[am1977]

I basically mentioned this in Jedi's thread, but before I hijack it any further, I thought I should start my own...

As I mentioned, my blood sugar over the weekend was absolutely HORRIBLE . Saturday, I came home from the gym and tested... To my dismay I was over 200- I took a correction dose and basically shrugged it off. Well, it still didn't come down... and I didn't eat for the rest of the afternoon! I tested later that afternoon and it was still in the 200s! The next time I ate, it was 8 pm... I, obviously, wasn't happy with things, but what could I do

THe next morning, I tested and, again, I was high ... I was still hovering in the 200s. No, that wasn't exactly what I was hoping to see, but I was sort of relieved that it wasn't higher. Anyways, I ate my breakfast of virtually little to no carbs and then went to the gym... After the gym, I tested again. Only this time I was even higher . I rang in at lovely (not) 300! At this point, I kind of gave up ... well, that is, after I freaked out a bit

Usually, I would try to not eat too much and try to wait and see if my blood sugar came down at all. Not this time! I was like screw that, I'm hungry and I'm eating... so I got a good lunch-nothing extreme, but enough to keep me satisfied.

I was still running on later that evening... When I got home that night, my blood sugar was even higher. I was 425! . I that point, I had had it. I took some insulin... and took some more... and took some more. Yes, I even took a correction by syringe.

This morning things were not any better . I still was in the 200s! WTF! I realized at that point that my site was definitely the problem. First it was swollen all around the site & sore. And, it was painful to bolus! Two signs that something was up!

Ok, little confession, I left this site in a little longer -ok, a lot longer- than I should have. I had misplace my serter and I couldn't bring myself to insert a new site without one... I thought I would find it. No such luck... I thought i had left it at work, but, no, it wasn't there either.

So here I was with horrible blood sugars, a swollen/sore site, and, me, of course, being a BIG baby . I didn't know what to do, but I thought I would drive to work, look for the serter, and take things from there. Since I work for a hospital, I thought I could always go to Employe health if I couldn't find it.

Like I said, I didn't find it and at that point, I was so upset! I broke down... My coworkers probably thought I completely lost it, but one was nice and offered to walk with me to EH.

Employee health couldn't help me out... She listened to me, but told me that she couldn't do anything bout my poor blood sugar or the site. She suggested that I see my Endocrinologist.

I should have listened to her, but I thought there MUST be something they can do. I asked her if I could go to the ER. I thought they could at least look at the site, see if my blood counts were off (which would indicate an infection) and possibly help bring my blood sugar down.

They were little help, if any. They didn't know anything about insulin pumps and very little bout Diabetes. Plus, the whole department was completely disorganized. Yes, they drew blood and they tested my blood sugar, but that was the extent of things. There was no communication between the doctor and the staff and it took at least twice as long as it should have...

By the time I got out of there, I had spent a good 3 to 4 hours in the ER with nothing being resolved. I decided to take a shot (no pun intended) and call my Endo's office to see if they had an extra serter onhand. For once in my life, something did work out! They had an extra serter, plus they were nice enough to assist me with back up Long acting insulin, and they even too the time to examine the bad site and my doc wrote a script for an anti-biotic... Why didn't I just listen to EH when she told me to go there first???! Leave it to me to do things the hard way!

I apologize that this post is SO long, but I had to share this... Hope no one else expereiences a day like this anytime soon- I am SOO glad it's over!

[pinkytricia]

(((( Hugs ))))..... am1977
Hope tomorrow is a better day....
You aren't coming down with anything are you?
Take Care

[poodlebone]

I've done the stubborn thing of taking several corrections via pump for a high BG with no results. I usually do change a site after the second correction doesn't work. I just hate correcting by syringe because if that brings my BG down, I still won't know if my set is bad. I know, I know - why not just change it anyway if I'm not sure. Just stubborn that way.

You should really learn to insert manually. I don't know what set you're using but if it's a 90 degree set, it's no different than giving yourself an injection. 1-2-3 and you're done. I still feel a little squeamish sometimes when I insert the Silhouette manually, but I grit my teeth and push it in anyway. And I always change the set after 3 days. I've heard too many horror stories about infected sites and people being admitted for a bad infection. I don't want to go to the ER, never mind having to be admitted.

Oh, and you should also call Minimed and tell them that your serter is lost (or just tell them it jammed) and see if they'll send you another for free, so you can have a backup. They were good about sending me a new serter overnight after my original Quickserter jammed. When I asked to try a sample of the Silhouettes, they sent me 3 sets and a serter for free, which quickly jammed. I called and they sent me another one, free, overnight delivery.
I do insert manually, though. When I started pumping I was using Quick-Sets and wouldn't do it without the serter. One day after having several sets go bad (kinked cannulas) I just slapped a new set into my abdomen, and it was much easier than using the serter. I then switched to Silhouettes because the Quick-Sets would not work for me. I used that serter, which was scarier looking than the set itself. I used it for a few months and then had to do one manually when the serter jammed.

[Dad-of-Elias]

I feel bad you went through all that stress and strain. I know a parent who was using an inserter for their child (we never did) and for some reason (couldn't find it?, didn't have it with them?) they needed to do a site change manually (a first). Turns out, they felt they had more control and it wasn't any more painful to do it without the serter. When you're ready for an adventure , you might try a "change" without it so you're not totally dependent. That, or buy a couple dozen to stash around. Happy days are here again!

[tanyatype1]

Sorry to hear about your bad day! That's the kick in the butt that I needed because I've been thinking a lot lately about buying a couple of extra inserters, just in case, but I still haven't. I think I'll put it on my "to do" list for tomorrow! I don't know how to manually insert the thing either - needles still give me that nervous in the pit of your stomach feeling! Hope things are back on track for you now!

[KickStart101]

OMG Andrea, haven't you had quite the aggravating day.
I'm sorry to hear it. But I'm glad that you found a solution
and you're all fixed up again. I hope that you maintain a
Good bgl from here on in. Do you carb count? Sorry can't
keep track of everyone's comings and goings. Long posts
are okay....you certainly are descriptive. Have a Great
week.....Heck, make it a Great month anyways.

[kgm0612]

Sorry for all the troubles you had yesterday. I hope you've gotten your blood sugars down this morning and you're feeling better.

I have 3 inserters..........one I keep in my desk at work, one in a tote bag that I carry everywhere with me, and the other at home with my pump supplies. I also keep on hand an extra infusion set for those "just in case" moments!

I was NEVER taught by my pump trainer (she is also a pumper!) how to manually insert my Quick-Set. I've been told you just "slap it on"....... but I've never done it to myself.

Karen

[Aftiel]

Andrea,

You made a statement:

"They were little help, if any. They didn't know anything about insulin pumps and very little bout Diabetes."

That is true of just about every Hospital I have ever seen - and every General Internist Doctor I have met.

Thank God for Endos - when you have a good one (and it sounds like you do,) - they make allllll the difference.

- Aftiel

[am1977]

Thanks for you support, all... It was defintely an experience I don't hope to repeat any time soon- I was SO exhausted when it was said and done. It was a day where I couldn't wait to just get home... sometimes that's exactly what the doctor calls for.

I have ordered another serter, b/c God knows this thing could happen again & having an additional one is probably a good idea . I know I should learn to insert it manually, but being the baby I am, I doubt I'll be able to do it.

Thanks again to those who responded~ I do appreciate it !

[It Ain't Over]

You should look into Symlin. It works exceptionally well for what you are describing. I have had a long time problem with unexplained hi's. When I was given Symlin to take I found that a large dose, about 20 units, mixed in a syringe with Novalog would bring the sugars from teh hi 300's (even 400's) to normal levels in an hour.
Don't think Symlen is the answer to all that ails you, it can be tricky to use during normal times. But to get those hi's under control when they are acting like yours, there is nothing quite like it.
My endo was not able to solve the hi's I was having at times. They would go on for days, no matter how much insulin I pumped in there they just seemed to go higher.
He told me that I was probably experiencing a sustained excretion of the hormone glycogon. It tells the liver to release glucose. Symlin is a synthesized hormone that tells the liver to knock it off. Thereby stopping that mess we get into.
The other recommended treatment is to limit all carbs so you liver does not build up so much. Ya, another diet...

[am1977]

Originally Posted by It Ain't Over

You should look into Symlin. It works exceptionally well for what you are describing. I have had a long time problem with unexplained hi's. When I was given Symlin to take I found that a large dose, about 20 units, mixed in a syringe with Novalog would bring the sugars from teh hi 300's (even 400's) to normal levels in an hour.
Don't think Symlen is the answer to all that ails you, it can be tricky to use during normal times. But to get those hi's under control when they are acting like yours, there is nothing quite like it.
My endo was not able to solve the hi's I was having at times. They would go on for days, no matter how much insulin I pumped in there they just seemed to go higher.
He told me that I was probably experiencing a sustained excretion of the hormone glycogon. It tells the liver to release glucose. Symlin is a synthesized hormone that tells the liver to knock it off. Thereby stopping that mess we get into.
The other recommended treatment is to limit all carbs so you liver does not build up so much. Ya, another diet...

Thanks for your post, but I think the culprit (at least this time) was my bad site . It was swollen and sore... and I think the insulin wasn't being absorbed properly. Once I changed the site things were much better...

As for Symlin, I'm actually already on it . I only take it with my dinner, but I have found that it does help.

Thanks for your suggestion

[Eri's mom]

Oh wow, sorry you had such a hard time yesterday
Does not sound like a good day at all!

I know what you mean about the ER...one time when Eri was in and they brought in breakfast, they served her REGULAR soda(she was in for high bgl's)...and when she told them she couldn't drink that, they actually gave her a hard time and told her(and me) she was being difficult...and she said, no, I'm a diabetic. OH, you can't drink that? UGH!

Glad you are feeling better!