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How do I regain control

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
newbs

newbs

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
My BS has been a nightmare for the past 2-3 weeks. I am at a loss as to what to do to regain control. I am waking high, generally between 11-15 on some days but 5-7 on other days, mainly high through the morning then low before lunch. Afternoon varies but then generally high again in the evenings (up to 19). I have tried tweaking my ratio and have spoken to my DSN but there is no real pattern or reason as to why this is happening. It is just so frustrating.

Today my sugars have been as follows: -

0700 11.8
0930 12.8
1200 10.6
1430 3.8 ? Treated with Lucozade
1500 2.7 ? Treated with a 2 shortcake biscuits
1600 8.0

Any ideas much appreciated.
 
Sometimes it can just be a bit random. You may be fighting off some bug.

Can you tell us last nights reading, what you have eaten, how much insulin you have taken, what activity you have done and we can try and fathom things with you.
 
pgcity said:
Sometimes it can just be a bit random. You may be fighting off some bug.

Can you tell us last nights reading, what you have eaten, how much insulin you have taken, what activity you have done and we can try and fathom things with you.
Click to expand...

Readings last night: -

1800 7.3 (NR 14)
2030 4.8
2200 4.2 (Lantus 12)

Today's NR - 9 at breakfast (small bowl of Rice Krispies), 6 with lunch (Toasted Roll and small bowl of fruit). I carb count so worked both of these out as usual.

Activity, not much last night, school run this morning then met friends in town for coffee, back to mum's for lunch to drop my daughter off then came to work at 1pm (am a secretary).
 
Hi Newbs

I know that it doesn't help with your hypos but with regard to the BGs being all over the place because of the gastroparesis I usually test at 3am - if it is high then I will have a correction dose. It's not fun checking and injecting at that time of the night but at least it means that I usually wake up to a reasonable figure in the morning and then have a good start for the day.
I know that it's awful having these erratic BGs but the only solution that I've been able to find is regular testing and extra shots of bolus if my BG is going up/high. I am thinking of you and hoping that things improve for you. Any news yet about the sample that was sent off with regard to your kidneys?
 
Thanks for adding more detail.

First thing, you went to bed on a low number possibly with a further drop with the novo rapid. Could you have hypo'd in the night?

Second, could you basal be a little high or your carb ratio a bit off?

Third, I'm afraid I agree that some 3am testing may help. It is a pain I know but so worth it.
 
Thanks for asking, no news on kidney test as yet, will phone for the result tomorrow afternoon if I don't hear anything from my GP before then.

It looks like testing at 3am is the only way to go re the high BG.
 
pgcity said:
Thanks for adding more detail.

First thing, you went to bed on a low number possibly with a further drop with the novo rapid. Could you have hypo'd in the night?

Second, could you basal be a little high or your carb ratio a bit off?

Third, I'm afraid I agree that some 3am testing may help. It is a pain I know but so worth it.
Click to expand...

I don't think I had a hypo in the night but don't know for sure obviously. I don't think my basal is too high but the carb ratio could be off a bit as it has just been tweaked by my DSN. I was doing 2:10 but she thinks that is too high for me so I'm now on 1.5:10.

I will do some 3am testing and go from there.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
newbs said:
I don't think I had a hypo in the night but don't know for sure obviously. I don't think my basal is too high but the carb ratio could be off a bit as it has just been tweaked by my DSN. I was doing 2:10 but she thinks that is too high for me so I'm now on 1.5:10.

I will do some 3am testing and go from there.

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...

Do you have just one carb ratio for the day? I find that my insulin resistance changes hugely as the day progresses, so I need considerably more for breakfast than I do for lunch, and then evening meals (when I eat most carbs) I need even less!
 
Northerner said:
Do you have just one carb ratio for the day? I find that my insulin resistance changes hugely as the day progresses, so I need considerably more for breakfast than I do for lunch, and then evening meals (when I eat most carbs) I need even less!
Click to expand...

I only have 1 carb ratio for the day, yes. Used to do 2:10 for breakfast and then 1.5:10 for rest of the day but ended up going up to 2:10 for all meals, so now back down to 1.5:10 for all meals.

Woke up 4.6 this morning, 6.4 at 3am.
 
Sounds like it might be cracked then?

Boring though it is I always start with Basal - is it still right?

So many times in years gone I've tweaked my blouses and again and again and landed up not knowing if I was on me arse or me elbow.

I think basal testing is the way forward, then concentrate and getting carb ratios for each separate meal correct. OK it migt involve having the same breakfast or whatever for a week while you get that one right but you ain't trying to second guess everything else while you're doing that, so in the end it does ensure sanity!
 
trophywench said:
I think basal testing is the way forward, then concentrate and getting carb ratios for each separate meal correct. OK it migt involve having the same breakfast or whatever for a week while you get that one right but you ain't trying to second guess everything else while you're doing that, so in the end it does ensure sanity!
Click to expand...

Your advice is correct, it is definitely what I need to do. I'm thinking basal may be a little too high, seemed ok last night but then my BG was going up before bed and I woke on a 4.6 so may try cutting it back by 1u. It is so hard to figure it all out. My breakfast doesn't vary much anyway due to my stomach issues so that shouldn't be too hard to fathom, it's the others that will be harder! As you say, worth it in the end though as right now it is a complete mess.
 
hi

newbs said:
My BS has been a nightmare for the past 2-3 weeks. I am at a loss as to what to do to regain control. I am waking high, generally between 11-15 on some days but 5-7 on other days, mainly high through the morning then low before lunch. Afternoon varies but then generally high again in the evenings (up to 19). I have tried tweaking my ratio and have spoken to my DSN but there is no real pattern or reason as to why this is happening. It is just so frustrating.

Today my sugars have been as follows: -

0700 11.8
0930 12.8
1200 10.6
1430 3.8 ? Treated with Lucozade
1500 2.7 ? Treated with a 2 shortcake biscuits
1600 8.0

Any ideas much appreciated.
Click to expand...

hi strees can have a lot to do with the way your body goes xx
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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