I can not go high...

Injecto · #1 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 06:56 AM

This can't be. It just can't be. I'm sick, chest congestion, a crappy cough that keeps me up at night, phlegm, tired, sore throat, etc....so you'd think my BGs would be skyrocketing...not so. I consistently low, and I mean below 4.0. I was 3.4 in the middle of the afternoon yesterday. Took a wack of sugar and only jumped to 5.3. I went to bed at 7.0 and I ate a snack and some milk, woke up this morning at 3.4. So, I took 4 sugar pills. I went up to 5.6. At that point I was sick of going low (and I'm not feeling these either people...scaring me to death), so I had my breakfast (cereal and milk, about 52 carbs). This usually jumps me to around something like 9.5 - 10.5...but I was stubborn and decided NOT to bolus this morning. Well I just took my two hour post test, expecting to be somewhere in the 12-13s or more....3.5....three point friggin five.....what the heck is going on?

I don't like this.

The ONLY thing I'm on right now is Biaxin (clarythromycin), an antibiotic as prescribed from the Dr....

So now I just stopped the pump and unhooked myself, took an orange juice box and 2 sugar pills....so, let's see what happens.

belyro · #2 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 07:00 AM

I know most people go high when they get sick, but I go low. Especially with a cold....even a few days before I get it, while I"m fighting it off.

Can you reduce your basal until you're better? (Keeping in mind that I'm a new pumper, so you shouldn't necessarily take my advice

)

2high · #3 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 07:08 AM

I often find that I go low while I am sick, then go high as I start getting better... I'd do as Beth suggested and use a lower temporary basal for a little while.

Injecto · #4 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belyro

Can you reduce your basal until you're better? (Keeping in mind that I'm a new pumper, so you shouldn't necessarily take my advice

)

I've thought of that so if I hook myself up again I might do that but as it is, during the day I'm only using .15 U/Hr....I can't go much lower.

Hey, maybe I'm not diabetic anymore????? I know, I can dream.

I'm only up to 4.8 now.

jimbob · #5 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 08:30 AM

If you can find a way to hang on to that cold you might just be cured!

duck · #6 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbob

If you can find a way to hang on to that cold you might just be cured!

I'm not sure which would be better...

Injecto, I say this all the time--I go low for a few days at least when I get sick; then my liver realizes the cries for help from the immune system are intended for it, so it goes "oh ****! Here, have all the glucose you can take!" and next thing I know, I am Blood-Syrup Man.

cheryl · #7 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 08:50 AM

Same happens to me, I go low when I get sick, and get a little high when I get better, I was going nuts last week, with my cold, I was living in low land, the things I had to do, and the happiness I felt to see an elevated number yea bad but ya know...then I had a couple of highs and now I am adjusting fine....

A cold makes me so low.....most everything makes me low...

Keep the pump on....just go as low as you can go, or just set it at no insulin for about 2 hrs and then go back and when you eat only bolus half your carbs, and low carb it while your sick so the need for insulin for food is not that great...

Hope you feel better soon...

Cheryl

xMenace · #8 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 08:56 AM

I usually stay the same with colds and related illnesses. If I'm puking my guts out, I will go very high.

grace girl · #9 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 11:22 AM

I did the same thing in July when I had whatever that nasty crud was...I was low for several days as it was coming on, and still low when I realized I was sick. Then relatively normal to low while sick. The day I started actually feeling like I would survive I went high and stayed that way..seemingly immune to any bolus, for days.

Injecto · #10 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 11:43 AM

Well, seems my wild ride from yesterday to this morning is possibly done. I've been unhooked from my pump since 10AM and now, 2 hrs after my lunch, I'm at a wonderful 13.9 (250). I'm going to let that ride for a while, just in case the same thing from this morning happens again.

I've been wondering if the antibiotics can make a person more sensitive to insulin, or take away sugar in some way. I'll try again later tonight after my dinner dose of meds.

Gary_W · #11 (**permalink**) 09-17-2007, 02:49 PM

With me, I go high during the illness and have a hard time getting the numbers down. Once it's out of the way I have a day or two of constant hypos. It's almost as if my body stores up the insulin and uses it to bite me... It kind of adds insult to injury when you're coming back to normal after feeling ill that this happens but it just does.

Gary

kgm0612 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 05:19 AM

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Injecto.
Hope you're feeling a bit better today!

Karen

Funnygrl · #13 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 05:57 AM

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Colds often make me run low too. You said in another thread you're not honeymooning anymore. You sure?

BrendaK · #14 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 07:02 AM

Check out this thread from childrenwithdiabetes.com

Lows and Sulfa based antibiotics - Children with Diabetes Forums

Apparently there are some sulfa based antibiotics that cause low blood sugars -- I don't if that's what you're on or not...

Injecto · #15 (**permalink**) 09-18-2007, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funnygrl

You said in another thread you're not honeymooning anymore. You sure?

Yup. I've said it many times, I've had three C-Peps and all came back showing that I was empty. Is it actually possible to go back to a small honeymooning period after a year? I wouldn't think so.

I "think" I'm a bit back to normal today, in terms of BG control not health.