Type 1 and Illness

[Robbo2209]

My other half is a Type 1 and is just getting over a flu type bug.. We are struggling to get his blood down, all weekend he had readings of 17/18.. Today its come down slightly to around 14, anyone else experienced this and how long did this situation go on for? He's really thirsty (side effect of high BS) and being really careful on intake of both food and drink, just seems really slow to come down, he's even upped his insulin to 8/9 to try and bring it down - He's on 4 injections a day.
Any guidance?

 

[tim2000s]

@Robbo2209 Have you followed this? http://www.leicestershirediabetes.org.uk/uploads//documents/Type1 Sick_day_rules_InsulinV3.pdf

 

[CarbsRok]

If he's thirsty then drink plenty of water it will help to flush out his kidney's and lower his numbers. Obviously if still high he needs more insulin.
Best bet is to ring the dsn if not confident in upping doses. Test regularly and when numbers begin to drop then lower insulin. Make sure glucose is handy if needed.

 

[Robbo2209]

Thanks for your advice peeps! Bloody sugar was 12:9 before dinner so it is slowly coming down.. He's drinking loads of water too! He has had the flu Jab but has still picked up some sort of flu virus :-( People don't realise how something like this can really knock you for six when your a type 1 especially!!

 

[ann34+]

i make it a rule never to eat if high. It can be difficult, but i just have insulin and maybe a bit of veg/salad until down. Years ago i was advised that eating while high just led to more glycosylation - not sure what the advice is now.

 

[ann34+]

Thanks for your advice peeps! Bloody sugar was 12:9 before dinner so it is slowly coming down.. He's drinking loads of water too! He has had the flu Jab but has still picked up some sort of flu virus :-( People don't realise how something like this can really knock you for six when your a type 1 especially!!

i agree, illness management - and also where the body's immune system is fighting an illness which may never show as more than a bit of tiredness - has always been the difficult thing about Type one for me. Fought off something last days, no symptoms other than exhaustion, slight sniffle, yet blood glucose sudden jumps to 16.00, still 15.6 with correction, another correction, still high, and up late still sorting. Ended up using half my usual TDD on top of normal insulin. If your other half is new to type one remember corrections, especially ones that total a high proportion of usual insulin, have some "tail" of action, how much depends on what insulin is used. With my porcine insulin, quite a bit. So there is a need to be very careful and even have an extra banana or something before bed once things have got down. I had to eat some banana and also reduce base rate on my pump for 3 hours by 50%.