Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Rick - I am not on insulin either and I can not imagine not using a blood monitor! You really have to know what is going on " in there " and what different foods do to your blood sugar levels- I think that your doctor has some old fashioned ideas. Control is the name of the game and you need a monitor to tell you how you are doing in that control - I urge you to get one! Rebekah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Rick - the other thing about taking your blood sugar readings (BG) is: I have a number in mind that, if I go over, I get moving - literally doing something to bring this number down sooner than it would come down on its own. My doc has suggested 140, so if I ever get a reading that high or higher I start moving, moving, moving. Thankfully I don't get them often with my low carb diet and I try and do some regular exercise, daily of course, but it makes me feel better (at least mentally) to move and get those high numbers down. Anyone else have thoughts on this? Rebekah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Wow... I keep my carbs at 20 or less a day. At 300 my bg's would shoot me to the moon, LOL. Meenie carb question > > >If the non-diabetic person is on a 2,000 calorie a day >diet, he/she shouldn't have more than 300 carbs a day. > So is a person is on a 1,700 calorie a day diet, >he/she shouldn't have more than 255 carbs a day >(according to my calculations). Is this the max I >should have as a type II diabetic (non-insulin >dependant)? > >Thanks, >Rick > > >===== > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Rick, I think your meter is the most immediate ruler to use as to your carbo intake, you will set some peak level, and keep improving on it. I started at 150 and kept reducing it, I seldom gget to 120 now. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 I haven't been told what my carb intake should be. Is there a set amount for daibetics or is it dependent on the person? Rick --- Meenie wrote: > > > Wow... I keep my carbs at 20 or less a day. At 300 > my bg's would shoot me > to the moon, LOL. > Meenie > > carb question > > > > > > > >If the non-diabetic person is on a 2,000 calorie a > day > >diet, he/she shouldn't have more than 300 carbs a > day. > > So is a person is on a 1,700 calorie a day diet, > >he/she shouldn't have more than 255 carbs a day > >(according to my calculations). Is this the max I > >should have as a type II diabetic (non-insulin > >dependant)? > > > >Thanks, > >Rick > > > > > >===== > > > > > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 My doctor has told me that since I am not insulin dependent, I don't need to use a meter. I have heard and read that I should monitor my bg daily. Any thoughts on this? thanks, Rick --- E Levy wrote: > > > Rick, I think your meter is the most immediate ruler > to use as to your > carbo intake, you will set some peak level, and keep > improving on it. I > started at 150 and kept reducing it, I seldom gget > to 120 now. Sam > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Rick, I had this written to send, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 METERING. You cannot tell what your sugars are without a blood glucose monitor. Your medical service may have adopted a particular meter, and supply a matching tape. There is also the question of what do you do with readings after taking them. I use a meter with a 250 reading memory, along with time and date that can record not only sugars, but other events as well. It has a stereo socket in the side and using a special connector and software it may be read into your computer for graphing and calculations. It should be part of your BG control process, the information used to correct your care and behavior. I use the One Touch Profile meter which I encouraged my service to adopt (Kaiser). The cable is available from Lifescan for $5, certainly a bargain as others cost much more. I find them reliable, and the readings may be set correctly using a control test solution that comes with the meter. WHAT DO I DO WITH THE READINGS? The meter reads your BG, you must correct your behavior to bring your sugars nearer 100. You may feel comfortable with a lower reading, I don’t start to feel low until 80, I start to feel sugar shock at 64. You should not let your sugar fall low, if you are on medication, you risk the danger of falling unconscious, unable to correct your sugars. If I have a high sugar at mealtime, I put off the meal, I like to be about 90 before meals. My morning (fasting) sugar is around 90-95,. It will come up to 100 just by activity, such as driving to the hospital for test with an empty bowel. In 2 more hours it is down to 95. I am not a brittle diabetic, I still have some ability to control my sugar, and thus I am able to use diet only for control. If I take the slightest amount of oral medication, it drives my sugar down fast, I call it a crash, or near sugar shock. I read my sugars 90 minutes after eating new foods, to find what amounts were suitable, and how they raised my sugar. I eat small meals, leave room for snacks during the day, I call it grazing. Diabetes means you have lost the ability to eat big meals, and use the reserve sugars between meals. Eating large meals your sugar goes high, and you run out of sugar between meals. Rather than experience highs and lows, I eat through the day. I have small meals and add dishes of mixed fruit. I don’t eat it all at once. They are prepared with a plastic wrap cover, and I eat half at a time. There is dietary room for a bite of sweets or a small sandwich with meat and cheese, one slice of black bread. Maybe a croissant, or even a tiny candy. The principle is not to have big meals you can’t handle, but to smooth your intake through the day. Eat part of a sandwich, and wrap it back up if you brown bag. To make a blood sugar test wash your hands, any residual sugar can throw your reading off. The moisture softens your skin, the better to separate the tapes. I put a tape partly into the meter (it checks 2 tapes aren’t stuck together), and start the meter. I pick up the lancet and cock it, and when told to insert the tape push it all the way in. I place the lance against a finger and when it says apply, I trigger the lance and lay it aside. I use the thumb of the same hand and the thumb and index finger of the other hand to surround the lanced finger and squeeze it, and force a small drop of blood on top of my finger, about half the size of the tape spot. I lay the finger on the strip holder to one side, and rotate it to place the drop on the test spot. I make sure it fills the spot, or move my finger to aid it, do not press the spot. I have a paper towel at hand, and grab the towel with my finger to stanch the flow. If there is any blood spilled I absorb it with the towel. I reuse lancets several months, I find the B & D ultrafine III lancets hurt less, draw blood easier, heal faster. Do not share lancets with anyone, always use a new one. Some practice sticking the sides of their fingers toward the nail, fewer nerves, not used for typing etc. I leave my used tapes in the meter where they dry harmlessly, don’t bleed on things. I see the latest lances have dial controls to set the depth of the penetration. I encourage you to write me and discuss your questions and problems. SOFTWARE and charting. Why use software to graph your sugars? It enables you to see what times of day you have problems, and what problems. Unless meter readings are presented systematically, you have not extracted the information from them. I have software from Lifescan. Go to their site, click the right hand button, click on Profile, look at software under the Profile. I also use DIABASS, diabetic assistant. See http://www.diabtrends.com/scrshot2.htm The screens expand, they said the trial software works for 15 days. It takes some learning, and they are not pushing it here in the US, most are sold in Europe. It is fast, small in size, in color, but prints B & W. It is the best! Boehringer-Mannheim (Roche now) has a download cable and software, call their 800 number. What sorts of presentations are available? They all show readings on a calendar graph, just connect the dots, with some limits shown that you can set. An important one is the standard day, where the readings are shown on a 24 hour scale for the time period you set. It quickly shows what times of day you have trouble, highs or lows. The statistics has a standard deviation that rates how steady your readings are. Diabass creates an HbA1C reading from your data. It explores the relation between insulin shots and carbohydrate intake, useful for type 1. Feel free to write and discuss diabetic subjects, Sam in San Diego Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Hi folks, This monitoring issue can be a real puzzle to newbies. I recently posted about a relevant study on my list, TheDiabetesCureonelist. I hope you won't mind the cross-post; I think the information will be useful to some. Here's the post. Hope it helps. Kramer --------------------------- This topic has been a major item of discussion on a number of diabetes lists lately. Dr. Cherewatenko addresses the subject very well in The Diabetes Cure. The topic is blood glucose monitoring, and it's part of Step 8 of The Diabetes Cure. Results from a major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1993 (NEJM, 329:977-986, 1993) overwhelmingly support tight glucose control. The study, The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), was conducted by a number of diabetes researchers, including Dr. Sivitz and Dr.Rodney Zeitler. The study followed 1,441 people with diabetes over a 10 year period. Half of them checked their glucose levels two or three times per day. The other half tested their glucose levels four to seven times per day. The results surprised nearly everyone, even some of the doctors who had long advocated tight control. Eyes: The development of retinopathy (eye damage) was the same between the two groups for three years, but by the fourth year the gap widened and continued to widen for the remainder of the study. By the 10th year the intensive therapy group had a 60% reduction in eye damage. Kidneys: The appearance of protein in the urine was monitored because healthy kidneys do not allow protein to appear in the urine. Low levels of protein appeared in the urine of 35% of subjects on conventional treatment but in only 25% on intensive treatment. High levels appeared in the urine of 10% of subjects on conventional but in only 5% on intensive treatment. Nerve Damage: After five years, 10% of those on conventional treatment showed nerve damage but only 3% of those on intensive treatment showed damage -- a 70% risk reduction! What does this mean for health care? Physicians now know what could only be assumed before, that tight control of blood sugar delays complications of diabetes. For the intensive therapy group to succeed, one of the lessons from the DCCT was that it required a team effort: patients, physicians, nutritionists, nurses, and psychologists. Most importantly, it put the person with diabetes in the " driver's seat " , making " intensive management " of their diabetes part of daily life. Keeping tight blood glucose control means frequently monitoring your blood with a glucose meter. Based on the results, you can quickly adjust diet, exercise, or medication to keep levels within an acceptable range. Consumer Reports tested a number of glucose meters for convenience, accuracy, and consistency, and rated the top 8: 1. Glucometer Elite. 2. Lifescan One Touch Profile 3. Accu-Chex Advantage 4. Lifescan One Touch Basic 5. Accu-Chek Easy 6. MediSense Precision O.I.D. 7. Glucometer Encore 8. Accu-Chek III Not on the list, but a personal favorite of Dr. Vern's, is the Duet Glucose Monitor by LXN Corp. It's much more costly than some, but it has the ability to perform the glyco-protein test, which measures the levels of glucose control over a 1-3 week period. This allows much less individual testing, improves compliance, allows for trends in glucose levels, and can also test the standard glucose levels. The full text of the DCCT Study Implications is located here: http://www.cde.com/diabetes.world/dcct.htm More later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Thanks , This is very informative and most welcome! This highlights the importance of good control very well. The info about the Duet monitor was certainly interesting.. it says it can show the average of glucose levels over several weeks? Is this done with a finger prick? Does anyone here have this monitor? I'd like to know more about it. Thanks! Meenie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 I agree wholeheartedly, Rebekah. Exercise can make a big difference!! Do it regularly and also if you see a high bg... unless of course you're sick and can't. Remember your body tosses in extra bg's when you're sick to protect you. If you can't hold down food and your bg goes too low your brain can't function, so your body holds glucose in reserve for just such a time. Meenie Re: carb question >From: Gr8Scot5@... > >Rick - the other thing about taking your blood sugar readings (BG) is: I have >a number in mind that, if I go over, I get moving - literally doing something >to bring this number down sooner than it would come down on its own. My doc >has suggested 140, so if I ever get a reading that high or higher I start >moving, moving, moving. Thankfully I don't get them often with my low carb >diet and I try and do some regular exercise, daily of course, but it makes >me feel better (at least mentally) to move and get those high numbers down. >Anyone else have thoughts on this? Rebekah > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 Rick, Run , don't walk, and get yourself another doctor. I'm not kidding! This is old school thinking... a prehistoric idea in which the doctor thinks he is god and wants you to come to HIM to figure out what to do in every instance. You can be passive and go along with this or you can take control , get a meter and stop the problems before they start. I would hazard a guess that this is a family practice doctor? If you can get an endocrinologist or a diabetologist, go for that. You want a doctor who will work with you in controlling this. There is NO WAY to control your bg's unless you know what they are. Insulin has nothing to do with it. If you want to control with diet and exercise alone you still need to know how you are doing and what you need to change, a meter will tell you what you need to do. Many GP's aren't much interested in a healthy diabetic, once you have complications they are more eager to be aggressive. Don't let it reach that point! Meenie Re: carb question > > >My doctor has told me that since I am not insulin >dependent, I don't need to use a meter. I have heard >and read that I should monitor my bg daily. Any >thoughts on this? > >thanks, >Rick > >--- E Levy wrote: >> >> >> Rick, I think your meter is the most immediate ruler >> to use as to your >> carbo intake, you will set some peak level, and keep >> improving on it. I >> started at 150 and kept reducing it, I seldom gget >> to 120 now. Sam >> >> --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 1999 Report Share Posted November 6, 1999 It depends on what type of diet you are willing to follow. If you go low fat the carbs allowed will be higher, but you will have to be very strict about what and when you eat. If you go low carb, carbs will be severly limited, but the rest of the foods will be much looser. ie, you can eat more. So if you are someone who loves to eat, low carb might be a good route for you. I'd suggest reading either Atkin's or Berenstein and see what you think about what they say. I do Atkin's and was immediately impressed when I read the book. I could relate my life to exactly what he said! In the meantime keep in mind that carbs break down in the body to sugar. A baked potatoe equals approx. 8 teaspoons of sugar. and go from there. Meenie carb question >> >> >> > >> > >> >If the non-diabetic person is on a 2,000 calorie a >> day >> >diet, he/she shouldn't have more than 300 carbs a >> day. >> > So is a person is on a 1,700 calorie a day diet, >> >he/she shouldn't have more than 255 carbs a day >> >(according to my calculations). Is this the max I >> >should have as a type II diabetic (non-insulin >> >dependant)? >> > >> >Thanks, >> >Rick >> > >> > >> >===== >> > >> > >> >> --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 1999 Report Share Posted November 7, 1999 Thanks Meenie, I have an appointment with an endocrinologist on the 23rd. Hopefully he will take a little more interest in my health than this gp I have seen. Rick --- Meenie wrote: > > > Rick, > Run , don't walk, and get yourself another doctor. > I'm not kidding! This > is old school thinking... a prehistoric idea in > which the doctor thinks he > is god and wants you to come to HIM to figure out > what to do in every > instance. You can be passive and go along with this > or you can take control > , get a meter and stop the problems before they > start. > I would hazard a guess that this is a family > practice doctor? If you can get > an endocrinologist or a diabetologist, go for that. > You want a doctor who > will work with you in controlling this. > There is NO WAY to control your bg's unless you know > what they are. Insulin > has nothing to do with it. If you want to control > with diet and exercise > alone you still need to know how you are doing and > what you need to change, > a meter will tell you what you need to do. > Many GP's aren't much interested in a healthy > diabetic, once you have > complications they are more eager to be aggressive. > Don't let it reach that > point! > Meenie > Re: carb question > > > > > > > >My doctor has told me that since I am not insulin > >dependent, I don't need to use a meter. I have > heard > >and read that I should monitor my bg daily. Any > >thoughts on this? > > > >thanks, > >Rick > > > >--- E Levy wrote: > >> > >> > >> Rick, I think your meter is the most immediate > ruler > >> to use as to your > >> carbo intake, you will set some peak level, and > keep > >> improving on it. I > >> started at 150 and kept reducing it, I seldom > gget > >> to 120 now. Sam > >> > >> --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 1999 Report Share Posted November 7, 1999 My GP is great BUT he does not have the expertise to really handle diabetes. He insisted that I see an endo and knew exactly who he wanted me to see. My endo is great and he listens, yes listens to me. Type 2 pumping a MM507c since 11/2/99 Vern Catron Email: vcatron@... Web Pages: http://www.jacksonville.net/~vcatron Living History: French Huguenot 1560's, Gordons Musketeers 1640's, British Marines 1770-90, 1st NYV Engineers 1861-65 Re: carb question >> >> >> > >> > >> >My doctor has told me that since I am not insulin >> >dependent, I don't need to use a meter. I have >> heard >> >and read that I should monitor my bg daily. Any >> >thoughts on this? >> > >> >thanks, >> >Rick >> > >> >--- E Levy wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> Rick, I think your meter is the most immediate >> ruler >> >> to use as to your >> >> carbo intake, you will set some peak level, and >> keep >> >> improving on it. I >> >> started at 150 and kept reducing it, I seldom >> gget >> >> to 120 now. Sam >> >> >> >> --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 1999 Report Share Posted November 7, 1999 Sounds great, Rick. My daughter had gestational diabetes when she was pregnant. Endo kept her on very strict diet with insulin...said her baby would thank her for strict control. Everything worked out great. Think endo is the way to go, although I haven't seen one myself. My gp approved my attendance at diabetes workshop. Insurance paid and also got meter (Glucometer Elite XL). Just gotta get myself back on track.....kinda fell by the wayside during the last few weeks. Wish me luck....tomorrow is another day. At 07:18 AM 11/7/99 -0800, you wrote: > > >Thanks Meenie, I have an appointment with an >endocrinologist on the 23rd. Hopefully he will take a >little more interest in my health than this gp I have >seen. > >Rick > >--- Meenie wrote: >> >> >> Rick, >> Run , don't walk, and get yourself another doctor. >> I'm not kidding! This >> is old school thinking... a prehistoric idea in >> which the doctor thinks he >> is god and wants you to come to HIM to figure out >> what to do in every >> instance. You can be passive and go along with this >> or you can take control >> , get a meter and stop the problems before they >> start. >> I would hazard a guess that this is a family >> practice doctor? If you can get >> an endocrinologist or a diabetologist, go for that. >> You want a doctor who >> will work with you in controlling this. >> There is NO WAY to control your bg's unless you know >> what they are. Insulin >> has nothing to do with it. If you want to control >> with diet and exercise >> alone you still need to know how you are doing and >> what you need to change, >> a meter will tell you what you need to do. >> Many GP's aren't much interested in a healthy >> diabetic, once you have >> complications they are more eager to be aggressive. >> Don't let it reach that >> point! >> Meenie >> Re: carb question >> >> >> > >> > >> >My doctor has told me that since I am not insulin >> >dependent, I don't need to use a meter. I have >> heard >> >and read that I should monitor my bg daily. Any >> >thoughts on this? >> > >> >thanks, >> >Rick >> > >> >--- E Levy wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> Rick, I think your meter is the most immediate >> ruler >> >> to use as to your >> >> carbo intake, you will set some peak level, and >> keep >> >> improving on it. I >> >> started at 150 and kept reducing it, I seldom >> gget >> >> to 120 now. Sam >> >> >> >> --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 1999 Report Share Posted November 7, 1999 Thats great, Vern, You're so lucky. Thats just what a GP should do. They're great for taking care of everyday kinda things, but when someone shows up with something like diabetes, they should be sent to a doctor who specialized in that problem. Meenie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 1999 Report Share Posted November 8, 1999 Hi Rick, It really is dependent on the person. In general, you should keep your carb level at least as low as the ADA guidelines. That is low enough for some people. Others need lower, like the Zone diet. Others need lower still, like Atkins. What is most important is to find something that you feel that you can stick with, and helps your blood sugars. W. >Message: 10 > Date: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 09:00:39 -0800 (PST) > >Subject: Re: carb question > >I haven't been told what my carb intake should be. Is >there a set amount for daibetics or is it dependent on >the person? > >Rick > >--- Meenie wrote: > > > > > > Wow... I keep my carbs at 20 or less a day. At 300 > > my bg's would shoot me > > to the moon, LOL. > > Meenie > > > > carb question > > > > > > > > > > > > >If the non-diabetic person is on a 2,000 calorie a > > day > > >diet, he/she shouldn't have more than 300 carbs a > > day. > > > So is a person is on a 1,700 calorie a day diet, > > >he/she shouldn't have more than 255 carbs a day > > >(according to my calculations). Is this the max I > > >should have as a type II diabetic (non-insulin > > >dependant)? > > > > > >Thanks, > > >Rick > > > > > > > > >===== > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 1999 Report Share Posted November 8, 1999 Thanks for the advice . I haven't been able to find the ADA guidelines regarding carbs. I have been doing a lot of reading and have decided to stick to an 1800 calorie plan with consisting of 40% carbs and 25% fat until I can get to the endorinologist on the 23rd. It sure takes a lot of reading to get comfortable with a disease. <grin> Rick --- Word wrote: > > > Hi Rick, > > It really is dependent on the person. In general, > you should keep your carb > level at least as low as the ADA guidelines. That is > low enough for some > people. Others need lower, like the Zone diet. > Others need lower still, like > Atkins. What is most important is to find something > that you feel that you > can stick with, and helps your blood sugars. > > W. > > >Message: 10 > > Date: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 09:00:39 -0800 (PST) > > > >Subject: Re: carb question > > > >I haven't been told what my carb intake should be. > Is > >there a set amount for daibetics or is it dependent > on > >the person? > > > >Rick > > > >--- Meenie wrote: > > > > > > > > > Wow... I keep my carbs at 20 or less a day. At > 300 > > > my bg's would shoot me > > > to the moon, LOL. > > > Meenie > > > > > > carb question > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >If the non-diabetic person is on a 2,000 > calorie a > > > day > > > >diet, he/she shouldn't have more than 300 carbs > a > > > day. > > > > So is a person is on a 1,700 calorie a day > diet, > > > >he/she shouldn't have more than 255 carbs a day > > > >(according to my calculations). Is this the > max I > > > >should have as a type II diabetic (non-insulin > > > >dependant)? > > > > > > > >Thanks, > > > >Rick > > > > > > > > > > > >===== > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 1999 Report Share Posted November 8, 1999 , what's zone diet? fp >Hi Rick, > >It really is dependent on the person. In general, you should keep your carb >level at least as low as the ADA guidelines. That is low enough for some >people. Others need lower, like the Zone diet. Others need lower still, like >Atkins. What is most important is to find something that you feel that you >can stick with, and helps your blood sugars. > > W. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 1999 Report Share Posted November 9, 1999 The Zone is a diet where you have a strict balance of each type of food. The book was intriguing, but it seemed like a tremendous juggling act to figure out what you could eat. Meenie > >, what's zone diet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 1999 Report Share Posted November 9, 1999 Is there a website, Meenie? fp Re: Re: carb question > > >The Zone is a diet where you have a strict balance of each type of food. >The book was intriguing, but it seemed like a tremendous juggling act to >figure out what you could eat. > Meenie > >> >>, what's zone diet? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 1999 Report Share Posted November 9, 1999 I'm sure there is, but don't know where it is Try a search on " TheZone " written all together like that. Meenie > > >Is there a website, Meenie? >fp > > Re: Re: carb question > > >> >> >>The Zone is a diet where you have a strict balance of each type of food. >>The book was intriguing, but it seemed like a tremendous juggling act to >>figure out what you could eat. >> Meenie >> >>> >>>, what's zone diet? >> >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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