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When you have unexpected high blood glucose levels, what are the most common reasons why? Select all options which most often apply to you.
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The steroids I take for Addison’s Disease has a dramatic impact on my BG, especially runaway highs.
Other. Normal, normal, normal. With gastroparesis, all carb counts are off; all exercise calcs are off; all insulin calcs are off. You are the soldier with the gasmask and bayonet who cannot see a blessed thing in front of you and you hope you stab in the right direction.
Amen to that, brother! Twenty minutes ago my bg was 102. Ate 3 l tiny ittle rice crackers and one minute ago my pump alarmed me at 190. Really? It’s set to alarm at 170. Three f-ing crackers?Really?! I give up! Time for a drink!
My most common reason is forgetting to take my insulin for a meal. That happens once or twice a week.
My gastroparesis causes highs, but I’ve learned take extended boluses, which seems to help. But, I never know for sure what percentage of insulin to take immediately, and how much to delay; and how long to delay the insulin. Most of my gastroparesis high’s occur later in the day, mostly supper meals.
Of course there is the over snacking after a low. That’s a continuous problem.
When I get sick or take steroids raises havoc with my blood glucoses. When I took steroids, I had to quadruple my insulin doses. When I very recently had Covid 19, I had to double my insulin doses.
Then, there are always the mysterious high blood glucoses, in which your guess why is as good as mine.
When sugar gets low and be Nausea
Rebound highs are the most problematic and can last for several days. CGM has been exceptionally effective at minimizing these. In addition, using TruSteel catheter has minimized site issues i.e no bent cannulas,
I am a firm believer that the resultant “sugars” once high fat/protein meals metabolize affect my bg 2 to 4 hours after I eat. I wish my use of CGM allowed me to still use a dual or square wave bolus when in auto mode because, every time, my bg rises even though I’ve calculated carbs exactly.
The whole thing is so frustrating. You never know exactly what’s going on. At times it’s like walking with your eyes closed. I never forget to bolus.
Counting carbs is a fantasy most of the times. There’s Is no relation between what you count and what you bolus anymore. Sites poor absorption is other problem. Sometimes is frustration over frustration and you feel hopeless. I result to inject insulin directly which results in a waste of insulin since I inject directly then disconnect and bolus in the air to keep the count of on board insulin.
My completely unexpected high blood sugars are caused most often by things I can’t control like site issues, insulin losing effectiveness, or PMS.
Expected high blood sugar are caused by events I can control are like overtreating a low, by overeating potato chips : -)
Forgetting to bolus pre-meal is my biggest challenge.
ADHD is a bitch and I do my best but sometimes I do forget to bolus when I get excited about my food.
I have been Type 1 since 1976 and a pump user since 2011. Three years ago, I began to notice that my glucose levels on Day 3 of an infusion site were higher, as well as my total daily insulin dose on Day 3 being higher than on Days 1 and 2, despite eating the same. After providing glucose and insulin usage data to my endo (his patient since 2013) so that his clinical notes would support my request for Medicare to authorize more frequent site changes, but those requests being continually denied, I changed endo in January 2022. In April 2022, on my second visit to the new endo, I provided her with similar data which she included in her clinical notes and obtained Medicare approval for site changes every 2.5 days. In May, my Medicare DME provider advised that the current clinical notes as submitted did not support renewal of the increase in site changes and I am back to receiving 30 infusion sets and cartridges every 90 days….which means that once again, I will experience deterioration in my control on Day 3. I am analytical and tenacious but this constant fighting with Medicare to obtain the approvals for what I need to maintain my good control is edging me closer to burn-out. I use the Tandem t:slim X2 with Control IQ and have created a separate Day 3 profile that I activate to deliver more basal insulin throughout Day 3. I’ve also increased the I;C ratios on that Day 3 profile. I did contact Tandem and spoke with Clinical Assistance to obtain samples of the Tru-steel infusion sets and the AutoSoft 30 infusion sets to see if I obtain any better Day 3 results with them than with my current AutoSoft XC sets. (ARRRGH!)
Just wanted to add that I’ve always been very conscientious about site/injection rotation throughout my nearly 47 years as a Type 1. But, after that long, perhaps some scar tissue is to be expected?
I have noticed the same, I use medtronic. day 3 is always problematic
TruSteel is nice. I frequently move my actual insertion site and recover with an IV3000 hand patch. Love the flexibility.
If I try new exercises or group fitness classes I’ll sometimes have a delayed high even if it wasn’t HIIT or a high heart rate interval.
Since I’ve started using Afrezza, highs are a thing of the past. I have my Dexcom set to alarm me if my blood sugar hits 160 at which time I inhale more Afrezza. Works well for me.
what does it bring it down to?
And I forgot to add that if my BS does go high, the Afrezza gets it down within an hour. No more stubborn highs.
I have forgotten to change profile from one set for exercise to usuual profile. Wish the pump would alert with a reminder@
high intensity exercise
When I take a hot bath , my sensor reading goes high
A hot bath or being outside in hot weather seems to plummet my BG. Increased bloodflow helps insulin absorption according to my endo. I’m T1D for 56yrs so a good bit of scar tissue.
Or, because the moon is in the 7th house. Or Mats is in retrograde. Or something…
Playing soccer.
I would also add that if I skip a workout, my blood sugars stay high
Stress is now my biggest enemy in regard to controlling my diabetes. I’ve always had ‘brittle’ diabetes, so often have EXPLAINED, very rapid rise in BG after a meal. My BG then drops as fast as it rises. Prebolusing has not been successful. Extended/Dual bolus has been the most effective.
Bad insulin pen…happening more often.
By definition w/ this disease, you can make absolutely ZERO mistakes and still FAIL anyway. My hypothesis is the reason we all experience such massive and severe swings, bounces is because the majority of us cannot micro-dose the insulin. Half units, quarter units would give us serious flexibility we do not possess. I do not want a pump… give me the ability to reduce the amount I am forced to choose: I am confident I will achieve far more desired results. 1,000% sure.
Jeff, KP pharmacy rejected my initial request for half-unit BD syringes, saying, “those are only for children.” After I complained to my endocrinologist, I got my request honored.
I believe your BG has a mind of it’s own. If I have a whopper and fries for dinner. 100 carbs. I take a time tested amount of bolus insulin. For me 14 units. Once a month my BG goes to 350. There weren’t 300 carbs there. I shouldn’t take 40 units. BG just went up. Use correction insulin for unexpected events.
Also because I was breathing…for both low and high blood sugars