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Struggling to maintain BS at altitude

S

Sunshine54

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi I am type 1 diabetic of 38 years. I am currently on holidays in the French alps. I come here often and always have to increase my insulin. However, this time I am struggling! BS all over the place, going really high later in the day and evening. I’m usually well controlled. It’s going up to 18. Seems as if my insulin isn’t doing its job. Can anybody give me some advice please?
 
Could your insulin have become compromised? Perhaps got too cold at some point?
 
Oh! Wow! I never thought of that! I keep it close to my body in an inside pocket when I’m out and about and thought that would be ok. Do you suggest I start a new pen?
 
Does anyone have any tips for keeping insulin from freezing while out tracking in the alps ?
 
Thank you PattiEvans. I have thrown my in use pen away! Just need to figure out the best way to maintain a good temperature for my insulin whilst out and about.
 
If you’re a woman, stick the pen in your bra or get a money belt and wear it next to your skin
 
It's what's usually the case that my insulin has "gone off" when BGs start misbehaving. Though usually with me it's insulin overheating in the pump because I've been sunbathing.
 
The other thing to consider is whether your BG is as high as you think - BG meters are not as accurate at high altitude due to the way it measures over the blood drop.
I do not know how altitudes affect CGM.
 
There’s a brief summary of a paper on how altitude was found to affect fingerstick BG monitors here:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of high altitude on blood glucose meter performance - PubMed

Participation in high-altitude wilderness activities may expose persons to extreme environmental conditions, and for those with diabetes mellitus, euglycemia is important to ensure safe travel. We conducted a field assessment of the precision and accuracy of seven commonly used blood glucose...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hope the new pen helps @Sunshine54 🙂
 
T

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