[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

robinph

I have heard of them changing the scale used for the HBA1C, but not for bg numbers. Much bigger task to change how we all measure ourselves so I can't see it ever happening. Simpler to just change what numbers medics refer to than the much greater number of patients who use the numbers.

CramCycle

robinph wrote: »

I have heard of them changing the scale used for the HBA1C, but not for bg numbers. Much bigger task to change how we all measure ourselves so I can't see it ever happening. Simpler to just change what numbers medics refer to than the much greater number of patients who use the numbers.

I heard this too. Big error here is that people assume that HBA1C is a direct average of your blood sugar levels, where as it is a direct measurement of glycosalated blood sugar whereas as your blood sugar levels measure exactly that.

HBA1C is measured in either percentage or mmol of glycosalated blood/moles of Hemeoglobin in general and they were planning (I think) to switch to the second.

CramCycle

Quick scoot around and I found this:

http://professional.diabetes.org/GlucoseCalculator.aspx

Supposedly gives your average BG level based on your HBA1C if anyone is interested.

robinph

CramCycle wrote: »

Quick scoot around and I found this:

http://professional.diabetes.org/GlucoseCalculator.aspx

Supposedly gives your average BG level based on your HBA1C if anyone is interested.

Mine comes out scarily high based on what I remember my last HBA1c being. No wonder they want it to come down. I'd not have guessed my average to have been in the 12's, I was thinking 9 or 10 maybe. :eek:

robinph

Why is it always sunny on the days that they get you in to put drops in your eyes? I dream of a day where they have me in for that where it's chucking it down with rain, really nasty black clouds and not a hint of sun in the sky. Of course I'd not be hoping for thunder and lightning.

graflynn

robinph wrote: »

Why is it always sunny on the days that they get you in to put drops in your eyes? I dream of a day where they have me in for that where it's chucking it down with rain, really nasty black clouds and not a hint of sun in the sky. Of course I'd not be hoping for thunder and lightning.

A friend of mine called to me today after he'd had his eye exam, I had mine done about 3 weeks ago - both gloriously sunny days! The universe is conspiring against us

graflynn

I know a lot of you have done the DAFNE course, but for those who are like me and don't have access to DAFNE here is an online resource. http://www.dafneonline.co.uk/

Haven't gone into it much yet but I will.

samehere

i did my blood test for glucose level fasting ....................i got 8.8mmol/l and my gp said there is no sign of diabetes ...........but i think its relatively high range ...........dont know what to do?

robinph

Smiley robinph today.

Managed to do a decent time in a half marathon, wearing the pump, didn't go too high, didn't go too low and managed it with only downing one gel on the way round whereas before I'd have taken 3 or 4 of them to cover that distance.

It wasn't a PB time, but it was a very hilly course so I know I'll smash my current PB on a fast course. I also won a t-shirt for finishing in the top 50.



More of my rambling here for those that are interested.

CramCycle

samehere wrote: »

i did my blood test for glucose level fasting ....................i got 8.8mmol/l and my gp said there is no sign of diabetes ...........but i think its relatively high range ...........dont know what to do?

What did you do, a fasting glucose level or a glucose tolerance test?

samehere

fasting glucose=(

CramCycle

It is relatively high but could depend on a number of factors.

That said a continuous BG level over (ie if measured after fasting on more than one occasion) 7.0 mmol/L is indicative of type 2 Diabetes

CramCycle

I am certain (but open to corrections) that an oral glucose tolerance test which fails to return to normal levels after 2.5 hours is also an indicative diagnosis for type 2 DM either.

That said it can be the result of several other conditions, did he ask you to come in for any other tests.

For any of our research we also provide a HOMA test but this is rarely, if ever done in clinical settings.

robinph

Just happened across this selection of t-shirts designs:
http://diabetees.spreadshirt.co.uk/shop/designs/index

I'm actually quite tempted by the "Oh Crap" meter and the "iPump" designs.

eilo1

robinph wrote: »

Just happened across this selection of t-shirts designs:
http://diabetees.spreadshirt.co.uk/shop/designs/index

I'm actually quite tempted by the "Oh Crap" meter and the "iPump" designs.

I just ordered one for a diabetic friend, thanks!!

robinph

I'm getting through millions of test strips now. Thought I had loads of them, but just looked and most of the boxes I've got are out of date. Out of interest I just tried comparing what numbers these out of date ones gave to new strips and the numbers were quite a bit different with one batch being significantly more than 3 off the number I was getting from good strips.

Wish the GP would give me more on each prescription, it's a pain to be going back for more every week...and then I go and forget one week and run out.

BC

robinph wrote: »

I'm getting through millions of test strips now. Thought I had loads of them, but just looked and most of the boxes I've got are out of date. Out of interest I just tried comparing what numbers these out of date ones gave to new strips and the numbers were quite a bit different with one batch being significantly more than 3 off the number I was getting from good strips.

Wish the GP would give me more on each prescription, it's a pain to be going back for more every week...and then I go and forget one week and run out.

Does your doc give you a certain amount on each prescription?
I just have an open ended prescription that lists everything I use on it. I bring it to the chemist with the LTI book whenever I want something. The chemist asked me to get the prescription updated every 2 years but i other than that I just get what i need as I need it.

CramCycle

BC wrote: »

Does your doc give you a certain amount on each prescription?
I just have an open ended prescription that lists everything I use on it. I bring it to the chemist with the LTI book whenever I want something. The chemist asked me to get the prescription updated every 2 years but i other than that I just get what i need as I need it.

robinph is under the NHS at the minute (if I remember correctly) and they have a different system

robinph

BC wrote: »

Does your doc give you a certain amount on each prescription?
I just have an open ended prescription that lists everything I use on it. I bring it to the chemist with the LTI book whenever I want something. The chemist asked me to get the prescription updated every 2 years but i other than that I just get what i need as I need it.

As Cram said I'm now on the NHS, which whilst it's great for now giving me all my other non-diabetes stuff for free as well, they do only give you exactly what is on the prescription and you need a new prescription for everything. I did like just being able to go into the pharmacist with the LTI book in Ireland and they gave me what I asked for, getting a few extra bits, or changing the brand of test strips was never a problem.

xxshebeexx

Had to get my medical report signed today to renew my driving licence. It's my third licence and I only passed my test two years ago I hate just getting one year licences.. that's an extra €55 a year to drive Anyone else's doctor refuse to give them a medical report for more than one year?

tbh

xxshebeexx wrote: »

Had to get my medical report signed today to renew my driving licence. It's my third licence and I only passed my test two years ago I hate just getting one year licences.. that's an extra €55 a year to drive Anyone else's doctor refuse to give them a medical report for more than one year?

I have a standard 10-year license, there's a note on the license that I have to get a medical cert to get it renewed, but only once per ten years..

eilo1

I have one for 3 years I was told this is standard? (Although I did cheekily tick the 10 box last just to see if I could get away with it :cool:)

5live

10 years is standard afaik once you have a cert to say you are capable of driving but my licence is due later this year so look like i will find out soon enough:eek:

This will be my third renewal since being diagnosed and have had no problems like that up to now anyway

graflynn

If you have good and stable HbA1c results there's no reason why you shouldn't be granted a 10 licence otherwise it's descrimination.

If your HbA1c results don't reflect that you have good control over your diabetes then all bets are off.

robinph

Have always had to get a three year UK license. But they don't charge me for it, and it's the handy credit card sized thing that you can actually carry around with you (unless your hiring a car when you need the paper part as well).

Was surprised when I got the Irish license and they asked far less details, I think it was just a note from a GP that I walked in to the office with, girl at the desk didn't even look at it, and just gave me a 10 year license. No actual checking of the medical details as far as I could see. That was some years ago though and I never bothered renewing it after that.

BC

Robinph - didn't realise it was NHS, I understand now!

On the driving licence, I have good HBA1C - its been less than 6.5 for the last 8 years - but my consultant still won't put anything more than 3 years on the medical report so I've been getting 3 year licences.

graflynn

BC wrote: »

Robinph - didn't realise it was NHS, I understand now!

On the driving licence, I have good HBA1C - its been less than 6.5 for the last 8 years - but my consultant still won't put anything more than 3 years on the medical report so I've been getting 3 year licences.

You might fair better with the application form if you get your GP to sign it?

CramCycle

I never even got a cert from my GP, just handed in my form and they gave me one. No questions asked, that said they also gave me a provisional car license when i was 16 so i never really had much faith in their ability to check paperwork in my local CC.

GlennGeo

Hey Guys, I would just like to ask you fellow diabetics about tattoos.
I am a type 1 diabetic since I was 9 and i am currently thinking of getting a tattoo.. Has anyone else got a tattoo and how did it go.. Was there any problems with getting it done?

Cheers
Glenn

tbh

GlennGeo wrote: »

Hey Guys, I would just like to ask you fellow diabetics about tattoos.
I am a type 1 diabetic since I was 9 and i am currently thinking of getting a tattoo.. Has anyone else got a tattoo and how did it go.. Was there any problems with getting it done?

Cheers
Glenn

Hi Glenn, I have two, no problems getting them or since.

GlennGeo

Ah thats grand
Thanks a million

lilmissmoo

Hi,

Recently my 7 year old nephew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I would be putting it lightly to say that the diagnosis took the whole family by shock. My nephew is finding it very hard at the moment and naturally as a young child, keeps focusing on what he wont be able to eat from now on.

My family dont have much knowledge of diabetes and although the nurses have been fantastic, does anyone have any advice on living with type 1 diabetes?

Also, is there anywhere to buy diabetic easter eggs?

Thanks in advance

Sid_Justice

I think the big chocolate stores like Thornton's sell diabetic chocolates. They do do Easter eggs but from personal experience, they sell out a few days before easter so get in early.

tbh

Diabetic chocolate contains a sweetener which acts as a laxative if you eat too much. I wouldn't go near it to be honest. You should take a read through a few of the diabetes thread lmm, the good news is your nephew will be able to lead a normal (ish!) life once the shock subsides.

robinph

GlennGeo wrote: »

Hey Guys, I would just like to ask you fellow diabetics about tattoos.
I am a type 1 diabetic since I was 9 and i am currently thinking of getting a tattoo.. Has anyone else got a tattoo and how did it go.. Was there any problems with getting it done?

Cheers
Glenn

I've had a tatoo since being diagnoed as well, it's not an issue. Just check your levels before hand and let the guy doing it know that your diabetic in case you flake out on him. There is not reason not to get one though.

GlennGeo

Ya thats cool

Thanks
Glenn

kowloon

tbh wrote: »

Diabetic chocolate contains a sweetener which acts as a laxative if you eat too much. I wouldn't go near it to be honest. You should take a read through a few of the diabetes thread lmm, the good news is your nephew will be able to lead a normal (ish!) life once the shock subsides.

I wish someone had told me that before I went mad on the sugar free cola bottles.

tbh

kowloon wrote: »

I wish someone had told me that before I went mad on the sugar free cola bottles.

ha ha yeah - I had two bars of chocolate and spent a very trying few hours "reading the paper" afterwards!

robinph

:mad:

Last weekend was a bit messy and involved an excessive amount of beer, quite a few high bg readings and of course hangovers. I was expecting the higher bg's and didn't worry too much about them though.

This week my numbers have continued to do silly things to me, basals have remained the same, corrections have been done, I know the canula must be in right or I'd be in hospital by now. But even with the correction and regular bg boluses I'm still running high far too much.

I've a feeling that my basals may have changed with the weather and I need to tweak them again. Looks like I'll be spending these bank holiday weekend doing more fasting tests as things currently seem way different to what was happening to me last week.

:mad:

Going to run a 5 mile race tonight and with the weather being good I'm hoping for a better time than I've got so far on that course. Should also help bring the BG back down to a more sensible range.

gerrybbadd

Hey guys.

I'm fairly newly diagnosed (October). I'm Type 1. & take Novarapid & Levemir insulins. What I'm wondering is, do any of you take insulin to cover the carbs in beer, lager etc.?

Any night I'm going out, or having a few in the house, I don't really take any insulin to cover these. Just wondering if I should.

My mmols are still quite high, between 8 -12 at the moment. If I have drink, the readings take 2 days to fallback to these levels again.

robinph

I don't actually cover the beery carbs but it's really something you have to just try and see what works for you. Some people would not need to, some would, some beers would effect you differently.

I've not been much help really I guess, but the best advice I have is to make sure that whoever you are out drinking with is a good friend who knows how to help you if you do go hypo.

tbh

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Hey guys.

I'm fairly newly diagnosed (October). I'm Type 1. & take Novarapid & Levemir insulins. What I'm wondering is, do any of you take insulin to cover the carbs in beer, lager etc.?

Any night I'm going out, or having a few in the house, I don't really take any insulin to cover these. Just wondering if I should.

My mmols are still quite high, between 8 -12 at the moment. If I have drink, the readings take 2 days to fallback to these levels again.

one pint of lager is 10g Cho (1 CP). The advice is that you don't need to do anything if you're just having one pint, and if you're drinking more than this you can take 1 unit of QA insulin (your novarapid) for every 2 pints. Remember that alcohol may cause a delayed hypo, so you may need to reduce your next dose of Levemir or have a snack. The best thing you can do is monitor your levels before, during and after drinking until you know what affect it's having.

CramCycle

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Hey guys.

I'm fairly newly diagnosed (October). I'm Type 1. & take Novarapid & Levemir insulins. What I'm wondering is, do any of you take insulin to cover the carbs in beer, lager etc.?

Any night I'm going out, or having a few in the house, I don't really take any insulin to cover these. Just wondering if I should.

My mmols are still quite high, between 8 -12 at the moment. If I have drink, the readings take 2 days to fallback to these levels again.

Not worth the risk IMHO. Correct the next day if you have to but never on the night unless your actually sober, but if your drunk, drink a ton of water and try sort it out first thing in the morning.

graflynn

It's Easter and some people without diabetes seem to be on a mission for Diabetic Easter eggs and I'm on a wee bit of a rant but in a calm rational sort of way :-)

http://diabetespeopleire.blogspot.com/2011/04/diabetic-chocolate-personal-pet-peeve.html

tbh

Great post - is that your bubba in the pic?

graflynn

tbh wrote: »

Great post - is that your bubba in the pic?

Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback.

And yes that's my youngest who is now 4 and off to "big school" in Sept :-(

Alanstrainor

CramCycle wrote: »

Not worth the risk IMHO. Correct the next day if you have to but never on the night unless your actually sober, but if your drunk, drink a ton of water and try sort it out first thing in the morning.

+1 on this. I would never bolus for beer on a night out, especially when drunk. It's risky, i'd correct the next morning or if i had sobered up and checked my blood sugars.

colrow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13134292

Another report saying a hi fat diet can reverse kidney damage in mice though,

Urbanrose

gerrybbadd wrote: »

My mmols are still quite high, between 8 -12 at the moment.

Oh i remember these days.. now 8 - 12 is extremely good for me lol

eilo1

Right guys, just wondering would any of you eat candi floss?!!?!?
Im so tempted by its sugary, sticky, cloud like fluffyness! But I never let myself eat more than a tiny pick.
Do any type ones eat it or is it just a no no?