Questions

[fofinger]

After reading through some of the forums I've come across a few questions

Where can I find a chart that has both of the blood sugar level numbers on it?

What is a "pump"?

What do you do with your old test strips and lancets?

[HeatherP]

By "both" numbers do you mean the UK/US comparisons?

I'll see if I can find a link, or someone else may have one...

An insulin pump is a little machine that connects to your body w/ tubing and a cannula that pumps a constant stream of insulin into your body. Sort of like a pancreas. It only uses short-acting insulin.

Old test strips go in the garbage, lancets and syringes go in the sharps container.

[HeatherP]

yikes, this is long:

mg/dl and mmoles/L comparisons
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In the United States, blood glucose (bg) is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). In many other western countries, BG is measured in millimoles per liter (mmoles/L) (such as England, Canada, and Australia). Because of these differences, it is very important to make note of the units of measurement in order that you interpret diabetes data correctly, especially when talking with someone from another country.

HINT: the decimal mg/dL value is always MUCH larger than the metric mmol/L value.

Decimal: milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (USA value)
Metric: millimoles per liter (mmoles/L)


The conversion factor between the two systems is approximately 18. Using this factor, you can do your own conversions as follows:

Divide the decimal (USA) value by 18 to get the metric value:
(mg/dl / 18 = mmol/L).

Multiply the metric value by 18 to get the decimal value:
(mmol/L x 18 = mg/dl).


This chart is available for your assistance


Blood Glucose Conversion Chart


mg/dl..mmol/L..mg/dl..mmol/L..mg/dl..mmol/L..mg/dl..mmol/L
US.....Europe...US.....Europe...US.....Europe....U S....Europe

20......1.1......130......7.2......225.....12.5... ...340.....18.9
30......1.7......135......7.5......230.....12.8... ...350.....19.4
40......2.2......140......7.8......235.....13.1... ...360.....20.0
50......2.8......145......8.1......240.....13.3... ...370.....20.6
55......3.1......150......8.3......245.....13.6... ...380.....21.1
60......3.3......155......8.6......250.....13.9... ...390.....21.7
65......3.6......160......8.9......255.....14.2... ...400.....22.2
70......3.9......165......9.2......260.....14.4... ...410.....22.8
75......4.2......170......9.4......265.....14.7... ...420.....23.3
80......4.4......175......9.7......270.....15.0... ...430.....23.9
85......4.7......180......10.0....275......15.3... ...440.....24.4
90......5.0......185......10.3....280......15.6... ...460.....25.6
95......5.3......190......10.6....285......15.8... ...480.....26.7
100....5.6......195.......10.8....290......16.1... ...500.....27.8
105....5.8......200.......11.1....295......16.4... ...520.....28.9
110....6.1......205.......11.4....300......16.7... ...540.....30.0
115....6.4......210.......11.7....310......17.2... ...560.....31.1
120....6.7......215.......11.9....320......17.8... ...580.....32.2
125....6.9......220.......12.2....330......18.3... ...600.....33.3

p.s. Thanks to Jamie from another diabetes website!

[fofinger]

Thanks Heather that's what I was wondering about

[DeusXM]

A good conversion calculator is also available here - http://diabetes.about.com/library/blforms/blconversioncalc.htm

An insulin pump is a small device which you wear constantly. It's attached to your skin with a needle and slowly releases insulin throughout the day, mimicing the action of a healthy pancreas. Then, when you eat, you can set it to give you a large dose of insulin (a bolus dose) to cover what you're eating. Ask in the forum section 'Pumping Insulin' for more info.

I chuck all my old lancets, bg test strips and whatever in the bin. Technically I know you're supposed to put then in a sharps box but it's far too much hassle to arrange collections etc for that sort of thing so I just make sure everything that could be vaguely dangerous is covered well to make it slightly safer.

[BeadieJay]

Originally posted by DeusXM

I chuck all my old lancets, bg test strips and whatever in the bin. Technically I know you're supposed to put then in a sharps box but it's far too much hassle to arrange collections etc for that sort of thing so I just make sure everything that could be vaguely dangerous is covered well to make it slightly safer.

Hi Deus

I got a sharps disposal box on prescription, and when it's full I have to take it to my doctor's surgery where they will replace it free of charge.

Doesn't your doctor's surgery do the same?

[fofinger]

okay thanks, I figured that the lancets should be tossed with sharps somewhere but wasn't sure about the test strips. I'll just keep them all in a bag and dump them in the sharps box at the hospital.

[DeusXM]

I got a sharps disposal box on prescription, and when it's full I have to take it to my doctor's surgery where they will replace it free of charge.

Doesn't your doctor's surgery do the same?


It does, but I live quite far from my doctor's surgery and I don't have a car, and to be honest I think I've got better things to do than catch a bus with a sharps box.

I know it's a phenomenally lazy attitude, but to be honest I'm fed up with the constant cocktail of stuff I've got on prescription, clinic appointments and all the rest of the **** I have to deal with, without wanting to add to it.

The things make me feel like a **** druggie anyway. Personally I use a SafeClix to clip the needles, then I can stick them in the bin with no problems.

[gettingby]

Hey fofinger. What I do with my lancets and needles is I put them in a plastic milk jug. When its full, I seal the top and put in the trash. Since my hubby works for our city government, he takes them in and they dispose of them properly. As for strips, I just put them back in the little packet they come in and throw away(my strips are wrapped individually). Hope this helps.
Cin

[Lorna]

I usually just rap them up and throw them away. The binmen in this area don't lift the bags, the whole bin is lifted by a machine and poured into the truck, so it probably doesn't pose that much of a risk.

[fofinger]

Thank you all for your answers

Now I have another question

This morning at 7:00 I tested 99, I took my meds but was interrupted before I could eat breakfast. I still haven't eaten and I just tested again (12:00)and now I'm 103????? What's with that?

[DeusXM]

Throughout the day your liver naturally releases glucose into your blood stream in order to keep all your cells supplied with energy. Therefore you can still get bg increases even if you don't eat. This effect is especially pronounced in the mornings thanks to something called the Dawn Phenomenom. Shortly before you wake up your liver starts releasing larger amounts of glucose into your blood to wake you up and will continue to do so for a up to a couple of hours afterwards.

[Linda57]

In my testing kit, there is a drum of test strips, I keep the old drum (and mark it in some way), and put the old lancets, and strips in it. I find they both fit in the kit quite well. Then when it is full, I tip the whole lot into my sharps bin at home.

Love Linda:D

[Lorna]

fofinger- were you interupted by something stressful? That can also raise blood glucose levels.

[fofinger]

nope nothing stressful. I've watched it jump from 100 to 240 after eating just a salad with no dressing. I've seen it do the same thing after eating nothing but a small steak.

[Lorna]

Sometimes there's not rhyme or reason to it. Like today- woke up 8.8 nothing to eat till lunch cos I was in a hurry 18.5!!! So extra 6 units of insulin and less to eat than normal. Dinner time 19.3- Is there some sort of greater force cursing me?