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Pre-menstrual highs

drahawkins_1973

Well-Known Member
Messages
451
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,
I've always needed more insulin just before I get my period but this last couple of months its been ridiculous.

My normal I:C ratioss are 1:6 or 1:8 morning, 1:10 lunchtime and about 1:12 in the evening.

However my hormones seem to be really kicking in at the moment. I have had to increase all my I:C ratios and this last 2 days I have had to be taking 1 unit for every 2-3g carb in the morning (and about 1: 5 for lunch and dinner) and even then my sugars seem to take about 4 hours to start to drop.

Yesterday I took 3 units of novarapid for 9g carbs and my sugars actually went up to 9.5
Today was even stranger. I woke at 8.0, took 4 units of novarapid for 9g carb (to be more than yesterday) and monitored what my sugars did.

6:30 8.0
8:00 11.2
10:00 6.2
12:00 8.9
13:30 7.8
15:00 6.2

not sure if the 6.2 was a blip...dont know why'd drop and go back up and then drop again but I'm really confused. No extra activity or exercise this morning

Its starting to make me feel really drained and I dont like having to take such high amounts of insulin before driving in the morning as I suspect they'll drop back down again in a day or two.
Does anyone else suffer from this and how do you tackle it.

Any advice welcome please.
Thanks
Andrea
 
My insulin goes up throughout the whole period. Silly question - is your pen working properly? Have you done a 1 or 2 unit air shot first? Sorry if you have already. Also check the cartridge inside- is it broken?
Hormones are a complete b&&ch aren't they?


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Hi Andrea,

Yes !!

I've even had heated discussions with doctors who have said that hormones have no impact on glucose levels... (well only 2) - when you tell them to come and walk in your shoes then they have no choice but to agree.

I was really insulin resistant the week before until the day I finished which was basically 2 weeks of running high and playing catch up correction all the time, it is draining, so try to record your routine with doses, dates and where in the month you are, it will be trial and error but if you can keep a diary then you can start to plan ahead. I only started to worry about hypos 2 hours after breakfast when fast acting was at it's peak, other than that try not to get too stressed, but see if you can manage your ratio's better ? Other than that try the coil ? I'm on one now because of that reason and my levels are now mostly consistent throughout the month, less stress, but hope you get it sorted
 
Hi both

Thanks for the replies. I've checked my pen and all seems ok.
But yes stupid hormones.
I'll discuss it with my GP but juicy I think prob something like coil could be a good solution.
It's frustrating though isn't it having to deal with highs and ratio changes during the month.
I do get DP too so maybe I'm just very sensitive to hormone changes in general.
Thanks
A


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Yes!! When I ovulate mid month I need an increase in insulin. I increase my background by 4 units ( 2 am and 2 pm ) as soon as I feel like I'm ovulating, around day 14. For the following two weeks right until the day I begin to bleed I may have to increase further. I manage by increasing just my background. From the first day I bleed I drop my background right back down by often 8 units total in one go.


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I get DP too. And if the wind changes or it's a sunny day it feels like my sugars react to that as well. The coil sounds like a good idea. I gave an implant that does not affect my sugars BUT I'm one of the people who has a period for 3 flipping weeks at a time. Other people have no periods what so ever - I wish. So now I'm taking a pill for 3 weeks to sort it out.
Fingers crossed. My insulin drops dramatically when I'm not having a period.

May end up on the coil myself if this does not work.
Good luck
Mrs Vimes x


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Hi Picci
My night time levels are ok so can't really up my long acting. I'm only on 2 units levemir so one extra unit does me in over night if I increase it. But it's crazy how much extra insulin is needed to account for it isn't it.

And thanks Mrs Vimes. Good luck to you too. Maybe we can share if anything helps us out. x
I loved your comment about if the wind changes


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As I thought, started my period today and have dropped like a stone and been eating all afternoon to keep my levels up!! I suppose on the positive side at least I'm finding a trend!
Thanks for your advice ladies and speak to you next month ;-)


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