basal testing numbers

[vettechmomof2]

Okay, I am trying to do the basal testing and am wondering what numbers I should be seeing or want to be seeing.
Obviously not lows but what is jumping to high. Right now at the 3 hour mark she has jumped up 70 points to 242. Now, I know it is still early but what is too high and how many basal testing nights should I do before I change?
THanks again everyone,
Allene

[Maribeth's Mom]

If the blood sugar is above 250, bolus for the high blood sugar and cancel the test.

[vettechmomof2]

Okay, now for the other questions is she has been going high for a little over a week hence the testing, so how do I determine which basals to change?
You normally want to change basals 2 hours before the problem numbers et in,correct? Or is it less time, 1 hour?
Also, with waiting for the numbers to get higher than 250 her doctor still does not want us correcting unless it goes higher then 350.:( I think that is a large part of the problem obvisouly. However, if we do a full correction for blood then she gets to low by the next meal so, maybe try half a dose. That is what we have been doing up to this point and she still seems to stay high?
THanks,
Allene

[Amy C.]

Okay, now for the other questions is she has been going high for a little over a week hence the testing, so how do I determine which basals to change?
You normally want to change basals 2 hours before the problem numbers et in,correct? Or is it less time, 1 hour?

I go back two hours and change the basal .1. I test again the next day.

When doing a basal test, if the reading is over 200, I stop the test because the basal is not correct. I make changes and try again.

[vettechmomof2]

Okay,

Thanks.

Allene

[BrendaK]

I'd also highly recommend Pumping Insulin by John Walsh. He gives very specific instructions for basal testing -- like don't start the test until 5 hours after the last bolus and 3 hours after the last carbs eaten. And if the bg number moves more than 30 points either way, the basal is off. Very very helpful book.

[Lizzy731]

Okay, I am trying to do the basal testing and am wondering what numbers I should be seeing or want to be seeing.
Obviously not lows but what is jumping to high. Right now at the 3 hour mark she has jumped up 70 points to 242. Now, I know it is still early but what is too high and how many basal testing nights should I do before I change?
THanks again everyone,
Allene

With Bethany, I tested every hour starting 2 hours after her bolus. It is of course not as accurate as close to the bolus but she eats about the same time every day so it worked for us. But testing every hour also will show you a clearer a picture of which basal to change. For instance, she was 120 one hour, 180 the next , and 185 the next. If I would have tested at the 2 hour mark after the first reading, I would have increased the wrong basal.

This was of course during the day, NOT AT NIGHT (I need SOME sleep!)

[Lizzy731]

One more thing, I stop the test only if she goes above 250...as I don't want to have to have her fast the next day as well. It just gives us more time so we don't have to start over again the next day.

[vettechmomof2]

Well, I do have that book Pumping Insulin and have really enjoyed the simplicity of the book. Written very well.
Now for the basal test last night I ended up canceling it as she went up to 261 at 11:00pm.
So I gave some insulin even though her doc tells us not to. Then at 12:15am she was 238. I did not correct any more though as i was really tired and she would not get checked again until 4:00am when my hubbie got home. At that reading she was 301.
Breakfast at 9:00am she was 309.
So, will try again tonight.
Thanks everyone,
Allene

[Lizzy731]

Well, I do have that book Pumping Insulin and have really enjoyed the simplicity of the book. Written very well.
Now for the basal test last night I ended up canceling it as she went up to 261 at 11:00pm.
So I gave some insulin even though her doc tells us not to. Then at 12:15am she was 238. I did not correct any more though as i was really tired and she would not get checked again until 4:00am when my hubbie got home. At that reading she was 301.
Breakfast at 9:00am she was 309.
So, will try again tonight.
Thanks everyone,
Allene

Sounds like her basals definitely need an increase at night. Increase the 9P basal by .05 or .10 depending on what her reading was prior to the 11P reading.