Hello & ??
I don’t remember if I’ve intro. myself. I’ve been IDDM for 16.5
years. Complicated by thyroid issues for about 13 years. Been on the
pump for almost 4 years. Just recently upgraded to the MM508. My
blood sugars have always (and still do) bounced a lot. Part of the
problem is that I have some autonomic dysfunction which causes my
adrenal system to over-react, so when I have a low sugar my system
overcompensates and I tend to follow shortly with a high. This is
much better with the pump, although still an issue.
Anyway, my question is (although my control is acceptable) does
anyone have suggestions on refiguring basals and bolus ratios when
you can’t get through a 24 hr. period without a low (or high). I know
that the recommendation in Pumping Insulin is to do the testing
following a "normal" day. I NEVER meet that requirement.
My concern is that I’m having problems with periods of low sugar.
Like yesterday afternoon. I had breakfast and forgot to
bolus…remembered about 1.5 hours later, took bg was 297 so I took
my 3.5 units as directed to bring it down. (breakfast should of
required 5.3 units). Ate lunch, and took the proper insulin. Went
to a meeting and had 3 cookies…only took enough insulin for 2.
Within an hour my sugar was down to 80 (I’m under instructions to
treat anythin 80 or below as a hypoglycemic due to my autonomic
dysfunction). So I drank a can of Coke. Did NOT take any insulin.
1.5 hours later my bg was 65…treated it with juice and several
cookies (total about 50 g. carbo)…continued eating with dinner,
etc. (about 98 g carbo) took my 6.5 units (on a 1:15 ratio) and 2
hours later (before bed) my bg was 59. I again drank juice and ate a
snack (total about 50 g. carbo) and 1 hr. later it was up to 119.
Went to sleep and got up with a fasting of 119. Ate breakfast (forgot
to bolus) about 70 g. carbo, and now my bg is only 206 (currently
about 1 hour post meal).
Also any suggestions on how to remember to bolus would be helpful. I
have problems with "brain fog" from the autonomic dysfunction, along
with excessive fatigue. So if something else comes up it completely
fades into the background. Due to my sensitivity to insulin, I need
to wait until after I eat to take insulin (and yes I’m on Humalog).
I know I need to call my dr. Which I intend to do today. It’s just
that I go through these episodes periodically and it is sooooo
frustrating! (*not to mention exhausting!) Often right after these
episodes I’ll go through a similar period of high sugars…possibly
because I get so used to overcompensating by cutting back insulin
that when my body goes back to normal it takes me a little too long
to get back to normal procedure.
Anyway, sorry for the long post…and for those of you who are new to
pumping (or considering pumping) REMEMBER I AM NOT A NORMAL CASE!
Also with proper education (which I didn’t have) you won’t develop
this lazy/bad habits that I have that I’m now trying to overcome and
re-learn!
Thanks!
Suzanna