet, and having to explain how "Yes, I can eat this piece of cake - I have NOT turned my back on my diabetes care" can get me down sometimes! So, talking to others who know all about it (the ups and downs) is really helpful. Well done on putting such a great system together, guys.

AM

Jul 2, 2009

Anne-Marie 4 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Changes to HbA1c reporting

Hi - I am not a HCP either, but I do know that what Marke says is correct. There is a common misconception that what we get from our test metres uses the same measurement as the HBA1C, but this is not the case. The test metres measure the amount of glucose in your blood per mmol of blood, whereas the HBA1C is a percentage measure, looking at how much glucose has attached to the haemaglobin - they are not the same measurements at all. It is an Apples and Oranges comparison situation - two completely separate measurements. As far as I know one of the reasons why they are introducing this new measurement of the HBA1C is to try and avoid this confusion.

Jun 30, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Changes to HbA1c reporting

Simon, I am NOT a HCP however my understanding is that blood meters measure the level of glucose in the blood at a particular moment. A HBA1c test measures the amount of glucose that is bound to the haemaglobin in your red blood cells. They are two different things like markets and meerkats ;^) You cannot really compare on with the other, so I don't think you will ever get a meter that does what you want.
It is true that HBA1c sort of gives you an average blood sugar over the last 3 months but its not necessarily a good idea to use one as a measure of the other. But hey as I said I'm not a HCP , I'm an IT person maybe a friendly HCP reading this can give a better answer.

Jun 30, 2009

Simon Rowley 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Changes to HbA1c reporting

If my current HbA1c is 8.0 I can compare this to my future blood tests and if they are less than 8 I am happier than if they are more then 8. If my HbAc1 changes to 64 under the new system then it would be really helpful if my own blood test meter adopted the same new numbering, so that more than 64 would be worse and less than 64 would be better. Is this likely to happen?

Jun 30, 2009

Thea 1 post

Topic: Site Development / On line carb counter

Hi Simon
I'm just navigating the site for the first time and noticed a blip in the carb counter in the Indo Asian section. The chickpea and potato curry is down as 5.5 CP's which was a typo error in the cp book and should be 2.5 cp's. If I notice anything else, I will let you know!

Thea

Jun 29, 2009

Davejg 6 posts

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

I dont give 2 hoots about what other people think, I inject and do bg tests anywhere if and when is necessary.
It is a necessity to stay healthy and keep me alive. I will stop injecting in public(although this doesnt happen that often) when it becomes illegal to take a life saving drug in public. I feel sorry for anyone that is afraid of what other people may think and are embarrased about there illness.

Jun 29, 2009

JayBee 587 posts

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

Re: A Question Of Etiquette

I personally don't think it's a lack of consideration for others at all - if someone is injecting in such a way that is attention seeking, then I'd understand - but most diabetics don't so this 'painted with the same brush' issue is just stupid. Pretty much says it all when it's just one person objecting as well.

I mean, what on earth do you do if there are no toilets avaliable? I've had to duck behind a public bin before because a friend and I were out and I needed to top up my dose after a meal. Life isn't fair or pleasant all the time and quite frankly I would love to not inject but that is not the case.

To put it simply: making a mountain out of a molehill.

Jun 29, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Mobile site released

Hi, I removed the nbsp but then thought that its probably used in lots of places on the site :-( So I have now registered with the nokia site and will download their SDK to see if I can resolve the issue some other way. As soon as I have worked out what needs to be done I will let you know.

Jun 29, 2009

JayBee 587 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Applying DAFNE when hiking

I cannot say that I've been hiking to share an experience, but considering most of the DAFNE guidelines you're planning on applying have been tested to some extent and they are what are recommended, I think you will be okay.

Enjoy your hike! Smile

Jun 29, 2009

NiVZ 82 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Mobile site released

Hi Marke, it's not really a problem, just a cosmetic issue. I downloaded the Nokia SDK which has a phone emulator you can use in Windows and it showed the same thing. Maybe something common to Nokia's own built-in browser Surprised

(

Jun 29, 2009

Lizzie 87 posts

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

RichardG, here is the latest letter:

A Question Of Etiquette

Wow my objection to the lady who injected at a restaurant table really put the cat amongst the pigeons, I was disappointed but not really surprised by the in yer face, Iâ€™m doing what I like regardless of anyone else attitude of so many to whom â€˜Iâ€™ and â€˜Meâ€™ appear to be the most important words. To those who say â€˜look awayâ€™ do you object to being told to turn the tv off if something is on that you donâ€™t like? Iâ€™m sure thousands of people inject discreetly in public every day and discretion is the point. If you canâ€™t do it in such a way that no one else notices, then find somewhere else!

As a nurse retired I donâ€™t find injecting disgusting nor do I have a needle phobia. What I do have is consideration for others and there are people who donâ€™t like seeing someone self inject. To the parents the idea that there are people with different opinions might not come amiss. As for those who talk of dark ages, the narrow minded and diabetic junkies (would you object to a heroin addict injecting at your table) Iâ€™m sorry you feel so defensive about it. I too have diabetes, type 2 and if I ever have to inject I shall hone my technique to invisibility or Iâ€™ll head for the loo.

Jun 28, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / What is the DAFNE User Group ?

An interesting question to which there is not currently a definitive answer. The idea for the DAFNE user group borne out of a desire by the national Executive group to have greater input and activity from graduates not only in the running of the national programme but also into their research agenda.
For one reason or another this did not happen until a couple of months ago when an election was finally held and 15 graduates were elected to the user group. The group will undergo training before it has its first 'official' meeting and that training will take place early in July.
Once the training is complete meetings will occur and you will be able to read and comment on them in this forum. We at the website have representation on the user group and will do our best to ensure everyone is kept involved with what is going on in the group and any news that comes out of it. If anything noteworthy occurs at the training it will be reported here as will details of what occurs at the first and any subsequent meetings.

Jun 28, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: General Discussion / changes to HBA1c

All, you may or may not be aware that from June 1st of this year a new way of reporting HBA1c came into effect. To give everyone time to adjust to the new way of reporting HBA1c will be reported in the new AND the old way until 1st June 2011 at which time only the new way will be reported.

Full details of the change including how to convert between the old % value and the new value are
available here in a Diabetes UK leaflet on the subject.

It doesn't directly affect DAFNE as such, however it will make exchanging data between different countries that run DAFNE easier since they will all be using the same units of measurement.

Two years sounds like a long time, however that might only be 2 HBA1c tests depending on how often you see your Diabetes team, so before you know it you will have to know the new figures. Let us know your thoughts on the subject , do you find the new way confusing ? Is the change a good or a bad thing ?

Jun 27, 2009

Rhona 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / Introductions

I have just been sent an email about this website - and am totally over the moon!! How wonderful to be able to read about all these different experiences. I have only managed to get through some as there are so many postings. I have been Diabetic now for 32 years, diagnosed at the age of 5. Like so many others my Mum used to weigh my food, I used glass syringes to inject, urine testing was the norm, and I only ever got half a Mars bar when I was hypo - that was a total treat as normally it was powdered glucose mixed with water - yum!!! I attended the DAFNE course 3 years ago, and have never looked back. What a success - I cannot believe the freedom it gives. The absolute elation of being able to eat what I want because I fancy it - and not because I am hypo - the joy it gave me to go into a shop and buy a chocolae bar because I was ALLOWED to, and not because I was hypo! Like so many others, I have to watch the weight, but excerise is now so much easier, as DAFNE taught me how to deal with that too. I never realised that exercising at a BS of 17 was a bad thing - I always thought that if I was 17 I would work the BS down, but now I realise that when I exericse at that level, I feel heavy, lethargic and quite frankly can't be bothered - also, it doesn't come down - I now inject a small amount before exercising at that level so that the keys can open the doors!!! What a lovely and simple way of putting it, but hey I understand it perfectly now!

DAFNE has been a total life changing experience for me, and I thank everyone who delivered it - my Diabetes has never been so easy to control and now I know I will live till I'm over 80 providing nothing else gets me - but it certainly won't be my Diabetes!!! I totally appreciate the serious complications that Diabetes can lead to, I have been very very lucky as with 32 years under my belt have experienced no complications yet - and don't intend to!! THANKS to DAFNE - and to the excellent care my mum and dad gave me when I was 5 and relying on them to look after me!!

Jun 26, 2009

marke 686 posts

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

interesting you should ask about DAFNE and pumps, I attended the DAFNE Collaborative today ( a meeting of HCP's from all DAFNE
Centres) and one of the research studies at the moment is a DAFNE Course tailored for those on insulin pumps. So yes it IS possible and an area being looked at for possible more widespread implementation in the future.
I will write up a report about the meeting and put it on the site as there were a number of interesting bits of DAFNE news from the day.

Jun 26, 2009

marke 686 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Mobile site released

thanks for the feedback, I will look into the issue you have highlighted. The '&nbsp' is formatting used to add a 'space' making the page line up better and hopefully look better. All browsers 'should' support it, its possible there is an error in the definition of the page.

Jun 26, 2009

richard_g 14 posts

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

What does the latest letter say? I must say that I used to hide away to inject but don't any more. I've only had one instance where anyone seems to have noticed and that was a child in a restaurant, but then children are much more observant than adults. Alzibiff, I'm pleased you've now got a more discreet means of taking insulin and as you say it's really a personal choice. i'm curious how Daphne works with a pump though?

Jun 26, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Pumps V Injections

Damo, Think that you are right - you DO have some misconceptions here:
"My mentality is that they are for diabetics that may not remember to take their insulin, or the less active / mobile. (is this just my misconception?)."

I had injections for 42 years before attending a DAFNE course and moving onto pump therapy - brilliant! The pump does increase flexibility in lifestyle and the way in which insulin is delivered can only improve control - I have had a pump for a month now and along with the DAFNE principles which I have learned, am getting there.

Is it for you? Only you can answer that one I guess but I would certainly give it a trial - nothing is irreversible, I wouldn't think that you have to sign up for life but suggest you should be prepared to give it a decent amount of time.

I play squash with my pump attached - no worries there and I feel that so long as you take reasonable precautions with a pump and delivery tube, footy and rugby should not present any insurmountable problems - the manufacturers of my pump have a pump case designed for active folk like you.

Showering, sex and sleep - no worries. The pump can be detatched for up to an hour at a time which should take care of items 1 and 2 (?). As for sleeping - wear a pair of boxers in bed and clip the pump to the front of them - you don't know it's there when asleep. Before I started my pump I had similar worries and heard that people stick the pump under the pillow - not sure how that works if you turn over in bed as much as I do!

At the end of the day, the pump is a choice - for some it will be fantastic for others it may be a pain. If the latter, stick to injections but I for one love the freedom it is giving me.

Alan

p.s. Three days is not really long enough to assess how you would get on with a pump - in my view anyway!

pps Losing weight is much easier with a pump - although my recent success in this area may also be attributed to the DAFNE regime. One thing to bear in mind is that it is common to need less insulin when on pump therapy compared to injections.

Jun 26, 2009

Lizzie 87 posts

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

Alzibiff, but the nurse was judging in the first place when she said that people should not inject in public, and she is certainly judging us now as in her second letter she compares diabetics to junkies and says we are selfish and inconsiderate if we inject in public. If that is not judging I don't know what is.

And whether you are shy or not is immaterial - we need to inject, it is a medical necessity and must be done hygenically and this overrides any superficial dislike of seeing injections that some stranger may have across the room. The more people see something, the more normal it becomes and the less irrational reactions there are to it. So to my mind the best way of eradicating this sort of prejudice is to inject publicly and not hide away.

Jun 26, 2009

Alzibiff 21 posts

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

I think that this topic is getting blown up out of all proportion and simply centres on personal feelings - and we are all entitled to those! Me - I'm a shy person who, prior to using an insulin pump, (a month ago now), preferred not to inject in public for 42 years but did so when I had to. That isn't right or wrong - it's me. The key phrase here being "I'm a shy person". On the other side of the fence - someone observing another who is not a shy person, injecting in public - they may approve, disapprove, like or dislike to see it - it's just them, we should not judge, just accept that this is the way they are. However, it is right to have the debate but not to judge others - it's a personal thing as I said, whether you can understand the feelings of others is another matter.

Jun 26, 2009

Lizzie 87 posts

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

I think this is discrimination. Why does she expect us to hide our disability and go to a dirty toilet to inject? If a blind person was eating in a restaurant, would she expect them to leave their white stick and guide dog at home so they did not offend anyone? Would she expect an asthmatic to take their inhaler in a toilet? Needles today are so small and discreet, if anyone noticed me injecting I would want to know why they were staring so rudely. If someone has a visible disability, everyone knows it is rude to stare. So isn't it rude to stare at a diabetic injecting themselves?

Jul 2, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: Site Development / On line carb counter ok, ok, I admit I got it wrong :-) I will get it corrected ASAP, sorry.

Jul 2, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Useful link for looking up CPs Ian, I have put your question to the nice ladies at DAFNE Central. i will update you when I have a reply. In the mean time you can always use the online version, it should be identical to the paper version.

Jul 2, 2009 ianmac 3 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Useful link for looking up CPs Is it possible to order the Dafne carb counter book which were given on the course graduated 6 weeks ago and have seen marked improvement on blood glucose levels but still a lot to learn esp on takeaways Thanks Ian

Jul 2, 2009 Alzibiff 21 posts	Topic: Site Development / On line carb counter Had me reaching for my mighty DAFNE CP List book there Thea. Mine is issue 8, October 2008 and shows exactly as you say: Chick Pea and potato curry, 200g, 2.5 CP. (pages 18 and 35). Alan

Jul 2, 2009 Anne-Marie 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Hi all. I'm Anne-Marie and I have had Type 1 diabetes since 2001, when I was diagnosed half way through my primary degree (what timing!). I have recently completed the DAFNE course in St Vincents hospital in Dublin. I have been watching DAFNE for the past few years, always interested in it - so when the programme moved to Ireland I jumped at the opportunity to change hospitals to one where DAFNE is practiced - best decision I have ever made. As I am only a new graduate from DAFNE (June 2009), I am still trying to get all the sugar levels as I would like them. It will probably take a couple of weeks- but I am already delighted at how much more stable and also predictable my sugar levels are. I am no longer going to bed at night, or out with my friends, with the terror of an unexpected hypo. DAFNE has helped to make it all make sense and the freedom I have found in truly life changing. I found this website last week and it is a great facility to have - so nice to talk to other DAFNE users and pick up any tips. I find non-DAFNE users don't really understand the concept yet, and having to explain how "Yes, I can eat this piece of cake - I have NOT turned my back on my diabetes care" can get me down sometimes! So, talking to others who know all about it (the ups and downs) is really helpful. Well done on putting such a great system together, guys. AM

Jul 2, 2009 Anne-Marie 4 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Changes to HbA1c reporting Hi - I am not a HCP either, but I do know that what Marke says is correct. There is a common misconception that what we get from our test metres uses the same measurement as the HBA1C, but this is not the case. The test metres measure the amount of glucose in your blood per mmol of blood, whereas the HBA1C is a percentage measure, looking at how much glucose has attached to the haemaglobin - they are not the same measurements at all. It is an Apples and Oranges comparison situation - two completely separate measurements. As far as I know one of the reasons why they are introducing this new measurement of the HBA1C is to try and avoid this confusion.

Jun 30, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Changes to HbA1c reporting Simon, I am NOT a HCP however my understanding is that blood meters measure the level of glucose in the blood at a particular moment. A HBA1c test measures the amount of glucose that is bound to the haemaglobin in your red blood cells. They are two different things like markets and meerkats ;^) You cannot really compare on with the other, so I don't think you will ever get a meter that does what you want. It is true that HBA1c sort of gives you an average blood sugar over the last 3 months but its not necessarily a good idea to use one as a measure of the other. But hey as I said I'm not a HCP , I'm an IT person maybe a friendly HCP reading this can give a better answer.

Jun 30, 2009 Simon Rowley 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Changes to HbA1c reporting If my current HbA1c is 8.0 I can compare this to my future blood tests and if they are less than 8 I am happier than if they are more then 8. If my HbAc1 changes to 64 under the new system then it would be really helpful if my own blood test meter adopted the same new numbering, so that more than 64 would be worse and less than 64 would be better. Is this likely to happen?

Jun 30, 2009 Thea 1 post	Topic: Site Development / On line carb counter Hi Simon I'm just navigating the site for the first time and noticed a blip in the carb counter in the Indo Asian section. The chickpea and potato curry is down as 5.5 CP's which was a typo error in the cp book and should be 2.5 cp's. If I notice anything else, I will let you know! Thea

Jun 29, 2009 Davejg 6 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public I dont give 2 hoots about what other people think, I inject and do bg tests anywhere if and when is necessary. It is a necessity to stay healthy and keep me alive. I will stop injecting in public(although this doesnt happen that often) when it becomes illegal to take a life saving drug in public. I feel sorry for anyone that is afraid of what other people may think and are embarrased about there illness.

Jun 29, 2009 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public Re: A Question Of Etiquette I personally don't think it's a lack of consideration for others at all - if someone is injecting in such a way that is attention seeking, then I'd understand - but most diabetics don't so this 'painted with the same brush' issue is just stupid. Pretty much says it all when it's just one person objecting as well. I mean, what on earth do you do if there are no toilets avaliable? I've had to duck behind a public bin before because a friend and I were out and I needed to top up my dose after a meal. Life isn't fair or pleasant all the time and quite frankly I would love to not inject but that is not the case. To put it simply: making a mountain out of a molehill.

Jun 29, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Mobile site released Hi, I removed the nbsp but then thought that its probably used in lots of places on the site :-( So I have now registered with the nokia site and will download their SDK to see if I can resolve the issue some other way. As soon as I have worked out what needs to be done I will let you know.

Jun 29, 2009 JayBee 587 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Applying DAFNE when hiking I cannot say that I've been hiking to share an experience, but considering most of the DAFNE guidelines you're planning on applying have been tested to some extent and they are what are recommended, I think you will be okay. Enjoy your hike!

Jun 29, 2009 NiVZ 82 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Mobile site released Hi Marke, it's not really a problem, just a cosmetic issue. I downloaded the Nokia SDK which has a phone emulator you can use in Windows and it showed the same thing. Maybe something common to Nokia's own built-in browser (

Jun 29, 2009 Lizzie 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public RichardG, here is the latest letter: A Question Of Etiquette Wow my objection to the lady who injected at a restaurant table really put the cat amongst the pigeons, I was disappointed but not really surprised by the in yer face, Iâ€™m doing what I like regardless of anyone else attitude of so many to whom â€˜Iâ€™ and â€˜Meâ€™ appear to be the most important words. To those who say â€˜look awayâ€™ do you object to being told to turn the tv off if something is on that you donâ€™t like? Iâ€™m sure thousands of people inject discreetly in public every day and discretion is the point. If you canâ€™t do it in such a way that no one else notices, then find somewhere else! As a nurse retired I donâ€™t find injecting disgusting nor do I have a needle phobia. What I do have is consideration for others and there are people who donâ€™t like seeing someone self inject. To the parents the idea that there are people with different opinions might not come amiss. As for those who talk of dark ages, the narrow minded and diabetic junkies (would you object to a heroin addict injecting at your table) Iâ€™m sorry you feel so defensive about it. I too have diabetes, type 2 and if I ever have to inject I shall hone my technique to invisibility or Iâ€™ll head for the loo.

Jun 28, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / What is the DAFNE User Group ? An interesting question to which there is not currently a definitive answer. The idea for the DAFNE user group borne out of a desire by the national Executive group to have greater input and activity from graduates not only in the running of the national programme but also into their research agenda. For one reason or another this did not happen until a couple of months ago when an election was finally held and 15 graduates were elected to the user group. The group will undergo training before it has its first 'official' meeting and that training will take place early in July. Once the training is complete meetings will occur and you will be able to read and comment on them in this forum. We at the website have representation on the user group and will do our best to ensure everyone is kept involved with what is going on in the group and any news that comes out of it. If anything noteworthy occurs at the training it will be reported here as will details of what occurs at the first and any subsequent meetings.

Jun 28, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: General Discussion / changes to HBA1c All, you may or may not be aware that from June 1st of this year a new way of reporting HBA1c came into effect. To give everyone time to adjust to the new way of reporting HBA1c will be reported in the new AND the old way until 1st June 2011 at which time only the new way will be reported. Full details of the change including how to convert between the old % value and the new value are available here in a Diabetes UK leaflet on the subject. It doesn't directly affect DAFNE as such, however it will make exchanging data between different countries that run DAFNE easier since they will all be using the same units of measurement. Two years sounds like a long time, however that might only be 2 HBA1c tests depending on how often you see your Diabetes team, so before you know it you will have to know the new figures. Let us know your thoughts on the subject , do you find the new way confusing ? Is the change a good or a bad thing ?

Jun 27, 2009 Rhona 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions I have just been sent an email about this website - and am totally over the moon!! How wonderful to be able to read about all these different experiences. I have only managed to get through some as there are so many postings. I have been Diabetic now for 32 years, diagnosed at the age of 5. Like so many others my Mum used to weigh my food, I used glass syringes to inject, urine testing was the norm, and I only ever got half a Mars bar when I was hypo - that was a total treat as normally it was powdered glucose mixed with water - yum!!! I attended the DAFNE course 3 years ago, and have never looked back. What a success - I cannot believe the freedom it gives. The absolute elation of being able to eat what I want because I fancy it - and not because I am hypo - the joy it gave me to go into a shop and buy a chocolae bar because I was ALLOWED to, and not because I was hypo! Like so many others, I have to watch the weight, but excerise is now so much easier, as DAFNE taught me how to deal with that too. I never realised that exercising at a BS of 17 was a bad thing - I always thought that if I was 17 I would work the BS down, but now I realise that when I exericse at that level, I feel heavy, lethargic and quite frankly can't be bothered - also, it doesn't come down - I now inject a small amount before exercising at that level so that the keys can open the doors!!! What a lovely and simple way of putting it, but hey I understand it perfectly now! DAFNE has been a total life changing experience for me, and I thank everyone who delivered it - my Diabetes has never been so easy to control and now I know I will live till I'm over 80 providing nothing else gets me - but it certainly won't be my Diabetes!!! I totally appreciate the serious complications that Diabetes can lead to, I have been very very lucky as with 32 years under my belt have experienced no complications yet - and don't intend to!! THANKS to DAFNE - and to the excellent care my mum and dad gave me when I was 5 and relying on them to look after me!!

Jun 26, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public interesting you should ask about DAFNE and pumps, I attended the DAFNE Collaborative today ( a meeting of HCP's from all DAFNE Centres) and one of the research studies at the moment is a DAFNE Course tailored for those on insulin pumps. So yes it IS possible and an area being looked at for possible more widespread implementation in the future. I will write up a report about the meeting and put it on the site as there were a number of interesting bits of DAFNE news from the day.

Jun 26, 2009 marke 686 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Mobile site released thanks for the feedback, I will look into the issue you have highlighted. The '&nbsp' is formatting used to add a 'space' making the page line up better and hopefully look better. All browsers 'should' support it, its possible there is an error in the definition of the page.

Jun 26, 2009 richard_g 14 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public What does the latest letter say? I must say that I used to hide away to inject but don't any more. I've only had one instance where anyone seems to have noticed and that was a child in a restaurant, but then children are much more observant than adults. Alzibiff, I'm pleased you've now got a more discreet means of taking insulin and as you say it's really a personal choice. i'm curious how Daphne works with a pump though?

Jun 26, 2009 Alzibiff 21 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Pumps V Injections Damo, Think that you are right - you DO have some misconceptions here: "My mentality is that they are for diabetics that may not remember to take their insulin, or the less active / mobile. (is this just my misconception?)." I had injections for 42 years before attending a DAFNE course and moving onto pump therapy - brilliant! The pump does increase flexibility in lifestyle and the way in which insulin is delivered can only improve control - I have had a pump for a month now and along with the DAFNE principles which I have learned, am getting there. Is it for you? Only you can answer that one I guess but I would certainly give it a trial - nothing is irreversible, I wouldn't think that you have to sign up for life but suggest you should be prepared to give it a decent amount of time. I play squash with my pump attached - no worries there and I feel that so long as you take reasonable precautions with a pump and delivery tube, footy and rugby should not present any insurmountable problems - the manufacturers of my pump have a pump case designed for active folk like you. Showering, sex and sleep - no worries. The pump can be detatched for up to an hour at a time which should take care of items 1 and 2 (?). As for sleeping - wear a pair of boxers in bed and clip the pump to the front of them - you don't know it's there when asleep. Before I started my pump I had similar worries and heard that people stick the pump under the pillow - not sure how that works if you turn over in bed as much as I do! At the end of the day, the pump is a choice - for some it will be fantastic for others it may be a pain. If the latter, stick to injections but I for one love the freedom it is giving me. Alan p.s. Three days is not really long enough to assess how you would get on with a pump - in my view anyway! pps Losing weight is much easier with a pump - although my recent success in this area may also be attributed to the DAFNE regime. One thing to bear in mind is that it is common to need less insulin when on pump therapy compared to injections.

Jun 26, 2009 Lizzie 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public Alzibiff, but the nurse was judging in the first place when she said that people should not inject in public, and she is certainly judging us now as in her second letter she compares diabetics to junkies and says we are selfish and inconsiderate if we inject in public. If that is not judging I don't know what is. And whether you are shy or not is immaterial - we need to inject, it is a medical necessity and must be done hygenically and this overrides any superficial dislike of seeing injections that some stranger may have across the room. The more people see something, the more normal it becomes and the less irrational reactions there are to it. So to my mind the best way of eradicating this sort of prejudice is to inject publicly and not hide away.

Jun 26, 2009 Alzibiff 21 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public I think that this topic is getting blown up out of all proportion and simply centres on personal feelings - and we are all entitled to those! Me - I'm a shy person who, prior to using an insulin pump, (a month ago now), preferred not to inject in public for 42 years but did so when I had to. That isn't right or wrong - it's me. The key phrase here being "I'm a shy person". On the other side of the fence - someone observing another who is not a shy person, injecting in public - they may approve, disapprove, like or dislike to see it - it's just them, we should not judge, just accept that this is the way they are. However, it is right to have the debate but not to judge others - it's a personal thing as I said, whether you can understand the feelings of others is another matter.

Jun 26, 2009 Lizzie 87 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Balance" letter about injecting in public I think this is discrimination. Why does she expect us to hide our disability and go to a dirty toilet to inject? If a blind person was eating in a restaurant, would she expect them to leave their white stick and guide dog at home so they did not offend anyone? Would she expect an asthmatic to take their inhaler in a toilet? Needles today are so small and discreet, if anyone noticed me injecting I would want to know why they were staring so rudely. If someone has a visible disability, everyone knows it is rude to stare. So isn't it rude to stare at a diabetic injecting themselves?