Type 1: High blood sugars

[AC-]

Anyone got any tips of how to deal with constant high blood sugars I've been type 1 since I was 7 years old lol you'd think I would have it down to a T by now 10 years on...but unfortunately not

 

[robert72]

Hmmm... took me nearly 40 years to really get on top of mine
A good place to start would be with some basal testing: https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/
Then brushing up on your carb counting: http://www.bertieonline.org.uk
Also, hanging out here and asking questions is priceless

 

[AC-]

Oh dear godI've a long way to go then!! Every time I change my levimer they go either up or down no in between!!and I am horrible at carb counting and I honestly can't get into it!!!from being used to adjusting my own units from a young age!!change is hard lol

 

[Aloha1816]

Carb&cals app should help plus join ditch the carbs group on FB or similar ones. Cauliflower pizza etc is actually quite nice. Plus get libre/dex to see 24/7 sugar level overcoew

 

[himtoo]

Hi @AC-
welcome to the forum
one thing that helps me to keep numbers in range most of the time is "routine".

doing the same things daily and sticking to a meal plan that repeats the foods so I can gauge what I am eating by sight.

do you have a 1/2 unit pen for your fast acting insulin -- that could help in tailoring food doses a bit closer.

and agree that hanging out here is really helpful.

 

[azure]

Hi @AC-

I second the advice to basal test. It's the foundation of good control.

I was a bit confused by your comment on not getting on with carb counting yet adjusting your units from a young age - can you explain a little more? Do you mean you adjust your units without counting the carbs?

My advice is to basal test, get that about right, then look to sort one meal/period of the day at a time. You may find it easier to eat the same foods while you're doing this eg same cereal at same amount for breakfast, sandwich plus apple for lunch or whatever. That way you can perfect your doses for those meals.

 

[AC-]

What I meant by not doing /understanding carb counting is that when I was diagnosed at the beginning carb counting did not exist as it is a new thing for me , I tried a course called choice I think!!ill need to double check that but yea i just find it hard to change my methods with correcting and carb counting etc and yea I do just readjust my units without carb counting as that's what I have done from the beginning if you get me??

 

[azure]

What I meant by not doing /understanding carb counting is that when I was diagnosed at the beginning carb counting did not exist as it is a new thing for me , I tried a course called choice I think!!ill need to double check that but yea i just find it hard to change my methods with correcting and carb counting etc and yea I do just readjust my units without carb counting as that's what I have done from the beginning if you get me??

I get you now Bad luck in not being taught carb counting right from the beginning. I was lucky enough to be taught simply and quickly by a dietician, and it's made things SO much easier. Most of the courses over-complicate things, in my opinion, but the basics are actually quite simple

Just as a note - carb counting has existed for decades, it's just that some bright spark thought 'just eat healthily' would do. I remember that vividly as I made a complaint because it was clearly total rubbish!

Anyway....when you don't have Type 1, your pancreas produces just the right amount of insulin to deal with the carbs in a meal. When you have Type 1, you have to take over that job by assessing the amount of carbs you're about to eat and injecting accordingly. If you don't do that, it's very hard to get good control because you're 'driving with a blindfold on'.

I suggest you push for further help if you need it, and/or start working out the right doses for your favourite meals. That's the simplest approach. Good digital scales are very useful so you know you're having the same amount each time eg with cereal, pasta, etc.

You might also like to get the book Think Like A Pancreas, if you don't already have it. It's very good and very popular here.

Basically, if you're high all the time, your insulin doses need looking at. Start with the basal, then move on to the boluses, counting carbs or eating the same meal until you perfect the dose, as you prefer.

And do ask any questions you want here

 

[himtoo]

just a quick addition ---- try to be kind to yourself -- you have posted on here which is very brave -- try to give yourself time to make some changes and monitor how you progress-- it won't all happen immediately

do keep posting @AC-

 

[mist]

I see posts that are unhelpful to the OP and should be deleted.

edited by mod-- if you see posts that are not helpful to somebody requesting help -- please do report it

 

[AC-]

Awk what you's all said was so nice and helpful!!! I've never been good about dealing with it,but idm talking about it but it's 100x easier when it's to people who actually understand what it's like to live with it day in day out!!and yea I definitely will keep posting thank you's x

 

[Sarah_Type_1_since_age_3]

What I meant by not doing /understanding carb counting is that when I was diagnosed at the beginning carb counting did not exist as it is a new thing for me , I tried a course called choice I think!!ill need to double check that but yea i just find it hard to change my methods with correcting and carb counting etc and yea I do just readjust my units without carb counting as that's what I have done from the beginning if you get me??

Hi, I've literally just joined the forum & I should have done it ages ago! I've been type 1 since age 3 & I'm now 41, so don't know life without it! Can I ask what is meant by 'basal testing'? I know the basal is the long-acting 24 hour insulin but how do you test the effect of only that one? My blood sugars go high & low very often but I think that's because of busy lifestyle and general stresses life throws, so rushing round everywhere, always on the go, leads to low blood sugars which I then over-compensate for by eating too much as I feel starving which then leads to highs later or next morning if was hypo near bed time

 

[steve_p6]

Hi, I've literally just joined the forum & I should have done it ages ago! I've been type 1 since age 3 & I'm now 41, so don't know life without it! Can I ask what is meant by 'basal testing'? I know the basal is the long-acting 24 hour insulin but how do you test the effect of only that one? My blood sugars go high & low very often but I think that's because of busy lifestyle and general stresses life throws, so rushing round everywhere, always on the go, leads to low blood sugars which I then over-compensate for by eating too much as I feel starving which then leads to highs later or next morning if was hypo near bed time

Hi Sarah, same as you only joined last year after 38 yrs diagnosed. Basically basal sorts out the glucose your body naturally produces during the day. Essentially if you dont eat or take rapid and your BG doesnt shift much then your basal is right. Once that is sorted you can concentrate on matching bolus doses to carbs eaten. Easy if you say it quick!

You will see a lot of references to Think Like a Pancreas. Its a good book and educational even to us who have been going since the 70s.

 

[tim2000s]

@AC- Have a look at www.bertieonline.org.uk - It will really help you understand carb counting, insulin adjustment and how to deal with those nagging highs.

 

[himtoo]

Hi, I've literally just joined the forum & I should have done it ages ago! I've been type 1 since age 3 & I'm now 41, so don't know life without it! Can I ask what is meant by 'basal testing'? I know the basal is the long-acting 24 hour insulin but how do you test the effect of only that one? My blood sugars go high & low very often but I think that's because of busy lifestyle and general stresses life throws, so rushing round everywhere, always on the go, leads to low blood sugars which I then over-compensate for by eating too much as I feel starving which then leads to highs later or next morning if was hypo near bed time

Hi @Sarah_Type_1_since_age_3
have a look at this link , it describes basal testing https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/
and welcome to the forum as well -- glad to have you on "the team" !!

 

[AC-]

I am still having constant high blood sugarsand I feel like my insulin isn't working even though I am rotating my sites!! Anyone any ideas???

 

[azure]

I am still having constant high blood sugarsand I feel like my insulin isn't working even though I am rotating my sites!! Anyone any ideas???

Have you done a basal test (link above)? Getting the basal right is the first step.

What insulins and doses are you on at the moment? Is your blood sugar high all the time? And how high is it?

 

[AC-]

No I'll need to have a wee look!!and I am on 12 in the morning , 14 at lunch, 16-18 at dinner and 44 levimer at bed

 

[AC-]

And usually above ten sometimes above 20

 

[CherylEwing]

I had a terrible year last year. Glucose levels were unpredictable and crazy. I opted to try the paleo diet by a friend and it's really really helped me. You don't have to go paleo but perhaps try regulate what you are eating rather than trying to fix the insulin requirements of what you are currently eating.