control issues out of nowhere

[Lizzie G]

Hello folks...I only found out I was type 1 6 months ago and until about 5 days ago was finding it pretty straghtforward to keep my BG at a nice level. However, these past few days I am up and down like a yo yo and I dont get it. I have recently reduced my basal but my morning readings are great and the highs seem to be at unexpected times (for example when Im supposed to be 'under the influence' of a bolus. now, i also had a flu shot on wednesday, i wonder could my body still be fighting it and causing chaos? it just seems so strange!

[miss_ok_ish]

Hi Lizzie i am going through the same thing.
I got d'xd 7 months ago, I was getting good numbers, everything looking good.
I use 1 unit to every 10g of carbs, but all of a sudden its like it’s just not working, i thought it maybe my insulin has gone off, then i thought, my ratio needed to be changed to more insulin for carbs.

Tried new insulin, no change, tried new ratio, hypoed everywhere. i'm just not understanding it either, I can't take 1unit of insulin anymore as its doesn't seem to do anything but if i take 2 i hypo.

Its getting quite frustrating that all my effort to get it under control early has just gone out the window.

I find if I eat and sit behind me desk and don't move around alot, my numbers will shoot up coz maybe i'm not moving around too much then i take more insulin to correct and i hypo.

Then i have a good day and then its bad the next. I had my flu jab just before xmas and thought that was the reason to, but its still happening.

Grr i totally sympathize with you, you're not alone :(

[morrisma]

The timing of both of your problems with control sound like a honeymoon ending. Basically your pancreas has been helping a little for the last few months and has now given up the ghost or I suppose the unexpected swings could be pancreas kicking in once in a while with small hits of insulin.
More frequent testing will help get over the craziness.
Mike

[Lizzie G]

The timing of both of your problems with control sound like a honeymoon ending. Basically your pancreas has been helping a little for the last few months and has now given up the ghost or I suppose the unexpected swings could be pancreas kicking in once in a while with small hits of insulin.
thats the worst honeymoon i ever had LOL....i dont know though, my basal requirement seems to have gone down rather than up, its all a bit weird...
More frequent testing will help get over the craziness.
Mike
at the moment its just frustrating...i test masses as i do a lot of sport and sometime theres no pattern at all - last night i was at 8.9, took another unit of novo and half an hour later was UP to 9.something - any idea what thats all about?

[xMenace]

After the honeymooning issues, the most likely cause is your basals insulin not matching your basal needs. Remember you have two separate insulins acting at the same time. Just because your fasting numbers are good, don't asssume the rest of the day is. A number of variances can occur for different reasons: natural highs and lows or dose running out early are both common. Activity, stress, illness, etc can also be hidden. It's very difficult to get a handle on bolus ratios when your basals are not well understood. One ratio will work one day, then the next you eat a larger meal and go low or eat a smaller meal and go high. It's very counter-intuitive. The answer may be a standard fixed bolus each meal to cover the basal shortfall plus a lower I:C.

Have a read of this and try some basal testing. Getting Down to Basals :: Diabetes Self-Management (http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/articles/Insulin/Getting_Down_to_Basals)

[Lizzie G]

hey xmenace (whats your real name by the way?!)...thats a great web site and when im not at work i am going to spend some time taking a look, thanks for the link!....the only thing i have done so far is testing the night time basal and its been pretty spot on, but need to look at the day side and timings. i have realised since the post today that i am coming down with a sore throat and headache and this is probably causing today's persistent high....as you say, so many factors...i also went away for the weekend which involved 2 long stressful drives, so there was that, and then my mum had a car accident on thursday (shes ok but i had to go rescue her etc) so im probably just having an unfortunate series of events and need to wait for a few days of normality to kick in before i start thinking my diabetes is out of control....thanks again though everyone