I just got my starter kit and was running thru my numbers and I see that it has a max bolus of 30 units.
I have some meals that can kick me up to using 42 units of humalog.
60 carbs of pasta I typically use 32 units.
Pumping is new to me and I was not sure if that much spillover is going to be manageable with basal, etc.
I can “feel” my meal hitting me ten minutes after eating so I was not sure what this trip is going to be like.
I just felt like posting and asking about it,
talk to your medical team about integrating an extended bolus in your pump therapy
Extended is a great way to handle it, as Cary said. You can always give yourself more than one bolus when needed as well. You will need to experiment to see how your insulin needs vary, if at all, on the pump, but it is pretty flexible. Good luck.
For many people, infused insulin (from a pump) has very different absorption characteristics than injected insulin. For example, I use about 1/3 to 1/2 as much insulin on OmniPod than I did with injections. My basal rate is less than the amount of Levimir or Lantus I was taking, and my I/C ration is lower, too.
Did you work with a CDE trainer from Insulet to get started on OmniPod? If not, I would strongly encourage you to do so; they have formulas to set your pumping parameters based on your injections that are a good place to start.
By the way, I’m no nurse or doc, but 32 units of humalog for 60 grams of carbs sounds really high to me for a pump - that’s a 1:2 IC ratio.
my relationship with most doctors gives me the opportunity to say that, I trust myself more in a mirror, liqoured up talking about something I dont know about.
Its sad, I have jumped allot of primaries but one led me to a new Endo that I am really happy with so far but I am still adjusting to utilizing her for info. I have an appt in a couple weeks but I just wanted to kick start my knowledge (I have to learn everything inside out and backwards) and your post actually gave me the info I needed.
Yea, its injections of humalog with no basal so its a big conversion for me.
Thanks for the posts,
Look, if you’re trying to do this on your own without the input of someone who is trained and knowledgeable in how the system works, you’re literally taking your life into your own hands. The absorption characteristics are quite different; how different? Do you think you should guess? Or maybe you’re willing to start ultra-conservatively and live with high BG for a few weeks or months while you figure out how to get it right.
Whatever your plan, let me offer this: I was diabetic for 20 years on injections before starting on OmniPod; I have a Master of Science degree from a major medical school; my father is a physician and my mother a nurse. In other words, you might say that I was an above-average-educated diabetic patient. And yet, even after 3 years using OmniPod, I’m still figuring out, with the help of my endo and Insulet tech reps, how to use it to fine-tune my BG control. I would have had no idea how to set the IC ratios (yes, I use multiple different ratios), basal rates (again, plural), action times, and all of the other parameters.
Insulet offers CDE trainers who know how to get those things set at least reasonably well, and after measuring the results for a few weeks they and a good endo can start to really fine-tune them. Is your self-dependence so much that you’ll refuse the help of those trained specifically for the purpose?
I gotta apologize for coming off cocky etc in a new place without people understanding enough about me. I am one of the few that actually follows his sight on complete comprehension on what I pursue.
I mentioned I have an appt with the endo in two weeks where I will be able to further discuss things and see what I can learn from her. My independence from relying on others comes from the consistent failure I have had to correct from so called professionals. In order to protect my self, family and friends I have always had to push myself to be on par, and eventually surpass the so called professional. My first post was extremely simplistic and hurried as I have a ton on my plate but I wanted to just get the ball rolling on learning. 99% of the time posting on the internet I BS allot and goof off. Its my time to attempt to relax. In a new place for me here its understandable how people can see me as a weird schmuck.
jk, im not weird.
Once you get your basal rate rockin you won’t need to take big bolus’s anymore. I used to take 15-17 units on a big meal now its 10 max because my basal rate is high. I also do alot of temp basal rates to run for an hour or 2 during a higher carb and fat meal. Beautiful think having a pump. (pumping for 6 months).