Tanderm pump Re-training

[clairalice]

Hello,
Im looking for help regarding using my Tanderm t:slim x2. Ive got the basics pretty much sorted I think but have been told to start trying the Temp rate . Im 44 with health conditions that means my brain isnt as sharp as it used to be. Im nervous about trying it and dont really know what percentage to start. The main one is for exercise. I have been told to reduce one hour before until one hour afterwards but by how much? I will only be doing gentle exercise bike to start.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading.
Clair.x

 

[Sally71]

It’s very much a case of trial and error, but I’d be inclined to start cautiously with a reduction of 20% and see what happens (we found a change of less than that didn’t really make any noticeable difference). You can always cancel it again if you start going high. Then if it doesn’t make enough difference do 30% less next time and keep changing it like that until you find the level that works best for you.

 

[clairalice]

It’s very much a case of trial and error, but I’d be inclined to start cautiously with a reduction of 20% and see what happens (we found a change of less than that didn’t really make any noticeable difference). You can always cancel it again if you start going high. Then if it doesn’t make enough difference do 30% less next time and keep changing it like that until you find the level that works best for you.

Thank you.x

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good luck with developing your own system @clairalice

It's such a pain that all our bodies are so pig-headedly individual. Bah! It would be so much easier if we could just be given an official 'crib sheet' wouldn't it?!

In the end I ended up with a couple of benchmarks depending on what I'd observed before trying different things.

Like @Sally71 suggests I started with 80% and 70% TBRs, but encouraged by a former pump (the MM640G) in the end I didn't shy away from fully suspending basal - as long as it wasn't for more than a couple of hours.

It all depends on what your body does, how much 'insulin on board' you have when exercise starts, and the duration and intensity of the activity.

But yes, temporary basal rates take at least 30-60 minutes to start having any effect 🙂

 

[clairalice]

Good luck with developing your own system @clairalice

It's such a pain that all our bodies are so pig-headedly individual. Bah! It would be so much easier if we could just be given an official 'crib sheet' wouldn't it?!

In the end I ended up with a couple of benchmarks depending on what I'd observed before trying different things.

Like @Sally71 suggests I started with 80% and 70% TBRs, but encouraged by a former pump (the MM640G) in the end I didn't shy away from fully suspending basal - as long as it wasn't for more than a couple of hours.

It all depends on what your body does, how much 'insulin on board' you have when exercise starts, and the duration and intensity of the activity.

But yes, temporary basal rates take at least 30-60 minutes to start having any effect 🙂

Thank you.

 

[SB2015]

As others have said Diabetes is so much a case of trial and improvement as we all respond in different ways. Starting cautiously is good and then monitor and adjust.

I used two temp basal profiles depending on the amount of exercise I was doing. The more energetic the greater my reduction. I had not thought of suspending my basal for exercise as @everydayupsanddowns
has suggested. That is one I might try.

 

[clairalice]

Thank you. I did make another profile for exercise but my brain struggled with adjusting the numbers. My DSN wants me to do the temp rate to understand it before going on HCL. I was told not to suspend basal because of going high later.

 

[helli]

The thing that affects my BG when exercise is remaining bolus "on board".
I try to avoid intensive exercise (this varies from person to person but I would describe it as something that raises my heart rate for more than 15 minutes) for 4 hours after my last bolus.

Even with a complete basal suspension, if I exercise with active bolus insulin on board, I will go too low.

 

[clairalice]

Thank you. Spontaneous exercise is sounding like a big no no lol.

 

[Sally71]

My daughter used to do dance classes on a Saturday morning, and I found that impossible to get right! Presumably they did slightly different exercises each week, but I was dropping the basal lower and lower and then found out that the dance teacher preferred the pump to be removed completely for safety reasons (in case she fell on it presumably). Even with no pump attached, sometimes she would still go low! And sometimes high and sometimes stay just about right. I gave up in the end! Hopefully it’s a bit easier when you are actually doing the exercise yourself and you know exactly what’s involved…

 

[clairalice]

My daughter used to do dance classes on a Saturday morning, and I found that impossible to get right! Presumably they did slightly different exercises each week, but I was dropping the basal lower and lower and then found out that the dance teacher preferred the pump to be removed completely for safety reasons (in case she fell on it presumably). Even with no pump attached, sometimes she would still go low! And sometimes high and sometimes stay just about right. I gave up in the end! Hopefully it’s a bit easier when you are actually doing the exercise yourself and you know exactly what’s involved…

I cannot imagine the stress and frustration that goes with having a child with Diabetes. I pretty much stopped looking after my diabetes when my daughter was born in 2009. Only about 3 years ago I began putting myself first a bit.x