Diabetes education course

[Matt Cycle]

I'm surprised they were saying things like that Vicki. I suppose it's the luck of the draw. I attended my DAFNE style intensive carb counting course (based on the BDEC one) in June. The course was 3 full days on consecutive Fridays and was run by an experienced DSN and the dietitian. This was the first course I'd been on after 30 years and found it to be excellent. The content was very good, the practical part of it excellent and it was just good to mix with and discuss things with fellow T1's. We had a varied range of people on it, some diagnosed within the last couple of years all the way up to a lady who'd had it 48 years. I would thoroughly recommend the course I did to anyone..

 

[Martin Canty]

Spending time both sides of the pond

Ah, been here so long that I totally forget some of the terminology & I guess you guys have probably got new slang words that I wouldn't have a clue about

 

[Mini-Vicki]

I'm surprised they were saying things like that Vicki. I suppose it's the luck of the draw. I attended my DAFNE style intensive carb counting course (based on the BDEC one) in June. The course was 3 full days on consecutive Fridays and was run by an experienced DSN and the dietitian. This was the first course I'd been on after 30 years and found it to be excellent. The content was very good, the practical part of it excellent and it was just good to mix with and discuss things with fellow T1's. We had a varied range of people on it, some diagnosed within the last couple of years all the way up to a lady who'd had it 48 years. I would thoroughly recommend the course I did to anyone..

I was surprised too, and disappointed. I've heard nothing but good things from everyone else about DAFNE. The Xpert course I attended several years ago was excellent, and my dad's experience with a BERTIE course was also informative. I feel like I'm not gaining anything from this course, I have a couple more weeks to go, so I shan't give up hope yet!

 

[Radders]

Same here, nothing oral if they are unconscious.....

It's nothing to do with the fizz, but more about what is readily to hand & can be found in most homes

I hope nobody tries to give me my OH's coke. I'd probably spit it out!

 

[Ralph-YK]

That's the glucogel, we are not allowed to use if the patient is unconscious, as there is mild risk of choking. Airway is always a higher priority as hypoxia is more critical.

Worth knowing and it appears I may have misunderstood the Dr at the meeting. It was mentioned after the Lucozade and Jelly Babies. The chocking risk was mentioned for drinks.

 

[Northerner]

There was a recent post by @Rosiecarmel after she accidently injected way too much insulin. She was advised not to eat, a lot of people thought this was stupid and in a way possible is. But the protocol is clinically correct as it is more dangerous and quicker to die from a blocked airway than it is to recover from hypoglycemia.

In Rosie's case though, she wasn't hypo, but would inevitably become so if she didn't eat to counter the insulin o/d. And if I didn't eat every time I had a hypo I'd be long dead 😱 If you're capable of making a phone call asking for advice, the advice can't surely then be based on the possibility that you might choke

 

[Owen]

In Rosie's case though, she wasn't hypo, but would inevitably become so if she didn't eat to counter the insulin o/d. And if I didn't eat every time I had a hypo I'd be long dead 😱 If you're capable of making a phone call asking for advice, the advice can't surely then be based on the possibility that you might choke

Not a criticism and entirely agree with the logic to quickly match the insulin with carbohydrate. Just once you call the officials, they will follow protocol and advise not to eat. I think the risk of loosing consciousness and choking would be on their priority list. I suppose the call handler would also gauge the time elapsed and the eta of attendance. It is quite a tough call to make. Plus the knowledge and experience of the call handler. If in doubt they will always follow protocol to the letter.

 

[trophywench]

I'm damn sure the course you are attending isn't DAFNE or DAFNE based - anyone who knows A from a bull's foot about food digestion let alone diabetes, knows that to delay digestion of a slice of bread, you spread it with butter and if you want to do the same with spuds - then fry em! Not for nothing do John Walsh (author of Using Insulin/Pumping Insulin) and Gary Taubes (Think Like a Pancreas) actually both refer to 'The Pizza Effect' - and those books are all diabetes bibles!

 

[Mini-Vicki]

So far on my course this evening, I have learnt that the ideal BG to go to bed on is 9.5.
I wouldn't necessarily correct a 9 reading before bed, but I also wouldn't aim for it. The reason is that if gives you room to drop a few mmol/l overnight.
If I were dropping that much overnight, I would look at my basal insulin.
Has anyone else heard that 9 is the golden number?

 

[mikeyB]

Funnily enough, I went to bed with a BG of 9.2. Woke up this morning 3.2. I'd reduced my basal yesterday evening.

Go figure.

 

[Radders]

So far on my course this evening, I have learnt that the ideal BG to go to bed on is 9.5.
I wouldn't necessarily correct a 9 reading before bed, but I also wouldn't aim for it. The reason is that if gives you room to drop a few mmol/l overnight.
If I were dropping that much overnight, I would look at my basal insulin.
Has anyone else heard that 9 is the golden number?

No, never. What if you rise a few mmols? Then you will need to get up to go for a wee!

 

[Robin]

My hospital DSN, who ran through the basics with me when I first went on to insulin told me to go to bed on 7-8. (That's what I've always aimed for, and it seems to work because I usually drop quite a bit towards 3am then rise again). I wonder if they've raised it because the modern DSN's thinking seems to be veering towards avoiding hypos at all costs.

 

[jocat]

I had been going to bed on 5-6 and kept hypoing despite reducing my night basal by 14 units so my nurse has now suggested going to bed on 8 and so far the hypos have stopped
Jo

 

[Owen]

So far on my course this evening, I have learnt that the ideal BG to go to bed on is 9.5.
I wouldn't necessarily correct a 9 reading before bed, but I also wouldn't aim for it. The reason is that if gives you room to drop a few mmol/l overnight.
If I were dropping that much overnight, I would look at my basal insulin.
Has anyone else heard that 9 is the golden number?

Don't know. I seem to have a really stable basal and can go to bed on 6.5 and wake on 5.5

 

[Hazel]

I think all the posts just confirm that we are all different and there is no hard and fast rule to suit everyone.

As a T2 on Novorapid/Lantus, I would love to try a DAFNE course, but T2s are not allowed.
My education came from the book Carbs and Cals

I though, read and value all posts on this Forum regarding insulin

 

[Owen]

I think all the posts just confirm that we are all different and there is no hard and fast rule to suit everyone.

As a T2 on Novorapid/Lantus, I would love to try a DAFNE course, but T2s are not allowed.
My education came from the book Carbs and Cals

I though, read and value all posts on this Forum regarding insulin

Ironically, I have never been offered any training of any description. I have had to learn everything myself. I think I just fall through the too difficult trap door. At my dermatology appointment, it was refreshing to be just called insulin dependant by a very nice Greek lady, who explained that she does not care how you get there, just what is being done to treat you. She also added a really nice moisturizer and said that it would help my dry skin that is a result of insulin therapy.

 

[trophywench]

Back in the year dot I was told 7-ish at bedtime - I now want that as my maximum but am happy at 5 and above, because my basal should be bang on and I've never really been a night hypo-er anyway, lucky me.