Calling DIABETICS. Why are Ds's readings all over the place?

[Spidermama]

Havng just finished a book with really scarey content about diabetics and long term tissue damage, I've just had a really bad day with DS's diabetes.

His readings were up and down like a yoyo today. 19.6 before dinner. 2.6 before bed. I wouldn't mind, but we've been doing everything to the letter. The right sort of food at the right time, insulin dose adjustments etc.

Any ideas what might be going on?

how old is your ds and how active is he, what type of insulin is he on??
Where do you check his bm from??

Hi chapsmum. He's just turned 6. He's pretty active. He had a good run around in the park today. He's on Mixtard. Is bm blood glucose? We check it with finger pricks. He also had a keytone during the afternoon.

there are a number of thing it could be.

finger prick checking does not alway give the most accurate blood sugar, If your wee on has cold hans it will give a lower reading than it should. We were taught that if you were in any doubt you should check from the ear lobe as it has less pain receptors as well.

Also the absorption of insulin depends on the injection site, (i'm sure you prob knew that) insulin is most quickly absorbed from the arms and tummy.
Again if he's cold it will slow the bodys absorption of insulin, or if he has a bruise this will afect the rate too.

Im sure you know that if he's been eating ticky stuff the sugar on his hands can give a false high reading, but so can hand creams etc..

what time of the days do you give the insulin, tell me to bog off and mind my own business though, wont be offended!

No please don't bog off. This is interesting. We give him his first insulin at about 7.30 (7 units) and then at 5pm.

He always washing his hands before a reading. His injection was in his arm this morning so it may well have absorbed quickly.

He's in the so called honeymoon period as he was only diagnosed just before christmas. We're still having to adjust the insulin.

I was reading about complications today and it has got me really worried about the future for him.

What's your experience again? Is it your dh?

Interesting about the ear lobe. I never knew that. So not too sore then?

Spider I know lots of diabetics as some of them are served by my renal onsultant as he is a diabetes expert too.The ones who are rigid with diet etc are really healthy and well and are easily distinguished from the few who don't follow the guidelines Many of them are very old and have lived long happy lives I will ask at my next appointment if they can recommend any books xx

Thanks Noddy.
I'm particularly concerned about the fact that the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to suffer tissue damage as a result. He was dxed at 5 so he's looking at the long haul.

I really would expect a child to be a candidate for a pancreas transplant or islet cells

Ummmm, is he coming down with a bug? I know that being poorly can knock a diabetic's blood sugar about a bit, but don't know why, or much about it.

Noddy I'd give him mine in the blink of an eye.

Colditz he may well be. He's had a snotty nose and all the other kids at school seem to have bugs so that's quite possible.

I think the doctors watch the eyes kidneys and vascular system like a hawk.I have found that late diagnisis often results in poor compliance with diet etc and people who have had years of it just get on with it You will soon get it under control but I know you must be so worried.How does he feel in himself now?

yeah the ear lob has less pain receptor than the fingers, you wouldn't get your finger peirced...

Am a nurse anctually my ex was an endocrinologist, you can imagine the dinner conversations..

Perhaps you could talk to his consultant about the combination therapy of acrapid and mixitard, it is becoming common practice...
actrapid is v short actingand helps to controll the blood sugar during these particularly high eppisodes

FYI steve redgrave is an iDDM and look what he's acheived.

another very good insulin in lantus, another one of my dr friend is diabetic and this apparently is the best insulins to be on.

Please don't worry about the tissue damage SM - you're only a month into it, today's readings won't make any difference in the long run. AFAIK it takes years of poor control to cause the damage you'll have read about.

think you are right about his cold affecting his sugars - dp had a (rare for him) cold last week and his were noticeably higher than expected while it lasted.

definately, A cold or any other bug uses up sugar quicker than normal. Dont be too hard on your self, my frien whenm diagnosed at 5 got taken into hospital thinking, if your sick you get to drink lucozade, he drank 4 lts of lucozade and ended up with a blood sugar of 68!!!!
He is now training to be a dr and is trying out for the olympics as aswimmer, dont beat your self up too much

Gordon Bennett, 68!
I didn't know that was possible.

Thing is spidey, diabeteis has entered a whole new era, the people who are suffering the consequences of poor insulin controll did not have the knowledge or drugs that are avaliable now, from the tightly controlled insulin pumps to the ilset cell transplant. Your ds is lucky that he lives in a generation that understands the condition so well.
Your consultant will be your best fi#riend, dont be afraid to bug him for what you want and always listen to your instinct!

That's extremely encouraging. Thanks chapsmum.