Lowering Basal Rate on Insulin Pump

[Kelly77]

I just started on an insulin pump about 4 months ago. I've been T1 for almost 13 years. I am planning my family's first Disney vacation for Sept and am very excited. I am nervous about lows. I should have the CGM by then though, so that will put me at ease a bit.
My question - how do you know how much to reduce your basal while touring? I know it will be some trial and error, but does anyone know what my starting point should be? I've heard reduce 20%. Does this sound right?
Thanks for your help.
Kelly

 

[visitingapril09]

It can be very individual. Our daughter reduces basals by 30% and cuts back one unit or two for each carb bolus she does. She does small little bolus' for correction if she starts to go high.

 

[Kelly77]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I'll start with a 20% decrease and go from there. I'm more stressed out about counting carbs while there and not knowing exact carb counts. Again, trial and error I guess.
Kelly

 

[Chickenlady]

Kelly77, I wouldn't count on the CGM too much. I've been testing one for 2 wks now and I'm still not sold. It seems to be very erratic. Sometimes it matches my meter perfectly, other times its off by as much as 60 units! I've set the low alarm for 70 and each time I noticed my low much sooner than the alarm rang. I usually notice lows when they got below 60, so the CGM was too far off to be of use. BTW, I'm using the DEXCOM CGM.

 

[Kelly77]

Thanks for the reply Chickenlady! I have heard that about the CGMs - they can be up to a twenty minute lag time. Most people that I've talked to still find value in it. I'm not sold on it yet either. I have a Medtronic MiniMed pump so I would be going with the medtronic CGM. After a few months on the pump I am finally feeling my lows again. Which is a great feeling! Never thought I'd say something like that. But, before going on the pump I was completely hypo-unaware. Which got really scary. How do you find your sugars run while at Disney? Anything I should look out for?
Thanks for all of your responses!
Kelly

 

[sonsbunch]

My nine year old has the real time sensor and it does help alot. He feels his lows around 70 and yes the sensor does run behind on showing a low but it does show your trend and you can tell if you are dropping by watching your trends. We use that while at Disney and then adjust basal as needed. He has been three times since diagnosis and we have only had to adjust one of those times. That depended on the heat or his excitement that day. Good luck with your CGM! We really love his.

 

[DisneyNoob13]

My wife has had T1 for 27 years and has had a pump for 21. Because it was such a change in exercise routine (her job is in diabetes research, working closely with her endocrinologist who is also T1, but a desk job mostly), she reduced hers by 60% for the first couple of days. After a couple days of that she was able to leave the basal alone and then adjust the boluses. The best advantage with a sensor is getting an idea of where you're heading (one arrow down you're dropping, two you're dropping fast, etc.)

 

[Chickenlady]

I am finished with the CGM and still not sure I like it. As for trends.....even with some lag time built in it just doesn't seem to even show accurate trends. I found I was testing much more often than my usual 6 times per day, just to check on the CGM. I also had lots of difficulty with range...I'm not sure how I could have gotten more than 5 ft away and not taken over my DH side of the bed buy many times at night I would get transmission failure. And of topic, the CGM was totally useless the one day I went to a casino, way too much interference I guess.

Kelly77, the only tip I have for WDW is carry some quick glucose tab....I always would crash in line. But otherwise, enjoy the extra snacks!

 

[Kelly77]

I think I will end up getting the CGM. The out of pocket cost will not be too much for me, so I guess why not? I'm already checking my BS 8-10 times a day anyway.
All the years I've been T1 and I just tried the glucotabs. I don't know how I lived without them before. I used to just use lifesavers. I always have a stash of tabs on me, in my car, at work, at home. I'll just plan to bring a big bottle and a couple of the small 10 pack tubes.
Oh and Chickenlady - totally planning on enjoying some snacks!
Kelly