Basal problems and insulin pumps

[MeganN]

Hi all

I'm having a hard time with my basal doses. I've never truely found the correct dose, everytime it works it doesnt last for long.

I've been moved on Levemir which has helped a little.
I inject in the evening and am now starting to get better morning results but my problem is that when I'm at work I suffer from higher blood readings than I would like and on days off I'm pretty much on spot on numbers.

My meal time doses are predictable and mostly reliable but I can't up my basal for work days and lower it for days off as the basal change would not be instant enough.

I've been seriously thinking that I would do better with an insulin pump.
How do I go about asking for one?
The maternity nurse seems to think that I would have to have very bad repeated number for a long time before being eligable. This doesnt sound entirely fair.

It's so annoying as I am desperately trying to get a good Hba1c so that we can start a family. I can't help but think a pump would be a massive help through pregnancy too.

Any help would be great
Thanks

 

[Redkite]

I would recommend a pump to anyone, as it's a much more versatile tool than MDI for managing type 1!

You don't have to have bad control or high a1c's, you can say you are experiencing too many hypos or the fear of hypos. Have a look at the INPUT website:

http://www.input.me.uk/alt-insulin-pumps/is-it-provided-by-the-nhs/

 

[Lauras87]

I thought all women wanting to have a family were actively encouraged to go on a pump?

Could you not use that & all problems you are having?

Read the nice guidelines & like red kite said look at input.

I tried on & off for 9 years to get a pump before being accepted for one

 

[PattiEvans]

Also being pregnant would be a mark in your favour for getting a pump.

My meal time doses are predictable and mostly reliable but I can't up my basal for work days and lower it for days off as the basal change would not be instant enough.

Actually Levemir changes are pretty much instant. Unlike Lantus and Insulatard they don't take 3 days to "bed in". I can lower my Levemir if I know I'm going to have quite a heavy exercise day that day. I also have a half unit pen and that half unit can make a lot of difference.

 

[Copepod]

How about discussing splitting Levemir dose into morning and evening, varying ratio and timings with your diabetes team and seeing if that helps?

 

[MeganN]

It's the more constant drip feed of insulin for background I stead of a long acting one injections a day that I feel would help me a lot. Ill have a bit more of a look I to it tonight when I get home

 

[PattiEvans]

Megan
Ooops, missed the fact you were only taking one dose. At lower doses Levemir often only lasts 16 hours or so. Even the manufacturers say it can be taken in 2 doses a day. I've worked out mine does just last 16 hours.

However I think you're complaining of higher BGs on work days, not later in the day.

 

[Cleo]

I inject in the evening and am now starting to get better morning results but my problem is that when I'm at work I suffer from higher blood readings than I would like and on days off I'm pretty much on spot on numbers.

Thanks

Hi Megan,
Do you tend to get stressed when you're at work? Whenever I get stressed my BGs go sky high.....you mention that on your days off your numbers are fine, but when you're at work they're high....cant help but think that maybe your work environment might the variable as opposed to something being fundamentally wrong with your basal. You also mention that you have the same basal doses on work and non work days...again leads to me think that work may be the issue and not the basal?
C.

 

[MeganN]

Hi cleo.

Yes I think it's my work environment and not my basal. I agree with you. However I think that a pump may help me manage this better by being able to adjust it more easily.

 

[Cleo]

Oh OK that makes sense...I really hope you manage to get the pump 🙂. I am going through pre conception as well so I know how you feel.....hope you get the green light soon 🙂