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Don't you just hate it when....

G2ADY

G2ADY

Well-Known Member
Messages
95
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Don't you just hate it when you've had weeks of near perfect sugars, regular, perfect out of bed figures thanks to a well matched basal, accurate bolus dosages and then out of the blue WHAM! you're hypo, you're high, you're hypo!

It started when I reduced my Basal slightly last night as I intended to go for a cycle ride this morning, also reduced my bolus with breakfast by 25%. As it happens I didn't go for the ride. At lunch time I was 4.7 before I had a a sandwich on brown hovis and knowing I'd be with a client all afternoon I reduced my bolus again by 25% figuring I'd rather be slightly high for a few hours rather than risk going low during a meeting.

3 hours later whilst in a meeting I had to excuse myself as I felt a hypo coming on. In the car I checked my bloods which were 2.6. I took 5 glucose tablets and when back in the clients building I munched a Mars bar from the vending machine. Within the next half hours I checked my bloods and they were 8.2. Perfect for the 20 minute drive home.

An hour later I was preparing dinner. My bloods had dropped to 3.9. I've just had dinner with around 40 carbs and decided against taking bolus.

I'm going to have to start again tomorrow, fasting, testing, adjusting. How long does this honeymoon period last? As if shoving needles into ourselves isn't bad enough!

I'll fast now until bed time then try to get to bed with BS around 7 take a reduced basal and then see where I'm at in the morning.

Rant over! - Thanks for listening! :)
 
Fun isn't it?!

I personally wouldn't change it just yet but wait and see if it happens over the next couple of days just to check it wasn't a random blip.

However, I'd be interested to see if others agree with this, or if in just a bit on the slow slide when I make adjustments!


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Patch13 said:
Fun isn't it?!

I personally wouldn't change it just yet but wait and see if it happens over the next couple of days just to check it wasn't a random blip.

However, I'd be interested to see if others agree with this, or if in just a bit on the slow slide when I make adjustments!


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It's not actually a bad idea that, My concern obviously is dropping too low during the night. Generally I'll go to bed around 6 - 6.5 and I'm still 5.9 -6.1 in the morning. I'm tempted to go to bed a bit higher and drop the basal slightly. I'd much rather be slightly high than too low. I'm determined to avoid the DVLA licence stealing Nazis :)
 
Mm, sometimes I will adjust if I cant think of an obvious reason for it. Then, change it back lol. Othertimes, I make a lityle change and its fine. I know its best to wait too see if its a one off, but, I am quite impatient. I try to wait now at least 2 days before adjusting.

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UPDATE:

After having dinner two hours ago with no bolus despite having 40g carbs ( would have normally taken 4 units) I'm now back down to 5.4

Bloody confusing!
 
Luckily I've not yet had trouble with the DVLA license nazis but I am currently awaiting my license renewal (nervously!)

I guess a bit higher is better than low at night. Maybe have a snack before bed.

Sure you've not been doing anything you don't usually do which is making you hypo? Yesterday I forgot I had done exercise the day before and wondered why I spent most of yesterday being hypo - finally realised this morning why it had happened. Better late than never I guess!


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Patch13 said:
Luckily I've not yet had trouble with the DVLA license nazis but I am currently awaiting my license renewal (nervously!)

I guess a bit higher is better than low at night. Maybe have a snack before bed.

Sure you've not been doing anything you don't usually do which is making you hypo? Yesterday I forgot I had done exercise the day before and wondered why I spent most of yesterday being hypo - finally realised this morning why it had happened. Better late than never I guess!


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No, not that I can think of, Spent most of the day sat down yesterday, Was on an ICE course ( prerequisite for a pump) in the morning and then sat in front of an iMac for the rest of the day working. That said, I did have my blood pressure taken yesterday and it was unusually high 197 /94 so perhaps that may have something to do with it?
 
Well today I seem to be needing less insulin again, I reduced my Basal last night to just 8 units. Went to bed with 5.4mmol/l and woke this morning at 5.8mmol/l so all seemed good, I figured I'd reduce my bolus too so with a 40g breakfast I took just 2 units of bolus, 4 hours later I was 4.5mmol/l so I had 38g lunch and another 2 units of bolus. Three hours later and I'm now 3.7mmol/l

So as far as I can see my Basal seems ok overnight even though I'm taking 25% less than I was two nights ago, My bolus however at 50% less than normal is still too much. The problem I have is that I don't have half units on my pen. I was offered a pen that has half units on but I'm currently on Apidra and that is only available in full units. Has anyone else switched pens and if so can you give me any pointers?

Cheers
Steve
 
I switched to half unit pens early on, but it was easy as I'm on Novorapid and levemir.

I had a blip of illness which pushed my BG up considerably. I was concerned that I may not recover and that would be game over for my honeymoon period. I've had it almost 11 months now..... Surely it can't last much longer!
But no, I'm almost back to full health apart from some sniffles so I reduced my insulin back to normal ratios. Hypos mean I've had to reduce to below my previous "normal"

I'm now taking 2 units basal a day. Just 2! And on 0.5 unit to 10g carb. I've got the hospital on Friday and I'm going to continue my pump crusade. My current argument is I'm clearly so friggin insulin sensitive I need the pumps functionality to deliver teeny tiny basal and bolus doses!


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hale710 said:
I switched to half unit pens early on, but it was easy as I'm on Novorapid and levemir.

I had a blip of illness which pushed my BG up considerably. I was concerned that I may not recover and that would be game over for my honeymoon period. I've had it almost 11 months now..... Surely it can't last much longer!
But no, I'm almost back to full health apart from some sniffles so I reduced my insulin back to normal ratios. Hypos mean I've had to reduce to below my previous "normal"

I'm now taking 2 units basal a day. Just 2! And on 0.5 unit to 10g carb. I've got the hospital on Friday and I'm going to continue my pump crusade. My current argument is I'm clearly so friggin insulin sensitive I need the pumps functionality to deliver teeny tiny basal and bolus doses!


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Click to expand...

Think you might struggle on a pump with basal. Not 100% but think the lowest possible basal rate on a pump is 0.05 which over a 24 hour period is still less than what you currently take. That, plus by.pumoing most also find a reduction in basal anyway. You can reduce to 0 for some hours if needed but that might then cause a problem cause the insulin would be stagnant in the tubing for regular periods which can.cause blockages.

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hale710 said:
I switched to half unit pens early on, but it was easy as I'm on Novorapid and levemir.

I had a blip of illness which pushed my BG up considerably. I was concerned that I may not recover and that would be game over for my honeymoon period. I've had it almost 11 months now..... Surely it can't last much longer!
But no, I'm almost back to full health apart from some sniffles so I reduced my insulin back to normal ratios. Hypos mean I've had to reduce to below my previous "normal"

I'm now taking 2 units basal a day. Just 2! And on 0.5 unit to 10g carb. I've got the hospital on Friday and I'm going to continue my pump crusade. My current argument is I'm clearly so friggin insulin sensitive I need the pumps functionality to deliver teeny tiny basal and bolus doses!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...
That comes as something of a comfort to hear your basal and bolus rates are so low. When I was first diagnosed I was put on 26 units of Basal and 8 units of bolus with each meal. I started to carb count within days and have gradually reduced both considerably. My bolus is now similar to yours which means anything below 20g I can't really take insulin for unless I switch pens or go onto a pump. That would give me much tighter control with as you say, much smaller doses. I tend to consume less than 120g carbs per day so I need a different pen in the short term I think.

Talking of pumps, I sent off for a demo Omnipod and it arrived yesterday. I'm going to wear it for a couple of days to see how it feels.
 
brett said:
Think you might struggle on a pump with basal. Not 100% but think the lowest possible basal rate on a pump is 0.05 which over a 24 hour period is still less than what you currently take. That, plus by.pumoing most also find a reduction in basal anyway. You can reduce to 0 for some hours if needed but that might then cause a problem cause the insulin would be stagnant in the tubing for regular periods which can.cause blockages.

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The quick calculation the DSN did at DAFNE (was on 3u at the time) had me at about 0.12u per hour. So using my latest 2u a day that's 0.08 units an hour no? Which is higher than 0.5

The nurse is keen on it as was the consultant in September. But he's more keen based on pregnancy. Despite telling him it's no happening for a loooong time he still wants me started.

Grampian have had a big funding boost for pumps at the moment. But it's finite and no one knows of they'll get more so they're pushing anyone who wants one to apply now while the money is available


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G2ADY said:
That comes as something of a comfort to hear your basal and bolus rates are so low. When I was first diagnosed I was put on 26 units of Basal and 8 units of bolus with each meal. I started to carb count within days and have gradually reduced both considerably. My bolus is now similar to yours which means anything below 20g I can't really take insulin for unless I switch pens or go onto a pump. That would give me much tighter control with as you say, much smaller doses. I tend to consume less than 120g carbs per day so I need a different pen in the short term I think.

Talking of pumps, I sent off for a demo Omnipod and it arrived yesterday. I'm going to wear it for a couple of days to see how it feels.
Click to expand...


Personally not overly keen on the idea of an omnipod. Not support by my hospital so not an issue for me though!


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My advice would be get one while you can, c how u go. Can always in between use the pens. Pumps arnt always easy to get. In the long run from what I've read I know u would benefit 100%.

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brett said:
My advice would be get one while you can, c how u go. Can always in between use the pens. Pumps arnt always easy to get. In the long run from what I've read I know u would benefit 100%.

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Yeah that's the general advice I have. I WILL benefit eventually so since they've said I am a "possible candidate" now I should take it and learn how to use it, then the real benefits will come later.

I was told to complete DAFNE then they would refer me to pump clinic. I did that in November and proved I can follow it so we will talk about it again on Friday and hopefully set the ball rolling


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I'm just on the ICE course at the moment, My consultant runs the pump program so he said he'll put a case forward for me having a pump once I've done this course. I'm having too many lows, often whilst I'm with clients which is **** embarrassing.
 
Yeah like you I opt to run a touch high at work when I have things going on with lots of people.

Based on my last hba1c I was concerned I may be having overnight hypos. I've not caught them yet though when I've tested so I could be wrong! I do drop down to about 4.5 though


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hale710 said:
Yeah like you I opt to run a touch high at work when I have things going on with lots of people.

Based on my last hba1c I was concerned I may be having overnight hypos. I've not caught them yet though when I've tested so I could be wrong! I do drop down to about 4.5 though


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It's so hard sometimes balancing it don't you think? Just making the decision on snacking before bed etc. I try to run as low as I possibly can but often it's impossible to not take on board glucose either before bed, before driving, before cycling etc. The pump would be so beneficial. I suppose it'll also be another huge learning curve too.
 
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