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Does this theory make any sense?

S

SophiaW

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,015
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
And has anyone else experienced anything similar? Jess started off with the pump with very good numbers. Every few weeks we seem to make tweaks to her settings to ward off a pattern of hypos that seem to be occuring. I can't really explain it because the settings work great but then after a week or so the amount of insulin needs adjusting so that she's taking less and less insulin. Her average total daily dose used to be around 25 units, now we're at about 19 units.

My theory is that when she was on injections the insulin didn't work as efficiently due to the way it was delivered. This made her more insulin resistent. Now that the pump delivers insulin efficiently she is becoming more sensitive to it and slowly is needing less and less insulin. Does that make any sense or is it simply that spring is coming and her insulin requirements are less as a result. Our DSN did say people often need less insulin once spring arrives but she said now seemed a little early for this to happen.

Would be interested to know if anyone else found they used less insulin a few months into pumping compared to when they first started pumping.

Incidentally, her average daily dose with injections was around 30 units.
 
We aren't pumping yet, but with injections the dose is never very accurate. We always get drips and when you're only administering small doses, those small drips can come to a significant amount of a daily dose.
 
I was thinking it could be your now giving insulin in relation to how much you actually need for what is being done and what is being eaten. Previously on injections it is a less exact science so you end up working to fit the amount of insulin already given.

Was food to match insulin.
Now it's insulin to match food and activity.
 
Also, MDI allows only half units, so if the dose required was say 5.8 units, you would of probably rounded up ( depending on bs at the time). Where as on the pump you can give that amount.
 
I can understand why the pump uses a smaller amount of insulin compared to injections, and I expected that to change. But I'm trying to explain to myself why when we first started with the pump we had good numbers with our starting dose but every few weeks we seem to have to reduce the dose further and further. I think it's fantastic that Jess is using less insulin but I'm curious to determine if insulin sensitivity has anything to do with the adjustments we're having to make. I can't think of any other explanation for it.
 
it does sound odd and hopefully some experienced pumpers will come along and give you their verdict.

Glad it's all going well for you. We will hopefully get our pump in about 8 weeks! I'm counting the days.

leggott
 
That's great news Leggott! Is it the Omnipod you'll be getting? I remember the last few weeks of waiting for the pump, it couldn't come quick enough! But well worth the wait, it's change our lives so much for the better. I actually get a good nights sleep now (apart from when we're trialling new foods) and Jess never seems to get the spikes she used to when eating something that is considered a sweet treat. Today they had a cake sale at school for red nose day. She tested half an hour after eating and bolusing for the cake and her reading was 6, injection days she would have spiked to about 14 by that time.
 
Yes, we have decided to go for the Omnipod and like you say I just can't wait. We put in for funding a few weeks back and my DSN is confident we'll get approval, although I'm not counting my chickens just yet!
 
Hi,

Your theory makes sense to me!

I asked my nurse about this, 'should i expect my insulin requirements to drop' and she said yes. They reduced my basal by 30% and so far this has only been tweaked here and there.

My ratios have also dropped by half a unit per 10g for each time block too.
AND my control is far better too.

When bolusing at first i used a standard bolus no matter what the dose.
Now i use extended boluses for everything over 5 units.
And i also use multiwave boluses for pizza.

And apart from the slight hiccup my 2 hours readings for the first time are within the guidlines of under 9mmol for People with type 1 diabetes.

I think the body is more efficient when dealing with the insulin in small doses rather than large doses at once and breaking down background insulins.

But i wouldnt describe it as an insulin sensitivity change, just that your body is better at using what its given so doesnt need as much?

Thats my thoughts :)
 
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