Oh hey.
Got a new camera. Made a new video.
For this reason: No-one told me about the temporary basal function when I signed up to That Pump Life. I also (obviously) didn’t seek out that information, so that one’s on me. But I got an almost life-changing type of surprise when I did surrender the injections and attach myself to this little unassuming piece of kit that just quietly keeps me alive every day.
This video is not an instruction, because it’s in what we shall henceforth deem ‘JenSpeak’ and if you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know that JenSpeak is a non-technical, slightly laboured and mildly bemusing way of communicating. BUT if you’re not one for the Science Bit, this might just work for you.
I am very aware I chose music that really sounds like I’m in a Sonic the Hedgehog game. Which is probably a childhood dream realised. For you however, it’s just a little bit loud. So sorry.
THINGS I DIDN’T SAY THAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID:
– You still need to bolus for your meals with an insulin pump, alongside setting your basal rates. It might be obvious for some, but hindsight tells me that I went in pretty blind when I said yes to the insulin pump.
– You can reduce your temp basal as well as raise it, and many people require this function when they are exercising. In the example I give, it’s not the case.
USEFUL PROFESSIONAL LINKS THAT EXPLAIN THINGS PROPERLY:
My Life Diabetes Care’s guide to basal rates (aka the Omnipod guys)
Diabetes.co.uk’s forum discussion on temporary basal rates for exercise
Diabetes Education Online’s page on all things insulin pump (from the US, but still useful if you browse the nav on the left)
Medtronic’s guide to basal rates (thought it would be helpful to include a different insulin pump manufacturer’s take on things)
SO… is the temporary basal a feature you heart? Or is a feature you feel a bit ‘meh’ about? Do you wanna know more about this kind of ‘technical’ (in the loosest JenSpeak sense) stuff? Lemme know!
8 Comments
FREESTYLE LIBRE.
As a follow up
I’ve now been on the Freestyle Libre system for about a year.
My Hba1c has dropped to an average of 6.5 over the last year from over 8. My clinician is staggered and can’t praise me enough. I’ve been type 1 for 20 years and this has changed my life. I feel almost normal.
The only problems have been the sensors coming loose before the 2 week expiry period. I cured this by applying a Tegaderm 5×10 cm dressing over it which lasts the full 2 weeks even with nightly hot tubs !!
I do get skin redness lately after removing the sensor so I think the glue has been changed. My friend has the same issue but just change the position and arm so the skin recovers.
This must have extended my life and reduced long term health problems.
Life is now truly a doddle with this system. Testing whilst driving and in any public areas is not now an issue. Even whilst cycling.
Middle of the night … Reach out for the scanner in the dark …. 5 second test and go to sleep or a quick top shot.
Hi Martin,
What an incredible result for you! Such great news. I know they’ve had some teething problems but it is an amazing piece of kit – I think I need to go back on it to get that insight for a few weeks again. The hot tub sounds great haha! And they’ve had their child licence approved this week, I think parents being able to test their child in the night without stirring them is going to offer so much piece of mind. Long may your results continue.
Personally it saves my sanity! Last night for example, after a couple of Lucozade treats in the early hours I got fed up with testing my daughter and ran a -30% for the rest of the night. No idea why she needed it, nothing at all going on that I’m aware of, but hey, that’s diabetes for you. Thank goodness for tbrs!
I can imagine as a mother it gives you so much more peace of mind in certain situations, especially as this condition just loves to be random sometimes to keep you on your toes!
Glad you like the new theme 🙂 xxx
Nice new design by the way
Jen,
Great video as always. I am on an Accu-Chek pump and I have to use Temp Basal when ever I do things like hoovering or cutting the grass as just that level of activity is enough to send me hypo. My wife and I went to Orlando several years ago to do the theme parks, just a few months after getting my pump and in consultation with my DSN I set my Temp basal to 80% for approx 8hrs when we were out in the heat and on the roller coasters. Best blood sugars ever! Single figures most of the time and no hypos. Awesomeness.
I also use different basal profiles, more insulin during the working week as I am less active sitting on my lazy ar*e at a desk and less insulin at the weekend when I am generally a bit more active. My basal is still not perfect 3.5 years later and I’ve recently tried running a temp basal at 120% for 24 hours to try to get my blood sugar levels back down. Major dawn phenomenon problems. But I don’t let it get me down! 😀
Hi Chris! Thank you for stopping by. This is amazing insight! You’re clearly utilising it a lot more thoroughly than me 😉 it has saved me from hypos a few times when I’ve caught them on the way down. Conversely heat makes my sugars go up – I seem to go the other way from everyone else! Sounds like you’ve got a really good handle (and perspective) on the whole thing – I’m sure sometimes the numbers are just out to defy us hey! x
Jen,
Just come across your site today, due to our interest in, Lucy my daughter 19 diabetic for 4 years and a heptathlon (seven events) choosing to try the Free style libre, as I read about a woman called Sue Frisby also heptathlon athlete stating, it is a huge help during competitions.
Lucy on competition days tries her best to keep her bloods around 6 before hurdles she usually is calm, happy or as she puts it buzzing resulting good time 14.3.
Check her bloods see if she needs to eat or take injection on to the next event.
High jump can jump 1.60 her own high but she is not confident and feels stressed out this makes her bloods go up the patch would be a god sent as she is constantly pin pricking, injecting, then eating to try get her bloods approx 6 to 7.
Shot p.b 10.53 if her level are good she gets close or can easy p.b if she feels healthy high bloods during this can cause fatigue and she throws 8 to 9 losing hundreds of points.
200 meters can run 25 seconds if healthy if hypo let’s feel like lead can add 2seconds on and loses more points end of day one tomorrow three more starting with long jump then javelin and last 800 meters same as yesterday she gets her bloods to stay around 6 to 7 before the event she can p.b if there all over she’s lost before she starts look on power of 10 Rankings click on 2016 U.K woman U20 heptathlon she is 7 above the yellow line Top Ten doing it on her own steam I just wonder how she would be with help support by way of any diabetic gadget that is on the market.