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High bg, what am I missing.

lely

Well-Known Member
Messages
208
I guys. Having a nightmare, bg has been steadily rising all day woke at 13 now I'm 22.
This is what I've done.
Changed set at 12 noon. Was still rising
Changed tubing and refilled cartridge at 4.30 when I was at 19.6 incase something was leaking just tested and I'm 22. Not had anything to eat since lunch 1pm which was some sliced turkey, carrot and swede mash and 1 slice of wholemeal bread (11g carb)
I've been checking for ketones and there are some present so I've injected 5 units to see if that helps.
I don't feel under the weather although my hubby and one of the kids have had a tummy bug upto the 24th. Could this be the start of me fighting that.
So puzzled why I can't get control.
And on starving.
 
Could it be the insulin vial? I would try a new cartridge with a new insulin vial if you haven't already. Hope you get it sorted it's so awful when that happens.
 
Hi lely, done the right thing injecting by pen as could be many variables when pumping. When it works its a brilliant device but, when not big consequences. When you changed did you prime set including cannula, maybe bubbles in tubing or bad insulin, leak, or bad absorbtion site on your body, or could be as you suggested your coming down with a bug. Hope it comes down soon for you.
 
Thanks the only thing I've not done is change the insulin. I may have to use from pen as I only have the one vial. changed everything on 24th and was working fine, I thought but probably looking at bg test since yesterday morning there has been a steady rise, as if something has been working but not working enough,
I've only had pump since 7th Dec so still working stuff out. Thanks for your ideas guys.
 
Did you remember to fill the tubing?
 
If it was me, I'd use an insulin pen for all correction doses. That way hopefully your BS should drop. If it doesn't drop with pen doses that may suggest an infection or virus. Using a pen removes one variable so that's why I choose to do that. Make sure your pen has fresh insulin in.

It's not impossible your site is dodgy. It's possible to sometimes have two bad ones in a row. Did you insert the new set away from the old site? Do you have a new box of sets you could try one from?

Also, I find that when I get highs like that, it takes a while to get them down and a number of correction doses.

Changing your insulin is also very sensible. Start from scratch and change everything, even if you think it's ok. If you have a pump manual, you can follow the steps in that even if you know what you're doing as its a good way to check you haven't inadvertently neglected to do something. I find I can get panicked almost, but following the manual's instructions means I calm down and am sure I haven't forgotten anything.
 
The youngest of my children now has the bug and I'm starting to get symptoms that they've all described, Im grateful for the high bg now as I haven't eaten since 1ish this afternoon. So nothing in my tummy.
I changed and started all process from fresh, insulin, site tube.etc and bg came down to 11 off the injection I assume as that Was around 5pm and it's started to rise again in last hour so will continue with them in small amounts and every couple hours till I see it staying steady.
Thanks all for advice.
 
Put a temp basal rate on and keep checking your blood sugars. Did you remember to disconnect your pump and bolus with it so you have insulin on board showing from the pen injections?
 
I've had a +20% running since about 12 noon. keep starting it when it runs the course, no never knew that but know what you mean now you've said it. great idea. Will do that with other injections.
 
lely said:
I've had a +20% running since about 12 noon. keep starting it when it runs the course, no never knew that but know what you mean now you've said it. great idea. Will do that with other injections.
Click to expand...
With numbers that high you need more than +20% running. Have a look in all the gumf you were given when you had your pump it will explain sick day rules and temp basal. Do make sure you have plenty of glucose handy and check bloods every couple of hours.
 
Thanks all its been a bit of a roller coaster last 12 hours. Been running at 50% since around 2am and was taking extra injection but the pen had a malfunction and wasn't issuing any insulin at all, hadn't notice coz I'd been injecting in the dark, another lesson learnt. Bg stayed between 19-22 till about 9am this morning when I realised, last test a 11.30 I was 15. So that's good. And it is a tummy bug. Both me and my youngest up all night with it.
 
I'm curious to know why you didn't increase your temp basal to +100% as you were still running way to high and obviously the +50% wasn't working.
 
@CarbsRok I'm a little apprehensive that it's suddenly gonna make me drop into a hypo. I've since increased it to 80 as it wasn't as low as I'd like and I still have high ketones. I only have the urine sticks, so I'm just getting the purple colour, I'm drinking plenty of water but im considering a trip to a&e. I've never been this bad since diagnosis and not sure if it can be self managed when it gets to this point.
 
Increase your basal for only a couple of hours at a time with testing on the hour and 2 hour mark and keep doing this until you see yourself dropping. As I said before make sure you have plenty of glucose on hand just in case you need it.

You do know also that with high numbers you will have insulin resistance so will also need to increase the corrections to counter act the problem?
 
It can be self managed..

If you are above 12.0 then you should be considering increasing any correction doses... Your corrections by pump will not be working efficiently at leavels over 12.0.

For me I would give 50% extra bolus correction if levels between 12-15 and if they shot upmore than that I doubled my corrections. I would then test hourly for 5 hours... I would aim to be back to normal within 10hours if my levels were up nearer to the 20's....
 
@lely If in any doubt, call for advice or visit an out of hours service. That's always the rule. I had to phone the NHS when I had ketones one weekend. They gave me reassurance.

Yes, it is scary increasing your insulin, so I know what you mean. Go carefully and test often.
 
I got fantastic advice over the past 2 days. Can't thank you all enough. All back within normal readings now and no ketones.
I'm proper sick of the sight of water now though.
 
glad you are feeling better/Next time will be easier. One thing guaranteed - there will be a next time.
 
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