Hypo all night. Didn't wake up

[Amberzak]

So the good news on the pump is that my sugars were level all night. But according to my libre, that was at a level of about 2.8. I didn't wake up. I'm treating the hypo this morning and I have temporarily unpluged the pump. But I feel so rough.

I've got one splitting headache.

Any advice on how to make myself feel better? I'm in the hospital today for more training, so I will be able to speak to them. I just want to feel better.

 

[Northerner]

Sorry to hear this Amberzak I'd drink plenty and have a couple of paracetamols. Hope they can give you some good suggestions so you can avoid any repeat.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Amberzak I'm sorry to hear this. How accurate is your Libre? The reason why I am asking is because mine often says that I am hypo during the night but when I finger prick test I am usually around 4.5.

 

[Amberzak]

It's very accurate for me. I did a finger prick and it said I was 2.8, and the libre said 3. I checked on another tester as well.

I think the pump is set too high for background at night. My consultant did say I have a history of dropping at night and then rising first thing.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Amberzak
Although you were hypo you said that it was steady during the night which would suggest that the basal was at the correct level during the night but possibly too high in the hours leading up to you going to bed. For example a basal that is delivered between 7pm-8pm can be affecting you for up to four hours in the same way as the same insulin does when you bolus it. What was your level before bed?

 

[Amberzak]

Just before bed was 5.6, which is lower than I normally would go to bed on. I like it being 6 when I go to bed. That was at 22.43
My basal rate is set at 0.9 from midnight until 4am, then set at 1 from 4-6, then gets higher. Before bed it's set its set at 1 until 10pm then 0.9 from 11.

According to my libre, my sugars did a slow decline from about midnight to 3 am, and then after that it was completely straight.

I think I did the wrong thing this morning thoigh, because I unclipped the pump while I treated the hypo and now the graph has skyrocketed. I guess it's completely different when you don't habe background insulin in you. Oh well. Learning curve. I've got it back down now.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Amberzak you obviously need to be guided by your team at this stage but if it was me I would very slightly reduce my 10-11and 11-12 basal. I'm sorry that you learnt the hard way about undoing the pump, I didn't want to say anything - although it is fine to not have it on for a short while, e.g. when having a bath, as long as you correct afterwards. Others will know better than me but I think that you can disconnect from the pump for up to two hours, for example if swimming etc but only if you inject an amount afterwards that equates to the missed basal whilst allowing for any exercise. Then if you want it offer for longer bolus the basal equivalent each hour. I've never tried this in practice!
The only time that I've had to disconnect for a hypo was when I was having one of my gastroparesis ones where the glucose isn't reaching the stomach so it may take two hours to get my sugar up but this is then followed by a massive spike.
It will take a while to get used to the pump but it is so worth it 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear this Amberzak. Well done for firefighting it - a few wobbles in the early weeks are to be expected. You'll soon have a basic set-up that (mostly) works for you in place and you'll be able to tweak and adjust from there... indefinitely!

 

[Amberzak]

Sorry to hear this Amberzak. Well done for firefighting it - a few wobbles in the early weeks are to be expected. You'll soon have a basic set-up that (mostly) works for you in place and you'll be able to tweak and adjust from there... indefinitely!

Thanks everyone.

It's all a big learning curve. And for good control in the future I am more than prepared to work at it. I know it won't be overnight.

In a way it's good to learn these things by making the mistakes, because then I see what actually happens. no real harm is done. 🙂

We get weekly meetings after today and we have their phone numbers to call in case of emergency. I'm away next week in London for a holiday so it will be a real test of the pump then. 🙂

Theyve said to keep my pens with me when away in case I have a momentary crisis of confidence.

 

[trophywench]

I seem to rise late evening to 2am, then start going down gradually till about 5am, then rise till about mid morning, BUT if I have brekkie at 'breakfast time' and bolus for it, it stops the rise - so El Pumpo is adjusted for all of that.

Amberzak - basal testing - PITA though it is - is now your BEST FRIEND from now on in ! It's GOT to be done.

BUT other than obviously doing the immediate adjustments needed at the mo and over the next few days, it takes a while for you body to get used to the drip drip method instead of basal once or twice a day. So you can't base the future of your basal amounts on what you are seeing now - cos they'll change.

You know - I've said and so has Sue! - I wanted to bin the thing after the first 10 days/fortnight - but I wouldn't let it beat me. And it didn't - I wouldn't give it back now, not NO way!

You'll get there, honest .......