Basal testing advice please!

The answer is NO, wait until you feel better Indiana.

No, wait until you're completely better otherwise you'll have to do it all over again.

Hi

The thing with basal rate testing and getting the settings correct, is the settings that have been changed will only really apply to the present situation that the testing is done. In other words, if the body decides that the need for insulin changes, then the basal rates will need to change again. Some have to change the settings every 7-10 days and some can get away with 3 or 4 weeks.

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I've got to do a little series of basal testing (I am figuring they might need it pre-pump - not sure it came in amongst the other bumpf for the clinic) - so I have to have had no hypos in the previous 24 hours, no illness, no exercise planned or surprise and then the easiest one of the lot no alcohol and in amongst that no stress or anything else that could possibly get in the way. So my plan is to run a little high (goes against the grain) for the day, and then start on the basal testing and if possible avoid eating and avoid any of my kids needing anything dropped to school or any surprises that could involve having to walk anywhere.

I have found over the past year, and this is particularly true of my nighttime basal, rather than the morning one. The dose does change - and it is just a range of about 2units, but even over a couple of weeks it can change, so even I am not that sure what the purpose of it is as like you said it is only good for that day and set of circumstances, but I know there are hoops I need to jump through to get the pump and will just go with the flow. When I spoke to the nurse she thought I needed help adjusting my basal which was why I had the form, I don't think I do, but never mind! - I did say that since being on CGM I can mostly tell a hypo caused by basal as opposed to a hypo caused by novorapid. The novorapid ones normally happen within an hour or 2 of the meal - you can see the meal and then the drop as the insulin kicks in, whereas a basal issue will be a hypo after that (generally a more gradual drop), so just before lunch, or if my basal is not right I might see a rise in my sugar level around 3 or 4 in the afternoon - times when there is none or a negligible amount of short acting in my system and I haven't done any exercise or done anything to cause the change. I also look at basal if I have a couple of hypos in a day (or any hypo at night) or one of those stubborn lows and dropping my novorapid doesn't work or a couple of days where it just feels impossible to get my blood sugar below 9 or 10. So very general observations - anyone else noticed anything similar?

How often am I going to get to do basal testing on a pump? I didn't realise how attached to food I am until they say not to eat it!!!

So what do they use it for, or are they on the assumption that we are all on the wrong basal rate or that we need to prove that our basal rate does actually work for us? I have to miss each meal, so breakfast one day then lunch another and then tea another (I think tea is going to be worse) and I'm meant to BM every 2 hours but I can use my CGM results for that. I am a bit nervous about doing it as I was brought up in the olden days where diabetics were meant to eat at every meal and you couldn't miss one!

I think its to give the pump dsn an idea of what basal rate settings to use as a start off when you get the pump. Good idea really.

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Indiana91 said:

Yeah I think that's why.

You don't have to miss the meals completely, you just can't have carbs. You just eat meats, fish and vegetables.
Boring and bland!

Indiana x


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Best to have nothing. Meats as well as other proteins cause a release of glycogen to digest, which, raises sugar levels. Veg has carbs all be it little amounts in some , no food is best to not skew any basal results. Waters ok lol

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Everyone is different of course, but when I did basal rate testing, I did eat sugarfree jelly and also some lettuce, celery. I also included all my cups of tea and coffee in the basal rate testing as well as to bolus for every drink would have made me very miserable

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I can have tea? (I would want to have tea - and I would probably drink more of it if I was feeling hungry!) I had read about protein elevating your sugar level as the nurse said just eat no carb food like salad and chicken, she reckoned that less than 50g of chicken shouldn't really effect it that much - but I haven't read up on how protein effects your blood sugar (other than knowing it does) so any pearls of wisdom on that would be lovely

iHs said:

Everyone is different of course, but when I did basal rate testing, I did eat sugarfree jelly and also some lettuce, celery. I also included all my cups of tea and coffee in the basal rate testing as well as to bolus for every drink would have made me very miserable

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Goid idea to have any tea/coffee if you always have them. im covered on that one, only drink black coffee or diet drinks

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So most of us need a basal of insulin as well as some caffeinated drink like tea or coffee then

kkkk said:

So most of us need a basal of insulin as well as some caffeinated drink like tea or coffee then

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Got to have my daily caffeine fix
De caff after 9pm though otherwise I struggle to sleep lol

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Indiana91 said:

Thinking about it, if protein does raise your bg we don't inject for that anyway.
I count carbs and that's it, I only inject for carbs.
I don't think that a chicken breast or something would push it up that much would it? Else we'd have to count for that too wouldn't we?

I'm confused now!
Indiana x


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Lol confusing isn't it. if a small portion eaten with carbs and bolused for, usually has little impact. If eaten alone, with no carbs more noticable.
Thats why most type 1 low carbers have to adjust bolus for protein portion size, rather than protein count

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