Dramatic increase in insulin needs - anyone else?

Me again,

Has anyone else found their insulin needs shoot up in the last few weeks? I initially thought mine was down to a steroid injection I'd had, and while this definitely screwed things up for a while I've found that recently I've needed much more insulin generally. I haven't changed my routine or diet so just wondering if it's seasonal or something?! I'm a bit gutted as things were going pretty well and as I'm coming up to 3 full months on the pump I was hoping for a decent drop in HbA1c.... :?

Riri said:

No pickle - mine has gone in the opposite direction and I'm having to lower basals especially from 10pm to 3am ( which is always my hardest time to try and get right).

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This is what usually happens to me when the weather starts to get warmer but I've gone the opposite way :crazy:

iHs said:

I think many things can cause a change in bg levels using a pump. Sometimes its due to a change in hormones, sometimes the weather temp, sometimes having a set in an area on the body where for some reason or another insulin is not being absorbed wonderfully well and sometimes weight gain.

Usually if you find that you are needing to do a lot of corrections and its an ongoing thing, then you should look at the times the change in bg levels happen and do a basal test again. The same goes for low bg levels as well.

Having a pump keeps everyone on their toes so try not to worry and just sort out your insulin needs again.

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Yes i have to have a number of different profiles to use depending on if I'm hormonal or not lol, but even running on those isn't working. I haven't gained any weight and although I don't feel particularly stressed, we did lose our son a year ago and it's been such a horrible time. So I do have bad weeks and wonder whether although I feel reasonably ok at the mo, it's having more of an effect on my Bg than I realise. But such a dramatic change in Bg I don't think is down to this. I guess it could be an absorption issue. I've done 2 cannula changes and am now about to do a 3rd since things have been bad this week, but have used similar areas (but on opposite sides). So will use one of my other sites in a completely different place and see what happens.

I struggled overnight to get levels below 9 and woke up with 12. So am running on 120% temp basal rate now. Will see what happens but urgh, am tired and bit fed up. Will just have to do more fasting tests.....

anna29 said:

Hi.
With my underactive thyroid bombing AGAIN , [increased thyroxine meds] plus an eyelash infection [yep really!!!]
And allergy reaction to grass pollen with folk mowing their lawns [and I actually LOVE the smell of newly cut grass!]
I have had to ' up ' my insulin as blood sugars were peaking up into the teens again...
God help me next week as on tues am having another steroid injection in my left frozen shoulder.
Blood sugars will rise for next few days after this!!!!
Its a catch22 world . . . :thumbdown:
Anna. :roll:

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Urgh that sounds like a bit of a nightmare! Really hope you get your thyroid levels under control soon, and the infection too! Bit of an uphill struggle factoring in the allergies and the steroid injection as well! Good luck! And thanks to you too for replying - makes me feel a bit less cheesed off knowing others are having the same struggles :wink: