Recent Posts by Garry - DAFNE Online

Nov 25, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Apologies...

Expect that you know...
but diary Click here to add multiple entries link works but is missing the associated form and fields to fill.
Keep up the good work guys!
Regards Garry

Nov 19, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Levemir issues

I love cooking.
Worst errors arose when preparing something, putting it on the table and then thinking...Doh...havn't done blood...getting a wacky result and then washing hands - repeating blood test and getting the expected BG. So that's what set me investigating.
Even found that unless my hands were perfectly dry that errors crept in.
Reading your replies above reminded me that one of the best things that I have done since DAFNE is not overCPing after hypo.
I was a villain for too much carbohydrate... go downstairs at 03:00... test to confirm hypo and then have two glasses of milk and three biscuits... result... well you know the result... BG 13 - 15 with a worst case 21.5.
Regards
Garry

Nov 18, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Levemir issues

Mellissa
May I ask - Do you always wash your hands before blood testing?
Most BG kits now use such a small blood sample that any contamination error has a really dramatic effect.
BG 16 to 5.6 in 45 minutes is very unusual.

I say this from experience with an Medisense Abbott Optium Xceed meter which on 5 second Optium Plus test strips uses a tiny blood sample - 0.6 Î¼L.
They did a 3 second strip for a time which used an even smaller blood sample. But not sure whether they are available now.
Anyway I proved contamination error to myself by repeated trials of unwashed hands v washed hands - washed immediately after - and saw errors of up to 8 BG.

My conclusion was that I had to always accept the need for lack of contamination and to stick with washed hands at testing time.

Regards Garry

Nov 17, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Flu jab - just curious

Took flu jab here at work last week to save me the bother of making appointment for nurse at my GP surgery. Have tried to get one every year for the last 5 or 6.
Some insulin resistance evident over the last few days....which is pretty much what happens to me every time I get even a mild bug.

Bit surprised as this is the first that I've heard about a pnuemonia jab. Never been offered one - even though my doc is very diligent. Lung capacity very good so maybe that is the fortunate reason?

Regards Garry

Nov 15, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / BG RESULTS

Think you have hit the nail on the head with your last post.

With the limited information given I reckon that you need balance up the timings of your BI to 12 and 12 hours.
We see that Friday morning BI to night BI was 14Â½ hours and Friday night BI to Saturday morning was only 7 hours. Hence during Saturday day time you likely had two separate doses of BI active at the same time.
Saturday morning BI to night BI was 16 hours and Saturday night BI to Sunday morning was 10 hours...quite a difference.

Personally speaking, I take my morning Lantus BI at breakfast and evening BI at dinner and find that this often ends up as a good 12 hour split... rarely more than an hour out.

You may find that when things steady out that some additional BI changes are needed. But wait and see the impact of one change at a time of course.
I think most of us find that a BI split at 50:50 is also beneficial.
Would discuss any changes with your HCP to have their support and give you the confidence to make any changes needed.

Good luck. Keep us posted with your progress.

Regards Garry

Nov 12, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Exercise

That's one odd thing explained to me.
I had the expectation that exercise would always decrease my BG.
I have always meant to ask why post-early morning exercises my BG normally goes up. On occasion when getting up with a morning BG say at 12 or 13....I have gone pedalling like merry **ll around the park only to come back and find my BG at 14 and wondered....how does that work!
Thank you Alan... perfectly logical ...another diabetic life mystery explained.

Garry

Nov 12, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Red Wine

Can you tell us specifically what your poison is?
Garry

Nov 3, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / App

Have to admit to keeping details of my limited ketone records in the comments section of my DAFNE Online diary. Would that work for you?

Nov 1, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Weight please.
Personally prefer kg but I know some may like those funny old imperial units!

Oct 30, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Just checked and field appears to be 200 characters...so should be plenty for most text entries.
Garry

Oct 30, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

Like you Stew I prefer to keep as much as I can in the same place.
Quick fix though if you wish...
Have just been to see our DAFNE diabetic nurse and got latest HbA1c and weight figures and I enter them on the day in the Comments field - both in my DAFNE diary and in the Online diary too.
Not sure what the field character limit is on the Comments field...but I have not been limited yet.
Best Wishes Garry

Oct 27, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested

I think that the general public would find the 'Traffic Light' version on the right easier to understand.
We can all directly relate to and understand this simple system - which is in everyday use.
The language used as section headers on this page are more striking too and for me appear to appropriately describe the action which needs be undertaken.

Oct 4, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Chips / Potatoes - why the difference?

Chip weight is carbohydrate with very little water.
Boiled weight is carbohydrate with much higher water content.
Hence carbohydrate density of chips - for want of a better term - is much higher.
Regards Garry

Sep 23, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Introductions

Your HBA1c levels are very good and I think you have been given a general blurb statement. Don't worry about it. Most of us have background retinopathy - especially after your 20 years.
Our local eye consultant signed me off after 30 years monitoring and I only go to regular Diabetic retina screening reviewed by consultant and yearly regular local Optician screening now.
You are doing very well.
Keep it up.
Regards
Garry

Sep 23, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Advice from fellow grads.......

Personally speaking:
A bit short of info to advise on BI.
But on QA you appear to be making corrections each morning which are higher than a 1:4 ratio anyway so why not go to 1:4 and see how it goes.
Notice that this mornings breakfast - 23/09 06:40 ratio was only 1:1 not your normal 1:3.

Regards Garry

Sep 23, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Advice from fellow grads.......

Did you notice that 22/09 12:00 at a 1:2 ratio was 4u short or was it a typo?

Sep 8, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / DAFNE Online iPhone application - help with content/design needed

Rightly or wrongly! -
I have taken the rules to imply that it includes corrective QA
- it seems logical to me that if you are building up over a number of days to bringing in sick day rules to include any correctives that you have had to apply over the preceding day in order to get hold of the situation quickly.
Welcome any corrective response from HCP please.

Regards Garry

Aug 28, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens

Humapen Memoir is available on prescription here in the UK.

Just ask GP for a script:

Humapen Memoir on PIP code 329-3727

or in other parts of the world EAN code 5014602500320

Regards
Garry

Aug 27, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Forum improvments

Information is available in your DAFNE Course Handbook. The link to an on line version is available on the right side of this web page.

Or use this link in your browser if you prefer: -

http://www.dafneonline.co.uk/hbook_topics/38

You could perhaps save it as a favourite.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Garry

Aug 23, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Drinking

I think it would help if we could press the Food Agency into providing appropriate labelling of carbohydrate content on alcoholic drinks as provided on other foods.

Labelling always gives you %age Alcohol By Volume which is useful to most but does not meet our specific needs.

I remember years ago when Holsten Diat Pils was launched in the UK that it carried carbohydrate information back then, but I've never bought it for many years so I don't know the current situation.

Have never seen any CP values given on wine labelling.
As it comes from all over the world it may be hard to get any interest in any inititive.
Must admit that I almost always drink dry wines and have over the years come to neglect any potential CP involved. On rare occasions when drinking desert wines I am always careful to guess! and add some CP into my calculation.

So why don't we press to get this listening goverment to meet our needs. We could get a petition together over the net and with strong support may be able to change drinks labelling.

Aug 3, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Illness and resistance

Don't worry.
Just follow the rules and things will come back to normal as soon as your infection fades.
Only tricky bit of course is getting it right when on the return to normal insulin uptake when your resistance reduces.
Regards Garry

Aug 2, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs

Best discuss with your HCP.
Have been through this scenario twice before, last time about five years ago - well before my DAFNE - when my diabetologist of the time recommended a six month plan to readjust my body to more normal BGs - as my HBA1c by his reckoning was too good!
Hence it is very likely to be a long term process with HCP support.
As mentioned you may need change your diary target range and accept the knock-on effect on your next HBA1c - but well worth doing to get some secure hypo warning signs back.

With support I would go for it.

Regards
Garry

Jul 16, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries

I can only imagine how much work that this suggestion involves....
but could you make both the Add Diary Entry and add multiple entries at a time the same format and layout as the DAFNE diary....
it would make the transfer from diary to database far more intuitive.
Thanks for consideration
Garry

Jul 16, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Which Blood Meter

I have used an Abbot Medisense Optium Xceed for the last few years. Their support for me personally has been exceptional.
If you are handy on the confuser....sorry COMPUTER....their latest software, called Co-Pilot, allows you to download all info from the meter to computer via a specific USB lead, both available free to Abbot meter users, to produce graphs for information in many different formats to HCPs.
This software also supports pump users too.

Have a look at: -

www.abbottdiabetescare.co.uk/inspired.../copilot-software

for further info to see if it matches your personal needs.

Regards Garry

Jul 16, 2010

Garry 328 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens

Thanks for the help. I think perhaps I need take two pens with me!
Garry

Nov 25, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Apologies... Expect that you know... but diary Click here to add multiple entries link works but is missing the associated form and fields to fill. Keep up the good work guys! Regards Garry

Nov 19, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Levemir issues I love cooking. Worst errors arose when preparing something, putting it on the table and then thinking...Doh...havn't done blood...getting a wacky result and then washing hands - repeating blood test and getting the expected BG. So that's what set me investigating. Even found that unless my hands were perfectly dry that errors crept in. Reading your replies above reminded me that one of the best things that I have done since DAFNE is not overCPing after hypo. I was a villain for too much carbohydrate... go downstairs at 03:00... test to confirm hypo and then have two glasses of milk and three biscuits... result... well you know the result... BG 13 - 15 with a worst case 21.5. Regards Garry

Nov 18, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Levemir issues Mellissa May I ask - Do you always wash your hands before blood testing? Most BG kits now use such a small blood sample that any contamination error has a really dramatic effect. BG 16 to 5.6 in 45 minutes is very unusual. I say this from experience with an Medisense Abbott Optium Xceed meter which on 5 second Optium Plus test strips uses a tiny blood sample - 0.6 Î¼L. They did a 3 second strip for a time which used an even smaller blood sample. But not sure whether they are available now. Anyway I proved contamination error to myself by repeated trials of unwashed hands v washed hands - washed immediately after - and saw errors of up to 8 BG. My conclusion was that I had to always accept the need for lack of contamination and to stick with washed hands at testing time. Regards Garry

Nov 17, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Flu jab - just curious Took flu jab here at work last week to save me the bother of making appointment for nurse at my GP surgery. Have tried to get one every year for the last 5 or 6. Some insulin resistance evident over the last few days....which is pretty much what happens to me every time I get even a mild bug. Bit surprised as this is the first that I've heard about a pnuemonia jab. Never been offered one - even though my doc is very diligent. Lung capacity very good so maybe that is the fortunate reason? Regards Garry

Nov 15, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / BG RESULTS Think you have hit the nail on the head with your last post. With the limited information given I reckon that you need balance up the timings of your BI to 12 and 12 hours. We see that Friday morning BI to night BI was 14Â½ hours and Friday night BI to Saturday morning was only 7 hours. Hence during Saturday day time you likely had two separate doses of BI active at the same time. Saturday morning BI to night BI was 16 hours and Saturday night BI to Sunday morning was 10 hours...quite a difference. Personally speaking, I take my morning Lantus BI at breakfast and evening BI at dinner and find that this often ends up as a good 12 hour split... rarely more than an hour out. You may find that when things steady out that some additional BI changes are needed. But wait and see the impact of one change at a time of course. I think most of us find that a BI split at 50:50 is also beneficial. Would discuss any changes with your HCP to have their support and give you the confidence to make any changes needed. Good luck. Keep us posted with your progress. Regards Garry

Nov 12, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Exercise That's one odd thing explained to me. I had the expectation that exercise would always decrease my BG. I have always meant to ask why post-early morning exercises my BG normally goes up. On occasion when getting up with a morning BG say at 12 or 13....I have gone pedalling like merry **ll around the park only to come back and find my BG at 14 and wondered....how does that work! Thank you Alan... perfectly logical ...another diabetic life mystery explained. Garry

Nov 12, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Red Wine Can you tell us specifically what your poison is? Garry

Nov 3, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / App Have to admit to keeping details of my limited ketone records in the comments section of my DAFNE Online diary. Would that work for you?

Nov 1, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Weight please. Personally prefer kg but I know some may like those funny old imperial units!

Oct 30, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Just checked and field appears to be 200 characters...so should be plenty for most text entries. Garry

Oct 30, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries Like you Stew I prefer to keep as much as I can in the same place. Quick fix though if you wish... Have just been to see our DAFNE diabetic nurse and got latest HbA1c and weight figures and I enter them on the day in the Comments field - both in my DAFNE diary and in the Online diary too. Not sure what the field character limit is on the Comments field...but I have not been limited yet. Best Wishes Garry

Oct 27, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / "Diabetes results to you" Your help requested I think that the general public would find the 'Traffic Light' version on the right easier to understand. We can all directly relate to and understand this simple system - which is in everyday use. The language used as section headers on this page are more striking too and for me appear to appropriately describe the action which needs be undertaken.

Oct 4, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Chips / Potatoes - why the difference? Chip weight is carbohydrate with very little water. Boiled weight is carbohydrate with much higher water content. Hence carbohydrate density of chips - for want of a better term - is much higher. Regards Garry

Sep 23, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Introductions Your HBA1c levels are very good and I think you have been given a general blurb statement. Don't worry about it. Most of us have background retinopathy - especially after your 20 years. Our local eye consultant signed me off after 30 years monitoring and I only go to regular Diabetic retina screening reviewed by consultant and yearly regular local Optician screening now. You are doing very well. Keep it up. Regards Garry

Sep 23, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Advice from fellow grads....... Personally speaking: A bit short of info to advise on BI. But on QA you appear to be making corrections each morning which are higher than a 1:4 ratio anyway so why not go to 1:4 and see how it goes. Notice that this mornings breakfast - 23/09 06:40 ratio was only 1:1 not your normal 1:3. Regards Garry

Sep 23, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Advice from fellow grads....... Did you notice that 22/09 12:00 at a 1:2 ratio was 4u short or was it a typo?

Sep 8, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / DAFNE Online iPhone application - help with content/design needed Rightly or wrongly! - I have taken the rules to imply that it includes corrective QA - it seems logical to me that if you are building up over a number of days to bringing in sick day rules to include any correctives that you have had to apply over the preceding day in order to get hold of the situation quickly. Welcome any corrective response from HCP please. Regards Garry

Aug 28, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens Humapen Memoir is available on prescription here in the UK. Just ask GP for a script: Humapen Memoir on PIP code 329-3727 or in other parts of the world EAN code 5014602500320 Regards Garry

Aug 27, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Forum improvments Information is available in your DAFNE Course Handbook. The link to an on line version is available on the right side of this web page. Or use this link in your browser if you prefer: - http://www.dafneonline.co.uk/hbook_topics/38 You could perhaps save it as a favourite. Hope this helps. Regards Garry

Aug 23, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Drinking I think it would help if we could press the Food Agency into providing appropriate labelling of carbohydrate content on alcoholic drinks as provided on other foods. Labelling always gives you %age Alcohol By Volume which is useful to most but does not meet our specific needs. I remember years ago when Holsten Diat Pils was launched in the UK that it carried carbohydrate information back then, but I've never bought it for many years so I don't know the current situation. Have never seen any CP values given on wine labelling. As it comes from all over the world it may be hard to get any interest in any inititive. Must admit that I almost always drink dry wines and have over the years come to neglect any potential CP involved. On rare occasions when drinking desert wines I am always careful to guess! and add some CP into my calculation. So why don't we press to get this listening goverment to meet our needs. We could get a petition together over the net and with strong support may be able to change drinks labelling.

Aug 3, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Illness and resistance Don't worry. Just follow the rules and things will come back to normal as soon as your infection fades. Only tricky bit of course is getting it right when on the return to normal insulin uptake when your resistance reduces. Regards Garry

Aug 2, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Loss of Hypo warning signs Best discuss with your HCP. Have been through this scenario twice before, last time about five years ago - well before my DAFNE - when my diabetologist of the time recommended a six month plan to readjust my body to more normal BGs - as my HBA1c by his reckoning was too good! Hence it is very likely to be a long term process with HCP support. As mentioned you may need change your diary target range and accept the knock-on effect on your next HBA1c - but well worth doing to get some secure hypo warning signs back. With support I would go for it. Regards Garry

Jul 16, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: Site Development / Online BG Diaries I can only imagine how much work that this suggestion involves.... but could you make both the Add Diary Entry and add multiple entries at a time the same format and layout as the DAFNE diary.... it would make the transfer from diary to database far more intuitive. Thanks for consideration Garry

Jul 16, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Which Blood Meter I have used an Abbot Medisense Optium Xceed for the last few years. Their support for me personally has been exceptional. If you are handy on the confuser....sorry COMPUTER....their latest software, called Co-Pilot, allows you to download all info from the meter to computer via a specific USB lead, both available free to Abbot meter users, to produce graphs for information in many different formats to HCPs. This software also supports pump users too. Have a look at: - www.abbottdiabetescare.co.uk/inspired.../copilot-software for further info to see if it matches your personal needs. Regards Garry

Jul 16, 2010 Garry 328 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens Thanks for the help. I think perhaps I need take two pens with me! Garry