My old Endo always wanted me on a strict regiment of 4 basal rates.
12AM-6AM
6AM-12PM
12PM-6PM
6PM - 12AM
Since having left her care I added in an additional basal rate from 3AM to 6AM. That gives me a grand total of 5 basal rates right now. Things are good for a lot of my basals, but I know I need a change from 10am-3pm as I go low then often. Oddly though, the timing is smack dab in the middle of two of my basal rate times.
So, my question is how many basal rates do you have in a 24 hour period and what are their time ranges? Also, how these rate quantities and timing are working out for you. Feel free to post what the rates are as well, but as Im sure you all know that changes from person to person like taste in foods. Also, any thoughts on managements relation to the basal timing is appreciated (e.g., sleep for only 4 hours on average, so shorter basal timings at night).
Any comments are greatly appreciated.
Your basal rate should be changed about 2 hours before you see or have been having a problem period. So it you have a problem period between 10 and 3 pm, you should reduce your rate from 8 am to about 1 or 2 pm. My basals do change from time to time. I currently have 7 but have had as few as 4. Depends on activity levels and for me season of the year …
I currently have 4-5 rates, which is the max I’ll use. I’ve had more but, honestly, it wasn’t very effective. I was having random fluctuations in insulin requirements that were bigger than the adjustments I was making.
The one I use currently:
12:00 am - 6:00 am 0.45 u/hr
6:00 am - 10:00 am 0.60 u/hr
10:00 am - 9:00 pm 0.50 u/hr
9:00 pm - 12:00 am 0.40 u/hr
The period from 10:00 am - 12:00 am varies a lot because that’s when my activity level fluctuates the most. I may break up the period between 10:00 am to 9:00 pm into a couple of different rates. My morning rates tend to drift up and down, but they don’t require too mant adjustments, maybe once a month or so.
I have 8 basal rates.
12:00am - 3am 0.20
3:00am - 4:am 0.65
4:00am - 8:00am 0.90
8:00am - 12:00pm 0.05
12:00pm - 2:00pm 0.10
2:00pm - 4:00pm 0.05
4:00pm - 7:00pm 0.20
7:00pm - 12:00am 0.60
Thanks Tom. I am away of the needed lead in time, but am just curiuos to see how my rates compare to others. Also, how many rates and what not. As you can see an adjustment like 8AM-1PM would create a whole new split giving me about 6 rates through the day. Food for though, ya know?
Thanks for the repy! Looking at both your and FHS’, mine are much higher. I know FHS exercises a lot, do you as well 870AA?
Interesting to see your timings. Its like Morris code, long-short, long-short. When you say 10-12AM varies a lot, do you just change it depend or do you use temp basals for the adjustments? Or is it seasonal with your work schedule?
Probably not as much as I should. I play golf during the summer months and suspend my basal 1 to 2 hours before. I have a second basal rate when I deer hunt in the fall. That one still needs a little tweaking. I fish in the spring at small streams so there is a lot of walking then and I also pheasant hunt in the fall. I suspend my rates for that as well since I am constantly moving around in fields and the woods. I also ice fish during the winter months. There is a lot of running around on the ice back and forth to the tip ups.
I guess with all that being said I do excersie more than I thought.
10:00 pm 0.85
9:00 am 0.50
The 0.85 keeps me stable at night. The 0.50 makes sure that I don’t need to snack while watching TV at night. Daytime is not that important since I always eat out and I have no idea how many carbs are in my meals.
I just increased to 6 on Wednesday. I eat pretty low carb, under 40 a day.
12am 1.3
2am 1.2
7am 1.325
10a1.3
12 pm1.25
8p 1.275
I used the hourly averages in the dex over the last 2 weeks and saw some patterns (10am and 8pm are new). I can send you the chart if you want, but only in exchange for a piece of boston cream pie 
That sounds like a pretty decent about of fun as well as some exercise! The reason for my asking is your basal rates are lower like other folks Ive seen who work out. Although, seeing more posts, it looks like my basals are a bit higher, must be some IR going on there. Thanks for the input!
Thanks Danny. Your rates are pretty logical, one for sleeping, one for DP, one for daytime and the before bed drop. Great work with the evening snacking.
Amazing Helmut. 2 Rates for 24 hours. What are your sleeping habits like if you dont mind? Also, do you expedience and DP?
12am-2am 1.325u/h
2am-1pm 1.275u/h
1pm-3pm 1.125u/h
3pm-6:30pm 1.175u/h
6:30pm-12am 1.200u/h
The 12am-2am is to help curb the increase I see starting at 4am (DP). The drop from 1pm-3pm is to curb the lows I was getting between 4 and 5:30pm. Then I start bumping it up again throughout the evening/night.
I do have some insulin resistance as well, so I know my rates might look a bit high to some people.
LOL, I think I can pull off one of those cakes err, pies. The cakes are mostly eggs with a bit of flour (WPI with almond flour and some gluten). Add some low carb pudding and quick melted lindt chocolate over the top… Wallah! Now lets take a peek at that chart. LOL
Thanks for the input as well. Thats a good number of basals youve got going. What does your basal testing look like, if you dont mind?
Ive never used the patterns Pat. How do they work out for you? They might be great for the folks who are effected by weather.
Hmmm you inspired me. Been a while since I’ve done it, think I will. Gee, thanks a lot G
Im right there with you Kari! Actually was kind of supprised at my rates in comparison to others.
Youve really got the pre delivery calculations down on your basals. Its interesting that the 4am DP doesnt get touched by the rate that is adjusted for it (12am-2am). Thanks for the great description and post.
Great question, onesaint, and interesting to see people’s different “time zones”. I fiddled with mine for about 2 1/2 months when I got my pump (I didn’t do basal testing but just trial and error, tweaking in response to highs and lows) so maybe it took longer. But in the nearly 2 months since they have stayed very stable. I only wish my bolus results were that good! I find it interesting how small a change makes a difference; makes me see how I was stabbing in the dark with injected basals taken just 2x a day on MDI’s!
Midnight to 5AM - .450
5AM to 8AM - .500
8AM to 11AM - .450
11AM to 4PM - .375
4PM to 6PM - .450
6PM to Midnight - .475