Blood glucose

[Busdriver60]

Thanks to everyone. I had a lovely Christmas at home with close family. Unfortunately my BG has been stubbornly high since 23 December and is still high.
As soon as I get of bed, the BG readings are very high before breakfast. Why is that? Please enlighten me. Thank you.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks to everyone. I had a lovely Christmas at home with close family. Unfortunately my BG has been stubbornly high since 23 December and is still high.
As soon as I get of bed, the BG readings are very high before breakfast. Why is that? Please enlighten me. Thank you.

Sounds a bit like Foot on the Floor Syndrome where the liver releases glucose to give you energy and for your organs to function. If you are taking your once a day insulin in the morning it may be running out of activity when it is needed.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Also, alas, things just change - often inexplicably. I suspect this is true for anyone, diabetic or not; but because of our D (if we are being diligent in monitoring our BG) we notice these changes and can let them not only disrupt our daily living but also disturb our mindset.

When you say very high, how high? What are your typical readings? Can you share a screenshot with us please?

I have from the outset, @Busdriver60, said that it would be highly likely that your D would progress such that you would eventually need bolus insulin as well as basal. However, right now there are 3 "tools" available to you to help you push your high BG down:

Try an increase of your basal insulin. Since you have CGM you have a potentially easy way of seeing how effective this might be over several days. Don't be afraid of some experimenting. If more basal nudges you into more hypos, then pause (or have modest snacks close by to nudge you away from lows). Set your low Alarm at the highest setting of 5.6 for Libre and use that as a simple alert: if triggered have a biscuit (6-8 gms of carbs).​

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Exercise and activity. But I know your work at the Garden Centre must keep you naturally active and there has to be a realistic limit to how much exercise you can fit in to any 24 hrs!​

​

Diet. Is it possible that you have allowed your carb intake to drift higher over recent days? At the very least you ought to review your meals, make a conscientious carb count and lean on your CGM to try and spot any single meal or specific food that is causing your BG to spike. If none try to push your BG down by breaking any habit: by that I mean if you have a standard breakfast try something different (low carb of course) and see if you can disrupt the daily high start.​

​

Whatever you do, try to be systematic. Don't try all 3 "tools" simultaneously, you need to try to isolate what's going on. Also restart a dialogue with your DSN. At the very least you will be putting a marker with her that there is a problem and if this continues she will be sufficently involved to consider if you should start a rapid (= bolus) insulin.

 

[Busdriver60]

 

[helli]

Was this checked with a finger prick? CGMs tend to over egg highs.
And was it after a shower? Hot water can cause false high readings.

 

[Busdriver60]

Was this checked with a finger prick? CGMs tend to over egg highs.
And was it after a shower? Hot water can cause false high readings.

I phoned 111 and was told I don't need to finger prick test as my sensor records it. I did not have a shower this morning. The high readings have been recorded sine 23 December.

 

[Tdm]

Anything stopping you upping the insulin?

 

[Busdriver60]

Anything stopping you upping the insulin?

No but by how much?? I've only been a 3c diabetic since May earlier this year. I'm still learning.

 

[mashedupmatt]

10% to 20% increase is the maximum that is recommended but always best to err on the side of caution - so if you're taking 10u for example, try 11u, and if that doesn't make any difference, try 12u - just a thought though, have you been feeling unwell in any other way? Mine did the same from Christmas Eve and it turns out I was fighting a minor upper respiratory infection (which has thankfully got a lot better, and BG Levels are almost back to normal)

 

[Busdriver60]

I haven't been feeling unwell at all, since 23 December, only just these high readings. I do however have possible tinnitus in my right ear.

 

[helli]

I phoned 111 and was told I don't need to finger prick test as my sensor records it.

I disagree with that as it does not take into consideration the limitations of CGMs. Even Abbott recommends checking with finger pricks.

 

[Busdriver60]

I disagree with that as it does not take into consideration the limitations of CGMs. Even Abbott recommends checking with finger pricks.

It was actually an NHS 111 advisor who told me that.

 

[helli]

It was actually an NHS 111 advisor who told me that.

In that case, NHS 111 are not following the advice from the manufacturer of Libre.
With more than 5 years using CGMs, I can confirm you need to finger prick at times as recommended by Abbott.
It is very important to understand the limitations of CGMs https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/cgm-limitations-and-precautions.108188/

 

[mashedupmatt]

Agreed 100% - this is from the FAQ section on the Abbott Website:

 

[Lucyr]

It was actually an NHS 111 advisor who told me that.

You’d probably learn something by doing the libre online courses to learn how to use it properly

Welcome | MyFreeStyle | Abbott

Discover the world of MyFreeStyle. Explore our educational materials by category and find topics that best suit you, learning modules about your FreeStyle Libre system and how to live well with diabetes.

www.freestyle.abbott

You could also do the online Bertie course as sounds like you aren’t confident in adjusting your insulin dose

Bertie Diabetes

bertiediabetes.com

Or there are short courses you can do here on specific topics, which includes the libre

eLearning | Patient Navigator

eLearning resource listing

pn.mydiabetes.com

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Hello @Busdriver60 . Are you souly on basal insulin? From what I can make out from the librelink screen shots, you consistently seem to hover around 12mmol? (I’m not sure when you ate.) If it was my situation. I would find it easier to confirm the validity of the Libre trend with a finger prick or two than if it was zig zagging all over the shop on the graph. Then change the dosage of basal. I see you have a “14.6” on a steady rise. In my experience finger pricking has been pretty close even in the teens with a Libre. But is worth a shout, to get your meter out. Best wishes.

 

[Jasmin2000]

Over Christmas I was looking after my Mum who needs 24/7 care - but is getting 2/7 from a commercial care provider of doubtful competence. In the last week my BG has gone from a stable 5's to 10's, 12's and 14's and won't go down at night despite taking twice as much insulin as normal.

The take home is, don't underestimate what stress can do to your BG!

 

[Busdriver60]

You’d probably learn something by doing the libre online courses to learn how to use it properly

Welcome | MyFreeStyle | Abbott

Discover the world of MyFreeStyle. Explore our educational materials by category and find topics that best suit you, learning modules about your FreeStyle Libre system and how to live well with diabetes.

www.freestyle.abbott

You could also do the online Bertie course as sounds like you aren’t confident in adjusting your insulin dose

Bertie Diabetes

bertiediabetes.com

Or there are short courses you can do here on specific topics, which includes the libre

eLearning | Patient Navigator

eLearning resource listing

pn.mydiabetes.com

Ok thanks, please understand, I was only diagnosed as type 3c diabetic since the end of May 2024 and I'm still learning and still making mistakes. Christmas was very hard for me watching my family eat sweet things.

 

[Busdriver60]

Hello @Busdriver60 . Are you souly on basal insulin? From what I can make out from the librelink screen shots, you consistently seem to hover around 12mmol? (I’m not sure when you ate.) If it was my situation. I would find it easier to confirm the validity of the Libre trend with a finger prick or two than if it was zig zagging all over the shop on the graph. Then change the dosage of basal. I see you have a “14.6” on a steady rise. In my experience finger pricking has been pretty close even in the teens with a Libre. But is worth a shout, to get your meter out. Best wishes.

Thank you, I have only been diagnosed as a type 3C diabetic since the end of May 2024, and I'm still learning.

 

[Lucyr]

Ok thanks, please understand, I was only diagnosed as type 3c diabetic since the end of May 2024 and I'm still learning and still making mistakes.

I’m not sure what you think I don’t understand? I saw some gaps in your knowledge and suggested resources to fill them?