Recent Posts by Alan 49

Mar 21, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New Blood Test Device

You might need a letter from your doctor for the airport security checks!

Mar 12, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Unexplained high bg

Sounds like you're sickening for something. Don't forget to test for ketones.

Mar 6, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Medicines diabetics are not meant to take

My GP told me not to bother with 'off the shelf' cough remedies - she said they are not effective and a waste of money.

Feb 11, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Bedtime / Morning BS

I would reduce the pre-bed BI dose rather than move it.

Feb 11, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Site Development / Email notification

Yes, I agree - I had a message in my Inbox for nearly two weeks before I noticed it.

Feb 10, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Bread

Warburton's small sliced wholemeal - each slice is 1 cp - nice and easy to calculate QA dose.

Jan 23, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / travel to USA

When I flew from London Airport to Sydney a few years ago, I gave the details of my flights to my diabetes nurse and she created a 'flight plan' for the flight out then another for the flight back - this worked out very well. It's worth asking.

Jan 12, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses

It seems that my niece's GP wouldn't refer her to Maidstone for the DAFNE course. He told her that there is a suitable course at the Medway called MINTE, which she has been referred to. It's 4 one day courses spread over 4 weeks.

We've no idea what MINTE stands for - my best guess is Medway INTernal Education - a sort of cover-all for all their courses..
My first guess was Medway Is Near the Thames Estuary.

Jan 10, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Ratios

Spot on, Gill.

Jan 8, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / 5htp

John
Can you please explain what 5htp is?

Jan 3, 2013

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses

Hello Carolin
I spoke to the Diabetes Centre in Maidstone hospital and they told me that they would be willing to accept somebody outside their catchment area providing they were referred by their GP - as you say. They added that the referred patient would then go on the waiting list for the DAFNE course and the current waiting time is 1 Year! OUCH!!

We certainly need to get as many signatures as possible on that e-petition for more funding. I've just checked and there have only been 1708 signatures so far.

Alan

Dec 28, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Site Development / Blood Glucose Graphs

Thanks Simon - prompt and effective as ever. Well done.

Dec 27, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Site Development / Blood Glucose Graphs

They don't seem to be working today.

Dec 21, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses

Mark, you're right - it's not DAFNE, Medway doesn't do DAFNE anymore. They've got what they call the Patient Education Programme and it's 4 one day courses, spread over 4 weeks. Sorry I got the information wrong - I've not been able to speak directly with my niece about this - I get the details from her mother.

I think they still do DAFNE courses at Maidstone - my local hospital. Would my niece be able to get on a course run by a Healthcare Trust (or whatever they're called now) outside her area?

Dec 18, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses

My niece (who is also a Type 1) is trying to get on a DAFNE course - she knows how well I got on after my course. Her local hospital (the Medway Maritime Hospital) runs DAFNE courses which are one day a week for five weeks, rather than the Monday to Friday course which I did. This doesn't seem to be a good way of learning to me - surely you lose the continuity of five consecutive days of instruction.

Is this the way DAFNE courses are being run now?

Dec 7, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / What would you say about DAFNE :?:

DAFNE gives you knowledge and knowledge is power - in this case the power to achieve good control.

Dec 2, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Diary Entries - correction help please

Gill
Just enter the date and time with 0+2 in the QA box your BG reading , select where you injected it and select 'Correctional' from the 'Type' options.

Nov 30, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Petition for government funding

Only 1126 signatures so far - a long way off the target of 100,000

Nov 17, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Injection sites

I always inject into the stomach, so (unfortunately) I have a fairly extensive area to vary the actual site. I find that when eating out, I can discreetly inject at the table, which is far more convenient than trooping off to the loo,

A couple of years ago I tried injecting my dinner-time QA dose into my thigh. My pre-bed test was OK, but I had a nighttime hypo and my wife had to sort me out. I assumed that I had mis-calculated my carbs and injected to much Humalog but I overlooked the fact that my pre-bed test ruled that out. A day or so later, I tried the thigh injection before dinner again - and again I had a nighttime hypo. There seemed to be an obvious connection, so I contacted my HCP, who told me that by injecting in the thigh, I still had some of my QA dose lurking about in my body when I went to bed, leading to the hypos later on.

Consequently, I always inject in the stomach.

Nov 17, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Petition for government funding

Why not do both?

Nov 15, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Petition for government funding

The DAFNE User Action Group has raised a petition for governnent-funded eduucation programmes (which obviously includes DAFNE). Is everyone aware of this?
The link to the e-peittion is: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41345

Evidently they need 100,000 signatures.

Nov 13, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / How many units of insulin?

Also: If you don't have a pen that allows you to dial up half a unit of insulin, you should round up 4.5 units to 5 units.

Nov 9, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Clickstar Pen - insulin delivery speed

Gill
Why would you need to control the speed of delivery?

Nov 9, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / exercise

Paul
I would reduce my QA before breakfast and before the exercise I would test again - to make sure I had enough glucose in my system to cope with the exercise.

Nov 7, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens with insulin cartridges

If I had doubts about either of my pens, I would contact the manufacturer (preferably by phone) and explain the situation. It's more than likely that they would send you an immediate replacement pen and also ask you to return the old pen so that they can check it. Lilly did this for me when I had a problem with mine.

Mar 21, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New Blood Test Device You might need a letter from your doctor for the airport security checks!

Mar 12, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Unexplained high bg Sounds like you're sickening for something. Don't forget to test for ketones.

Mar 6, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Medicines diabetics are not meant to take My GP told me not to bother with 'off the shelf' cough remedies - she said they are not effective and a waste of money.

Feb 11, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Bedtime / Morning BS I would reduce the pre-bed BI dose rather than move it.

Feb 11, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Site Development / Email notification Yes, I agree - I had a message in my Inbox for nearly two weeks before I noticed it.

Feb 10, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Bread Warburton's small sliced wholemeal - each slice is 1 cp - nice and easy to calculate QA dose.

Jan 23, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / travel to USA When I flew from London Airport to Sydney a few years ago, I gave the details of my flights to my diabetes nurse and she created a 'flight plan' for the flight out then another for the flight back - this worked out very well. It's worth asking.

Jan 12, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses It seems that my niece's GP wouldn't refer her to Maidstone for the DAFNE course. He told her that there is a suitable course at the Medway called MINTE, which she has been referred to. It's 4 one day courses spread over 4 weeks. We've no idea what MINTE stands for - my best guess is Medway INTernal Education - a sort of cover-all for all their courses.. My first guess was Medway Is Near the Thames Estuary.

Jan 10, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Ratios Spot on, Gill.

Jan 8, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / 5htp John Can you please explain what 5htp is?

Jan 3, 2013 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses Hello Carolin I spoke to the Diabetes Centre in Maidstone hospital and they told me that they would be willing to accept somebody outside their catchment area providing they were referred by their GP - as you say. They added that the referred patient would then go on the waiting list for the DAFNE course and the current waiting time is 1 Year! OUCH!! We certainly need to get as many signatures as possible on that e-petition for more funding. I've just checked and there have only been 1708 signatures so far. Alan

Dec 28, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Site Development / Blood Glucose Graphs Thanks Simon - prompt and effective as ever. Well done.

Dec 27, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Site Development / Blood Glucose Graphs They don't seem to be working today.

Dec 21, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses Mark, you're right - it's not DAFNE, Medway doesn't do DAFNE anymore. They've got what they call the Patient Education Programme and it's 4 one day courses, spread over 4 weeks. Sorry I got the information wrong - I've not been able to speak directly with my niece about this - I get the details from her mother. I think they still do DAFNE courses at Maidstone - my local hospital. Would my niece be able to get on a course run by a Healthcare Trust (or whatever they're called now) outside her area?

Dec 18, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / DAFNE Courses My niece (who is also a Type 1) is trying to get on a DAFNE course - she knows how well I got on after my course. Her local hospital (the Medway Maritime Hospital) runs DAFNE courses which are one day a week for five weeks, rather than the Monday to Friday course which I did. This doesn't seem to be a good way of learning to me - surely you lose the continuity of five consecutive days of instruction. Is this the way DAFNE courses are being run now?

Dec 7, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / What would you say about DAFNE :?: DAFNE gives you knowledge and knowledge is power - in this case the power to achieve good control.

Dec 2, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Diary Entries - correction help please Gill Just enter the date and time with 0+2 in the QA box your BG reading , select where you injected it and select 'Correctional' from the 'Type' options.

Nov 30, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Petition for government funding Only 1126 signatures so far - a long way off the target of 100,000

Nov 17, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Injection sites I always inject into the stomach, so (unfortunately) I have a fairly extensive area to vary the actual site. I find that when eating out, I can discreetly inject at the table, which is far more convenient than trooping off to the loo, A couple of years ago I tried injecting my dinner-time QA dose into my thigh. My pre-bed test was OK, but I had a nighttime hypo and my wife had to sort me out. I assumed that I had mis-calculated my carbs and injected to much Humalog but I overlooked the fact that my pre-bed test ruled that out. A day or so later, I tried the thigh injection before dinner again - and again I had a nighttime hypo. There seemed to be an obvious connection, so I contacted my HCP, who told me that by injecting in the thigh, I still had some of my QA dose lurking about in my body when I went to bed, leading to the hypos later on. Consequently, I always inject in the stomach.

Nov 17, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Petition for government funding Why not do both?

Nov 15, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Petition for government funding The DAFNE User Action Group has raised a petition for governnent-funded eduucation programmes (which obviously includes DAFNE). Is everyone aware of this? The link to the e-peittion is: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41345 Evidently they need 100,000 signatures.

Nov 13, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / How many units of insulin? Also: If you don't have a pen that allows you to dial up half a unit of insulin, you should round up 4.5 units to 5 units.

Nov 9, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Clickstar Pen - insulin delivery speed Gill Why would you need to control the speed of delivery?

Nov 9, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / exercise Paul I would reduce my QA before breakfast and before the exercise I would test again - to make sure I had enough glucose in my system to cope with the exercise.

Nov 7, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Insulin Pens with insulin cartridges If I had doubts about either of my pens, I would contact the manufacturer (preferably by phone) and explain the situation. It's more than likely that they would send you an immediate replacement pen and also ask you to return the old pen so that they can check it. Lilly did this for me when I had a problem with mine.