Pardon me while I vent. Starting yesterday, Susan's (my wife) glucose levels started rising into the high 200s and 300s. Today, they have ranged from between 400 and 500. Very high. Called our new Endo at 9:15 for guidance. Still waiting for a response. We are both very disgusted right now. She left her previous Endo when he refused to acknowledge she could be a type 1 1/2. Went to a new Endo the end of October. So far, he had her do bloodworm, but never contacted her with results; and after taking her off Victoza, said to fax her readings in after a week, to tweak her pump. It has been three weeks since then - no response. Tomorrow, I will look for recommendations from other docs to find yet another Endo. This is totally unacceptable.
... On the other hand, called Medtronics, who makes her pump. They spent an hour and a half, first with me to set up an account, and get her numbers uploaded for the doctor, and then with Susan, thoroughly testing her pump. Fantastic support! (She just tested - they are now "down" to 229 - still high, but much better.)
Hi Menkor: Very frustrating! I wear a pump, and when I have unexplained high BGs that won't come down, I actually do an injection of fast acting insulin, in case there is some problem with my pump. If it seems to be the pump, I will change out the tubing and insertion site.
My endo says that extended BGs over 500 mg/dl require hospitalization.
I hope can get some help from Susan's doctor or doctors.
I'm sorry Susan is having these problems. I agree with Melitta about doing an injection when stubbornly high. I also think that many of us learn to tweak our own numbers in time rather than wait for an endo as it's a rare one who responds promptly enough for our needs! If you haven't read Pumping Insulin by John Walsh I highly recommend it.
The doc finally called - 9 hours after initial contact. He made adjustments to the basal settings - her last test was 132! Now, if only we understood why he made those changes, we could probably handle future issues. Susan's next appointment is on the 13th - she will have a list of issues to resolve ...
Thanks for the support from this forum. Very good ideas. Happy holidays, Russ
Hi menkor. Do get the book that Zoe Mentioned, Pumoing Insulin before Christmas if you can, at your local Library or from Amazon. Also read "Think like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner. You will then start to understand why the doctor made basal changes and how to correct and change settings; after training and research. With insulin dependent diabetes, your wife will have to learn to self-manage: She is her own science experiment.. I know it sounds like a lot to learn. Well, frankly, it is!! But do not try to do it all at once. Like the tortoise in the Aesop's fable; " Slow and steady wins the race."
You are a wonderful husband who supports and loves his wife.
God Bless, Brunetta
Type 1 45 years
Pump user 10 years
Hi Menkor: Good advice from Zoe and Brunetta, who indeed are lovely and smart! Regarding maintaining good control, I always say that a good basal rate is EVERYTHING. Meaning, if you can get basal rates set correctly, you have good control (for the most part, it is after all Type 1 diabetes, known to be unpredictable). I used "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh to do all the necessary testing to get my basal rates set correctly. And "Think Like a Pancreas" is really excellent, too.
Your wife is lucky to have a husband like you, who cares so much.
