Frustrated

[leahshort]

Ive been on the pump since March and apart from the normal tweeking its been going ok until last week. It seems almost as though my insulin just isnt working. I have had sugar levels of over 15 since Friday night and what ever I do cannot bring them down When I do correction either by pump or pen doesnt work, have changed cannula and site no difference, changed insulin no difference even run pump at 200% still no change. Not ill in any way (apart from being this high) and have barely eaten since Friday because of levels and quite frankly feel like throwing pump out the window. Didn't know if anyone else has had this experience or if anyone has anything else I should try. Have spoken to DSN and she could fit me in in the next 2 weeks. Well thanks a bunch they obviously don't know what its like to feel the way you do with high sugars. FRUSTRATED

 

[iHs]

Hi

When using a pump, bg levels will flunctuate a bit so that is the reason for bg testing fairly frequently so that you can work out whether or not you need to eat some food or do a correction.

When you got your pump in March, Spring was emerging with the start of warm weather but now Winter has come and that will mean that probably you will need more basal. If this is the case, then that will explain your high bg levels. Weight gain will also mean more insulin is required.

What to do......... try testing your bg levels every hour without eating any food to see if your basal rate is ok and is keeping you at a good target. If it isn't then adjust the hourly basal rates 1hr before the high bg level. Usually by not much though so dont overdo it. In Winter time I need to use approx 12u of basal but in Summer I only need approx 11.3u basal so you can see the fine tune.

Getting high bg levels to lower will mean a larger correction depending on how high the bg is. If very high I always use my pen and add another 1u of insulin onto the correction and then tell the pump what I have done so that the wizard tells me what Active or Insulin on Board I have but that of course is presuming that the problem is just a 'one off'. If it kept happening, I would look for a pattern and then start adjusting the basal.

Hope this helps you a bit but if it hasn't and you feel that the pump isn't working as it should... take it off and go back to insulin pens again as high bg levels that you cant address very well is not good.......

 

[leahshort]

Thanks IHS. I have been testing most hours to see if correction dose has brought it down any and have barely eaten so can rule out that it is any carbs in the mix of things. It is interesting what you said about adding another 1 unit for correction will try that as I really want to get levels down so that I can do fasting levels to check Basal rates. Might just be as you say change in seasons. It has just been so frustrating and exhausting trying to get things right and getting nowhere.

 

[iHs]

Thanks IHS. I have been testing most hours to see if correction dose has brought it down any and have barely eaten so can rule out that it is any carbs in the mix of things. It is interesting what you said about adding another 1 unit for correction will try that as I really want to get levels down so that I can do fasting levels to check Basal rates. Might just be as you say change in seasons. It has just been so frustrating and exhausting trying to get things right and getting nowhere.

The weather temps really affect me with a pump whereas with insulin pens my basal stayed the same more or less and I just adjusted the carb ratios but of course there were times when I used too much or too little bolus as could only adjust it using a 0.5u pen.....

Another thing to think off that might also be causing you the bg problems might be the infusion set you are using and where you have put it on your body. Sets in my backside absorb insulin slightly slower than my stomach so I tend to use a TBR of 110% for backside and 100% for tummy. The correct way is to set up a different profile though.....Another reason might be scar tissue as that can also give problems preventing insulin from being absorbed... so examine everything that you are doing and have changed to find out what has gone wrong...