Insulin Pump - Active Insulin

[ScottyD]

Hello All,

I've Just started using the Pump and I have a question...

Before having lunch today I did the usual checking of blood sugar levels and carb counting. With it being my first few days on it (only diagnosed a month ago but due to my job they decided to offer me the pump) I have been given new ratios which is just giving a little less insulin compared to the ratio on my pens (which were working well).

All was well and with me checking every 2 hours for the first few days my blood sugar was good. I later had a chocolate bar. I took my blood sugar, entered the carbs etc. I still had active insulin onboard from lunch.

Chocolate bar was 21g. My ratio is currently 1:10. It was 1:8 on the pen.
Active insulin was 1.7 from lunch.
Blood sugar was within my 5-7mmol/l target so no correction was given.
It then told me to bolus for 2.1U for the 21g and nothing else.

Later on a felt the symptoms of a hypo and was 3.3mmol/l. Should I have taken 0.4U and adding on the 1.7U it would given me the 2/1U for the chocolate?

Cheers!

 

[azure]

You'll gradually learn what suits you @ScottyD and know how to deal with such an issue in future. I often find that what works for one person doesn't for another.

In the situation you described, I'd have taken into account how long after my last meal it was and whether my BS was higher or lower than I'd expect. I'd also take into,account what I was about to do in terms of activity. I personally only use insulin on board/active insulin in my calculations if I'm doing correction doses. But you should do what suits you.

One thing I will say though is that it's early days for,you. I had to do a number of tweaks when I changed to the pump and I was well out of my honeymoon period. You're probably not, so you have those two things to consider too.

As for the chocolate bar, I have different ratios for snacks depending what they are and when I have them. You could try eating the same bar again in the same circumstances but bolus slightly less. Then, if that works, store that in your mind for future use. I find the carbs in chocolate bars can vary in their speed of absorption quite a lot - some are more sugary than fatty.

 

[himtoo]

agree with @azure on this.
It will take time and experience to build up that reservoir of knowledge on how to react to what works for you.

 

[ScottyD]

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep working at it!

 

[noblehead]

It then told me to bolus for 2.1U for the 21g and nothing else.

Had you entered the bg level in your pump, on my pump (Omnipod) the bolus wizard takes into account the active IOB when working out the bolus dose to be given.

But as @azure says it's early days, just keep in touch with your pump DSN and provide feedback on your progress, if you haven't done so already I highly recommend you purchase the book Pumping Insulin. Good luck.