Completely wigged out tonight. Had a long day at work. For some reason I have become the recreation director and am obliged to create “events.” It is supposed to be an HR function, but no one helps. I hate it.
Anyway, started as a good BG day–85 at wake up and 95 at kunch. Because the event was a salad potluck, I had some hits of green–no dressing, no pasta salad ot potato salad. Still took 1.5 units because lettuce sometimes has more “carbs” than I think. Kind of forgot about it. Checked BG before driving (3:15) and was 114. At 5:30 checked again–was 203!!!
I completely freaked out. Must have cried for an hour. (I ironed and cried–at least I did something constructive.) Completely freaked my husband out. Once I calmed down I changed my infusion set–new bottle of insulin, etc. I am hungry (not much to eat today) but afraid to eat. Oh my! After 2 hours since correction, am still 156.
Just read Sagabetes post. I understand. So hard sometimes–and who understands it besides you (and if lucky your significant other)?
I don’t freak out that much. It’s sort of been an odd summer though as my pump blew up and I think was causing some off numbers on the way out as when I got the replacement, I ended up switching it back where it’d been before with a bottom line of a bunch of shittier than usual numbers. I don’t freak out that much though. I try to save the freaking out for playing guitar or lifting weights or bicycling, all of which seem to benefit from some “dark side”, along with Slayer, High on Fire, Deftones and other death metal thrash stuff. Except guitar-wise, I’m more into Stonesy/Dead stuff. Very much escapism but it works.
I get a bit annoyed if I go over 200 and don’t know why (happened today, was 216 after lunch for some reason).
I get frustrated if I’m over 250-300 without knowing why (that’s when I might do a rant-y blog post or something).
I will be concerned if I’m over 350-400 without knowing why. Correct and monitor closely.
Once it gets over about 400 I will start “freaking out” in the sense that if I’m out I’ll wish the world could stop until I get my BG sorted out. And out come the emergency supplies (extra infusion set, ketone meter, etc.). And I’ll be frustrated at the slowness it takes to come down. And if it doesn’t come down I will start thinking of worst-case scenarios.
Unless I know exactly what caused the high, in which case I’ll get annoyed with myself and do a correction bolus.
But I get 200s regularly (like every few days if I’m on a good streak, more often if I’m not), and if I correct they are back within a semi-normal range within an hour or two, usually. And I am not one of those people who can go weeks on end never exceeding 70-140, so for me they are pretty routine.
Sometimes we have inexplicable highs due to stress… You said you have an extra job role… I know on those days where I might have extra stress I turm the basal up just a tad, maybe to 120% to 130% and watch the CGMS carefully( but not compulsively) to see where I am trending. If I am not wearing it on that day, I will just try to check. my blood glucose more often. I am not hypo unawware and I can tell by my loopy, silly or agitated mood ( it varies, due to my variable personality-lol) when I approach the low 60’s’; so I know when to treat a low.
I do not REALLY freak out due tto a random out of range a low or a high.I have found that if you look at blood sugars as trying to manage them to the best of YOUR abilitieS and knowledge ( the docotor ss cannot really tell you how to do it… It is COMPLETELY trial and error) rather than 'control" them it helps.Please do not beat yourself up over those random “out of range " days. I hae been type one over 40 years and like acidrock, i do not 'sweat it”. It jjust kind of comes with the territory. I am too blessed to be stressed: I
O, I know how that feels. I had a 214 BS before working out today at 6:30pm, I should have known since I had a piece of cupcake…before. So annoying since my work decides to order cupcakes like every week to tempt me. After working out it was 77 and a couple hours later 65. Working out brings my BS so low. I am still new to the game since I have had type 1 for about 4 months, but pretty annoyed most of the time. Try not to be. I am on Novolog and Lantus shots, will look into the pump soon… But, I know sometimes I really have to take a breather at work since my patience is not that great sometimes. Ugh, hope the event planning thing starts going better for you.
I never freak out if I have a high reading, I just treat it and move on. It’s not the at-the-moment reading that matters…it’s the average. The only thing that does disturb me is when an inexplicable low creeps up and I don’t feel it at all, which is rare. Once or twice had a reading of 2.9 (52) without noticing it till I thought to check…I never panic to point of tears, save that for bigger problems :o)
Second, stress can cause higher blood glucose levels than we would normally expect given what you have eaten or not etc. Or, you are coming down with an infection that you know about or not yet. But you MUST eat, or you will eventually go too low. Glad you are testing before driving.
I do think you might be suffering from depression and you might do well to go to your doctors to discuss this - stress and depression often go hand in hand.
I would have bolused for the piece of cupcake, perhaps escalating it to a half of a cupcake to make sure the bolus had something to sink it’s teeth into?
I get frustrated and annoyed when I don’t know what’s causing the high. If I was in your situation, I would assume that stress was the culprit and would just turn up my basal rate. What freaks me out is when I go over 250 and have no idea what is causing the problem.
Thanks, everyone. I rarely freak out. But yesterday really got to me. I usually range between 80 and 140, with a few higher and lower peaks and valleys. I don’t really mind the high BG, if I know why. It is when it is so random–I understand the effects of stress. (The rec director thing at work is more of a burr in my side than stressful.)
I apologized to my husband later and his response was “I wonder why you don’t do it more often.” At least I have support. I survived, woke up this morning at 81.
OH, and lettuce does have carbs–depending on the amount ou eat. I had so little (maybe a cup) that the bolus I took should have actually been too much. I suspect that the dressing was “lite,” and all thechemicals/sugars they use to replace fat can really affect me. I avoid “lite” when I know about it.
I think it all depends… Lots of people here are relaxed. I used to be that way. There was no technology to tell me minute to minute what an idiot I am!!!
Now that I am aware, well it all changes. So, a high BG that would not have been noticed before becomes a HUGE deal. But, I WILL SURVIVE!!!
