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New to pump

Sarahkylie88

Well-Known Member
Messages
261
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hello

I started the omnipod 2 weeks ago. There are so many features I like about it, but I am having a bit of a tough time figuring out my basal rate!
At the moment I am on
0.80 an hour 7am-10.30am
my carb ratio is 1-5

0.75 an hour 10.30am -7am
Carb ratio 1:6
Carb ratio from 9pm is 1:8

Yesterday my sugar dipped all day and I had to have a -50% temporary basal on for the majority of the day. It rose to 9mmol before bed last night. I had a slice of toast and had 10g of it "free" without any insulin and the rest was a 1:8 ratio and I dropped my basal rate to 0.70 an hour!

This morning I woke and my sugar was 12 mmol
IAt 10.30 again I was 12
I had a snack and before lunch it was 9 and 2 hours later 9 again! (My target is 5)

I'm just finding it a little frustrating now, when I was on injection I would wake at between 4 and 5! Then yesterday was completely random! I am still in touch with my diabetic nurse regularly just feeling a little down about it! I know j am impatient, I understand if it's higher and we just need to keep adding to it, but then being low most of yesterday has confused me!

Any help greatly appreciated x
 
Consider your rate. Your basal rate does takes effect on your body roughly two hours after it is administered. The critical bit for your morning blood glucose is therefore your overnight piece. This is where you have to basal test. http://www.mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/

As your glucose levels are rising overnight, it suggests that the overnight basal isn't quite right and you are experiencing some dawn phenomenon.

Again, it sounds as though you need to basal test. If you are seeing consistent patterns, then your problems sound as though the amounts you were started on were not ideal for you. Sadly that's how it works with the pump. You do have to consider this.

I would highly recommend getting yourself a Libre. That way you can go overnight without having to wake up every hour to test and see exactly what's going on. It makes it a lot easier!
 
Just sounds like a normal pump start to me, so now the hard work begins by you having to do basal testing. Sort the basal then sort the rest out afterwards.
 
@Sarahkylie88 , you posted yesterday to say you were struggling to get your bg levels up after starting on your periods again, as you know hormonal changes effect bg control so maybe run all this by your pump nurse so that they can advise further.
 
hi there -- when i started on my omnipod i was testing pretty much every hour and the PDM was giving me correction doses but my bloods were not coming down anywhere near as quick as I wished them to.

it was the basal testing ( again and again) and constant chats with my DSN that eventually got my numbers in a good zone -- but it took about 4-5 weeks before this happened.
 
Hi guys, thank u for your help! In feelin. Reassured that I need to be more patient! I am starting to get to grips with the rest of the day now, been between 6 and 7 from 10.30 till now! I they will come down a little when the morning is sorted. I went to bed 6.6mmol. I tested at 3am (I felt OK, little boy fell out of bed and woke me, so used it to my advantage!) I was 9 mmol at that time so guess it's before then that I start to rise, so maybe an increase in basal around then is what in anticipating as I was 11 this morning. This does seem to be the pattern and doesn't seem to fluctuate too much, definite rise from about 3am! I going to ask the dsn tomorrow about the cgm! Thank u! Will update soon X X X
 
I am putting Sunday down to hormonal changes so will have to be aware for next time! X X
 

Maybe test again tonight to make sure last nights wasn't a one-off, but normally you make a change to the basal rate 2 hours before the rise in your fasting bg levels, but your DSN will say for sure when you see them tomorrow. Good luck at getting the CGM
 
total agree with @noblehead
and just as a note to changing basals my dsn started me on a flat .5u per hour for 24 hours
my latest tweak ( after basal testing my 1am rate is now 1.45u per hour )

so patience is important -- you will get there
 
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