Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Mar 19, 2016

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Thanks Warwick. I think I'll keep things as they are for the time being, but there are a lot of useful tips here - thanks everyone.

Mar 18, 2016

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Hmmm, options as I see it are:

1) Keep the status quo.
2) Increase the time period between lunch and exercise so there is less QA around.
3) Eat some quick-acting carbs just before the exercise.
4) Have a low-carb lunch so that you don't need much QA which may assist the BGs to stay steady during the exercise.

Mar 18, 2016

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Hello Warwick, I usually exercise about two and a half hours after lunch.

My BGs go down by 5 or 6, so if I'm about 11 before I start I usually have some jelly-babies and a cereal bar afterwards to keep my BG from going down too far as my body recovers - that's about 2 or 3 CPs.

Mar 18, 2016

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir

I'm currently on Lantus, but was on Levemir for 15 months. It is my favourite basal insulin because as has been noted by other members, it clears the body after about 12 hours so is really useful for exercising. Making changes with Lantus can take 3 days before they really show up, whereas changes to my Levemir showed up almost immediately.

Unfortunately I developed an allergic reaction to Levemir with painful welts that lasted for about a week, so I've switched back to Lantus. f I hadn't had the allergic reaction, I'd still be on Levemir though.

Mar 18, 2016

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Trying to carbohydrate count

I agree that the Accuchek Aviva Expert really does help with this stuff.

Mar 18, 2016

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Insulin dose

Where in the diary are you trying to enter 4 units?

Mar 18, 2016

Warwick 423 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

How soon after lunch are you exercising Alan? If it is within a couple of hours, then your current regime is probably fine. If it is 4 hours or so, then perhaps take lunch a bit earlier, or exercise a bit later and take the correct insulin, or one unit less than what you would take if you weren't doing the exercise.

How far do your BGs drop during the 20 minutes of exercise?

Mar 17, 2016

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Wow, Phil - I'm not anywhere near your league! I limit myself to 20 minute sessions, but I do get out of breath and get the old heart pumping.

I'm probably 50 years older than you - so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
Have you done any racing? Cycling is a great sport, you should try it.

Mar 17, 2016

Phil Maskell 194 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Alan, just my 2p, trial and error is needed as we're all different.

For me it would depend on exercise intensity, if I knew I was doing an aerobic pootle / fat burner ride I wouldn't do much different with insulin unless it was going to be over an hour when I would lower QA, over 4 hours I would lower background and take sugar just in case (at lower intensity, very rarely needed).

For intense anaerobic sessions I wouldn't lower QA as I find cortisol and liver/ muscle glycogen spike my BG so having that QA on board is good.

This all works fine in theory until you go out and do a new route and find it has more hills than you expected or there is a massive headwind! On long rides for this reason I will take NovoRapid pen with me too as I feel lousy if BG spike is too much.

Hope this helps a bit? Trial and error though? Regardless if I go out on my bike I have pockets full of energy gels just in case Very Happy

Phil

Mar 16, 2016

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Thanks very much for the responses - very re-assuring.

Mar 16, 2016

sjohno 37 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Hi Alan

As every diabetic is different I think that only you after experimenting can find a 'happy' situation with your BG's. I do agree with what Andrew has said and from experience using the 'rulebook' etc I found that eating extra CP's before exercise/reducing insulin before exercise just resulted in very high BG's after as there was not enough insulin left in my body!
I have found that matching CP's with the QA is good (but I do have jelly babies with me), I do reduce my BI on an exercise day and find that I can eat 1 CP before bed without having to take any QA.

Good luck Very Happy

Mar 15, 2016

AMcD 38 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

Hi alan. Whatever the rulebook says I would agree with your current regime as personally I feel that the alternative option of taking the correct QA and then taking on additional carbs to make up BG levels in some way defeats some of the benefits of doing the exercise. Andy

Mar 15, 2016

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise

I spend 20 minutes on my exercise bike most afternoons in an attempt to keep myself reasonably fit. I usually reduce my lunchtime QA so that my BG before this is around 10 or 11. Would it be better to inject the correct QA and then take extra Carbs if necessary before the exercise? Or doesn't it matter?

Mar 14, 2016

Loonydriver 1 post

Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Insulin dose

When I put in 4 units of insulin it says this is an invalid value why can't you out in a dose less than 8 units

Mar 14, 2016

Cliff Thompson 1 post

Topic: General Discussion / NEW APP

Paul Patterson said:

In our news recently

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11604883

Just what I need; since retiring I no longer have the system i used when working. I am all over the place with BG readings, I forget to take the insulin and forget to record my results; I am feeling quite useless with my diabetes management. My Diabetic nurse is helping as best she can but in the end it is down to me to get a grip. I reckon this pump would certainly help me now I am getting older, when can we get these I wonder?

Mar 14, 2016

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Trying to carbohydrate count

1CP in DAFNE is equal to 10g of carbohydrate...........

to be honest, the CP was only really useful for me when following DAFNE strictly on paper........its useful on paper that's for sure......

Mar 14, 2016

novorapidboi26 1,819 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir

Upon starting DAFNE I was put on Lantus but almost immediately it was clear it wasn't lasting 24 hours, so went on Levemir.........

Didn't look back from Levemir until the pump came along......

its much more flexible for things like exercise, alcohol and illness, generally anyway, there are always exceptions.... Very Happy

Mar 14, 2016

Paul Patterson 7 posts

Topic: General Discussion / NEW APP

In our news recently

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11604883

Mar 13, 2016

TrayKev 1 post

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Trying to carbohydrate count

I have been carb counting now for about a year, I was finding it hard to start with but 8wks ago I went on the DAFNE course and have learnt a whole new way of doing things, the only problem was then, trying to work carbs in CP's. I was given a Accu-Chek Aviva Expert metre and things are so much easier. Now I am just trying to work out with my carb and cal book, how many carbs there are in each food I eat so I can work out the correct dosage of insulin.

Mar 12, 2016

HelenP 218 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Freestyle Libre/ Australia

I have recently received a notification that these will shortly be available in Australia.

Abbott received "approval from TGA (for Freestyle Libre) to be sold in the Australian market. It is currently unclear as to whether it will be offered for a subsidy under the NDSS."

Any ideas re cost?

Helen

Mar 9, 2016

Ivorthediver 5 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Insulin and accessories holdalls

I certainly can Jack .
Bought mine on Amazon and it has a central pocket with a Glycol type cool bag that keeps the two pencils nice and cool along with a central zip pocket with needle bags inside and 4/5 external zipped pockets
Look for" Elite bags " and you should find it alright , cost about Â£20 ish but well worth the money and the knowledge that EVERYTHING you need can be put in their and the insulins stay cool and it doesn't need freezing to maintain its temp even on warm days
I bought some iron on first aid / insulin badges to deter would be muggers from thinking its a general purpose type bum bag accessory and has a shoulder strap if you need it . Laughing

Mar 8, 2016

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Any comments or suggestions?

I think you might get more responses if you put this in the General Discussion forum.

Mar 8, 2016

wjennings 15 posts

Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Any comments or suggestions?

Any comments or suggestions?

Mar 7, 2016

Ivorthediver 5 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Jelly Babies

Tried many types ...from gulcostop and dextrostix which both make me throw up but Lucozade for very low or Jelly babies to stave off minor issues

Mar 7, 2016

Ivorthediver 5 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin types and doses - Basel/Bolus doses - Novapen 5

Well thanks for that Vic , this new word of Spike has only recently crossed my path in diabetic control , but now i am on the Forum i hope to address that .

I have been a T1 for 43 years and like most old hands are a little annoyed at the BSL / HbA1c goal post migration .
When first diagnosed in 1974 I was told that an HbA1c of 8 would put them all out of a job , but despite leading an active life until very recently where Arthritis of the spine is slowing me down my HbA1c has remained there or there about .
With less mobility now I am being persuaded to lower it , which I take on board , but i am finding it difficult to say the least .
My Dietician is trying her best , but between us we are not doing to well , but perhaps its me being impatient .

It was suggested to me by another diabetic that perhaps a pump is the answer but from what i have viewed on Forums they are harder to manage than the insulins i am currently on .
I have always done about 8 blood sugar level tests a day [ though some are just checks to see whats going on ] but i have recently been given a Freestyle which i find easy to use but hard to comprehend , as the suggested insulin doses are well below what i would normally have taken and some days i seem to be riding on a spike which i find counter productive short term and insanity on the long term

Hopefully things will improve but the signs so far are sole destroying

Mar 19, 2016 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Thanks Warwick. I think I'll keep things as they are for the time being, but there are a lot of useful tips here - thanks everyone.

Mar 18, 2016 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Hmmm, options as I see it are: 1) Keep the status quo. 2) Increase the time period between lunch and exercise so there is less QA around. 3) Eat some quick-acting carbs just before the exercise. 4) Have a low-carb lunch so that you don't need much QA which may assist the BGs to stay steady during the exercise.

Mar 18, 2016 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Hello Warwick, I usually exercise about two and a half hours after lunch. My BGs go down by 5 or 6, so if I'm about 11 before I start I usually have some jelly-babies and a cereal bar afterwards to keep my BG from going down too far as my body recovers - that's about 2 or 3 CPs.

Mar 18, 2016 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir I'm currently on Lantus, but was on Levemir for 15 months. It is my favourite basal insulin because as has been noted by other members, it clears the body after about 12 hours so is really useful for exercising. Making changes with Lantus can take 3 days before they really show up, whereas changes to my Levemir showed up almost immediately. Unfortunately I developed an allergic reaction to Levemir with painful welts that lasted for about a week, so I've switched back to Lantus. f I hadn't had the allergic reaction, I'd still be on Levemir though.

Mar 18, 2016 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Trying to carbohydrate count I agree that the Accuchek Aviva Expert really does help with this stuff.

Mar 18, 2016 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Insulin dose Where in the diary are you trying to enter 4 units?

Mar 18, 2016 Warwick 423 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise How soon after lunch are you exercising Alan? If it is within a couple of hours, then your current regime is probably fine. If it is 4 hours or so, then perhaps take lunch a bit earlier, or exercise a bit later and take the correct insulin, or one unit less than what you would take if you weren't doing the exercise. How far do your BGs drop during the 20 minutes of exercise?

Mar 17, 2016 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Wow, Phil - I'm not anywhere near your league! I limit myself to 20 minute sessions, but I do get out of breath and get the old heart pumping. I'm probably 50 years older than you - so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Have you done any racing? Cycling is a great sport, you should try it.

Mar 17, 2016 Phil Maskell 194 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Alan, just my 2p, trial and error is needed as we're all different. For me it would depend on exercise intensity, if I knew I was doing an aerobic pootle / fat burner ride I wouldn't do much different with insulin unless it was going to be over an hour when I would lower QA, over 4 hours I would lower background and take sugar just in case (at lower intensity, very rarely needed). For intense anaerobic sessions I wouldn't lower QA as I find cortisol and liver/ muscle glycogen spike my BG so having that QA on board is good. This all works fine in theory until you go out and do a new route and find it has more hills than you expected or there is a massive headwind! On long rides for this reason I will take NovoRapid pen with me too as I feel lousy if BG spike is too much. Hope this helps a bit? Trial and error though? Regardless if I go out on my bike I have pockets full of energy gels just in case Phil

Mar 16, 2016 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Thanks very much for the responses - very re-assuring.

Mar 16, 2016 sjohno 37 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Hi Alan As every diabetic is different I think that only you after experimenting can find a 'happy' situation with your BG's. I do agree with what Andrew has said and from experience using the 'rulebook' etc I found that eating extra CP's before exercise/reducing insulin before exercise just resulted in very high BG's after as there was not enough insulin left in my body! I have found that matching CP's with the QA is good (but I do have jelly babies with me), I do reduce my BI on an exercise day and find that I can eat 1 CP before bed without having to take any QA. Good luck

Mar 15, 2016 AMcD 38 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise Hi alan. Whatever the rulebook says I would agree with your current regime as personally I feel that the alternative option of taking the correct QA and then taking on additional carbs to make up BG levels in some way defeats some of the benefits of doing the exercise. Andy

Mar 15, 2016 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BGs before exercise I spend 20 minutes on my exercise bike most afternoons in an attempt to keep myself reasonably fit. I usually reduce my lunchtime QA so that my BG before this is around 10 or 11. Would it be better to inject the correct QA and then take extra Carbs if necessary before the exercise? Or doesn't it matter?

Mar 14, 2016 Loonydriver 1 post	Topic: DAFNE Online Mobile / Insulin dose When I put in 4 units of insulin it says this is an invalid value why can't you out in a dose less than 8 units

Mar 14, 2016 Cliff Thompson 1 post	Topic: General Discussion / NEW APP Paul Patterson said: In our news recently http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11604883 Just what I need; since retiring I no longer have the system i used when working. I am all over the place with BG readings, I forget to take the insulin and forget to record my results; I am feeling quite useless with my diabetes management. My Diabetic nurse is helping as best she can but in the end it is down to me to get a grip. I reckon this pump would certainly help me now I am getting older, when can we get these I wonder?

Mar 14, 2016 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Trying to carbohydrate count 1CP in DAFNE is equal to 10g of carbohydrate........... to be honest, the CP was only really useful for me when following DAFNE strictly on paper........its useful on paper that's for sure......

Mar 14, 2016 novorapidboi26 1,819 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir Upon starting DAFNE I was put on Lantus but almost immediately it was clear it wasn't lasting 24 hours, so went on Levemir......... Didn't look back from Levemir until the pump came along...... its much more flexible for things like exercise, alcohol and illness, generally anyway, there are always exceptions....

Mar 14, 2016 Paul Patterson 7 posts	Topic: General Discussion / NEW APP In our news recently http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11604883

Mar 13, 2016 TrayKev 1 post	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Trying to carbohydrate count I have been carb counting now for about a year, I was finding it hard to start with but 8wks ago I went on the DAFNE course and have learnt a whole new way of doing things, the only problem was then, trying to work carbs in CP's. I was given a Accu-Chek Aviva Expert metre and things are so much easier. Now I am just trying to work out with my carb and cal book, how many carbs there are in each food I eat so I can work out the correct dosage of insulin.

Mar 12, 2016 HelenP 218 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Freestyle Libre/ Australia I have recently received a notification that these will shortly be available in Australia. Abbott received "approval from TGA (for Freestyle Libre) to be sold in the Australian market. It is currently unclear as to whether it will be offered for a subsidy under the NDSS." Any ideas re cost? Helen

Mar 9, 2016 Ivorthediver 5 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Insulin and accessories holdalls I certainly can Jack . Bought mine on Amazon and it has a central pocket with a Glycol type cool bag that keeps the two pencils nice and cool along with a central zip pocket with needle bags inside and 4/5 external zipped pockets Look for" Elite bags " and you should find it alright , cost about Â£20 ish but well worth the money and the knowledge that EVERYTHING you need can be put in their and the insulins stay cool and it doesn't need freezing to maintain its temp even on warm days I bought some iron on first aid / insulin badges to deter would be muggers from thinking its a general purpose type bum bag accessory and has a shoulder strap if you need it .

Mar 8, 2016 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Any comments or suggestions? I think you might get more responses if you put this in the General Discussion forum.

Mar 8, 2016 wjennings 15 posts	Topic: DAFNE Graduate Group (DGG) / Any comments or suggestions? Any comments or suggestions?

Mar 7, 2016 Ivorthediver 5 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Jelly Babies Tried many types ...from gulcostop and dextrostix which both make me throw up but Lucozade for very low or Jelly babies to stave off minor issues

Mar 7, 2016 Ivorthediver 5 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin types and doses - Basel/Bolus doses - Novapen 5 Well thanks for that Vic , this new word of Spike has only recently crossed my path in diabetic control , but now i am on the Forum i hope to address that . I have been a T1 for 43 years and like most old hands are a little annoyed at the BSL / HbA1c goal post migration . When first diagnosed in 1974 I was told that an HbA1c of 8 would put them all out of a job , but despite leading an active life until very recently where Arthritis of the spine is slowing me down my HbA1c has remained there or there about . With less mobility now I am being persuaded to lower it , which I take on board , but i am finding it difficult to say the least . My Dietician is trying her best , but between us we are not doing to well , but perhaps its me being impatient . It was suggested to me by another diabetic that perhaps a pump is the answer but from what i have viewed on Forums they are harder to manage than the insulins i am currently on . I have always done about 8 blood sugar level tests a day [ though some are just checks to see whats going on ] but i have recently been given a Freestyle which i find easy to use but hard to comprehend , as the suggested insulin doses are well below what i would normally have taken and some days i seem to be riding on a spike which i find counter productive short term and insanity on the long term Hopefully things will improve but the signs so far are sole destroying