Diabetes is very annoying - a pointless rant

[everydayupsanddowns]

Just wanted to join with all of you who have recently felt

😡 AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! 😡

about the ridiculousness of your D.

I've been having a few unexpected low-level 'dips' recently. Not really hypos exactly, just a few readings under 4 where I wouldn't expect them. And the more of those I have, the more highs I seem to have too. Not ideal. Figured it was probably basal/warmer weather related, so thought I would do some basal tests.

First day I tried to do lunch-eve meal - 3.7 mid morning so scrap that idea.
Second day I thought I'd do breakfast-lunch. Woke up to a 3.3. Hopeless.

On Monday evening I took the bull by the horns and took my entire basal pattern down by '1 notch' just to I could get some basal tests in.

I've spent Tuesday and Wednesday battling relentless highs. I did manage to get a semi-basal test in yesterday afternoon, which was inconclusive.

Woke to 10.8 this morning having gone to bed with what Artoo assured me was exactly the right amount of IOB to deal with my 10.6 at bedtime.

So now I'm back to where I started.

The really annoying thing is that I have two basic basal 'patterns' running. One for weekdays, the other for weekends. Initially this was just to account for waking up a bit later on Saturdays/Sundays, but 'weekend weirdness' soon meant that the weekend pattern was tweaked down and is now regularly only 80-90% of the weekday one. Even when activity levels seem identical I just seem to need less basal on weekends.

It's incredibly frustrating to have to fight relentless highs with a basal of 11.8u a day on Tuesday, when 10.6u on (Bank Holiday) Monday didn't result in those stubborn highs at all.

Less insulin = lower levels. More insulin = higher levels. Madness.

I think this is what grind me down most about D. Where on one week you put the effort in, count carbs, make corrections and levels behave themselves nicely. But then for weeks/months you put in exactly the same amount of effort and use exactly the same approaches for the same meals that you know work well - except that this time they don't.

Deep breath. Try again.

 

[Redkite]

Just wanted to join with all of you who have recently felt

😡 AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! 😡

.

Hear hear!

What a pain in the a** diabetes is! Similar situation here, after an activity-filled BH weekend and lots of lows, basals were reset to normal school-week pattern but suddenly BGs are all in double figures. So frustrating when what works one day doesn't work the next!

 

[AJLang]

I completely agree with you - have had a fortnight of battling dips and lowering basal - and now it has decided to do some ups aaaaaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhhh

 

[AlisonM]

I don't seem to be getting the serious highs thank heavens, but have had a couple of days lately when I've battled persistent hypos staying firmly in the low threes for hours at a time. It didn't seem to matter what I did, whatever I tried my BGs stayed on the floor. I tried all my usual remedies, jelly babies, Irn-Bru, banana toastie, no good. Even a sugar cube failed to get the numbers up for long. A wee poke of chips was what cracked it for me the last time, spuds'll do it every time.

I'm glad I don't have to try and work out things like basals (yet!), I'd struggle with that at the best of times, never mind in the middle of a hypo.

Is it just me, or do the after effects of a long lasting hypo feel far worse than a sudden crash and recovery? It took me a couple of days to get over the one last week.

 

[Cleo]

I think this is what grind me down most about D. Where on one week you put the effort in, count carbs, make corrections and levels behave themselves nicely. But then for weeks/months you put in exactly the same amount of effort and use exactly the same approaches for the same meals that you know work well - except that this time they don't.

Deep breath. Try again.

I am sorry you're having a hard time - this is not a pointless rant !!!. You've touched on some very interesting issues in my opinion. I go through phases where my BGs are nice and respectable and then all of a sudden they go wonky for days despite me taking the same approach of carb counting, corrections etc. There's nothing more frustrating and science doesnt seem to have an explanation for it either. I am going through pre conception and working desperately to try to get my hba1cs down below 6.5, I have my appointment today and since BH monday I've been up on the 9s. Doesnt matter what I do - I just dont seem to come down. I'm putting it down to stress as I am feeling anxious about this whole b****y thing!

Maybe stress and frustration perpetuate things??

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Maybe stress and frustration perpetuate things??

I think there's a lot in that - or at least that is one of the factors that is hard to quantify (and often to anticipate) which can contribute to the apparent 'randomness' of things.

Carbs, insulin and activity are only a small fraction of the variables in play.

TBH it's a wonder we *ever* get more than 2 decent levels on the trot!

 

[Northerner]

Know a little of how you feel Mike My requirements have been changing a lot lately, making dose calculation very hit and miss. My 7-day average is currently 5.0 (47 tests), 5.3 for 14 days (100 tests) and 5.7 for 30 days (194 tests). During the past couple of weeks my TDD has gone from 39 units to 19.5 units, yet I've still been getting frequent hypos 😱

 

[mcdonagh47]

was control more straightforward on MDI than the pump ?

is it the diabetes or the pump that's annoying ?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

was control more straightforward on MDI than the pump ?

is it the diabetes or the pump that's annoying ?

Personally I found MDI more of a 'blunt tool', Mrs EDUAD commented at breakfast that these days I get this frustrated far less frequently and far less quickly than I used to on MDI.

If I'm going to have to wrestle the D gremlins I'm very glad I have the extra facilities/adjustments and improved precision of the pump in my armoury.

Unfortunately D is still very annoying, contrary, illogical and downright crackers at times. I think I have found the 'more stable' periods to be longer and more sustainable on a pump when the settings are 'right', but sadly when the goalposts wander off into the distance they still need chasing, settigns tweaked... retweaked... adjusted... tweaked a bit more. Then if I'm lucky, that might do for another 6-8 weeks and off we go again. 🙄

 

[Caroline]

Love it or hate it we are stuck with the dreaded D.

For me the plus is that we have this forum full of supportive friendly people who help each other. While I don't pretend to understand what everyone is going through (especially with hypos) I am here in a supporting role and I know if I need help or advice or just an ear to bend, someoe is always there.

 

[pgcity]

I don't agree that you are having a pointless rant. I expect we all have times like this. It's good for us lesser mortals to see someone we admire with such good control battling the gremlins too. Hope you are back on track soon.

 

[Flutterby]

Your "pointless rant" has helped me to be honest. I had a bad day Monday but I knew why and expected it to be fine by now - but it isn't! Totally ridiculous. thanks for sharing.x

 

[Hanmillmum]

Your post has expressed what I am feeling especially strongly this week, sorry you are having a rubbish time!

I'm sick of chasing unexplained hypos, what on earth is going on I do not know but getting rather fed-up and feeling guilty now that I should be on top of it. I've made the usual tweaks but it hasn't had the usual impact if none at all , so onwards and downwards and hopefully no hypos tomorrow! (will make a nice change for sure 🙄)


Hope you get sorted soon too 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks everyone. Really good to be able to get that off my chest with people who instantly 'get it'.

You guys are great!

 

[Redkite]

Carbs, insulin and activity are only a small fraction of the variables in play.

Agreed! I wonder if the increasing hours of daylight have anything to do with it? I find BGs behave themselves better on days when we wake up to bright sunshine, and less well on dark and/or cloudy mornings. There must be some increase in activity on a cellular level 🙄

 

[PattiEvans]

I discovered something else today that probably throws spanners into what we think ought to be good control because it worked last week, or yesterday, or last full moon. Apparently the insulin concentration in the portal vein regulates the hepatic glucose output, so if that concentration is off all your bets are off... and guess what, we can't control it with any type of subcutaneous insulin injection.

 

[lesleyW]

That wasn't a pointless rant at all - we're entitled to rant - rant away - rant some more - we all understand. This is a very silly condition in which there seems to be no rhyme or reason to highs, lows or ok levels. I've tried doing what worked before and it doesn't work now, so I end up feeling perplexed and really, really,irritated. ALSO what really gets me started is the media reporting on the dreaded D as invariably linked to being overweight and not exercising. This ghastly situation is not a 'lifestyle choice' 😡 Chin up - hope things improve soon for all of you 🙂

 

[Doc_Brown]

Just to say, Mike: I hear ya. 😉

 

[Reggie]

I totally agree, go ahead and have a rant, sometimes its far better to let off steam - even by writing down - than to sit and stew over things.

The help, advise, support and comments on this site are awesome and to be able to sound off - politely and for the right reasons - is great as someone will always put forward an extremely valuable comment or even one line that my put that smile back on your face.

Don't let the 'D' get you down

 

[Barb]

Couldn't agree more. Some days you do your utmost to get good results and things go wrong for no apparent reason. It's such a difficult juggling act and medics should give more credit to all diabetics for doing their best to make order out of chaos.

I've just had a steroid injection for a dodgy shoulder and told it could result in high (or low) sugars. Will just have to wait and see which!

Just wanted to join with all of you who have recently felt

😡 AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! 😡

about the ridiculousness of your D.

I've been having a few unexpected low-level 'dips' recently. Not really hypos exactly, just a few readings under 4 where I wouldn't expect them. And the more of those I have, the more highs I seem to have too. Not ideal. Figured it was probably basal/warmer weather related, so thought I would do some basal tests.

First day I tried to do lunch-eve meal - 3.7 mid morning so scrap that idea.
Second day I thought I'd do breakfast-lunch. Woke up to a 3.3. Hopeless.

On Monday evening I took the bull by the horns and took my entire basal pattern down by '1 notch' just to I could get some basal tests in.

I've spent Tuesday and Wednesday battling relentless highs. I did manage to get a semi-basal test in yesterday afternoon, which was inconclusive.

Woke to 10.8 this morning having gone to bed with what Artoo assured me was exactly the right amount of IOB to deal with my 10.6 at bedtime.

So now I'm back to where I started.

The really annoying thing is that I have two basic basal 'patterns' running. One for weekdays, the other for weekends. Initially this was just to account for waking up a bit later on Saturdays/Sundays, but 'weekend weirdness' soon meant that the weekend pattern was tweaked down and is now regularly only 80-90% of the weekday one. Even when activity levels seem identical I just seem to need less basal on weekends.

It's incredibly frustrating to have to fight relentless highs with a basal of 11.8u a day on Tuesday, when 10.6u on (Bank Holiday) Monday didn't result in those stubborn highs at all.

Less insulin = lower levels. More insulin = higher levels. Madness.

I think this is what grind me down most about D. Where on one week you put the effort in, count carbs, make corrections and levels behave themselves nicely. But then for weeks/months you put in exactly the same amount of effort and use exactly the same approaches for the same meals that you know work well - except that this time they don't.

Deep breath. Try again.