I'm wondering if anyone else is familiar with having different insulin needs during fall/winter?
I've heard that it's common for diabetics to use less insulin in spring/summer (due to more outdoor activity etc.) and hence an increase of insulin for fall/winter.
But for me it's opposite. I need less insulin during the colder months, and more in summer - and I am definitely (sorry to say) not moving around more during winter. (I live in Norway).
My first guess was that as it's already getting cold here, my body might be using the energy to keep me warm. But this seems unlikely as I'm mostly indoors..
I have now reduced my daily basal by 16% and will have to reduce more as I am still having lows..
I'm getting there, bg wise, but would like to understand what's going on so I can prepare/counteract.. (for seasons to come - as this is the second year I've noticed this). My
diabetic educators haven't heard of this – and I cannot think of a reasonable explanation.
Yes, yes, yes and it’s not due to increase/decrease in activity. I workout indoors year round exactly the same. Every spring and every fall there’s a dramatic change. Right now (started about a month ago) I needed an increase, I am newly on the Omnipod so it’s been trying to adjust to that and I’ve had a cold but it is like this every change of season.
Exactly the same thing happens to me. I’m actually in the middle of trying to get a balanced increase in my nighttime basal (Levemir). I have noticed over the years that as summer slides into autumn I need to increase my nighttime basal - my QI:CP ratio remains unchanged, as does my morning basal.
Perhaps it’s like hibernation in an animal? I’ve often wondered if this wouldn’t be the case. It would make sense that the body burns up more energy in winter–an animal would begin using its stored fat in that season, to keep warm and full of nutrients. I haven’t paid close enough attention myself to note this before, but maybe I’ll watch for it next summer.
I’m glad I’m not alone in experienceing these changes, but I would have thought this would happen to more people…
Do you know what causes it, or if your endo or someone else has tried to explain the reason why this happens?
I still find it strange that some go higher while others go lower, this would indicate two unrelated things, although they’re sparked by the same variable: seasonal change.
I am still lowering my basal a little every day, but seems like my body is just adjusting to it, and still getting too much insulin… it’s better now, but like you Barb the changes felt dramatic at first.
Due to a 18 day cgms trial I did ending last week I got to test my HbA1c in both ends of the period and it had decreased by 0.3% (although I realize that this could be to other variables as well.)
The hibernation theory would be wonderful if it meant burning stored fat, lol!
