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How often do you typically make updates to your basal rate (whether with your doctor’s guidance or on your own)?
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We once had a rocket scientist who had 23 or 24 different basal rates per day, I wonder how many time she updated hers? 🙈 🙈 🙈
I go back and forth between different profiles at least once daily for exercise, but update each profile maybe a few times/year.
My t:slim x2 adjusts basal rates frequently in response to Dexcom G6 CGM data.
I notice when I travel to higher altitudes (Lake Tahoe) I tend to decrease my basal slightly. Or it could be due to vacation and less daily stresses… either way.
I have a couple different ones for time of the day, but I only make permanent changes after an enduring trend shows up. I make temporary adjustments as needed, but I didn’t take the question to mean that.
I have trouble throwing insulin in the trash after 28 days, and was told by the endo NP if you keep it cold, it will be fine for 42 days. With the high cost of insulin, it is like throwing gold in the trash. Short acting seems to last well til gone, Long acting seems to become weaker before gone. I am on MDI with 2 kinds of insulin, but am in a good routine that works.
Before cgm I had to change them in the summer or when job physical or stress demands changed. When I started cgm I got obsessed did it alot gave up and tried minimed 670 auto mode. I don’t mind having an a1c of 7 when my time in range is 70% with only 1 or 2 hypoglycemic episodes a month. I’m happy and no longer hypoglycemic alot of the time. Always trying to chase the bg to get an 8 or so. I wonder how much extra insulin you use for the stress of worrying about your blood sugar 🤔
My Endo used to change my basal every season. Now with more than 15 years pumping, he ignores most of the seasonal changes. My last basal change was due to a trend of hypoglycemia an hour after meals in the evening. I believe some of this is due to aging and the condition of my stomach/digestion. Like others I stay in the 7 range for A1C. 55 years and counting.
It depends on any worrisome trends I might see. I upload my Tandem/Dexcom data once a month and look at he reports. If I notice a consistent issue (higher than I like or lower than I like) I will tweak the basal rate around that time zone. I have 9 “time zones” for basal, ISF and carb:insulin ratios.
I wear a Tandem X2 pump running Control-IQ, so that system changes Basal rates as needed. I only change the default rates when I see a longer term pattern where the Basal rates are regularly too high or too low. I try to review that about once a month, but I rarely modify them.
While I use the Tandem X2 with Control IQ which can make temporary changes to my basel rate, I also make manual changes wherever my endo thinks we need to.
When changes are warranted.
17 years and I’m still sitting well at the same amount of lantus that was given to me when I was diagnosed!
Whenever I feel that it is needed
I change my basal as needed. Don’t need anyone’s input or approval.
I have about 3 standard rates I use for various times of the day. I also have a high activity rate and a low one, preset. The high activity I use when doing more than my usual amount of exercise, every time I vacuum my house because that always makes me go low, and the first day I change my insulin reservoir in my pump – always go low then to. Then, I use low activity when I eat a high carb meal. My doctor and I are always tweaking. Sometimes he tweaks and I tweak back.
I’m in the process of backing down my Tresiba (I use MDI along with a Dexcom G6). I don’t consult my Endocrinologist before doing so.
I don’t update it too often but I have a couple patterns set.
Started shots during the medical trials, was told I needed to control my own doses. I’ve adjusted my own BOLUS through the years although may call the doc or tell them the next visit. I chose several times a week because I have a temp bolus set (might be in a crawlspace out tear a house apart) unsure of that answers correctly. Generally a unit or so ever 3-4 years (started LANTUS 22 years ago at 9 units, just before pumping up the 15). This post year was the most dramatic, from 14 units a day to 25 after that 7-8 week flu last spring. My temp BASAL it’s still 50%.