Recent Posts by Alan 49

Jul 11, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

I don't think it's a problem with my Novopen 4, because it always works fine with a new needle.
I usually dial up 2 units when I prime my pens (I think this is the recommendation). Last night I tried the morning needle, but primed it with 4 units and this worked fine. I'll try this again this evening and see if I've cracked the problem.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Jul 9, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

I can't even prime the pen - nothing comes through at all, even after several attempts - this happens 9 times out of ten, so I don't even try the old needle for my second Levemir injection now.
When I has first put on Levemir, the Consultant told me that when you inject it, it crystalises - thus contributing to its prolonged effect. I wonder whether it does this if left in the needle after the first injection.

Jul 6, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles

Until recently, I was on one daily dose of Levemir. This meant I used one needle for my QA (Humalog) and one needle for my Levemir each day (hopefully saving the NHS a bit of money - plus I don't like wasting things) and this worked well.

My HCP suggested that my control could be better and I should change to 2 daily doses of Levemir. I intended to continue using one needle for my QA and one needle for my BI. I found that that when it came to my second dose of Levemir, the needle that I had used for my morning dose was clogged, so I had to use a new one.

Has anybody else noticed this?

Jun 25, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Site Development / Targets range

Hello Annette
I think the graphs use the DAFNE Online targets which are autoomatically set to the DAFNE recommended targets. You can amend these targets by going to the BG Diary and then scrolling down and clicking on Edit Diary Settings (or something similar to this). You can then amend whatever Target you like.

Jun 25, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Targets

Thanks very much JWo

Jun 24, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Targets

Can someone please remind me how I can amend my BG Targets.

May 12, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Accu-Chek Aviva Expert Meters

Ray
That sounds great. What sort of instructions were you given when you got it?

May 9, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Accu-Chek Aviva Expert Meters

Does anyone have one of these BG meters? The seem to have lots of features built into them - what do you think of them?

I've made enquiries about them at my GP surgery and they seem very difficult to get hold of. Evidently, you have to go on a course to use them - is this true?

May 7, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / High Blood Pressure

Wow Roger! 234/84 - it's a wonder you didn't explode!

Your GP should have picked up these contra-indications before prescribing this combination of medications. That's part of the job.

I have been suffering from high-blood pressure for a long time. It seemed that every time I had my BP checked, my medication was increased, until I was taking the maximum recommended dose of 4 different BP tablets. About a year ago I started to feel really lousy in the mornings - everything was a real effort. I even had to have a lie-down after taking a shower. I went to my GP who referred me to the hospital for investigation.
I had various scans and procedures, but nothing showed up. After all these hospital visits I was passed to the Cardiology department. While this was going on, I checked my BP with my own meter, which showed that every time I felt lousy, I had low BP. One day it was 84/44. The Cardiology department gave me a 24 hour BP meter, which was then returned for analysis. When I went back to see a Cardiologist I took my prescription re-order form. When he saw all the BP medication, he immediately said that I was on too much. He stopped one of the tablets and halved the dosage of another.
Since then, I am glad to say, I have stopped feeling lousy and my BP is not too bad.

As you might guess, I have a pretty low opinion of my GP after this.

May 3, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Prescriptions

My local Lloyd's Pharmacy does a 'Prescription Collection' service - so I can pop my prescription request form into the GPs at the weekend and then collect the stuff from Lloyd's the following Saturday. Doesn't your chemist do this?

Apr 29, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Verucca - treatment

I would go to my GP for treatment and emphasise that you are a diabetic and have to take special care of your feet.

Mar 26, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS

Thanks for that, Mark. The reason I raised this was out of concern for the NHS - not any political reason.

Mar 20, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS

Yes, I apologise to all for raising this in the first place.

Mar 19, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS

I don't think anybody knows the full impact of these changes, but that doesn't stop me being concerned about them.

Mar 19, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS

Considering that most of us diabetics are dependent on the NHS for all our medical care, I would have thought that the major re-organisational changes to the NHS that are proposed are a concern to all of us.

Mar 17, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / daily average of QA

Obviously this "medical person" doesn't know much about diabetes, Marie. My daily average is around 33 units, but everyone is different and, as you say, it will depend on what you eat. Different people have different metabolisms, requiring different dosages of insulin.

Mar 7, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Site Development / New Format Website

I like the new format - thanks chaps.

Feb 22, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / No DAFNE specialist nurse

Hello Chris
I did my DAFNE course at Maidstone hospital, and very good it was. They have a Diabetes centre - you could try contacting them, the phone number is 224406, but very often there's no one there, but you can leave a message. There is a DAFNE educator called Anne Cox - she might be able to help you.

Feb 21, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / When is best to take BI Levemir

I take mine once a day- before bed, and that seems to work for me.

As Roger said - everyone is different.

Feb 7, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Excercise or Depleted Insulin

My Blood Sugar always goes up when I go swimming before breakfast - last week, for instance, my BS was 5.6 before swimming (half an hour's worth) and it was 8.9 afterwards. This is not a one-off, it's consistently like this. I queried this with my HCP and he said that it was probably caused by the act of going to the swimming baths and meeting other people - which then causes the release of adrenaline, which in turn leads to the release of glucagon from the liver - hence the increase in BGs.

If you went to a gym for your exercise, perhaps it was the same for you.

Feb 6, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New Needles

Injecting through clothing is not recommended - you could be getting fibres inside the injection site, plus you don't know how sterile the clothing you're injecting through is. Also, if you use the needle more than once, you are blunting it for the next injection.

Jan 14, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / New Needles

That sounds like rubbish to me - you're still going to need the same dosage whether you inject it deeper with the 8mm needles, or not so deep with the 4mm. Perhaps you should get your GP to explain it.

I would recommend the shorter needles, though. I use 5mm needles and the actual injections are a lot more comfortable than with the 8mm ones.

Jan 10, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Exciting news............

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Jan 7, 2012

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Help as new

Looks spot-on to me - well done.

Dec 12, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS

The thing that most concerns me about the changes is the proposed dissolution of local Health Authorities (or Primary Care Trusts or whatever they're called now) and the resposibilities and budgets being transferred to GPs or GP groups. I know that PCTs do get things wrong, but I think that on the whole, they do a pretty good job.

I would much rather have my GP spending most of her time on medical matters rather than administrative tasks. I know that she is against this as well - when confronted with a large report regarding the proposed changes and a questionnaire to fill in after reading the report, said that this was NOT what she had spent 5 years at medical school for.

I accept that the NHS has to change, but the changes should be piloted in appropriate areas and the results evaluated before the changes are imposed nationally.

That's why I signed the petition.

Jul 11, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles I don't think it's a problem with my Novopen 4, because it always works fine with a new needle. I usually dial up 2 units when I prime my pens (I think this is the recommendation). Last night I tried the morning needle, but primed it with 4 units and this worked fine. I'll try this again this evening and see if I've cracked the problem. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Jul 9, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles I can't even prime the pen - nothing comes through at all, even after several attempts - this happens 9 times out of ten, so I don't even try the old needle for my second Levemir injection now. When I has first put on Levemir, the Consultant told me that when you inject it, it crystalises - thus contributing to its prolonged effect. I wonder whether it does this if left in the needle after the first injection.

Jul 6, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Levemir clogging needles Until recently, I was on one daily dose of Levemir. This meant I used one needle for my QA (Humalog) and one needle for my Levemir each day (hopefully saving the NHS a bit of money - plus I don't like wasting things) and this worked well. My HCP suggested that my control could be better and I should change to 2 daily doses of Levemir. I intended to continue using one needle for my QA and one needle for my BI. I found that that when it came to my second dose of Levemir, the needle that I had used for my morning dose was clogged, so I had to use a new one. Has anybody else noticed this?

Jun 25, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Site Development / Targets range Hello Annette I think the graphs use the DAFNE Online targets which are autoomatically set to the DAFNE recommended targets. You can amend these targets by going to the BG Diary and then scrolling down and clicking on Edit Diary Settings (or something similar to this). You can then amend whatever Target you like.

Jun 25, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Targets Thanks very much JWo

Jun 24, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Targets Can someone please remind me how I can amend my BG Targets.

May 12, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Accu-Chek Aviva Expert Meters Ray That sounds great. What sort of instructions were you given when you got it?

May 9, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Accu-Chek Aviva Expert Meters Does anyone have one of these BG meters? The seem to have lots of features built into them - what do you think of them? I've made enquiries about them at my GP surgery and they seem very difficult to get hold of. Evidently, you have to go on a course to use them - is this true?

May 7, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / High Blood Pressure Wow Roger! 234/84 - it's a wonder you didn't explode! Your GP should have picked up these contra-indications before prescribing this combination of medications. That's part of the job. I have been suffering from high-blood pressure for a long time. It seemed that every time I had my BP checked, my medication was increased, until I was taking the maximum recommended dose of 4 different BP tablets. About a year ago I started to feel really lousy in the mornings - everything was a real effort. I even had to have a lie-down after taking a shower. I went to my GP who referred me to the hospital for investigation. I had various scans and procedures, but nothing showed up. After all these hospital visits I was passed to the Cardiology department. While this was going on, I checked my BP with my own meter, which showed that every time I felt lousy, I had low BP. One day it was 84/44. The Cardiology department gave me a 24 hour BP meter, which was then returned for analysis. When I went back to see a Cardiologist I took my prescription re-order form. When he saw all the BP medication, he immediately said that I was on too much. He stopped one of the tablets and halved the dosage of another. Since then, I am glad to say, I have stopped feeling lousy and my BP is not too bad. As you might guess, I have a pretty low opinion of my GP after this.

May 3, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Prescriptions My local Lloyd's Pharmacy does a 'Prescription Collection' service - so I can pop my prescription request form into the GPs at the weekend and then collect the stuff from Lloyd's the following Saturday. Doesn't your chemist do this?

Apr 29, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Verucca - treatment I would go to my GP for treatment and emphasise that you are a diabetic and have to take special care of your feet.

Mar 26, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS Thanks for that, Mark. The reason I raised this was out of concern for the NHS - not any political reason.

Mar 20, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS Yes, I apologise to all for raising this in the first place.

Mar 19, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS I don't think anybody knows the full impact of these changes, but that doesn't stop me being concerned about them.

Mar 19, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS Considering that most of us diabetics are dependent on the NHS for all our medical care, I would have thought that the major re-organisational changes to the NHS that are proposed are a concern to all of us.

Mar 17, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / daily average of QA Obviously this "medical person" doesn't know much about diabetes, Marie. My daily average is around 33 units, but everyone is different and, as you say, it will depend on what you eat. Different people have different metabolisms, requiring different dosages of insulin.

Mar 7, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Site Development / New Format Website I like the new format - thanks chaps.

Feb 22, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / No DAFNE specialist nurse Hello Chris I did my DAFNE course at Maidstone hospital, and very good it was. They have a Diabetes centre - you could try contacting them, the phone number is 224406, but very often there's no one there, but you can leave a message. There is a DAFNE educator called Anne Cox - she might be able to help you.

Feb 21, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / When is best to take BI Levemir I take mine once a day- before bed, and that seems to work for me. As Roger said - everyone is different.

Feb 7, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Excercise or Depleted Insulin My Blood Sugar always goes up when I go swimming before breakfast - last week, for instance, my BS was 5.6 before swimming (half an hour's worth) and it was 8.9 afterwards. This is not a one-off, it's consistently like this. I queried this with my HCP and he said that it was probably caused by the act of going to the swimming baths and meeting other people - which then causes the release of adrenaline, which in turn leads to the release of glucagon from the liver - hence the increase in BGs. If you went to a gym for your exercise, perhaps it was the same for you.

Feb 6, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New Needles Injecting through clothing is not recommended - you could be getting fibres inside the injection site, plus you don't know how sterile the clothing you're injecting through is. Also, if you use the needle more than once, you are blunting it for the next injection.

Jan 14, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / New Needles That sounds like rubbish to me - you're still going to need the same dosage whether you inject it deeper with the 8mm needles, or not so deep with the 4mm. Perhaps you should get your GP to explain it. I would recommend the shorter needles, though. I use 5mm needles and the actual injections are a lot more comfortable than with the 8mm ones.

Jan 10, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Exciting news............ CONGRATULATIONS!!

Jan 7, 2012 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Help as new Looks spot-on to me - well done.

Dec 12, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS The thing that most concerns me about the changes is the proposed dissolution of local Health Authorities (or Primary Care Trusts or whatever they're called now) and the resposibilities and budgets being transferred to GPs or GP groups. I know that PCTs do get things wrong, but I think that on the whole, they do a pretty good job. I would much rather have my GP spending most of her time on medical matters rather than administrative tasks. I know that she is against this as well - when confronted with a large report regarding the proposed changes and a questionnaire to fill in after reading the report, said that this was NOT what she had spent 5 years at medical school for. I accept that the NHS has to change, but the changes should be piloted in appropriate areas and the results evaluated before the changes are imposed nationally. That's why I signed the petition.