Recent Posts by Alan 49

Dec 10, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

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

If you think the proposed changes to the NHS are a step too far, perhaps you'd like to sign a petition to stop them: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670

Dec 5, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Smoothies

I think I might like an Innocent Smoothie with my breakfast. Does anyone know the carb content of these?

Nov 13, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb Calculating Scales

I have something called Nutriscales, which I got from Lloyd's Pharmacy. They work very well for me and seem to give accurate results. You have to weigh the food on the scales and then enter a 3 digit code for the food, which you look up in the User Manual. You then select the nutritional values of the item - you can choose Carbs, Fat, Protein, Cholesterol or Sodium and it displays the value for you. Good value at Â£14.99.

It's available on their website if you're interested - http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/nutritional-scales-17928

Nov 10, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Sugar Free Sweets

Remember that Sugar is just one of the forms of carbohydrate. 'Sugar Free' is obviously a good selling point - not only from a diabetic perspective, but also a Dental perspective. It's the Carb content of the sweets you should be counting.

Nov 10, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Site Development / Page Breaks for BG Diary Print function

Simon

While your fixing that, perhaps you could also fix this: on the third line of the printable view, it shows BG averages for the last 7 days, the last 14 days and the last 30 days, the next one should say 'For all results' but it says 'Last 30 days'. Not a big problem, though.

Thanks

Alan

Oct 31, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Pump Users

Who knows? Same reason as someone putting insulin in a hospital patient's saline drips, I suppose.

The man who created this device works for the IT security firm Macafee and had no intention of using it. I suppose it's a good thing that he has flagged this up, before some nutter gets hold of one. Let's hope Medtronic can fix this potential problem quickly.

Oct 31, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Pump Users

I don't want to spread alarm, but a fellow diabetic sent me this:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/27/fatal_insulin_pump_attack/

Oct 26, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / CareSens meters

If you use one of these Blood Glucose meters what do you think of it?

Oct 26, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cheaper Test Strips

Thanks for that Richard - I'm glad to see that you think the CareSens meter is OK. I understand that the Health Authority (or PCT or whatever they're called now) in the Sheffield area has issued these meters to all their Diabetics and it is proving to be particularly cost-effective. I'm sure you're not the only DAFNE graduate using one - perhaps I should raise a new topic and see if I can get responses from other users of it.

Oct 22, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Injections - Best Injection Sites

I also inject my Humalog into the stomach area - my DSN told me that I should draw an imaginary circle, the size of a large orange, round my belly button and avoid that area. I inject my Levemir into my buttocks.

I think the reason your DSN told you not to vary your injection sites is because where you inject can affect how quickly the insulin gets into your system. I remember a couple of years ago, I had a couple of fairly severe night-time hypos - which was very unusual for me. When I looked in my DANE diary, I spotted that these hypos had occurred after I had injected my pre-dinner Humalog into my calves - instead of my belly. My DSN said that it takes longer for the insulin to be absorbed when you inject in the calves - which meant that when I tested before bed-time, not all the Humalog had been absorbed, which caused the hypos later on.

I'm sure that somewhere in the DAFNE Handbook it tells you about the absorption rates for different parts of the body, but I can't find it now.

Oct 10, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs & Cals Books?

My wife always makes the portion sizes the same, so once I have got it right, it's there in the book.

Oct 10, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Carbs & Cals Books?

As well as referring to the DAFNE Carb book, I have a separate book (I use an old Filofax book) to record meals. I have a section for breakfasts in which I record the different breakfasts I have, with the details of the various items in that meal and their carbs. I also record (in pencil) the insulin dosage I gave myself. So when I test my BG afterwards, I can see how good my calculation was and if necessary, change the insulin dosage for that meal.

I also have sections in the book for Lunches and Dinners. As an example, I haved Dinner07 down as:

Rice 4.5 CPs
Beef Goulash 2.5 CPs
Plain Yogurt 1 CP
Grapes 1 CP

TOTAL 9 CPs and therefore (for me) an insulin dosage of 18 QA

I find this book very useful (providing I keep it up-to-date).

Oct 7, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Cheaper Test Strips

I'm sure that most of us who use this site are aware (and like me - concerned) about the cost of the various products we get on prescription - especially in these times of cuts and shortages. Most test strips, for instance, cost about Â£25 per pot of 50.

There is a meter on the market, evidently, where the cost is only Â£12.95 per pot. The meter is called a CareSens meter. Their website address is www.caresens.co.uk and the meters are available free of charge.

I should point out that I have no connection with this company and that I have no knowledge of this meter. Has anybody used a CareSens meter? If so, what do they think of it?

Sep 29, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / HYPO - how best to treat & what with

It depends where I am and how severe the hypo is. If I'm out and about, I'll have 4 Dextro tablets (Tropical flavour is my preference), which seem to take 25 minutes to become effective and deliver 10 carbs. I always carry a plastic bag of these loose in my pocket. And then, if necessary, I'll have follow this up with 4 more or a Jaffacake or biscuit.
At home, I'll have a 150ml can of plain Coke, which seems to become effective quicker, and then test after half an hour and have the Dextro tablets if necessary.

Sep 19, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Blood Glucose diary

When making entries in my online diary, I like to use the 'Multiple Entry' option, but recently I have found that the panel seems to cut off the 'Comments' column on the right.
Is this something I can fix on my PC or is it a problem with the actual online diary?

Sep 19, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / hgv

There are changes being implemented in October 2011 - see http://www.diabetes.org.uk/driving

Aug 21, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence.

I'm always a bit dubious about things that appear in the Daily Mail, but they seem to have got this right. I found this on the DUK website:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our_Views/Consultations/Past_responses/DVLA--Consultation-on-amending-medical--driving-licence-standards/

I agree with grybek - this could be very serious indeed.

Aug 18, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Shortage of test strips

If your GP is specifying a meter which you haven't got, I feel your GP should supply the meter. I would go to the GP and demand one. I'm not sure how things work now, with all the changes to the NHS, but it sounds as if your GP has made some sort of arrangement with Omni - 'You supply the meters and I'll prescribe the strips'. There could be meters at the surgery waiting to be claimed, after all the bulk of the profit from Blood Sugar meters is gained from the strips, not the meters. If this is so, your GP should have told you about it.

Jul 25, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects

Maria, what I was trying to say (obviously not very clearly) was that if starting these thyroxine tablets increases your body's demand for insulin, then if you are not diabetic, your pancreas would naturally produce more insulin. If subsequently, you become diabetic, then your insulin doses would be calculated based on what you then need - when you are already on the thyroxine tablets. Does that make sense?
I seem to have finally got my insulin doses sorted out and my BGs have returned to more acceptable levels, thank goodness.

Jul 21, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects

Maria, what tablets are you on? I'm on 25mcg Levothyroxine and they definitely seem to be affecting me - my BG readings seem to have gone through the roof since I've been taking them. As well as giving myself QA corrections of +2, +3 and +4, I've had to increase my BI dose. The nurse at my GP surgery has looked on the Internet and found that these tablets can require increased insulin doses.

I noticed in your posting that you were on Thyroxine before your diabetes was diagnosed, so perhaps you wouldn't have been affected by this.

Jul 20, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Are we all eating too many carbs?

Thanks for that Mark - you've confirmed what I was thinking about it. As you pointed out 'don't believe everything you see on the internet'.
Anyway, I enjoy my carbs - Lamb Madras without rice? UNTHINKABLE!

Jul 17, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Are we all eating too many carbs?

An interesting article about a man who has been a type 1 for more than 80 years.

http://www.drbriffa.com/2011/05/31/how-did-this-man-get-to-live-with-type-1-diabetes-for-more-than-80-years/

Are we all eating too many carbs?

Jul 8, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects

Maria, thanks for that. There's nothing on the website of the makers of my tablets and I had problems using the website address in your posting. I'm beginning to think that the warning on the leaflet is just put there to cover the makers against any sort of comeback.

I suppose that being DAFNE-trained, our 'diabetic treatment' is altered every mealtime. I'm glad that the Thyroxine has not affected you and I also find it re-assuring. Once again, thanks.

Alan

Jul 7, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects

My GP has just put me on Thyroxine tablets and I have just read the leaflet that came with them. There is a warning for diabetics that 'diabetic treatment may need to be altered'. This is pretty vague and my GP didn't mention anything about this. Can anybody give any guidance on this? I've tried Googling it but it seems that every promising lead ends up on a site trying to sell Thyroxine tablets.

Jul 5, 2011

Alan 49 284 posts

Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / blended fruit

I don't know much about blending, but I would have thought that just churning things up makes no difference to the carb contents of the constituents. If you put a couple of apples (1 CP each) and a banana (2 CPs) in a blender, you're going to get something that has 4 CPs.

Dec 10, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / A Petition Regarding Changes to the NHS If you think the proposed changes to the NHS are a step too far, perhaps you'd like to sign a petition to stop them: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670

Dec 5, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Smoothies I think I might like an Innocent Smoothie with my breakfast. Does anyone know the carb content of these?

Nov 13, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Carb Calculating Scales I have something called Nutriscales, which I got from Lloyd's Pharmacy. They work very well for me and seem to give accurate results. You have to weigh the food on the scales and then enter a 3 digit code for the food, which you look up in the User Manual. You then select the nutritional values of the item - you can choose Carbs, Fat, Protein, Cholesterol or Sodium and it displays the value for you. Good value at Â£14.99. It's available on their website if you're interested - http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/nutritional-scales-17928

Nov 10, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Sugar Free Sweets Remember that Sugar is just one of the forms of carbohydrate. 'Sugar Free' is obviously a good selling point - not only from a diabetic perspective, but also a Dental perspective. It's the Carb content of the sweets you should be counting.

Nov 10, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Site Development / Page Breaks for BG Diary Print function Simon While your fixing that, perhaps you could also fix this: on the third line of the printable view, it shows BG averages for the last 7 days, the last 14 days and the last 30 days, the next one should say 'For all results' but it says 'Last 30 days'. Not a big problem, though. Thanks Alan

Oct 31, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Pump Users Who knows? Same reason as someone putting insulin in a hospital patient's saline drips, I suppose. The man who created this device works for the IT security firm Macafee and had no intention of using it. I suppose it's a good thing that he has flagged this up, before some nutter gets hold of one. Let's hope Medtronic can fix this potential problem quickly.

Oct 31, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Pump Users I don't want to spread alarm, but a fellow diabetic sent me this: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/27/fatal_insulin_pump_attack/

Oct 26, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / CareSens meters If you use one of these Blood Glucose meters what do you think of it?

Oct 26, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Cheaper Test Strips Thanks for that Richard - I'm glad to see that you think the CareSens meter is OK. I understand that the Health Authority (or PCT or whatever they're called now) in the Sheffield area has issued these meters to all their Diabetics and it is proving to be particularly cost-effective. I'm sure you're not the only DAFNE graduate using one - perhaps I should raise a new topic and see if I can get responses from other users of it.

Oct 22, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Injections - Best Injection Sites I also inject my Humalog into the stomach area - my DSN told me that I should draw an imaginary circle, the size of a large orange, round my belly button and avoid that area. I inject my Levemir into my buttocks. I think the reason your DSN told you not to vary your injection sites is because where you inject can affect how quickly the insulin gets into your system. I remember a couple of years ago, I had a couple of fairly severe night-time hypos - which was very unusual for me. When I looked in my DANE diary, I spotted that these hypos had occurred after I had injected my pre-dinner Humalog into my calves - instead of my belly. My DSN said that it takes longer for the insulin to be absorbed when you inject in the calves - which meant that when I tested before bed-time, not all the Humalog had been absorbed, which caused the hypos later on. I'm sure that somewhere in the DAFNE Handbook it tells you about the absorption rates for different parts of the body, but I can't find it now.

Oct 10, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs & Cals Books? My wife always makes the portion sizes the same, so once I have got it right, it's there in the book.

Oct 10, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Carbs & Cals Books? As well as referring to the DAFNE Carb book, I have a separate book (I use an old Filofax book) to record meals. I have a section for breakfasts in which I record the different breakfasts I have, with the details of the various items in that meal and their carbs. I also record (in pencil) the insulin dosage I gave myself. So when I test my BG afterwards, I can see how good my calculation was and if necessary, change the insulin dosage for that meal. I also have sections in the book for Lunches and Dinners. As an example, I haved Dinner07 down as: Rice 4.5 CPs Beef Goulash 2.5 CPs Plain Yogurt 1 CP Grapes 1 CP TOTAL 9 CPs and therefore (for me) an insulin dosage of 18 QA I find this book very useful (providing I keep it up-to-date).

Oct 7, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Cheaper Test Strips I'm sure that most of us who use this site are aware (and like me - concerned) about the cost of the various products we get on prescription - especially in these times of cuts and shortages. Most test strips, for instance, cost about Â£25 per pot of 50. There is a meter on the market, evidently, where the cost is only Â£12.95 per pot. The meter is called a CareSens meter. Their website address is www.caresens.co.uk and the meters are available free of charge. I should point out that I have no connection with this company and that I have no knowledge of this meter. Has anybody used a CareSens meter? If so, what do they think of it?

Sep 29, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / HYPO - how best to treat & what with It depends where I am and how severe the hypo is. If I'm out and about, I'll have 4 Dextro tablets (Tropical flavour is my preference), which seem to take 25 minutes to become effective and deliver 10 carbs. I always carry a plastic bag of these loose in my pocket. And then, if necessary, I'll have follow this up with 4 more or a Jaffacake or biscuit. At home, I'll have a 150ml can of plain Coke, which seems to become effective quicker, and then test after half an hour and have the Dextro tablets if necessary.

Sep 19, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Blood Glucose diary When making entries in my online diary, I like to use the 'Multiple Entry' option, but recently I have found that the panel seems to cut off the 'Comments' column on the right. Is this something I can fix on my PC or is it a problem with the actual online diary?

Sep 19, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / hgv There are changes being implemented in October 2011 - see http://www.diabetes.org.uk/driving

Aug 21, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / EU Directive - Million Drivers face losing their licence. I'm always a bit dubious about things that appear in the Daily Mail, but they seem to have got this right. I found this on the DUK website: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our_Views/Consultations/Past_responses/DVLA--Consultation-on-amending-medical--driving-licence-standards/ I agree with grybek - this could be very serious indeed.

Aug 18, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Shortage of test strips If your GP is specifying a meter which you haven't got, I feel your GP should supply the meter. I would go to the GP and demand one. I'm not sure how things work now, with all the changes to the NHS, but it sounds as if your GP has made some sort of arrangement with Omni - 'You supply the meters and I'll prescribe the strips'. There could be meters at the surgery waiting to be claimed, after all the bulk of the profit from Blood Sugar meters is gained from the strips, not the meters. If this is so, your GP should have told you about it.

Jul 25, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects Maria, what I was trying to say (obviously not very clearly) was that if starting these thyroxine tablets increases your body's demand for insulin, then if you are not diabetic, your pancreas would naturally produce more insulin. If subsequently, you become diabetic, then your insulin doses would be calculated based on what you then need - when you are already on the thyroxine tablets. Does that make sense? I seem to have finally got my insulin doses sorted out and my BGs have returned to more acceptable levels, thank goodness.

Jul 21, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects Maria, what tablets are you on? I'm on 25mcg Levothyroxine and they definitely seem to be affecting me - my BG readings seem to have gone through the roof since I've been taking them. As well as giving myself QA corrections of +2, +3 and +4, I've had to increase my BI dose. The nurse at my GP surgery has looked on the Internet and found that these tablets can require increased insulin doses. I noticed in your posting that you were on Thyroxine before your diabetes was diagnosed, so perhaps you wouldn't have been affected by this.

Jul 20, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Are we all eating too many carbs? Thanks for that Mark - you've confirmed what I was thinking about it. As you pointed out 'don't believe everything you see on the internet'. Anyway, I enjoy my carbs - Lamb Madras without rice? UNTHINKABLE!

Jul 17, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Are we all eating too many carbs? An interesting article about a man who has been a type 1 for more than 80 years. http://www.drbriffa.com/2011/05/31/how-did-this-man-get-to-live-with-type-1-diabetes-for-more-than-80-years/ Are we all eating too many carbs?

Jul 8, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects Maria, thanks for that. There's nothing on the website of the makers of my tablets and I had problems using the website address in your posting. I'm beginning to think that the warning on the leaflet is just put there to cover the makers against any sort of comeback. I suppose that being DAFNE-trained, our 'diabetic treatment' is altered every mealtime. I'm glad that the Thyroxine has not affected you and I also find it re-assuring. Once again, thanks. Alan

Jul 7, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Questions for HCPs / Thyroxine side effects My GP has just put me on Thyroxine tablets and I have just read the leaflet that came with them. There is a warning for diabetics that 'diabetic treatment may need to be altered'. This is pretty vague and my GP didn't mention anything about this. Can anybody give any guidance on this? I've tried Googling it but it seems that every promising lead ends up on a site trying to sell Thyroxine tablets.

Jul 5, 2011 Alan 49 284 posts	Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / blended fruit I don't know much about blending, but I would have thought that just churning things up makes no difference to the carb contents of the constituents. If you put a couple of apples (1 CP each) and a banana (2 CPs) in a blender, you're going to get something that has 4 CPs.