The event takes place in GLASGOW on Saturday the 19th September 2015, 10am – 1pm. The event address is: Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8RR
Bayer Plc (Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1JA) and Medtronic Ltd (9 Hatters Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 8WW) the organisers of this event, require you to share certain basic personal data with them. This is for the purpose of administrating this event and ensuring that any persons with, or with a vested interest in Type 1 diabetes are able to attend. By completing the following registration information you give consent for the declared personal information to be provided to Bayer plc and to Medtronic Ltd for this purpose.
I have been using the Bayer Contour Next for a short while and just thought I would share my early thoughts on it before I next try the Bayer Contour Next USB which looks very compact J. I have used the Bayer products for a long time now and always been very happy with the design/technology and support they offer, I tend not to use the software to its full potential but moving forward the Bayer Contour Next USB it will be far easier and my ultimate goal is to get the Medtronic 640G Insulin Pump which works in conjunction with the very New Bayer Contour Next Link products so what this space.
The Bayer Contour Next now tests the blood sample 7 times before it reports the results.
Below is the Tech from Bayer :
800 test memory – store up to 3 months of your results, which is suitable if you need to maintain a record for the DVLA/DVA+
7, 14, 30, or 90 day averages
Reversible screen contrast to best suit individual needs
Easy to track your blood glucose pre-meal, post-meal and fasting
Set alarms to remind you to test
Uses the GLUCOFACTS DELUXE diabetes management software from Bayer, which helps track patterns and trends for more productive conversations during your visits with your healthcare professional
The meter is very easy to use as with most of the Bayer range and has a superb size screen for my personal needs, as always fast results and a huge memory. The Bayer Contour Next comes with a fairly good finger picker but moving forward it would be great to see some more technology from all the Diabetes Companies in relation to getting that frustrating droplet of blood from your finger, possibly like me you text many times per day and it really does take its toll on your fingertips – surely there is another answer out there ?
The only thing for me that lets down many of the BG Meters available to us is the size of the carry case which keeps your meter safe, they tend to be huge so fairly big to pop in your pocket and being a male I don’t fancy carrying a handbag or even manbag around with me lol J
The Bayer Contour Next also has a more in depth software program which I am still getting used to for editing your readings and doesn’t require that you download the Glucofacts software program which is a real plus so you can just plug it into your USB port.
Thanks for reading and I would certainly recommend giving this meter a try.
Uses CONTOUR® NEXT test strips for remarkable accuracy
The CONTOUR® NEXT range of meters all utilise the CONTOUR® NEXT test strip and have demonstrated they deliver exceptional accuracy for results you can rely on, to help you make better diabetes management decisions.
Available on prescription
Tiny sample size with easy Sip-In Sampling® helps you get the right amount of blood on your first try
Second-Chance™ sampling allows you to apply more blood if the first sample was insufficient, which helps to avoid the need for repeat finger pricking
Innovative Multipulse accuracy technology from Bayer, evaluates a single sample 7 times to ensure accurate glucose measurements, even when blood glucose levels are low. Accuracy is not affected by many common interfering substances*
No Coding technology removes the need to manually code the meter before testing, eliminating errors due to miscoding
So on the news this morning which I am sure you have all seen but it’s going to be 35c – wow what a scorcher.
This heat plays havoc with my BG levels through the day and especially in the evening once I am home from work, last night when I got home from work before dinner I was 7.2 then had dinner but a little less insulin, woke up at 12.15am as it was hot to 3.2.
The most frustrating part of this for me as that this morning I am 12.2 ggggggrrrrrrrr.
I also have another problem as I use an Animas Vibe Insulin Pump which is the easy bit however in the heat I find the cannula can peel off the skin, however I have found something called Tac Wipes which are also available from Animas. Certainly worth asking the question as these work very well.
So trying to keep hydrated and BG levels up as the carbs seem to burn away fast in the heat especially as we are not so used to it.
As you may or may not know I have had many problems with my eye site over the past 10 years and I have had approx 10,000 laser burns in each eye to help correct Retinopathy and also a Vitrectomy Operation in each eye.
Please take the time if you can to look at my previous blogs relating to eye health and the importance of regular Diabetes Eye Check Up’s.
Over the years my night vision with all the treatments I have had my night vision has suffered to the point where I am unable to drive during the winter months as it tends to be dark at 4.00pm, it is so frustrating to have to rely on other people,public transport and cabs to get around as I like to think I am quite independent – my wife Gill is a huge help to me.
So what I tend to do is carry a large torch everywhere even during the summer as if I am out late (doesn’t happen much as I have three young children lol) I would be stuck or struggle a lot to find my way around even just using the torch on my phone which is pretty poor. I have tried lots of different options of torch ranging from very cheap small torches which are useless to expensive large torches which are too big.
I then cam across a company who manufacture a superb quality range of torches and head torches that I was hoping could help me.
The company is called Suprabeam and from the first enquiry I sent them I knew they could help as they certainly know their stuff, they seem to deal with people who run, ride and even climb who need a decent quality torch that they can rely on 100%. The reason I decided on a headtorch is purely because I don’t have to hold it and they are now very small and bright, especially compared to what I have used in the past. The Suprabeamheadtorches are very comfortable to wear, small but extremely bright – I can even use if I decided to cycle.
The Suprabeam head torch we decided on was the Suprabeam V3air Rechargeableas I didn’t want anything super bright but bright enough to light the path or road in front of me, this certainly does the job, I have been using this now for about 4 months and I am so pleased I bought one as it has given me so much confidence when being out during the evenings or night. It is very a small and just fits in my pocket ready for when I need it.
Personally if you are looking for a top quality Torch or even HeadTorch then have a look at Suprabeam as the products are very high quality and affordable, the staff are also very knowledgeable and not pushy at all so they will guide you to the product they think will best suit your requirements.
Interested in learning how insulin pump therapy can help improve control in Type 1 diabetes?
To learn more come and join us at an Insulin Pump Therapy Awareness event hosted by Medtronic and Bayer in Birmingham at the Birmingham City – Strathallan Hotel, 225 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, B16 9RY on Tuesday 23rd June 2015, 6pm – 9pm
For People with Type 1 diabetes insulin pump therapy has been proven to offer the following benefits vs. Multiple Daily Injections1-2:
Better Control
Less hypos
More Flexibility
J. C. Pickup and A. J. Sutton Severe hypoglycaemia and glycemic control in Type 1 diabetes: meta-analysis of multiple daily insulin injections compared with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion Diabetic Medicine 2008 :25, 765–774
Bergenstal RM1, Tamborlane WV, Ahmann A, Buse JB, Dailey G, Davis SN, Joyce C, Perkins BA, Welsh JB, Willi SM, Wood MA; STAR 3 Study Group. Sensor-augmented pump therapy for A1C reduction (STAR 3) study: results from the 6-month continuation phase. Diabetes Care. 2011 Nov;34(11):2403-5. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1248. Epub 2011 Sep 20.
So here I am again for my yearly check up at the Western Eye Hospital nr Paddington London for my Diabetes Eye Check.
For me this is always a nervous time and can be a long day 😄
My appointment was for 9.40am so I left my home at about 7.30am to get the train to London which is always fun (not), it is incredible just how many people travel in and out of London expecially at rush hour. I was lucky enough to get a seat on the train that takes about 50 minutes to Paddington as I then have about a 15 minute walk to the Western Eye Hospital.
There are possibly closer places for me to have these checks but I have been going there for about 10 years now and also had laser treatment along with two Vitrectomy Operations about 8 years ago, I like the fact they can do everything there related to eyes.
Good to see a large TV which gives you an idea of the waiting time which can be quite lengthy sometimes, when I arrived it was approx 30-60 minutes to see the nurse for the eye check, photo’s of the back of your eye, lovely drops in your eye, scan the eye for any vessel leaks. This all went quite quickly and my eyes from the nurses perspective were okay and pressure good along with my actual eyesite. Really good news to hear my eyes are healthy and I am still okay to drive.
After seeing the nurse I then waited about another hour to see the Doctor who looks at your previous notes and then has a good look at the back of the eye, since my last appointment everything has remained stable which the Doctor said can be down to good blood sugar control which is not easy. I have had a lot of laser treatment previously to burn the tiny blood vessels to stop them bursting and leaking, fortunately I do not need any further laser at this time.
I did ask about my vision as I do get slightly paranoid that I can’t read a number plate but she confirmed I am well in the limits of this – great news.
So as you can imagine I am extremely happy and just proves that good control, healthy eating and basically looking after yourself does help make a difference.
I was fortunate enough to be invited along by Medtronic to a meeting for patient bloggers. I have never been to these type of meetings before and was not sure what to expect. I had been told that my name had cropped up when they had researched into where patients (or as we should be called “professionals”) go to find help or information. Well all I can say is that I am pleased that my mad ramblings help some people out there 🙂
When it came to the day I still did not know what to expect. When signing in I recognised a lot of the names off the list, and when they came through the door it seemed odd like I had already been apart of their lives yet it was the first time I was meeting everyone (well apart from Paul from GBDOC and Team Blood Glucose and…
There has been a lot of buzz recently regarding Medtronic’s new 640G insulin pump. Released to the public in Australia this week, it is the first insulin pump to suspend insulin delivery when it predicts there will be a low blood sugar event (this differs from the 530G model which suspends when a low blood sugar level is reached.)
But a lot of news outlets have been touting it as an “artificial pancreas.” But is it really?
I know it was a long time ago now but in some respects it is nice to get back to normality as my eating and drinking habits over Christmas & New Year have been very bad, far too much food and drink which has played havoc with my BG levels so I need to pull my finger out and get back on track 🙂
As you may or may not already be aware I have had numerous problems with my eyes and ensure I have regular eye checks to make sure nothing is missed, for my Diabetes Care I attend the Western Eye Hospital in London where I go each year – this is my last blog Western Eye Clinic.
I have also been to Specsavers for the past 5 years to basically check my vision where as the Western Eye Clinic is looking at issues with my eye health and any related Diabetes damage like Retinopathy etc. The reason I chose Specsavers is that the service I have received from Maidenhead Store has been superb and they give a great range of tests not just interested in selling you a new pair of glasses.
So I received my yearly reminder in the post and called to book my appointment at Maidenhead which as always is very easy and at a time to suit me. My appointment was on Saturday 3rd January and I was luck enough to be seen by the Branch Manager Lisa which at the time I was unaware of. Lisa went through the eye checks with me “s last pair of glasses to get an idea of how much her eyes have changed since her last eye test”, I also had a Visual Fields Test due to the amount of Laser I have had done previously for the treatment of Retinopathy – this basically involves resting your chin on the edge of a large round ball which the lights up small lights inside at different positions, you then push a button to tell the computer when you have seen each light. All these test went very well in my eyes “Sorry excuse the pun”
I was then taken in to see a very nice Optometrist called Helen who spoke to me first about my lifestyle and Medical history, Helen then went through various checks as follows and these details were taken from the Specsavers web site which is very helpful :
1. The Retinoscope
The optometrist may use an instrument called a retinoscope, which bounces a light beam off the back of your eye and back into the instrument. Different lenses focus the reflected light beam until it is steady, giving a close guide to the prescription you need.
The retinoscope is very accurate – it is used to test the sight of very small children, or people with communication difficulties who can’t easily describe how clearly they can see.
2. The test chart
The optometrist fine-tunes his findings by asking you to read the test chart through different strength lenses. The results for one eye often vary from those for the other, so each eye will be tested individually before both eyes are finally tested together.
The optometrist flips different lenses in front of your eyes that change how clearly you can see. Depending on your answers, the optometrist changes the lenses until you have the clearest, most comfortable vision possible.
3. Using the ophthalmoscope
The optometrist uses an ophthalmoscope to examine the retina at the back of the eye, including the blood vessels and the front of the optic nerve. This important test can detect changes which can indicate diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
The optometrist darkens the room and sits quite close to you, while they shine a bright light into each eye in turn using the ophthalmoscope. The light may leave shadows on your vision, but these soon fade.
4. The oxo box
You are also asked to focus on an oxo box, and say whether the illuminated lines are in line horizontally and vertically.
This indicates whether your eyes work well together – balanced and co-ordinated eyes are essential for clear comfortable vision.
5. Testing your focus
The optometrist may test your ability to focus at varying distances to decide if you need different prescriptions for distance and reading.
After this I sat down with Helen to go through her findings which for me was all okay, the only issue I have is sitting in front of a laptop all-day and having to strain to see the words clearly, we decided pair of specific VDU glasses could help. We then looked at the digital images of the backs of my eyes which are incredible to see as I could see all the scarring from the laser treatment I have had going back about 7 or 8 years – all this laser also affects my night vision massively but nothing I can do about this.
Finally, I was then introduced to Jamil who showed my lots of different frames some good and some not so good unless you are someone like Will I Am, we decided on two pairs of frames one for VDU work and one pair for normal day to day wear. I collected my glasses 1 week later and I was extremly pleased with the quality/price and service so I would highly recommend giving them a try.
My Pump Blog 