Does anyone else feel frustrated when it comes to keep track of these things? I have installed Glucofact deluxe on my mac today (yes, it's finally available on Bayer's website). I cannot say that I like it, but it is quicker than the built-in program on my Contour USB.
What I'd really like, is a program that keeps track of everything, prints data in different ways (only certain times of the day, and without taking about 500 printed pages to display your monthly results), let you write down you carb intake, insulin intake, time, exercise, notes, and possibly have a carb counter where I can add the things I usual eat. That's because I cannot fit all this information in the tiny diaries that are usually given to us. I cannot even communicate it to the nurses or my doctor, as the data is not organised at all. I know the answer to this, I am gonna have to write the program myself...
Said that, I am totally confused by my BG readings. It looks like I hypo before lunch even if I inject only 1u per 25g of carbs, and now my main meal units make me hypo at about 17:30. So now I have changed to Breakfast: 1u/35 CHO Lunch: 4u/60 CHO and Dinner: 5u/CHO, and of course 3u of Lantus at night. For a total of 10u of bolus insulin and 3u of basal insulin. These numbers sound really odd to me. Far from the start when according to my previous physician (luckily I am in the UK now) I could cope with 5u of Lantus, strict diet and lots and lots of exercise. I suspect I need more insulin because I am super stressed because of my writing up... What makes me worry about my numbers are the peaks I would get with little levels of insulin... It doesn't sound right to me that I have to reduce the insulin carb ratio so much to cope with pre-meal hypos. Isn't it better then to increase the basal again and reduce the bolus accordingly? Oh this is a constant fight...
Said that, I am totally confused by my BG readings. It looks like I hypo before lunch even if I inject only 1u per 25g of carbs, and now my main meal units make me hypo at about 17:30. So now I have changed to Breakfast: 1u/35 CHO Lunch: 4u/60 CHO and Dinner: 5u/CHO, and of course 3u of Lantus at night. For a total of 10u of bolus insulin and 3u of basal insulin. These numbers sound really odd to me. Far from the start when according to my previous physician (luckily I am in the UK now) I could cope with 5u of Lantus, strict diet and lots and lots of exercise. I suspect I need more insulin because I am super stressed because of my writing up... What makes me worry about my numbers are the peaks I would get with little levels of insulin... It doesn't sound right to me that I have to reduce the insulin carb ratio so much to cope with pre-meal hypos. Isn't it better then to increase the basal again and reduce the bolus accordingly? Oh this is a constant fight...
Ooh! Are you a software developer? I am a web interface designer, and I have run into exactly the same troubles as what you mention. I thought I had the problem sussed when I found Log For Life, but unfortunately the web didn't have all the features I wanted, the cost was a bit steep, and the iPhone app was a big dissapointment :S
ReplyDeleteI have basically got plans ready for what I want such a system to do, but I don't have the coding skills to get it going.
All this data, I need to be able to find trends and view it in many different ways.... I think I need to kidnap the makers of google analytics for a weekend! :P
To answer your question: yes, I have found it to be a constant fight. Sorry. Things are always changing throughout your life, so it's only natural that ratios and insulin requirements will change too.
I use Lantus too, a split dose with 11u in the morning, and 9u at night. Are you on only 3u basal every 24hrs? (I use Humalog as my rapid acting).