Hello,
I'm a new Animas Ping pumper. How do I know what I should modify if I'm going low? I've already adjusted my basal rate, per my endo. Do I keep adjusting that down, or do I increase my carb ratio, or my ISF?
Thanks.
Michelle
Share just a little more info?
RU going low after meals? Or RU low when U get up, and before meals?
Hi John,
I'm low in the afternoons and early evening and then go low during the night. My FBS is 70-80. But this doesn't happen every day. I've always been high in the morning (dawn phenomenon), so seeing 70-80 first thing in the morning is glorious!
My pump has lower basal rates in the afternoon evening and my lowest is from 12 am to 3 am, largest basal rate is from 3am to 6am. My I:C also progressively drops for each meal with dinner being my most conservative setting and breakfast being my most aggressive setting. I really cannot tell you if your pump needs adjustment but if I where to change my I:C by 5% I would also change my correction factor by 5%...this is just how I was taught...If someones basal requirements are lower at a given time of day then it's likely that they also require less bolus and correction insulin. If I think my settings need changing I will run a temp basal and test for a few days and also subtract or add to my bolus recommendation before I actually program in a new setting.
Have you read Pumping Insulin by John Walsh. It will walk you through the testing you need to do to figure this out.
You can get it for e-reader so you dont have to wait for delivery.
As a new pumper, had you done MDI basal testing before you went live, and did they drop your basal by about 25% compared to your MDI doses.
How long did they set your DIA for? Is it short and you are stacking?
How did your decide on carb ratios, and correction factors? Had you done testing with seperate carb data for each meal time? And the same for corrections at different times of day?
All of that is needed o help you work this out.
Hi!
From what I have been noticing with myself, the timing of the lows tend to help me see where my insulin needs need adjusting. For example:
-If I am going consistently low with no IOB (such as in the middle of the night), I know that I have too much basal insulin for that time frame. With my endo's approval, I might then decrease the amount of basal insulin for 2-3 hours prior to when I am experiencing the lows.
-If I am going consistently low 1-4 hours after eating at a specific time, then I know that my bolus insulin is too much. I might then increase my I:C and see if that will prevent the lows.
-If I am going low after correcting, then I might increase my SF.
In addition, if I am concerned that my basal rates are off, I might also do a basal test for that period. Typically, I will make sure that I have no bolus IOB, and I test my BG every hour for 3-5 hours while fasting. If my BG changes by more than 40mg/dL, then I know that my basal needs to be adjusted.