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Doesn't make sense?

R

Robbins

Member
Messages
20
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi All, wondered if you could help.
My MDI control is reasonably OK, I get 5's - 8's reasonably regularly, but for the last week, it's jumped to 10's and 11's, and no matter how hard I try, I'm struggling to bring it down.
I'm not eating any differently, but I'm having to bolus more to correct, and its still not coming down as much as it should be.
I switched to a new insulin cartridge, and it came back to down to 8's & 7's for a couple of days, so I thought that was it, problem solved! But now back up at 10's & 11's again.
I haven't changed my Basal, as it seems that whatever I go to bed at, is pretty much what I wake up at, so I'm guessing that's about right?
I don't feel ill, maybe had a mild cold for a few days?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Cheers.
 
Certainly a cold can cause higher than expected bg levels, but if your levels don't return to normal soon then do some daytime basal checks, here's an explanation on how to do the test:

https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/
 
hi i struggle with exactly the same, my morning and bedtime values are ok but from 10 oclock to dinner to just stays 10/11 whatever i do. Even extreme low carb didnt work.
 
Hi Maria, have you tried the Basal testing? I'm definitely going to give it a go tomorrow, see what it does.

Hi Noblehead - so on the basal testing, basically, if it rises over the period then more basal required, if it stays constant then its about right?
 
H @maria030660 Yes definitely start with basal testing, it's easier to then see what's going on without your quick acting on board.

Hi @Robbins yes if it rises then increase your basal dose, if it stays within about 2 mmol/l then leave.
 
Hi @Robbins - how long is it since you were diagnosed? Might these raised sugars be a sign of the honeymoon period coming to an end?

If not, then I suspect the cold as a likely suspect! My sugars are rubbish if I'm off-colour.

 
yes did the basal testing and adjusted my pump accordingly
 
Hi Snapsy. I was diagnosed 3 years ago, but only started MDI 18 months ago. Would it be likely I was still honeymooning?
 
Great advice as always from the T1 community

I'll second having the cold, my BG falls over entirely when I'm unwell. Much more basal and bolus insulin is required.

@Robbins, can I ask what insulin regime you used for the 18 months following diagnosis? Also, have you seen any increase in weight or reduction in activity levels or exercise? I do notice that when I'm less active, I do need more basal and bolus insulin. This is also the case for when my weight drifts the wrong way, like over Christmas for instance...
 
Hi GrantGam, my insulin regime is 12 units Lantus, and Novorapid 5-7 units for breakfast, 1 - 3 lunch, 4 - 6 evening meal. I eat LCHF. My weight remains constant, and there is no noticeable change in my activity levels.
 
Robbins said:
Hi Noblehead - so on the basal testing, basically, if it rises over the period then more basal required, if it stays constant then its about right?
Click to expand...

Most literature says if it rises or falls more than 1.7mmol/l then you adjust the basal dose, but tbh I wouldn't do so after one days reading and would repeat the basal check again just to be sure that the basal dose needs adjusted, we all know from experience that sometimes bg levels can rise & fall for no apparent reason.
 
Robbins said:
Hi GrantGam, my insulin regime is 12 units Lantus, and Novorapid 5-7 units for breakfast, 1 - 3 lunch, 4 - 6 evening meal. I eat LCHF. My weight remains constant, and there is no noticeable change in my activity levels.
Click to expand...
Thanks @Robbins

Sorry, maybe I didn't make myself very clear when I asked about your insulin regime prior to starting MDI.

As you've been diagnosed for 3 years and have been on MDI for the last 18 months, what insulin regime were you using for the initial 18 months of your T1 diagnosis?
 
No Insulin. Gliclazide and Metformin.
 
Robbins said:
Hi Snapsy. I was diagnosed 3 years ago, but only started MDI 18 months ago. Would it be likely I was still honeymooning?
Click to expand...
Hi @Robbins - I know the honeymoon period varies from person to person, but I'm afraid my own experience with the first few years of diabetes is in the dim and distant 1980s - having mentioned it as a possibility I'm afraid I can't back it up with actual own-experience data! Am not very helpful, am I?!

But I would say that it might be a possible factor in your hike in insulin requirement. Or as I - and others - have also said, germs can play a part in raising sugars, so that cold of yours is not off the list of suspects!

Anyone else around with more recently-diagnosed honeymoon experiences? Might it be that?

 
Robbins said:
No Insulin. Gliclazide and Metformin.
Click to expand...
Are you aware of the term LADA or insulin dependant T2?

To go 18 months without any basal/bolus insulin would imply that you are not T1... I'm not here to tell you what you are or aren't, but merely pointing out some potential discrepancies. The accuracy of the feedback which you receive from the forum community depends almost entirely on your actual diagnosis For that reason it's important that we ascertain whether you are T1, LADA or an insulin dependent T2.
 
Snapsy said:
Anyone else around with more recently-diagnosed honeymoon experiences? Might it be that?

Click to expand...
I had around 8-12 months of things being fairly straightforward to manage and then becoming that little bit more difficult after the one year mark (2015). Funnily enough, my insulin requirements haven't changed all that much though.

I'm interested to see if the OP is indeed T1. As a follower of low carb high fat, but with a bolus TDD of 16u - the figures don't quite add up. Because of this I would suggest insulin resistance as a likely culprit?
 
LADA is slow onset type 1 isn't it? Anyway, I've been diagnosed T1 now yes.
 

LADA is just a term for slower onset Type 1 is it not? I'm honeymooning at the moment; my ratios and basal needs decreased after a couple of months and I have erratic times where they don't quite work one way or the other.

Didn't @wiserkurtious have a honeymoon with no insulin at all?
 
Robbins said:
LADA is slow onset type 1 isn't it? Anyway, I've been diagnosed T1 now yes.
Click to expand...
As far as I'm aware, they are both the same yes

Some of those who have LADA/slow on-set diabetes/T1.5/the list goes on... have an element of insulin resistance as well. It's not uncommon (in every type of diabetes I may add) for the severity of the insulin resistance to vary. It may be that you have become that bit more insulin resistant?

You said you are LCHF, how many carbs do you eat per day? Even better, are you aware of your I:C ratio?
 
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