Stress and sick basals

nshack · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 01:27 PM

What do most of you do with your basals for stress and sick days? I have been feeling sick and have upped temp basal to 120-30% of my normal basal. It seems to be holding down the fort, but I'm still running a bit high. Do any of you end up doing 150%?

Thanks. Just curious if there is a general range that works for most.

JediSkipdogg · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 01:29 PM

When sick I don't mess with my basal at all. I test more often and bolus more often as needed. The most common reason people run high when sick is the medicine they are taking. Many of them contain some level of carbs, therefore raising the BG. But I prefer to just bolus more often because if you raise the basal and then your body starts returning to normal, you will start to run low.

That's what I do, I'm sure others do things differently though.

David · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 01:36 PM

I do pretty much what Jedi does: test a lot and correct as needed.

I did raise my basals when I was on steroids, over 150% if I recall.

David

notme · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 01:43 PM

I also usually leave my basals alone when sick. I have done temp basals on occassion when I am taking meds that I know will cause a rise in blood sugar.

If you are nauseaus, it is better to leave your basals alone because you will eat less or not at all. I would just correct as needed.

seacomp · #5 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 02:44 PM

One of the hardest things in the world is to chase a moving target. When your BG is elevated because of sickness, the amount of elevation will change during the course of the illness. The elevation of BG, is a positive, defense response of the body to illness (supply the troops with ammo; give the body extra nutrition to fight the illness); it's just that diabetics can't take advantage of the bodies response easily.
Anyway the correct basal level will change from day-to-day and even within the day so it's impossible to find that level. (It takes me about a week to change my basal. 2 days to know there's a real problem, 2-3 days to correct for it, and another few days to be sure any change is right.)
All this being a long way to say, test and correct probably works better than basal changing.

Cyborg · #6 (**permalink**) 08-19-2006, 06:03 PM

I've only been sick once since on the pump and I used correction boluses to deal with the higher bg. I do like the temp basal idea and may try it myself next time.

Janimal · #7 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 11:18 PM

I do 150% for colds and increase insulin to carb ratio.

kgm0612 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 09:13 AM

No basal changes for me. I'll just make correction boluses if needed when I'm sick or stressed.

Karen

MamaCat · #9 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 04:56 PM

I start with correction boluses, too. However, if I continue to run high with them, and I know my set is good or I've changed it out and still run high, then I'll try a temporary basal to see if that makes a difference. Many times it'll help bring you back in line I usually start off with a 4-hr temp. basal increasing my rate by 0.25 to 0.5 units depending on how high I've been running and how effective/ineffective correction boluses have been. Test hourly. If the temp basal brings you down but you're still high, then try another 4-hr temp basal increasing your rate a little more. Be sure to check your ketones as well as your bGs often when you're sick. And drink lots of water if you can keep it down. Dehydration prevents insulin from getting into your cells.

godismdma · #10 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006, 06:28 PM

wat do u guys do about stress? I'm bi-polar and have been getting axiety attacks for awhile now and that is a real problem for me?? I'm new on the pump and dont know if my sugers r high due to bad absorbtion, stress, insulin going bad or wat? Ohhhhh if a canula kinks no insulin getts through at all right cause latley I go high, correct and its a little lower but thats it by alittle I mean 30 points.

Mich · #11 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 08:15 AM

I take care of stress by testing and correcting. For me it is impossible to tell what the rise in my blood glucose will be. For instance, when I travel by plane, I always get about a 100 point boost in glucose, but I know I can't count on that exact amount, so I keep testing and correcting.

One of the advantages of the pump is that it remembers where your blood glucose is and how much insulin is working and only recommends supplemental corrective insulin. Before my Cozmo, I had to keep all of that information in my head.

When traveling, I tend to aim for about 120 instead of my usual 100, just to give myself some slack, and I always carry glucose tabs and an energy bar.

I am meeting my oldest daughter iin France next week. I am so excited, but I smiled and thought of you all as I packed my THREE see-through bags of supplies to go in my carry-on. I am checking my regular bag with all of the gels and flashlights, but carrying on (of course) all of my diabetes stuff and prescriptions. I hope my french is good enough to explain at the other end when I board to come home! This is my first flight since the gel and liquid panic so we will see how it goes!

Mich