Having issues with control lately

[sbr0001]

Greetings from Australia!

I was diagnosed with T1D in 2010 at age 16 and have had very good control with consistent Hba1c's of 6-7% since diagnosis, however lately I've been having issues with control out of nowhere. I'm currently using lantus at night and apidra for meals and testing with the freestyle libre (have been doing so for a few months now).

The past 3 or so weeks it has gotten cold in Australia, so I thought it might be that, but then I got the flu 4 or so days ago and it's only just disappearing now. My bloods have been so hard to control, even after adjusting my lantus I'll wake up anywhere from 9-11mmoL even though I went to bed 6.4mmoL, then I'll eat a sugar free protein bar during the day and my bloods will spike to 14mmoL despite the bar having 1.3 grams of carbs. It makes no sense and it doesn't even seem like my lantus is working. I've done the usual checking of it being in date, whether or not it's a good batch etc, but the same problem persists.

This is frustrating for me because having good control is one of my highest priorities. I'm also extremely fit and active, so it's not an issue of a sedentary lifestyle or weight gain etc. I've asked my diabetes specialists and they give the same answers "your levels are fine!" , "wait until your hospital appointment in a month" , "adjust your dosages", and I've done all that, but these levels just aren't normal at all, especially considering the amount of insulin I'm giving myself compared to my usual dose.

Do you guys have any insight, wisdom, suggestions for me?

Thanks so much

 

[Marie 2]

When you are sick, your insulin needs go up, sometimes a lot!!! And then you also have insulin resistance with that. Usually as soon as you are well your body will start to adjust back to what it should be!! It's very frustrating, you keep giving yourself insulin and it stubbornly doesn't want to go down.

As for prior to that, so many things can influence what is going on with our sugars. But my first thought if it's fairly sudden, is possible hormone changes, possible hidden infection like a tooth infection, eating something consistently high fat, sleeping issues, are the first things I can think of for a fairly sudden bigger change in dosing.

I went from having an infection for a few weeks, barely starting to be "normal" finally to then getting a cold. So it was weeks of high stubborn numbers when it happened

You could also make sure you have tried switching your insulin source to see if a new bottle works better, sometimes we do get a batch that doesn't work as well.I'm sure some others will have some ideas too!.

 

[kitedoc]

Usually your diabeyes nurse will have worked out a sick day plan with you to cover these instances. It would be surprising if such plan or at least education and advice had not already been afforded you in the past 9 years.
Please contact your nurse or doctor to talk about suitable insulin adjustment..
Purely as an example, not as advice even for a ‘flu vaccination i have to routinely raise both my short and long acting insulin by 30 to 40% at least.
Best Wishes with recovering and with establishing a plan with your nurse or doctor.