Before making changes to your insulin management, do you check with your healthcare provider?

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- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Fortunately that hasn't been an issue for quite some time. If I need help beyond what I've learned from 67 years of previous experience, I'd contact my endo or CDE.
- 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  The resources I use in managing my glucose levels once sick is my own personal experience after living with t1d for 46 years
- 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Just did what makes sense to me- eating less carbs, watching blood glucose more often and taking corrections as needed. Also some level of activity if possible.
- 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Been type 1 since the early 80's learned self management as therapies changed. Unless hospitalized(which I never am anymore) I decide how much insulin to put in my body based on my on going experience with the 1000's of reasons I may need more or less of it. I do love my pump, insulin and CGM so I guess I have to tell the doctor what I do once a year. .. I just keep throwing info and facts he isn't up on till he gets a glazed over look on his face and writes my scripts. I find the most inconvenient part of diabetes is all the people that want to help but don't know much about everyday life with the disease. And NO I do not want to join a discussion group!
- 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Many times I have needed to adjust insulin intake amount in order to cope with illness, but only rarely needed outside help. In the early 1970’s I made some mistakes managing influenza. My BG went very high (no meter available for testing at home), and I ended up in the hospital then.
- 1 hour, 37 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Except for those brand new at this, we all know the drill. We know that we need to be flexible, make adjustments, and pay attention.
- 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
  
  TEH likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  only time that I have been sick was when I got COVID during Jan '22. my sugars were going crazy high and I couldn't understand why but when I tested positive for COVID, in retrospect it made sense.
Clear All

Before making changes to your insulin management, do you check with your healthcare provider?

How comfortable do you feel giving injections, testing blood sugars and/or changing infusion/sensor sites in front of strangers (ex: at a restaurant, airport, on public transportation, etc.)?

Sarah Howard

22 Comments

Ahh Life

I pull the pin on the grenade I hold. I pull the strap on the parachute I use. I buckle the seat belt on the cars I drive. Why shouldn’t I put the changes in insulin doses? It’s my body. It’s my life. The experts and professionals have been advising me for 70 years. Sometimes their wisdom rubs off, even on us slow learners. ( ͡°👅 ͡°) ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°) ( ͡°👅 ͡°)

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Molly Jones

I see my endo my often now and wait to discuss changes with her. I used to make these changes on my own more often.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Grey Gray

Self management… real time decisions… Too many variables to wait for a doctors opinion… sometimes I tell him about it. My body. My pump. If it weren’t for needing scripts I would probably never see the doctor.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Janis Senungetuk

Sometimes, depends on how drastic a change. I’ve only been using the Control IQ app for 5 months, so right now I hesitate to make any big changes without first asking my CDE what she thinks. Before starting with Tandem last June I often altered basil rates on my Animas Vibe on my own.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Michelle Tepley

Never.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Patricia Dalrymple

Agree with everyone: sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t consult with them. This really annoys me: they ask for my pump, make a change based on my numbers, hand it back to me with no comment. That pump is part of me. They wouldn’t touch me without telling me what they were going to do. Don’t grab at my pump. Tell me what you are doing and why. Sometimes they change things and I change them back. Funny part about that is they never seem to notice.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
HMW

I make adjustments to my insulin to carb ratios as needed. Sometimes my endocrinologist makes suggestions when I see her. I let her tell me how to adjust my insulin sensitivity factor if needed.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Amy Nance

All on my own, my life and my body. If I contacted my diabetes specialist with every change I make, she would have time for her own life.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Gene Maggard

I do all the changes myself. I meet with my endo four times a year (apparently required by Medicare), and he and I discuss my TIR, my A1C, and he always asks me if I’ve made any changes in my basal and bolus settings. He sometimes makes suggestions based on my answers, but otherwise leaves it to me to make my own decisions.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Chip Brookes

In the legal profession there is a saying: “A person who represents himself has a fool for a client”. Treating diabetes yourself is analogous to the above. I regularly submit my data to my Endo so that he can make changes necessary.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
connie ker

It depends on what the changes are before checking or not checking with your Drs. If you want to change insulins, or pumps, or size of syringes or medications – you need a script written by your health care provider. If it is a simple correction, you can do that without making an inquiry. Live and learn but controlling diabetes is a team effort for sure. I always see my Dr. with questions written down before the apt.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Patty Harris

I’ve only just started adjusting my basal rates up and down as they just don’t seem right since my stomach is emptying slower than it use it. I NEVER take insulin before a meal anymore as it seems to result in very low blood glucose up to an hour after eating. My endo just doesn’t seem to understand why.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Britni Steingard

Depends on the severity of the change. Changing my doses by 10-20%? I’ll do that on my own. Switching from MDI to pump or vice versa? I check with my doctor first.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Jose Almodovar

My Endo and I are on very good terms. Yes, I can make changes to my Basal rates without conferring but there are limits we have agreed upon.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Becky Hertz

I make small changes based on guidelines I’ve been given from my endo. I live with this 24/7 so should have some idea of what to do.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Pat Reynolds

I spend a _lot_ of my life in diabetes management. I have a PhD, so I know research … And the time involved … So I know that my doctor has both the skills and time to do the leading edge research (or at least follow it) which requires a knowledge and access to.paywalled resources that I don’t have. So I use him for that. The diabetes community is great for real.life experience of new tech, particular situations, etc.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Stang777

From day one of having this I have made my own adjustments as I have had to. If I had not made the changes on my own from the beginning is there is no way I would still be here as they started me off on way too much insulin and never had me call them with my levels or anything else. I learned to figure out what I need and just tell the doc at my appointment how much insulin I need the script written for. I have done well with it so only need to see my doc once a year to get scripts. I have gone in once or twice a year between visits for an A1c test but otherwise, only need the doc to write the scripts, which is all my appointments with them is for. In order to have good control, changes need to be made at the time the shots are being done, not continuing to do what doesn’t work well until one can have an appointment with a doc who is just guessing at how much one should do and setting a set amount to be done with no consideration for all the other factors that can go into making the determination of how much insulin one needs at various times due to various factors that are present at the time. In my opinion, when it come to diabetes management, docs are only needed for writing scripts.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Sasha Wooldridge

Just like many others have mentioned, I only use my doctor for prescriptions, authorizations, and tests. I had a good endo that would look at my information and discuss my BGs just to see if I needed any guidance, but he retired last year. Still on the hunt for a new endo that will write the prescriptions I need rather than what they decide I need.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Daniel Bestvater

I make all of my own insulin type and adjustments decisions. Things change day to day so it is important to be able to quickly adapt with basal and bolus changes for optimum control.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Sherolyn Newell

I only make changes occasionally and only after a couple of days of the same unexpected results. For instance, if the regular bolus leaves me high or low for a couple days in a row, I will adjust. Usually, I might have one bad day, but the next I go back to normal with no adjustments.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Cheryl Seibert

I usually don’t mess with basal patterns unless I review it with my endo. However, he is very open to my self-management. I will tweak carb ratios and frequently use the extended bolus for tighter control. Much of the spikes result from miscounting carbs and/or hidden carbs in home-prepared foods (I take care of an elderly relative and her food served is often made at home or by others). It can be a guessing game! LOL!

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Carlene Vaitones

I do inform my doctor when I make a change, with a data sheet of BGs and notes to explain why I made a small change. I would consider it irresponsible to wait for a doctor to make a “hit or miss, trial and error” suggestion instead of taking care of myself.

2 years ago Log in to Reply