Worried...please help!

[anxious parent]

Hi all, my 10 year old daughter was diagnosed with type1 diabetes three years ago and she has been on the pump for the last year and a half....for the last two years her basal or background insulin moved from 4 units to 5 to 7.9 until a couple of weeks ago...over the last two weeks her sugar levels have been all over the place....and her basal insulin requirements have been increased to more than a 100% to 16.5 units... we are still trying to keep the sugar levels in control at times...our doc said it is probably a growth spurt but I'm extremely anxious to check whether this level of increase or dosage is normal for a 10 year old????...any advice or light you can throw on this will be deeply appreciated....from a sleepless parent! X

 

[Mark_Goldenfield_]

Hi there , I'm so sorry to hear about your daughters control . I have been on the insulin pump for around 7 years and been diabetic 33 years . My sugars do vary. But if I have a lapse with my sugars varying on the high side say it goes high at 10 pm on a regular basis I would increase my Basel rates by 2 units this helps me if there is a regular pattern . I also decrease my Basel if my sugars go low by 2 units . This does help me . It is very difficult to get the sugar levels normal all the time but I wish you all the best trying to get your daughter s more in control . Speak to your Dr what I have spoken to you about best regards Mark


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[anxious parent]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the response!...your suggestion sounds good...in fact I was reading about having different basal rate blocks for combating the wild swings...I will definitely check with the doc!!!...thanks again...it's reassuring to hear from you all!

 

[himtoo]

Hi @anxious parent
it is worrying because it is another part of the living with D -- not being in control all the time
it is really important to try and slow down and live in the moment
with this even though the impulse is to want to fix everything immediately.

I would suggest getting the book Pumping Insulin by John Walsh.

my other thought is to increase communication with your daughter's DSN ( diabetic specialist nurse )
some daily conversations for the short term to help with changing basal rates on the pump or possibly she may see things in patterns that may be there.
( by uploading all the blood readings and pump data )

 

[anxious parent]

Hi @anxious parent
it is worrying because it is another part of the living with D -- not being in control all the time
it is really important to try and slow down and live in the moment
with this even though the impulse is to want to fix everything immediately.

I would suggest getting the book Pumping Insulin by John Walsh.

my other thought is to increase communication with your daughter's DSN ( diabetic specialist nurse )
some daily conversations for the short term to help with changing basal rates on the pump or possibly she may see things in patterns that may be there.
( by uploading all the blood readings and pump data )

Thanks a lot!!!...we are doing just that now...hopefully it will all make sense and we can settle down with the changes.