Friday, January 20, 2012

Basal Talk

I have a confession to make:  As a D-Mom, I love talking about basals.

L.O.V.E. it.

For those of you that don't know, the basal insulin is basically your "background" insulin.  It's the insulin needed just to keep your body alive.  Then whenever Matthew eats, he has to take more insulin to cover the carbs.  That's called the bolus.

So anyhoo....I think it's fun to see what other people's rates are.  I feel a bit like a "Peeping Tom" but it's so interesting to me!

Just last week, the fabulous Penny from A Sweet Grace posted Grace's basal rates.  What a GREAT post!

I'm thinking of all this because we're finally upping the basal tonight.

Matthew has been "Random Man" for weeks.  Months!

We finally got a 4-day pattern, where he's high at 2am....so I'm upping the 12a-2a segment.

For all those who are curious like me, here is his current basal rate.  He's 11 years old and weighs about 85 pounds.

12a   .50
2a     .35
4a     .40
2p     .50
7p     .55
10p   .50

Many diabetics have a higher rate in the early morning hours, but Matthew has always needed more during the 8-10pm time slot.

And here's a peek at his ratios: (For those of you that don't know what this means.  In the example below, at breakfast, Matthew needs 1 unit of insulin for every 8 carbs)

Breakfast 1-8
Snack   1-10
Lunch  1-14
Dinner  1-14

Wow.  I remember when he was 1-45.  But you need what you need.

Now....anyone else game for sharing their basal??

Not that I'm curious....  ; )

3 comments:

Penny said...

Awww, thanks for the shout out - glad I was a help, even if only a little. It sure is interesting, all the basal rates we see among our D kids.
Glad you are a basal lover like me! Now we need others to reveal their rates...

Misty said...

As much as I find basal testing annoying (because I feel like just as soon as I have it figured out its time to change again!), I also find it very interesting. I'm glad that you shared Matthew's because our endo has Ally on just two patterns and I KNOW that she needs more. Seeing this just gave me the kick in the seat to add in a few more. So here are Ally's for today (But check back tomorrow, they will be different I'm sure!). She's 8!

12 am .4
6 am .45

and Ratios
12 am 1:12
10 am 1:20
5 pm 1:17

Anonymous said...

Our DD is a teen two years past period; 100 lbs. She has stopped those crazy pubertal and early teen highs. These change but currently:
12 mid to 6am = .60
6am thru 12 noon = .75
12 noon thru 5pm = .65
5pm = .90
6:30 pm = 1.2
10 pm = .65

ICRs are low
1 to 6.3 break
1 to 8.5 lunch
1 to 8.5 dinner
1 to 9 after 9pm