Just spent 3 days in hell with a GI bug. All the usual stuff at both ends, I’ll spare you the details.
The illness and all the sick feeling, gas, bloating, cramps, etc. is the worst of it, of course. But a close second is the havoc these illnesses play with BG control.
It’s like coming down with GP temporarily. Digestion is totally unpredictable, stomach emptying (in the direction you want it to empty) is highly variable. All the habits, nuance, secret protocols, magic, art, and everything else we all learn over the years to try and keep that BG in line goes out the window.
And I always forget, blissfully pre-bolusing, etc., then winding up with a serious low adding those bad feelings on top of being sick. Happened 3 times in the last 3 days, dropped down into the 40s one time.
Each time I go, “oh yeah, when like this, just have to wait for BG to start to rise (sometimes 2 hours after eating carbs) before administering insulin; depending on what happens with what I ate, I might not need the insulin!”
And then just live with the higher BGs (i.e. chasing them down all day, rather than getting ahead of them like I usually do).
I’m doing much much much MUCH better today. GAWD! So much better. But what an awful three days.
MORAL OF THIS STORY: Don’t forget to be more cautious with your insulin when you’re sick. You can’t just follow the usual bolus strategies for eating – you may wind up hypo. Over and over. And over.
