Needing more insulin ?

[Pat91]

Hello, I have noticed in the last week or so my blood sugar's are staying higher after meals even tho I'm taking the same dose with the same meals ? Ie 3 units for 30g Cho. 6units for 60g Cho and so on. Any ideas ? Thanks.

 

[Fagor]

This may not help directly, but you're not the only one.

My insulin sensitivity seems to change for no obvious reason. It might be weather (more required when cold?), injection sites, mood, stress, sure there are others.

You may have to adjust your QA ratios/corrections and/or BI and it might take while.
Over last few weeks, my Levemir has increased from 9U am and 8U pm to 12U am and 12U pm as too many BS were over 10. Today trundling along about 4.2 so may look to start reduce of BI.

It's a pain but don't panic and only change one variant at a time, as in DAFNE.

Hope this re-assures.

J

 

[Pat91]

This may not help directly, but you're not the only one.

My insulin sensitivity seems to change for no obvious reason. It might be weather (more required when cold?), injection sites, mood, stress, sure there are others.

You may have to adjust your QA ratios/corrections and/or BI and it might take while.
Over last few weeks, my Levemir has increased from 9U am and 8U pm to 12U am and 12U pm as too many BS were over 10. Today trundling along about 4.2 so may look to start reduce of BI.

It's a pain but don't panic and only change one variant at a time, as in DAFNE.

Hope this re-assures.

J

Hi mate thanks for the reply am currently changing the QA, normally have 3units with breakfast been having 5 recently and it's still in the 10s.

 

[Kaylz]

I'd suggest a basal test if your rapid isn't working as it should and possibly try a new pen/cartridge of your rapid in case your current one is compromised in some way xx

 

[Pat91]

I'd suggest a basal test if your rapid isn't working as it should and possibly try a new pen/cartridge of your rapid in case your current one is compromised in some way xx

That's the first thing I did, to no avail, took too much with lunch earlier and went too low. This diabetes game is hard work.

 

[Kaylz]

That's the first thing I did, to no avail, took too much with lunch earlier and went too low. This diabetes game is hard work.

It certainly is that and no matter how long you have it you'll have "off" days that you just don't understand and can't explain but they get easier to brush off xx

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

That's the first thing I did, to no avail, took too much with lunch earlier and went too low. This diabetes game is hard work.

Like @Kaylz sometimes I find that if I keep my meal doses the same, but just increase my background dose by 10% or so, then my meal doses start working well again.

When you said you took too much, what did you take and how much was the increase? I have picked up over the years that 10% adjustments are usually plenty to see an effect - so 1:10g to 1:9g, and then calculate the dose and round up or down to the nearest 1u or 0.5u if you have a 0.5u pen?

Probably worth asking your DSN for their advice and some rules of thumb?

 

[Pat91]

I think my basal is right as when I wake my sugars are 95% of the time ok, just in the last week they have not been responding to the insulin as well.

 

[Pat91]

I think my basal is right as when I wake my sugars are 95% of the time ok, just in the last week they have not been responding to the insulin as well.

For the same 26g breakfast I was having 3 u it's now I'm having 5 and it's still above ideal before lunch, seems to be since I had the covid jab ?

 

[Inka]

Could you be sickening for something? That can put blood sugars up. Even a slight cold affects mine.

Edited - just read you’ve had the Covid vacc. A number of people are reporting higher sugars after that, so that could be the culprit.

 

[Pat91]

Could you be sickening for something? That can put blood sugars up. Even a slight cold affects mine.

Edited - just read you’ve had the Covid vacc. A number of people are reporting higher sugars after that, so that could be the culprit.

Had the vaccine the 27th and 3 days after that was when the trouble started.

 

[Inka]

Had the vaccine the 27th and 3 days after that was when the trouble started.

Definitely a possible culprit then. All you can do is take the insulin you need and test lots. Hopefully your levels will gradually reduce rather than jump straight back to normal, so you can then gradually reduce your extra insulin to match.

The good news is your body is responding to the vaccine.

 

[Pat91]

Definitely a possible culprit then. All you can do is take the insulin you need and test lots. Hopefully your levels will gradually reduce rather than jump straight back to normal, so you can then gradually reduce your extra insulin to match.

The good news is your body is responding to the vaccine.

My sugars upon waking are pretty much always ok, do you recommend just leaving the basal as it is. Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Inka]

My sugars upon waking are pretty much always ok, do you recommend just leaving the basal as it is. Sorry for all the questions.

I can only say what I would do @Type1Pat but I think I’d try adjusting my bolus (meal) insulin first before changing the basal. That would be assuming this is a temporary change due to the vaccination. I’d up my mealtime ratios if necessary and I’d do lots of after-meal testing to see how things were going.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Had the vaccine the 27th and 3 days after that was when the trouble started.

That was the same pattern for me. I had the AZ jab. Felt almost nothing for a couple of days, then needed to ramp up insulin and felt slightly ‘fuzzy headed’ for about 2-3 days before it settled down again. Insulin need seems to have settled slightly above where it was... but I think it was on the up any way 🙂