UTI and high BGs

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on September 24, 2009 at 8:22am

My insulin needs usually double when I have any sort of infection. You are most likely experiencing insulin resistance because of the infection. Increase your insulin doses until you can get close to normal blood sugars, but check your blood sugar often. Once the infection clears up, your insulin needs could drop dramatically and suddenly.

Get well soon!

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Permalink Reply by molly hall on September 24, 2009 at 10:58am

Thanks Kristin. I will take your advice. I was pretty sure that was the case but I was getting a little paranoid because I have had treatment that worked before for a while and then, all of a sudden, it doesn't and my BSs go back up. This has been the first infection I've had since being diagnosed in June of last year.

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on September 24, 2009 at 12:54pm

I find that even when I have a simple cold, I need almost twice as much insulin. It took me a few years with diabetes and getting used to it to have the courage the really double my insulin and know that it would be better for me.

Your body does not fight infections well when your blood sugars are high. So it's important to do what you need to do to get them as close to normal as possible.

Take care of yourself!

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Permalink Reply by Alesha McElvogue-Calonkey on September 24, 2009 at 2:12pm

Sounds pretty normal to me, same thing happens to me when I have an infection. I'd keep up what you are doing and if it doesn't go down *your bs* after you've been on the meds a few days then talk to your doctor

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Permalink Reply by MelissaBL on September 24, 2009 at 4:17pm

Echoing what Kristin and Alesha said, I increase my dosages during an infection until I get my first low, then I start scaling back to pre-infection doses. If you're on a pump, you probably need to increase your basal rates to 110% or 115% of normal. If you're on shots, talk to your doctor about how best to increase your long-acting insulin in combination with your pre-meal injections.

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Permalink Reply by molly hall on September 29, 2009 at 1:19pm

Ok Ladies, I'm back. I finished my antibiotic on Saturday and my levels are still running high. I hate to go back to the Dr. Could it be that my insulin needs are changing and the infection was just a coincidence? How often do they change and could it change this much? Could it be that the infection is still there, even though I feel better? I'm very nervous about it because I have tried other treatments before the Humalog and they all work for a little while and then my levels go up and stay up. I'm using a lot more insulin than I feel comfortable with just to keep things in check. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Mandy Lynn Ferry on October 27, 2009 at 5:01pm

Hi Molly
I'm new to this website, just joined this week. (have been type 1 since 1989) I recently got on the Omnipod insulin pump.
Are you familiar with the omnipod pump?
I ended up in ER last Wednesday afternoon due to a combo of 2 things: The cannula on my insulin pod came out prematurely and I had a UTI (which I didnt know i had, no symptons. I was also on my period so any pressure i attributed to that)
My blood sugars were so high they wouldnt register on my monitor, just he word "HIGH" appeared. I took 80 UNITS of Novalog (80 can you believe it!?!?) and my sugar dropped to 483. My sugar was so high and DKA was setting in (or had already settled in) and it was off to the emergency room. I spent the night in ICU. If my cannula had not of came loose the UTI alone wouldn't have caused the DKA.
I'm still learning about the Omnipod ... i do love it stil lthough. No more shots! Take care. Mandy

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Permalink Reply by molly hall on October 29, 2009 at 6:41am

80 units!! That is hard to believe. I'm glad you're ok.
I have been on two antibiotics now trying to get rid of this thing. I had another unrinalysis done on Monday. I should get the results today. My BGs are better though.
I get my pump hooked up this afternoon. I have the Minimed Paradigm 522. I can't wait but I have to tell you, I'm a little nervous also. Not feeling so good this morning and I think it's just nerves.

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