Hi Caprifoglio,
I experienced exactly what you describe here. Since no help was forthcoming from either my diabetes educator or my doctor, I had to sort it myself. In my pre and peri menopausal years, which in my case comprised about 15 years, I was driven by the deep unpredictable lows and highs to get a pump. What finally came to help was when I noticed that the sudden increase and decrease of my insulin requirements were triggered by ovulation (up) and just before period onset (down). I created four basal programs, each with essentially the same pattern through the 24 hours, but in 10% increments up and down. After a couple bad test, I’d switch to the next program up or down, till the numbers worked again. Hope this helps!
I’ve copied this from a discussion in 2012 with a father whose daughter was experienceing oncoming puberty and becoming unpredictable BG-wise.
Sudden, dramatic, night-time hypos unexplained - #19 by earthling This is the whole conversation.
Here’s the relevant part of my comment:
When I went on the pump I learned why MDI had never worked well for me - Because my basal rate varied so much in a 24 hour period as well as over the 4 week menstrual cycle.
My evening rate was highish -.550/hr. - through the supper hours; then dropping to .2 or .15 from 9pm-midnight; down further to .1 or even less, 12am-3am; then up to .4 from 3am-5:30am; .7, 5:30am-8am; and 1.0 8am-11-am; finally .4 from 11am-4:30pm.
In 24 hours my basal ranged ten fold, .1 to 1.0!
The other problem with some of us is that our basal rate as a whole rises or drops by x% during different parts of our cycle. After ovulation it climbs for 2 weeks then a steep drop as the period starts (down as much as 40% in my case) then slightly up and stable for two weeks prior to ovulation again.
This can be handled by creating multiple basal patterns for each part of the cycle. When 2 or 3 bad tests high or low happen she just switches to the next program.
I know both the beginning and end of menstruation is challenging for T1’s as whatever pattern we are used to changes dramatically and often for awhile. If that IS what is happening to your daughter it is frustrating, exhausting and worrisome… but most likely normal. Just keep trying. It will settle out eventually!
Best luck!
-Linda