working at next.

[Estellaa]

Hey i've been working at next for like 3months atm.
anddddd, i only usually get a half an hour shift if im doing a shift under 8 hours, then 45 mins if its an 8 hour shift.
but, i noticed i have to make my levels above 15 to last all that time, also i have to give not alot of insulin otherwise i would go low.
i mean, i know everywhere is different but i find at next i am always doing something and come the end of the shift i dont even want to eat and im forcing myself so my levels aren't too messed up.
Any ideas what to do?

 

[Robster65]

Hi Estellaa

I can only suggest lowering your lantus and novorapid a bit more than you already have until you can last out without your BG dropping.

An alternative is to snack on the go if you're able so you don't have to start off so high.

Could you maybe have a bottle of pop to drink from every so often hidden away from customer view ?

Rob

 

[Natalie123]

Hi Estella, I had exactly the same problem when I was working at Waitrose. I had to eat a sandwich, piece of fruit and a cake before I started a 3 hour shift with no insulin! I found that when I switched to apidra from novorapid this problem went away because I started work at 5pm and my lunch apidra wore off quicker than when I was on novorapid.

The best thing to try would be to drop your levemir on days that you are working, or keep eating jelly babies / fruit juice during your shift to stop your levels dropping.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Tricky thing with Lantus is that it doesn't change rapidly (at least it never did for me). I always found I had to choose the 'least worst' match for weeks with a variety of levels of activity and have it a little high some days and a little low others to kinda meet in the middle.

I think as Natalie says Levemir would let you adjust your basal on your 'working at Next' days, but the Lantus lag means you can't really do that unfortunately.

I guess a combination of reducing the dose of the meal before and snacking would mean you should be able to stay the course without having to start so high.

Hope you find a combination that works

 

[Estellaa]

i dunno its just difficult and as every shift is more or less at different times, its just difficult to judge when to change my insulin then its like by the time ive sorted it out for that shift i would have to change it for the next days shift at a different time, tis silly. and like say if i am doing a late shift, i dont get back till like 10 so i have my dinner then and its just like ahhhh the joys of work

 

[Copepod]

This might not work for you, but might be worth discussing with your diabetes team - I find Humalin I, taken twice a day (getting up & bedtimes), gives me the variable background insulin that I need eg ranger duty weekends, 1 in 3, which involve cycling 7 miles, plus lots of walking or cycling patrols; children's acitivity birthday parties, which involve 7 mile round trip by bike and are fairly active (25 a year); currently doing morning and bedtime care for a friend, which involves 2 mile round trip by bike and physical work for about 20 - 30 mins around 8.30 - 9am and 9.30 - 10.30pm; office days (about 3 per month) which involve 3 mile round trip by bike plus lots of sitting; data analysis at home on PC (an hour or two a day for past few weeks).