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Suddenly more insulin needed

S

Spablauw_

Well-Known Member
Messages
52
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello,

I recently started running and riding my bike again after a long break and I immediately noticed that my basal needs dropped a lot even when it was 2 days ago I exercised I would still need less basal insulin.
Now since of wednesday I went on a vacation untill next Saturday and I'm already using 30% more basal insulin than 3 days ago and I also had to increase my IC rates around 30% so I basically need 30% extra of both? can someone explain this to me? I've been having a cold for the last days, I'm not ill very often so that might be the issue but 30% is a lot?

I used to exercise 3 or 4x a week and I still went for a run last Thursday on my vacation so yeah... I hope someone can help me because the first 3 days of my vacation have already been ruined right now due to constant high blood sugars.

Thanks.
 
Spablauw_ said:
Hello,

I recently started running and riding my bike again after a long break and I immediately noticed that my basal needs dropped a lot even when it was 2 days ago I exercised I would still need less basal insulin.
Now since of wednesday I went on a vacation untill next Saturday and I'm already using 30% more basal insulin than 3 days ago and I also had to increase my IC rates around 30% so I basically need 30% extra of both? can someone explain this to me? I've been having a cold for the last days, I'm not ill very often so that might be the issue but 30% is a lot?

I used to exercise 3 or 4x a week and I still went for a run last Thursday on my vacation so yeah... I hope someone can help me because the first 3 days of my vacation have already been ruined right now due to constant high blood sugars.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hey @Spablauw_, I spent the last week with a hefty cold and my basal needs virtually doubled. The reasoning for that is because of illness and also the fact that I wasn't exercising. So a combination of inactivity and illness is what I would attribute to my doubled basal requirements. You could well be the same unless you're exercising whilst on holiday?

Regarding your increased I:C ratio, it may be that your finding you need more bolus because you're still lacking basal?

Have you been consuming the same amount of carbs during your period of illness? If not, you might find that you need more bolus insulin if your carb intake is very low. I find I need more bolus (and often have to bolus for protein) if I'm not eating near my usual amount.

Wishing you good health and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday:)
 
Wow, okay. Luckily I don't have to double my basal.
Did you also have BG readings above 10? Yesterday I have been between 10 and 15 all day...
I'm using Lantus so it's quite difficult to adjust my basal daily on what I need.
 
I used to take Lantus before I went on a pump.
I would often adjust my basal dose.
I would reduce it 20% for two days after I had an intensive exercise (which often resulted in the reduction becoming normal) and increase it 20 to 40% when I was I'll.
My hB1AC has always been pretty good. However, my diabetes team would be nervous about these basal changes.
 
Spablauw_ said:
Wow, okay. Luckily I don't have to double my basal.
Did you also have BG readings above 10? Yesterday I have been between 10 and 15 all day...
I'm using Lantus so it's quite difficult to adjust my basal daily on what I need.
Click to expand...
I had many readings above 10 until I ended up at around double my basal dose. Then things calmed down a bit. Levemir is a good insulin in the respect that dosage adjustments take effect quickly, especially on a split dose.

Have you been correcting with bolus insulin to try and bring your numbers down? It's also a good idea to check for ketones if your sitting at those levels for prolonged periods of time.

This flowchart will keep you right :)

http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/ketocard/ketosheet.pdf
 
yeah, I've been correcting with bolus insulin for about every 2 hours...
I didn't check for ketones but next time I might.

I now went up to 26 Lantus instead of 20 and I think I'll up it to 30 this evening because I still have a couple of high readings
 
I rarely change my basal Lantus dose (25U) based on activity. I do vary my bolus dose at those times though. I think changing the basal dose daily or so will make the bolus doses harder to figure. More moving parts.
 
Personally I would change the vial and needle..

Have you done any basal testing?
 
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