I seem to always have bad outcomes when I eat and bolus and I am tired of it. I feel so defeated.
I can eat the same breakfast every day and have a 223 one day and today I had a 45, which led to the rest of the day being on a roller coaster.
I feel like I never have the same or good results.
A couple questions, Karen. First of all, what is the breakfast that you eat? Some foods are notoriously hard to accurately bolus for.
Second, have you done basal testing and are you sure your basals are right? John Walsh suggests getting basal right before tackling bolus. Of course we need to do both at the same time, but if your pp's are all over the place, your basal might have some impact.
Are there any other variables involved such as: time of the month, stress levels, time between bolusing and eating, length of time you're up before you eat breakfast? Could you be in perimenopause which is notorious for throwing off blood sugar results?
Unfortunately, unpredictable results are sometimes just par for the course for type 1's. But if it's happening on a regular basis you might just want to review all your variables like basals, I:C ratios, ISF, food you eat and carb counting.
Finally, unfortunately
I agree with Zoe, and even for people who have fairly consistent control, it can all go to heck in a handbag for no reason. The one thing with type 1, you have to be flexible and roll with it, and just know it can change for no reason at any time. Good luck, and just keep trying, review your basals/bolus, foods your eating, your correction factor, your I:C ratio, and just make changes slowly, one factor at a time, give it a few days and see how it works.
Bolusing after eating will lead to high bgs. Bolus and wait 15 minutes then eat, that way it gives the insulin a head start to start working.
Sorry, Karen. I know exactly what you are saying... and it just sucks! I wish you would not feel defeated though. I try to just roll with the ride because there are some pretty awesome days in between the amusement park gig. I have days where it seems I should not bolus at all?!? I don't need to Six Flags or other places with rollercoaster rides, I can just get up and go about my day and often the roller coaster comes to me =/
I've had quite some chores in the AMs for a while now, DP has been out of hand the last few months and my AM basal boost is turned up really high which, now that I've "caught" it, leaves me waking up at 40-60 a lot? I dunno if DP is involved in what you've got but it seems to change so if that might be part of it for you, perhaps using some basal strategies could make things a bit smoother?
As Acidrock23 said DP changes which mine has also done through the years and I've had to make adjustments. I know there are a lot of variables to keep track of but at times it's necessary and that's why I like communicating with others with D. We can help each other remember some of the different things we need to keep in mind when dealing with this disease...hope you find your answer with some of our answers.
Ohhhh I don't bolus after I eat, I was just stating my outcomes lately suck :)
Thank Mike and Betty and I do struggle big time with DP and yes Betty it is good to know that things constantly change with the D, today was a better day.
Today I had my best day on the golf course in a long time. Started the day at 115 took some lantus and rapid, and had a fiber one bar, then played golf for 4 1/2 hours and did not vary from 160 the entire time. Granted I know that is higher than it should be, but I birdied 3 holes and had a bunch of pars and was just so happy not to have the lows that normally screw up a round. I took some rapid on the 17th hole, birdied the 18th hole and went in for lunch. 84 before, 120 after, my kind of day. I don't expect perfection because that is impossible, but a little improvement day to day is enough to make me happy. Glad today was a better day for you too Karen. >
Sometimes I think about not being on my pump anymore, as I don't remember this many bumps in the road. I think all the fast acting insulin does me in.
I use to golf, wow a birdie, such fun.
We all have bad days but when the bad outweigh the good that we should be concerned and call out for help.
Not just a birdie, three of them, but I know what you are talking about with the fast acting insulin doing you in, having been on sliding scale for the last 15 years or so I have had more than my share of bumps, it's only recently I have started carb counting and wow what a difference it has made. I'm still on MDI, but am considering an omnipod when the newer version comes out. No big rush, but it is in my plans for the future. I love golf, it's great to be outside, get some sun, spend quality time with spouse and son, not bad to out-play them as well.
well
I am Only On MDI for past many yrs and ave 6% A1c's. Levimire and NLog Pens.
and I test ave 10x a day
1. Were you the Same Pre BG level everytime or Lower and higher and did you correct for that?
2. At what time are you testing After you eat? 2,,3 or 4 hrs? Have to test at 2 hrs and be at or under 130 and at 3 hrs to be at or under 90's..
3. Why such a Roller Coast because of just 1 Time frame Screwed Up? Don't you know how to take a CB ( Correction Bolus) or How many Pts 1 carb spikes your BG's to get it back upto 90's again ? How carbs in a Glucose Tab? And how many Pts does 1 tab Boost your BG's?
4. yOUR BASAL? I first take enough at Bedtime to get my Morning BG's in the 90's the most consistantly.. PLus any CB i have to take if I am At or above 100 at Bedtime..
Same goes the other way, if I am Below 100 at Bedtime in taking some carbs..to Get Em' up..
and if your not getting 6% A1c's? You Need a DB Buddy, just Like joining AA..
Ask Zoe to be yours.. or anyone who has a 6% or Better A1c to teach you their Methods and Good Hbits..
I will corrupt you and teach you how to Cheat too Much and still Get 6% A1c's...
DennisIDDM@aol.com
Hope that Helps
I have a lot of trouble in the morning as well, not as bad as you, but still. I think a lot of it has to do with my waking numbers. If I wake up with bad Darn Phenomenon, things just go south so easily. I think it makes me more insulin resistant. As a result, I have done like you, chosen to eat the same thing every day. I eat a cheese omelete. Boring, but consistent.
I feel for you.
Karen I don't have anything to add re the control tips, but it seems that the older I get and the longer I've ha db, the harder it is to tolerate even moderate bg swings. They just leave me absolutely drained and depleted and I feel like sh-t.
This past weekend, of the first time, I reversed my lantus and homolog - woke up at a 96 and thinking I was taking 12 units of lantus, took 12 humalog instead. I was stuffing food in and swung between 300 and 30 several times during the day - that was on Sat and I am still not feeling well from it.
Kathy my primary MD told me the longer one has diabetes the harder it is to tolerate changes in bloodsugars, damn!!!
Thank you, I wake up most mornings with fairly good bloodsugars then the DP kicks in and like you once I am high the rest of the day is usually bad. Today was not too bad. I think this site might be better, but then I will have to change that soon........................................ahhhh!!!!!
Dennis my last A1C was my best in a long long time. I do know to do the correct things that you suggested, but what I am saying is that I get different outcomes all the time and more so lately. I sometimes feel that pumping has too many variables and I test all the time, and yes before eating and two hours after and every two hours after that. I just want steadier days for all my hard work.
I don't have DP, Karen, but I know that people who do have their bg go up if they don't eat. Do you eat soon after you get up? Also do you correct when you are high? If you do that promptly and accurately you shouldn't be high all day.
Also, you never mentioned what you ate for breakfast. BSC is right that it helps if you eat low or no carbs and eat the same thing every day that you know works.