Do your kids' insulin dosage decrease in summer?

[Pavlos]

Our endo told us that insulin needs generally decrease by 10-20% during the hot months of summer.

I would appreciate your experience on this, as this is my dd's first summer with diabetes!

[HBMom]

For my son it does seem to decrease but I never know if it is due to the heat or due to the fact that he is extremely active in the summer.

[Mama2H]

Last summer Hailey's did decrease dramatically. This summer her dosages have risen dramatically, almost double :eek: I don't think that a rise in dosages is normal though :o I can't figure out what is going on with Hailey right now :(

[taylor'smom]

I can't figure out what is going on with Hailey right now

If you figure it out, let me know because that is exactly what has happened with my daughter since it's gotten hot!

[twodoor2]

This is also Elizabeth's first summer with D, and her TDD did not signficantly decrease, but the same amount of insulin is getting her down much lower. This is good for us since I was used to keeping her on the higher end of the BG range, and now I'm trying to keep her lower.

Activity really decreases the need for insulin, and you tend to be more active in the summer months. That being said, I'm sure if I let her sit around on the couch all week long, her need for insulin would increase a great deal. I'm not sure if hot/cold temps by themselves have anything to do with the increase/decrease in insulin (maybe I'm wrong???).

Right now, I have her on the absolute lowest amount of Lantus I feel comfortable with, and I use variable pump basals to keep her lower throughout the day. Her weight hasn't dramatically changed from winter to summer as well, and I use that to gage insulin dosage measurements.

[Mama Belle]

Nope, believe it or not, my DD's TDD increases during summer. My daughter is extremely active during the school year. Her classrooms are structured so that kids are up and about most of the day and brain power seems to really drop my kids insulin requirements. Additionally she plays a lot in the afternoons during the school year. During summer she goes to a summer day camp and some days are active, but a lot of times they go on field trips and she spends time sitting on a bus or watching a movie. Swimming days and park days are obviously the exception, but I have a kid who is very obviously an exception to this rule.

[JohnMom]

Our son's has dropped dramatically. I think it must be because he is more active and relaxed. School was stressful for him this year since it was his first year at school with D.

[KeltonsMom]

Kelton is weird..His insulin dosages have increased in the warmer months and decrease in the winter..Ok so maybe he is not weird but YDMV sure comes into play here with this one.

[badshoe]

Yes but then they grow and .... YDMV.

[bz'smom]

Two weeks ago we were doing major increases with Brandon basal & bolus rates (growth spurt), now we are doing major decreases. I can't remember too much from last summer. :rolleyes:

[Kirsten]

Definitely!

Kirsten

[ADHDiabetic Mom]

Our endo told us that insulin needs generally decrease by 10-20% during the hot months of summer.

I would appreciate your experience on this, as this is my dd's first summer with diabetes!

This is only our second summer, so I don't have a lot of info for you. But I can tell you that during the three weeks Sean was at Camp Sweeney, they kept him so active that he ate over 3000 calories every day, used LESS THAN HALF his normal dose of insulin while doing it, and after three weeks, he had STILL lost 7 lbs.

Also, I can tell you that we spent the day at a local water park today. It wasn't especially hot (high 80's), and we were only there four hours. But at lunch, he took only half his regular dose, and was still only at 79 when we left the park.

[CJ's Mom]

Kelton is weird..His insulin dosages have increased in the warmer months and decrease in the winter..Ok so maybe he is not weird but YDMV sure comes into play here with this one.

Mine's weird too, endo called today and increased both the Lantus and Humalog. Don't know if it's the heat, growth, baseball, or girls.

[MamaC]

Judging by the "52" a little bit ago, I'm guessing we will be adjusting down. Pretty routine for our summers. And we haven't even started daily swim and dive practices yet. And he'll be teaching lessons and guarding every day.

Woo hoo, let the roller coaster begin!

~~Becky~~

[Heather(CA)]

Yep, every year...:D However, I have noticed that it depends on your climate whether your needs are lower in the summer or the winter. If you live where I do where the winter is reletively mild. (There can be ice ion the ground, but no snow) Then you will need less in the summer, if you get a lot of snow in the winter, you will probably need less then...:cwds:

If you don't get regular exercise in the summer, that could affect it too

[Twinklet]

This is only our second summer, so I don't have a lot of info for you. But I can tell you that during the three weeks Sean was at Camp Sweeney, they kept him so active that he ate over 3000 calories every day, used LESS THAN HALF his normal dose of insulin while doing it, and after three weeks, he had STILL lost 7 lbs.

Also, I can tell you that we spent the day at a local water park today. It wasn't especially hot (high 80's), and we were only there four hours. But at lunch, he took only half his regular dose, and was still only at 79 when we left the park.


OK....I want to go to Camp Sweeney! LOL! :D

It's the extra activity. When Emily is very active, her basal rates can be low for days. When she's on the trampoline she can burn through 100 free carbs in one day.

[Treysmom]

Trey has recently increase quite a bit. I don't know if that will stay the same. He was going thru a growth spurt. He recently put on 5 lbs, 1st time in almost 2 years. :D

[Heather(CA)]

Last summer Hailey's did decrease dramatically. This summer her dosages have risen dramatically, almost double :eek: I don't think that a rise in dosages is normal though :o I can't figure out what is going on with Hailey right now :(

Ummm, puberty? Are her numbers good now that the insulin has been increased?

[NicksMother]

This will be our first summer so I'm not sure what to expect but for now the CNE did lower his insulin. We'll have to monitor things closely to see what adjustments might have to be made.