After experiencing some wacky daytime blood sugars (BG's) during the last week, I decided to go ahead and test out my basal settings on my Animas 2020 insulin pump today.  I have never a daytime basal testing  before, sad to say, and as in my prevous blog, I had asked others - "how often do you test your basal rates?".  No comments yet, and it makes me wonder, are they like myself, not finding the time to test their basal rates, when perhaps we should from time to time when BG's become abit wacky?

I just know for myself, that if I'm going to get the most use out of my pump, I have to learn how to use it properly, so that my BG's stay stable and not having to do continual BG corrections and giving extra insulin.  I mean, I might as well go back to multiple doseage injection (MDI) - ugh!  To me, that defeats the purpose of owning/using a pump, because theory wise, if the pump settings are correct, you should have steady, stable BG's, depending on what is happening in your life of course. 

Well this morning, I decided, this is the day to do a 09h00 - 17h00 basal test, as I'm not doing anything strenuous (no Running of the Bulls), no work deadlines, etc.  I already know that my night time basal rates that I have set on my pump are working fine for me, since John Walsh/Ruth Roberts the coauthors of the Pumping Insulin advise you to get this figured out first prior to doing any other basal tests.  Also, the basal test should only be done when your BG is 5.6 - 8.3 mmol/l (100 - 150 mg/dl) OR between 6.7 - 10 mmol/l (120 - 180 mg/dl) if you have hypoglycemia unawareness or a fear of going low.  I woke up with a 5.5 mmol/l (99 mg/dl) BG, a little bit below what is recommended, but I felt good to go, as I'm not sure when I'll have another "stress free" day like this to do it.

So, I proceeded to wait for my next 2 hour test of my BG, and when that approached an hour ago, I tested  - 8.8 mmol/l (159 mg/dl).  Darn .  The directions in the book say to STOP - correct the BG and retest another day.  Double Darn!  I've gone and made the adjustment to my basal rate according to the table in the book (it's pretty straight forward to read even for a non technical gal like myself). In my case it was .2 units of insulin, seems abit scary to go from .65 units per hour to .85 units, but according to the book "the suggested basal changes below are less than may be needed".  So, I feel abit secure in going ahead as I trust these authors, they know their stuff.   I have presently programmed my new basal settings into my pump and will have to wait for another day to perform the test. 

I have to admit I'm abit disappointed that I had to stop the test and I guess I shouldn't have really said "D Minus" in the title above, at least I'm one step ahead in the game is the  main thing, I'm finely doing it!   Hopefully my basal settings in my pump will soon be perfected so that I have the freedom that a pump allows you to have over MDI.  I  mean, my life has changed so much since going on the pump, I know so much more about diabetes now then before, even after 42 years, I'm still learning!  Just to be able to have balanced BG's when I  skip a meal and not go low or high is what I'd really like to attain.

So, off I trot upstairs to have an Americano (I so missed not having my morning cup of java as the caffeine we all know would have buggered up the test even more LOL ). Oh and a nice slice of  toasted whole grain bread smothered in butter and jam, and abit of cottage cheese!  I am famished!!! Drool! Drool!