Carb counting course

[Lucyr]

I’m going on the local version of DAFNE next week, it’s one day a week for four weeks. I’m a bit nervous so could probably just do with some encouragement really.

I feel like I have a lot of theoretical knowledge about diabetes. I can explain how to do basal tests, check your bolused etc, but in reality I struggle with putting it into practice. My hba1c is high, my time in range is low, my weight isn’t going the direction I want it to, and I’ve just been burnt out by the entire thing for a long time now.

I don’t carb count or use ratios any more I just do what dose feels right (but my TIR says that isn’t working). I can carb count if I weigh things, but I don’t feel my estimation of carbs is that accurate and I’m not that confident at it.

Am I likely to find it useful? Or just like it’s making me more burnt out by adding diabetes homework on top?

I’ve done the required basal tests before starting it and the questionnaires. I didn’t know what to do as a result of the basal tests so haven’t made changes, and the questionnaires I suspect just rate me as anxious and burnt out but not depressed.

 

[CliffH]

I’m going on the local version of DAFNE next week, it’s one day a week for four weeks. I’m a bit nervous so could probably just do with some encouragement really.

I feel like I have a lot of theoretical knowledge about diabetes. I can explain how to do basal tests, check your bolused etc, but in reality I struggle with putting it into practice. My hba1c is high, my time in range is low, my weight isn’t going the direction I want it to, and I’ve just been burnt out by the entire thing for a long time now.

I don’t carb count or use ratios any more I just do what dose feels right (but my TIR says that isn’t working). I can carb count if I weigh things, but I don’t feel my estimation of carbs is that accurate and I’m not that confident at it.

Am I likely to find it useful? Or just like it’s making me more burnt out by adding diabetes homework on top?

I’ve done the required basal tests before starting it and the questionnaires. I didn’t know what to do as a result of the basal tests so haven’t made changes, and the questionnaires I suspect just rate me as anxious and burnt out but not depressed.

I haven't done such a course but I'm thinking that, if I were struggling as you seem to be, I'd welcome the chance to talk things through with other people and perhaps get some useful tips - or even just moral support. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Lucyr]

Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks. Already booked the leave from work to go so I’m going whether it makes things better or worse!

 

[Inka]

I don’t carb count or use ratios any more I just do what dose feels right (but my TIR says that isn’t working). I can carb count if I weigh things, but I don’t feel my estimation of carbs is that accurate and I’m not that confident at it.

Is it burnout that’s stopping you weighing things @Lucyr ? For me, I find weighing helps take the pressure off - no guessing, just a nice solid fact to work with.

I’ve never done DAFNE or similar because I think it would wind me up. I did, however, have a dietician at diagnosis who explained it very briefly to me - but in a good, succinct way. Different things suit different people so don’t be worried to say if you feel it’s not for you.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Everything crossed for you @Lucyr

Hope you find it interesting, and accessible, and it gives you a possible framework that you could either adopt, or use as inspiration to adjust and adapt to your own needs.

 

[rebrascora]

I was really anxious about attending DAFNE. I was only 8 months diagnosed so I didn't have a lot of practical experience but I had a lot of knowledge gained from this forum. My concerns were firstly that the N and E are for Normal Eating and I follow a low carb way of eating as you know, so that was a big concern and then I have social anxiety and the idea of attending a group like this was another big issue. There was a real mix of experience in the group. Two people couldn't make it so there were only 6 of us which wasn't too intimidating and I knew the dietician already as she had done my initial carb counting half day course. The other course leader was a really lovely and very experienced DSN. They are trained to be non judgemental because they are aware that people have lots of issues and their goal is purely to help people manage their diabetes with insulin more safely. Ultimately I think the goal is to reduce hospital admissions as that makes it cost effective. I found that I knew more than all the others even a lady with 50 years in, so I expect with you having lots of knowledge and experience will be in a similar position.
I probably enjoyed the course because I enjoy problem solving, but it was also really great to spend a week with other Type 1s as you learn so much from each other. I have abandoned most of the systems simply because they don't work so well for me on a low carb diet, but it was still very worthwhile and more than anything I think it gave me confidence.

Really sorry to hear that you are feeling burnt out and that your battle with diet is not going the way you would like. I really don't know if there is anything in the course which will inspire you, but if the course educators genuinely feel that you need a change of insulin or a pump, they can advocate for you with the consultant. That certainly happened with at least 2 out of the 6 in our group.

Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

 

[Lucyr]

Is it burnout that’s stopping you weighing things @Lucyr ? For me, I find weighing helps take the pressure off - no guessing, just a nice solid fact to work with.

I think it’s a combination of a bit of burnout and a bit of something else. Probably my ratios not being quite right or something, it’s difficult sometimes as my body goes through phases of doing more than phases of doing less. So I will have occasional weeks where I can get away without putting much effort into anything, but then I can stay in that mind frame for months after when my body goes back to not bothering (which is the vast majority of the time). Maybe being forced to do it again will help get back into the routine.

 

[Lucyr]

Really sorry to hear that you are feeling burnt out and that your battle with diet is not going the way you would like. I really don't know if there is anything in the course which will inspire you, but if the course educators genuinely feel that you need a change of insulin or a pump, they can advocate for you with the consultant. That certainly happened with at least 2 out of the 6 in our group.

It’s probably a bit of life stress causing it as well, not sure how much I’ve said on the forum but I’ve had a really very stressful year, so perhaps the homework / being around others aspects will help too.

The course does cover pumps on one of the days, a general overview I imagine but will be interesting if they explain the criteria etc. Both my basal tests had a drop overnight then a rise to lunch, which is why I can’t suggest a lantus adjustment to fix it.

 

[silver minion]

Good luck on your course @Lucyr maybe looking at everything in a different environment from your normal routine will give you a bit of fresh impetus.
I hope you get the opportunity to raise concerns that are affecting you and suggestions that are of practical benefit.

 

[djdave]

Hope you find some good advice @Lucyr Having to guess carbs does make meal times a chore when others don't understand why we have to count carbs... I must admit I do rely on 2 apps to guess for me when I'm in a muddle...
Hope you have a course leader who cares and is able to encourage you..

 

[CathyFP]

@Lucyr I hope you find the course helpful. Do let us know what you get out of it. I’m really interested as my local health authority no longer runs any face to face courses as they have insufficient “capacity”!

 

[lauramwatt]

I’m going on the local version of DAFNE next week, it’s one day a week for four weeks. I’m a bit nervous so could probably just do with some encouragement really.

I feel like I have a lot of theoretical knowledge about diabetes. I can explain how to do basal tests, check your bolused etc, but in reality I struggle with putting it into practice. My hba1c is high, my time in range is low, my weight isn’t going the direction I want it to, and I’ve just been burnt out by the entire thing for a long time now.

I don’t carb count or use ratios any more I just do what dose feels right (but my TIR says that isn’t working). I can carb count if I weigh things, but I don’t feel my estimation of carbs is that accurate and I’m not that confident at it.

Am I likely to find it useful? Or just like it’s making me more burnt out by adding diabetes homework on top?

I’ve done the required basal tests before starting it and the questionnaires. I didn’t know what to do as a result of the basal tests so haven’t made changes, and the questionnaires I suspect just rate me as anxious and burnt out but not depressed.

Hi @Lucyr

I recently did a similar course (called CHOICE- I'm not sure if you're talking about the same one?) and found it incredibly helpful! I also was doing the same as you for a long time- not carb counting but roughly injecting what I felt was right, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. But being on the course helped me with working out my ratios and that was a MASSIVE help. My readings are now a lot more consistent.
If you don't feel confident with your carb estimation, the course will be really beneficial as that was a large focal point of one of the weeks.

With regards to "homework" we had to keep a carb counting diary for a few days, but it wasn't too much stress. They just wanted some examples that they could show to the class, and we also did 1-to-1 meetings where they would use the diaries to calculate your ratios etc. A little more work on the side but definitely worth it!

 

[eggyg]

I did DAFNE about 7 years ago after nagging my DSN who kept telling me as I wasn’t a “proper” Type 1 I wasn’t allowed. I wore her down in the end. Mine was over five full days. Very intense. Me and three blokes. It was the best thing I have ever done and I felt liberated by the knowledge I gained. As well as the DSN we had a dietician there. An endocrinologist came to speak to us one day too. We had practical things to do. One day they brought scones in and we had to take our insulin accordingly then we all checked our BGs 2/3/4 hours later. None of us was prescribed Libre then so just old fashioned meters. We all had lunch together in the hospital canteen, again working out the ratios and doses. On the last day we went to the pub for a bar meal. Putting into practice what we’d learnt. It was good to meet other diabetics, although I was the only weirdo, but I was treat just the same as a “proper” Type 1 and the same rules apply. Of course you’ll feel apprehensive, it’s the unknown, but honestly Lucy, it’ll be the best thing you do. It’ll give you confidence to carb count, it’ll teach you how ratios work and corrections ( I was always scared of those), sickday rules etc. and lots more. Go for it and good luck.

 

[Lucyr]

It was good to meet other diabetics, although I was the only weirdo, but I was treat just the same as a “proper” Type 1 and the same rules apply.

Thanks for your messages, sounds like it could be helpful and likely designed not to be too onerous then. I’ll be the only weirdo type on my course too I expect, being not strictly T1 as I still produce a little insulin.

I recently did a similar course (called CHOICE- I'm not sure if you're talking about the same one?) and found it incredibly helpful! I also was doing the same as you for a long time- not carb counting but roughly injecting what I felt was right, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. But being on the course helped me with working out my ratios and that was a MASSIVE help. My readings are now a lot more consistent.
If you don't feel confident with your carb estimation, the course will be really beneficial as that was a large focal point of one of the weeks.

This sounds really similar to my situation and the course setup. It’s not CHOICE I’m doing but BERTIE. My clinic has a good reputation so expecting good information, they seem to run a lot of these courses so I expect they’ve seen all sorts of different experiences.

 

[Lucyr]

sickday rules

Oh that would be very helpful. I’ve never followed those before and my approach to illness is “just hope it goes away and my Bgs sort themselves out”

 

[Lucyr]

@Lucyr I hope you find the course helpful. Do let us know what you get out of it. I’m really interested as my local health authority no longer runs any face to face courses as they have insufficient “capacity”!

I will do. There is the online Bertie course which you could do? I haven’t done it myself but since it has the same name as the face to face course I’m doing I expect it’s similar.

 

[lauramwatt]

Thanks for your messages, sounds like it could be helpful and likely designed not to be too onerous then. I’ll be the only weirdo type on my course too I expect, being not strictly T1 as I still produce a little insulin.



This sounds really similar to my situation and the course setup. It’s not CHOICE I’m doing but BERTIE. My clinic has a good reputation so expecting good information, they seem to run a lot of these courses so I expect they’ve seen all sorts of different experiences.

Yeah it seems that they're quite frequent- which is great! Another great thing I found on the course is that I learned that a lot of things I've been told over the years (advice on carb counting and what to have when I'm having a hypo etc) are not longer recommended or considered "best practice". So if you've had a diabetes a while, I think it could be very helpful. I learned a lot that I didn't know I didn't know hahaha

 

[Vonny]

I really hope you get something out of the course @Lucyr and that you get a break from your burn out x