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Struggling taking blood levels

Allan3133

Allan3133

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi everyone I am Allan type 1 diabetic have been for 9 years now I am on an insulin pump but I really struggled to do my blood levels I have struggled with my diabetes since I was diagnosed in feel it would be easier for me if I had more diabetics to talk to and share any easy ways to deal with this
 
Hi and welcome to the forum Allan.

Can I ask why your struggling with your bg levels, are you testing regularly and have you done some basal testing to get your basal rates right.
 
Hi and thank you I am doing bg levels now and then and I get some good levels then I try my best to keep them good and then get high and wonder to myself why I bother it's something I have always had a problem with is doing my blood sugars
 
Thanks Allan.

The first rule of pumping (and MDI) is to get the basal right, if your not familiar with how to do a basal check correctly then have a look at the following:

http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007

If you've not got the book Pumping Insulin then I suggest you purchase it, it comes highly recommended on the forum and is a must read for anyone contemplating going on a pump or currently using one, just don't get disheartened and start with some basal testing and if you have any other questions then do come back and ask.
 
I did them this morning and they were 8.6 after breakfast and then I took my insulin
 
noblehead said:
Thanks Allan.

The first rule of pumping (and MDI) is to get the basal right, if your not familiar with how to do a basal check correctly then have a look at the following:

http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007

If you've not got the book Pumping Insulin then I suggest you purchase it, it comes highly recommended on the forum and is a must read for anyone contemplating going on a pump or currently using one, just don't get disheartened and start with some basal testing and if you have any other questions then do come back and ask.
Click to expand...
OK thanks
 
Do you struggle because you don't like to test (it hurts etc) or just because you don't want to think about doing it or another reason?

Have you looked at using the Abbott Freestyle Libre to help?
 
Allan3133 said:
I did them this morning and they were 8.6 after breakfast and then I took my insulin
Click to expand...
why are you injecting/blousing after a meal? You need to inject at least 15 minutes if not a bit more before you eat. This enables the insulin to work in tandem with the food you have eaten so it stops the spikes happening and no catch up/yo yo effect.

It sounds to me as if you need to go right back to basics, work out why you are not testing ie., pain from the finger prick or just not wanting to know the result.
So if either of the above are a problem then look at your poker and the settings and adjust for more comfort. If it's because you don't want to see the evidence (high bloods) because you are not doing the basics of self care then you need to look at why you are slowly but surely committing suicide because of the complications you will get for none compliance.

If you drive and are not testing you can kiss goodbye to your licence if it's found out or you have an accident.
Do your hospital team know how you feel about your diabetes? If not tell them and ask for some help as in a councillor sp*
You will also need to think along the lines of if you are non compliant to the extent of not testing on safety grounds (DKA) your pump and funding will be removed. A consultant will not risk his livelihood or his reputation by allowing you to put yourself in danger.
Bottom line is you only get out of pumping what you put in :)

Hope I don't sound to harsh, it's down to concern for your wellbeing though.
 
Hi Allan. May I ask where you live? And have you had any training about managing your diabetes? A DAFNE course? And any training about your pump? With a pump you really need to test several times a day. But the tests are no good if you don't know what to do about the results.
 
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