March 5th, 2010
I have a question regarding your statement: “A good rule of thumb is that 1 gram of glucose raises the blood sugar 3, 4, or 5 points for body weights of 200 lb., 150 lb., and 100 lb., respectively. For example, a 5-gram glucose tablet raises the blood sugar about 20 points at 150 lbs.”
I weigh 140 so it would be 4 points per gram of glucose. My understanding is all carbs eventually turn to glucose. If that is true and something has 5 grams of carbs including 2 grams of sugar, do I multiple 4 points by 5(carbs) or 4 points by 2(sugar) to get the total points raised???
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March 5th, 2010
I have had two insulin pumps over the past 15 years (both Minimed). I was taken off the pumps for the same reason I was put on them: frequent and dramatic low blood sugars. I’m done with Minimed (hated the infusion sets and the proprietary everything) but I’m reconsidering pumps. I am now 37, my sugars still drop to the point where medical intervention is necessary but they’re not dropping as LOW. So… I’m hoping perhaps I’ll have better luck pumping. I’d appreciate any information that you could send for your pumps (specifically the Spirit).
M
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March 5th, 2010
My daughter (nearly 12) has been dx nearly 6 years. Pumping for 5.
Frustrating time of it these last few days. Need to make several changes it appears. +30% increase in basals is not even touching her numbers. ( i run temp rates to see what, if anything works and when /how much etc) before I actually change the program in the pump.
Is there a magic formula that says if you tighten I:C ratios say by 10% (which is usually where I (or the endo) starts) and it also seems basals need adjusting that I can do X amt for the basal increase and have it balance? I am thinking that surely she wouldn’t need a 30% increase with tighter I:C ratios? I do tend to be aggressive and tackle two things at once. (don’t remember if I have ever changed 3,but i also thought it’s probably time to tighten our Correction factor as well. I am sure our endo has changed 3 things at once. But it’s been awhile. Since it’s easy enough to go back if there are times the increases (in this case)end up being too much.
Our A1c’s have been consistently under 6 for the last couple of years at least. and under 7, i think since after the first year of pumping. The last few days I cannot keep her under 200, or rarely does she stay there. And have been correcting at least .5u and sometimes 1u at a time. No ketones thankfully.
I also know that as parents we call this The Curse of the Endo appt. since it appears that generally all of our kids tend to have these major highs shortly before the endo appts. (ours is in just under 2 weeks).
Thanks,
C
Perhaps one of these days I can get to a CWD conference and sit in on some workshops that you do , or am blessed to hang out at meal time table talk. That i have heard also takes place.
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February 2nd, 2010
I have read your book, Pumping Insulin, and in it you recommend making basal rate changes 4-8 hours prior to any low or high blood sugars. I am currently on Humalog Lispro and many of the websites I have seen recommend 1, 2, and 3 hours prior to any lows or highs. Why is there such a big disparity in recommendations with Humalog insulin? I am just trying to understand the effects of my insulin better, your help is greatly appreciated.
J
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Tags: Insulin
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December 11th, 2009
John,
I am working with someone on a study in adults with Type 1 and 2 who have gastroparesis, in some cases pretty severe with constant vomiting. In the study they will all use pumps and sensors and I am sure many extended and combination boluses. I was just wondering if you have any experience with CGM findings in patients with gastroparesis and if there are any therapy guidelines you give them (ex: when to stop an extended bolus based on CGM trend and BG data etc… Do you suggest earlier treatment of lows due to delayed gastric absorption and if so what is your BG threshold?). Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Best,
J
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Tags: CGM, Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Gastroparesis, glucose control, tabs, trend
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December 9th, 2009
My first pump was the Deltec 1800 and all I’ve known is their HypoManager. In Feb I was informed that I need to select a new pump and chose the OmniPod. I really miss the HypoManager and am looking for a replacement tool. Do you know of any? Or where I can get the formula to figure out the needed carbs like the pump did? I’ve tried Google searches but nothing so far.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
M
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Tags: BOB, Bolus on Board, carb bolus, Carbs, Correction Factor, Cozmo, DIA, Hypomanager, Insulin Pump, omnipod, Paradigm, Ping
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December 3rd, 2009
My doctor has asked me to start dividing my dose of lantus in a.m. and p.m. I’m only taking 4 units a day, so that is 2 units a.m. and p.m.
I don’t understand how dividing a basal insulin will improve anything, and she couldn’t explain it…only that studies are showing that dividing the dose keeps patients from having “dips” in blood sugar. Can you explain how it would work?
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Tags: background insulin, Blood Glucose, injections, Lantus, Levemir, Type 1
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November 30th, 2009
Hi John,
I have your book, Pumping Insulin. It was very useful when I started pumping. I’ve run into a snag lately with pumping. I was on the Cozmo for many years and doing well. A1C was between 6.5-7.5. Then Cozmo announced they were going out of the insulin pump business. Minimed offered a deal on their pump to Cozmo users. I switched to the Paradigm and have had nothing but problems. Keeping my settings the same from pump to pump gave drastic differences. My A1C is now 8.5 consistently and I can’t get it down. I’ve increased my basal, my carb ratios and nothing has helped.
I use Novolog in my pump.
Any help will be beneficial.
Thanks so much,
B
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Tags: Carb Factor, Correction Factor, Diabetes, Infusion Sets, Insulin Pump, Insulin Sensitivity, Pumping Insulin, Quickset, Silhouette
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October 27th, 2009
I have had diabetes since the spring of 1966. I don’t have any eye, kidney, heart, nerve problems…thank God…but I have ba short term memory. I went to a neuro Doc and had many test done, I have some dead cells in the brain and damaged ones also that effect my short term memory. The Dr. said all he can figure out is that over the past 35 to 40 years my low blood sugars caused the damage. Have you ever heard of low blood sugar (insulin reactions) over a long term exposure causing this? ?? He suggested taking drugs that are used for treating Alzheimer’s . My long term memory and daily functions are not effected. For some reason I can’t add subtract or divide in my head now. I have to use a calculator?? Have you heard of other long term Diabetics with problems like mine? What treatments do you or have you heard of dealing with this?? Thanks
C
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Tags: Diabetes, hypoglycemia, John Walsh, memory, studies
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October 27th, 2009
I have been pumping since January of 2007. I “did” the OmniPod for one year; had bad infusion site issues with it. Switched to the MM522 with Real-Time CGM in January 2008. I like it a lot. My issue is this: it seems as though some infusion sites are far more absorbent than others. Last night, during the night, I was awakened by my CGM at 1:30 a.m. BG was 69. The night before, with the same basal rate and the same before bed BG (120) all was well. This kind of variation drives me crazy. Though pumping is infinitely better than taking MDI was, the absorption of injected insulin seemed to be much more consistent. Do you have any tips for me?
J
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Tags: Diabetes, Infusion Sets, Infusion Sites, John Walsh
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