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Less risk of contamination with these devices so I flick the switch once a day.

Despite being on the max doses of Metformin and Glicazide, plus a daily dose of long-acting insulin, my HbA1c was up over 85. The did a c-peptide test saying it was 'very unlikely' I was T1. When the result came back that I was indeed T1, they put me on a standard T1 regime of basal + rapid and...

Try GoodToGo insurance. I got a good rate for my recent trip.

For me, the c-peptide test put an end to 3 years of the doctors assuming I was T2 and berating me for having ever higher HbA1c results. It showed that rather than having insulin resistance I was failing to produce it. Think of it as a diagnostic tool and a way to establish the correct treatment.

If you re-use a needle, either by leaving it on the pen or putting it back on repeatedly, there is a risk of contamination being drawn into the insulin vial. Any bugs could then sit there for a couple of weeks happily multiplying. For a few pence, is it worth the risk?

I used to get that before a blood pressure test and the stress sent my pressure up. One doctor said incredulously 'Are you scared of us?' My response was 'No, I'm afraid of what you might tell me.' I've since found out it's a well-known phenomenon known as the 'white coat effect'. What you need...

The first thing to recognise is that the manufacturers of basal insulin don't tell you the whole truth. Your daily dose does NOT give you a steady level over 24 hours then fade out in time for the next dose. Lantus for example is roughly twice as effective 3 hours after injecting than it is 12...

Teenagers rebel and maintaining an insulin regime is something they often view as an aspect of their lives where they can take control away from their parents. Psychologically it may have the same roots as eating disorders. I have a friend whose daughter was diagnosed in her early teens, around...

Having 3 children and 7 grandchildren, I can assure you that sort of behaviour is entirely normal. It might be related to BS changes but making special allowances because of her condition might have the effect of giving her permission to behave badly. In your shoes I would treat her just like...

Are you setting different ratios for different times of day? I find I need a much smaller bolus in the morning after taking my morning basal. My ratios are 1:16 at breakfast, 1:12 at lunch and 1:9 in the evening. Whatever the promotional literature may say, the effective level of a basal dose is...

Having bought one for a long journey, I soaked it last night in preparation. I put a temperature probe inside and found it was only 1° below ambient. Is this what I can expect? On the face of it, it hardly seems worth having but does it help when temperatures are higher?

I really don't relate to the article. 5 mins to do an injection? 30 seconds maybe. BG levels consistently low - cut back the dosage. Reading the labels at breakfast - make a note of the amounts once and use that on subsequent days. 3 months in from diagnosis I reckon less that 5 minutes total...

When I got an Accuchek Aviva Expert meter, my DSN set it up for me. She entered a target range of 6-10. I queried that as 4-7 seems to be the accepted advice but she said if it was set lower I'd have too many hypos. As a result my levels tend to average around 8. I've now tweaked it down to...

Is she making a big drama of her diabetes? Or does it strike a chord?

Diagnosed T1 this year, aged 68. Was treated as T2 for 3 years before that but despite all the pills they could throw at me, my HbA1c kept climbing.

Have a look here: http://www.boots.com/en/Lemsip-Max-Cold-Flu-Lemon-10-Sachets_1759/ scroll down and you will find "...also contains sucrose.." (common sugar).

Remember that health insurance routinely excludes pre-existing conditions so read the fine print on any quotes.

One can supposedly download data from an Accuchek Aviva Expert (the one with bolus advice). I've spent a lot of time on their website but can't find out how to do it. Has anyone managed it and is the analysis worth having in comparison to the stats on the meter itself?

Are you able to tell when you are going hypo? I can generally feel if I am under 5 but I can miss the signs while doing exercise. Riding is not particularly strenuous unless you are doing extended periods of rising trot so you should be able to go for an hour or so between tests. Do remember to...

Not strictly true. Hypos are caused by things that remove glucose from the blood. One thing that does that is exercise, something I would look into in an adolescent as physical activity patterns tend to change at that age.