Gary's blood sugar

[gja1000]

Another week, another problem. Last Friday Gary's blood sugar was really high. No matter what I did with his insulin pump, it would be too high. I called the nurse on Monday, and we made a few adjustments and they helped a little bit, but it was still too high, especially in the evenings.

So, I called again today and got in to see the nurse and she decided to change his insulin. I sure hope it helps because it is not good for him to have high blood sugars!

[DianaB]

That's tough. I hope that you're able to get Gary's blood sugar under control. I know that you're very careful about what he eats but being diabetic myself.....I can't figure out what makes it go up sometimes. I know that Gary's in good hands with you watching out for him!!! Hugs!!

[lynne b]

I hope that you havve been able to get Gary's sugar under control.
He has a pump? mom had wanted to try one of those a while back but don't think she would have been able to handle it.

It is scary when it runs too high or low, sometimes mom's wouldnt even read on the meter, but she takes predisone and that makes it run high. whats he taking for his back?

[gja1000]

That's tough. I hope that you're able to get Gary's blood sugar under control. I know that you're very careful about what he eats but being diabetic myself.....I can't figure out what makes it go up sometimes. I know that Gary's in good hands with you watching out for him!!! Hugs!!

Diana, he really doesn't watch what he eats very closely because he has a pump. That's because you eat what you want and then program in the carbohydrates and it gives you insulin everytime you eat (just like your pancreas). So, he doesn't have to watch what he eats (although he should) and when things like this crop up, it is hard for him.

Lynn, insulin pumps are difficult to manage. I don't think Gary could do it by himself all the time - he does manage it when he travels, but doesn't do a very good job. He is taking Robaxin for his back, and only takes 0 or 1 pill a day. They say Robaxin will not affect blood sugar.

We changed his insulin last night, so I'll be curious to see how he does today!

[Janet]

I too hope Gary's blood sugar can get controlled better. Seems just when one things gets in order....something else happens huh Gayle? Guess life would be pretty dull if it didn't, but I've had enough excitement....how about you?

[gja1000]

I too hope Gary's blood sugar can get controlled better. Seems just when one things gets in order....something else happens huh Gayle? Guess life would be pretty dull if it didn't, but I've had enough excitement....how about you?

I have definitely had enough excitement to last a LIFETIME, Janet - I'm ready for some peace and quiet!

[judy]

It doesn't ever end, does it? I hope his sugar regulates right away! I'm sure you will take good care of him, but some peace and quiet would be so nice for both of you!

Hope he feels better!

[Pauly P]

I hope he'll be better now :rolleyes:

[Blueyes]

I have somehow missed so many posts... this being one of them.

How is Gary's blood sugar now? What did it get up to? Gary is like Mike... he's fine for awhile and then it's one thing after another:rolleyes:

[gja1000]

No, it isn't any better Betsi. They changed his insulin but it didn't help. We are going to have to change his carb to insulin ratio in his insulin pump. He is currently at 1 unit for every 8 carbs. That's going to have to come down to 7 or maybe even 6. He seems to run high from breakfast to supper, then a little better (but still high) from supper to bedtime. I'm thinking he needs a 1:6 ratio from 8AM to 5PM and then 1:7 till midnight. He has an appointment next Tuesday with the endocrinologist - so they will change it then.

How is Mike's blood sugar doing?

[Blueyes]

Crap. I was hoping Gary was straightened out! Surely the ratio change will help.

At one time today, Mike's was 260. He just can't understand why... uh, maybe it's his diet, or LACK of! He says he takes his insulin like he's supposed to, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't. He has to be off his Janumet for 3 days before his cath because it interferes with the dye, so I'm sure it will get worse before it gets better.

Can you tell I'm a little aggravated? I know it's not his fault, but dang it, that bowl of ice cream is!!

[gja1000]

I'm right there with ya, Betsi. Gary KNOWS his insulin is not working well right now. You would think he would try to eat better........ Mike has his ice cream, Gary had an ice cream sandwich tonight. Oh and Gary's blood sugar was 265 when I got home. :mad:

[judy]

Men!!! Diabetes are so hard to regulate sometimes. How about one of those pumps?

[paula1961]

I hope Gary's blood sugar gets to where it should be soon Gayle. Are you and Betsi sure that Gary and Mike aren't twins that were seperated at birth? LOL! I'm just kidding but they really do have so many of the same problems.

[DianaB]

Ice cream is a hard one to resist, believe me I know!! We try to stick to the sugar-free kinds but when you're out with friends that's hard to do. This diabetes stuff is hard.......thank goodness for Splenda!!!! I hope that Gary and Mike are able to get things under control.

[gja1000]

Men!!! Diabetes are so hard to regulate sometimes. How about one of those pumps?

Judy, Gary HAS one of those pumps and it works GREAT - we love it. But, right now it needs to be adjusted. I probably could do it myself, but I am so scared of doing something wrong with it. We go to see the doc next Monday, so we'll get it adjusted then.

Paula, Betsi and I have said that very thing - our husbands must have been separated at birth! LOL! Both of them have very bad genes, and if not for us, they likely would not be here now! :eek:

[Blueyes]

They are twins... Twin pains, lol!! Not really:rolleyes: Most of the time I feel really bad for Mike, but sometimes the stress and responsibility of it all really gets to me. I know Gayle feels the same way:)

[gja1000]

They are twins... Twin pains, lol!! Not really:rolleyes: Most of the time I feel really bad for Mike, but sometimes the stress and responsibility of it all really gets to me. I know Gayle feels the same way:)

Oh you so hit the nail on the head, Betsi. I'm so sad that all of this has happened to Gary - he is such a good person, he's never been overweight, he worked a manual job so he got plenty of exercise, never smoked, never drank or did drugs. He's very laid back and never gets stressed out - yet he has heart failure, kidney failure, lung failure, diabetes, and a few other ailments. It just doesn't seem fair - but that's what you get when you have bad genes.

Now, all that said, it IS completely overwhelming sometimes - and I wish that they would use some common sense sometimes!!! :)

[lynne b]

I so feel for both you (Gayle) and Betsi, I know it has to be so stressful for both of you. At least i do get a break from mom, Gayle I'm sure you remember what i was going through with mom, you helped me out so much on those late nights that i sat up crying in front of the computer wondering what i was going to do with her.
And now Janet and i cry on each others shoulders whenever there are problems with our mom's. It's so nice to know that we are not alone at these times.

Thanks for such a nice place to come to when we are in need.

[gja1000]

I'm sure you remember what i was going through with mom, you helped me out so much on those late nights that i sat up crying in front of the computer wondering what i was going to do with her.

Oh Lynne, it makes me feel so good to know that your mom is doing so much better. I just knew something was not right when you started talking about her symptoms. I'm just glad that I could help - wish I were closer to both you and Janet!

[JJJ]

I hope everything turns out well for both of you.

[gja1000]

Well, I figured out what is wrong with Gary's blood sugar. We saw the diabetes doctor and nurse today. The nurse adjusted his insulin pump because, as I mentioned earlier his blood sugar has been running too high. He is supposed to be getting 1 unit of insulin for every 7 grams of carbs he eats.

So, tonight he had a pancake, with peanut butter and syrup. I measured it out and it was 100 grams of carbs. So, by hand calculations he should have gotten 14.2 units of insulin. But when I put the carbs into his pump, I noticed it delivered 11.11 units of insulin. I thought, "Hmmm, that's not right". Sure enough it wasnt' right. The pump says it is set on 1:7, but it delivered 1:9 (one unit of insulin for every 9 grams of carbs). For the last 3 months we thought it was delivering 1 unit of insulin for every 8 grams of carbs. We lowered it from 1:9 3 months ago - but I guess it never changed!!! That's what you get for relying on a machine and not doing the calculations yourself!!!

So, this is what is wrong with Gary's blood sugar - the pump is delivering the wrong dosage and has been delivering the wrong dosage for the past 3 months. I called the nurse and left a message on her phone to call Gary tomorrow. I hope she can check the pump and see if it can be set correctly. If not, he'll have to get a new pump because this one is out of warranty. Sigh. One more thing to hassle with!

[JJJ]

Well, I figured out what is wrong with Gary's blood sugar. We saw the diabetes doctor and nurse today. The nurse adjusted his insulin pump because, as I mentioned earlier his blood sugar has been running too high. He is supposed to be getting 1 unit of insulin for every 7 grams of carbs he eats.

So, tonight he had a pancake, with peanut butter and syrup. I measured it out and it was 100 grams of carbs. So, by hand calculations he should have gotten 14.2 units of insulin. But when I put the carbs into his pump, I noticed it delivered 11.11 units of insulin. I thought, "Hmmm, that's not right". Sure enough it wasnt' right. The pump says it is set on 1:7, but it delivered 1:9 (one unit of insulin for every 9 grams of carbs). For the last 3 months we thought it was delivering 1 unit of insulin for every 8 grams of carbs. We lowered it from 1:9 3 months ago - but I guess it never changed!!! That's what you get for relying on a machine and not doing the calculations yourself!!!

So, this is what is wrong with Gary's blood sugar - the pump is delivering the wrong dosage and has been delivering the wrong dosage for the past 3 months. I called the nurse and left a message on her phone to call Gary tomorrow. I hope she can check the pump and see if it can be set correctly. If not, he'll have to get a new pump because this one is out of warranty. Sigh. One more thing to hassle with!

:eek: So sorry to hear that. But atleast you got to the bottom of the issue. He better be glad he has such a smart women on his side. (I'm sure he feels very lucky)

[judy]

Wow! It is a good thing you caught this! At least it's not something wrong with Gary, just his pump!

We all do expect our machines to work properly, especially when they have to do with health.

[gja1000]

HI Guys! I am so relieved - the pump is OK, it was actually a programming error. It's hard to explain, but the pump did change to the appropriate insulin to carb ratio - BUT - we have several preset buttons - that's the part that is hard to explain but here goes.

For example, when you dial in the number of carbohydrates that you eat, the pump goes up in increments of 5's. So if you ate 70 grams of carbs, you push a button that goes to 5, then you push it again and it goes to 10, again to 15, again to 20, again to 25, and so on all the way to 70. It is tiring to push the button all the way up to 70 and you can just imagine how annoying the button pushing is when you eat 150 carbs (which isn't very often, but if you have pancakes with syrup, it will be 150 carbs). So, there are some preset buttons on the pump. There is a 50 preset and a 75 preset - so that you go up from there, e.g., if you eat 75 carbs, you only push the one preset 75 carb button. If you eat 80 carbs, you push the 75 preset button and only have to push the button once more to go up from 75 to 80. He also has a "cookie" button, where you just hit cookie and it dials in 25 carbs, which is the average carbs in a regular sized cookie. There are a few other present buttons for other things. OK, so here's what happened.

We changed the insulin to carb ratio on the pump - but we didn't change the ratio on all the preset buttons. Now, I can plead ignorance, I thought if you changed the ratio on the overall pump settings, it changed it on the presets too - but it does not, you have to change the insulin to carb ratio on all the individual presets also. Yes, the nurse 3 months ago and the nurse yesterday should have done this - but they didn't. I'm glad I figured out the problem and I'm glad it is fixed now!

The moral to the story - don't rely exclusively on machines. If I had just once, in the last 3 months, hand calculated his insulin to carb ratio, I would have caught this error before yesterday.

Oh well, it's fixed now. YAY!

[DianaB]

Oh good.....I'm glad that you got that all straightened out!!! Gary's in good hands!!!

[Blueyes]

I would have thought the preset buttons changed automatically, too. There's no way we can know EVERYTHING, though, lol! I'm so glad it was just the machine and not the man:D

[gja1000]

Gary's blood sugar is doing MUCH better!!!

[Blueyes]

Glad you got it straightened out before your trip!

[Janet]

Wow Gayle....You are such a smart woman I am so thankful that you are part of the family here. I bet Gary is feeling so much better. You're amazing.

[judy]

Wow! You are so smart! Gary is in very good hands. I love the way that you take control of the situation and get it done instead of freaking out!