Thank You

[bev]

Hi all,

Just a post to say THANK YOU to all who answered the 'no cake'post'!
Alex was so happy this morning when he saw that he had some replies, and he also thought the advice was really thoughtful and kind.
He hasnt really complained much about his diagnosis, so i was surprised when he asked to post this question, and i am very grateful to all who took the time to answer him in such a kind way! Bev

 

[Caroline]

Looking at one of the other threads asking about bread, have you thought about making cakes for Alex? Then he will get a treat and you'll know what's in the cakes.

I make cakes for my lot, the old man can't have anything containing dairy, so every so often I have a baking day and do cakes for everyone. They all get a treat and no one feels left out!

 

[bev]

Hi Caroline, yes i do bake, so he does get treats, its just when we are out and we decide to be spontaneous! But i think in future if alex cant have anything then we wont either! He has enough to deal with without feeling sad. Bev

 

[Caroline]

I'm glad Alex gets treats. When we are out as a family I find it pays to ask what ingredients are used. A good eatery is happy to provide an ingredients list, even when they are busy.

 

[bev]

Funnily enough i have just had to ring his DN about him having hypos today at school, so i asked if we could go on a dafne type course, but she said its only aimed at adults! Why would carb counting be different for a child? I have read on here somewhere that there is a childs course but i cant remember what it was called - does anyone know? thanks . Bev

p.s what i meant by the above caroline is that even with the list of ingredients i would find it very difficult to estimate what was in a piece of cake. I have tested this myself at home trying this method and have been quite wrong with my guess. It depends on the density and thickness of the cake etc doesnt it? Also some shop bought items can vary dramatically i.e. crumpets, it depends what make you buy, the thickness, and whether its a 'luxury' range. Would a carb counting course help us to estimate these? Bev x

 

[aymes]

Funnily enough i have just had to ring his DN about him having hypos today at school, so i asked if we could go on a dafne type course, but she said its only aimed at adults! Why would carb counting be different for a child? I have read on here somewhere that there is a childs course but i cant remember what it was called - does anyone know? thanks . Bev

It's the delivery of the DAFNE course which is aimed at adults as opposed to the learning content, the principles of carb coutnign will be the same, but there should certainly be some sort of alternative for children which I'm sure I've heard of but can't recall the name.

 

[Northerner]

I'll admit that what I do is overcompensate with the insulin - i.e. estimate the highest reasonable value, inject for that, then top-up with jelly babies later if I start to feel a 'lowpo' (thanks Rubyloo🙂) coming on. Not something I'd do often, just on the rare occasion when I'm confronted with something unknown, like the coffee and walnut cake at a friend's housewarming party.

I can imagine that it must be much more difficult when trying to work things out for someone else, especially a child.

 

[katie]

A course would deffinitely help you guestimate carbs in foods. They would also give you a helpful booklet like this:

http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/sites/diabetes/food/CarbohydrateCountingRef.php

From this website it seems that if you weigh a piece of cake the carbs will be about half the whole weight, depending on what kind of cake it is of course:

http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/sites/diabetes/food/BunsCakes.php

 

[Caroline Wilson]

As you are the carer, why can't you do the DAFNE course and then help Alex? Even better if there is a childs one some place as working out carbs and insulin doses will be good practical maths....

 

[bev]

I havent thought of myself as a carer - but i suppose i am arent i? I doubt whether carers have any entitlement to any courses? Its so frustrating that we want to know the right advice but are being refused it! Bev

 

[Freddie99]

Hi Bev,

It was a pleasure to reply to your post. It's always good to know that the past thirteen years of experience will go to some good in helping others.
For me I simply just avoid cake etc as often as possible. Today is the expception, I broke my rules and had a nice bar of chocolate. Oh well, rules are there to be broken.

Tom H

 

[Caroline]

If you don't ask you don't get. Not sure who you need to see or where to go get the course from thoe.

Also have you as a carer thought of doing an Expert Patients Course? All the ones I've seen have been geared towards adults with long term medical conditions.

Basically and expert patients course is designed to help patients cope with tgeir diabetes or arthritis or whatever their long term medical conditon is. I think you need to go through your local PCT or NHS trust.