Help! Ratios moving around very erratically

Hi there,

Having problems with my midday thru afternoon readings. My ratios just seem to keep going up and nothing is working.3 weeks ago it was around 0.75:1 and I'm now up on 1.25:1 and that isn't working either (even tho yesterday it did)I'm very confident that my carb counts are correct and my BI insulin is also good.

any advice would be appreciated, do I just keep moving the ratio up until it's right? Or is it the BI? Seems every time I increase the QA ratio at 12pm it is hit and miss (more miss) so could the levemir dose at 8am be too small, even though its probably only kicking in at 9:30-10am?

Frustrated!

Chris loughrey said:
Hi there,

Having problems with my midday thru afternoon readings. My ratios just seem to keep going up and nothing is working.3 weeks ago it was around 0.75:1 and I'm now up on 1.25:1 and that isn't working either (even tho yesterday it did)I'm very confident that my carb counts are correct and my BI insulin is also good.

any advice would be appreciated, do I just keep moving the ratio up until it's right? Or is it the BI? Seems every time I increase the QA ratio at 12pm it is hit and miss (more miss) so could the levemir dose at 8am be too small, even though its probably only kicking in at 9:30-10am?

Frustrated!

The background could be out, only way to check is with carb free meals, or missing a meal, which can much more difficult........

But it could be the ratios..............sometimes you just start to need more, to help keep the ratios down being active helps a it decreases insulin sensitivity.........

How long have you been diagnosed..........?

I've been diagnosed 10 years.first time I've had such a fast change in ratios though.I was using maximum of 1.25:1 previously and now I'm just heading upwards at all times of the day!

I'm testing BI today but I'm fairly sure it's the ratio needing to go 1.5:1 or more. Just having trouble with the idea of more & more QA being needed. I'm very active and exercise 4-5 days per week without fail(I'm a fitness trainer and sports coach) that's why I'm having trouble understanding the rapid decrease in sensitivities. If anything it should be the opposite.

A week or 2 ago I was using 4-5 units at lunch (0.75:1) and now that's seemed to double, is that possible with no obvious reason?

Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............

As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ ..........

This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well.......

If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion.........

good luck and keep us posted.............

novorapidboi26 said:
Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............

As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ ..........

This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well.......

If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion.........

good luck and keep us posted.............

novorapidboi26 said:
Is it possible with no obvious reasons, hell yeah, that's diabetes at it s best............

As you are very active I would imagine that your insulin requirements would remain on the low side..........your ratios previously in my opinion were on the very low side, any lower and you would of needed a pump...........so although it may be discouraging to realize you need more, its still is not that much..........I am not very active, I do moderate exercise twice a week, but my morning ratio is still 3:1............ ..........

This could just be a phase, or a sign of illness................as ling as you keep active and remember to make sure your getting a consistent pattern of results before making changes all will be well.......

If it is the BI that's good, as the livers output of glucose is not effected by activity levels as far as I am aware, so the liver might just be producing more glucose, making you think you need more units for each carb portion.........

good luck and keep us posted.............

I agree with what novorapidboi26 has said. I have also found that my ratios change over time for no apparent reason. As far as I can tell there is no harm in this as long as you adjust your insulin doses accordingly. Good luck with this.

Hi Chris,
Just a thought, I notice that you seem to use the same Injection site for your QA (stomach). It might be an idea to change this to a new site to see if that helps.
I try my best to alternate and not inject in the same place every day (easier said than done tho!). I also inject my BI (I'm on Lantus, once a day before bed) in my buttocks which frees up other injection sites for my QA.

Just an idea you want to try?

Thanks,
Anele.

Anele46 said:
Hi Chris,
Just a thought, I notice that you seem to use the same Injection site for your QA (stomach). It might be an idea to change this to a new site to see if that helps.
I try my best to alternate and not inject in the same place every day (easier said than done tho!). I also inject my BI (I'm on Lantus, once a day before bed) in my buttocks which frees up other injection sites for my QA.

Just an idea you want to try?

Thanks,
Anele.