Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Active Insulin

My husband and I are both medical providers (Internal Med PA and CVICU RN) and feel that we have a pretty good handle on our son's type I.  Tom is 11, Type I for 3.5 years, on 712 minimed for 3.3 years. He is 5' 6" 140 pounds, size 10 shoe and growing like a weed.  We can barely keep up with his sugars and basal changes. His A1c is creeping up from 6.8 to 8.1 yesterday over the last 3 years. We have always had his active insulin at 2 hours and it works for him.  We took him to Barbara Davis yesterday in Denver and we were told to change his active insulin to 4 hours.  This seems like a drastic change, and we don't like to make big changes like this.  We would like to test his active insulin to find out how many hours it really is for him.  No one can really tell us how to test active insulin for him on a pump. This is not an easy subject to find much info on.  Is it different for everyone? Any idea's?
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Our son has been Diabetic and pumping for a similar amount of time with a mm715.  We use Novolog on his pump and when he started our clinic had us start the active time to 3hrs, and withing 2 months I changed it to 2 hrs and his corrections were much more effective.

I don't think there is a formal test, but if you give corrections when the pump indicates there is insulin active, and the corrections seem to bring him down to where he should be then the active time is probably about right.  

It seems very odd to me that with him running hight, going throguh puberty and having much greater (not lower) insulin needs that they would be worried about stacking too much insulin because of the active time.  I assume he can tell if he's low, as long as he can tell that he's low and your careful late at night I would not lengthen it.  

The main thing to look at is how correctiong bolus impact him 1-2 hrs later, if he's good or still hight then the time is fine, if he goes low then it may be too short for him.
Helpful - 0
133273 tn?1201542609
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Active insulin is the time that the pump thinks that the insulin it doses is still active in your system.  Stats show that most fast acting insulins tail off their effectiveness pretty sharply at 4 hours.  We have our daughter's time set at 3 hours, and are considering even shortening it more.  I don't know nearly as much as the doctors at Barbara Davis, but I wouldn't go from 2 to 4 hours, I'd maybe adjust an hour first to 3.  Then I'd take a look at his insulin sensitivity ratio.  With all that growth, maybe the sensitivity is set to too high of a number, and needs to be lowered.  Have you also looked at his carb ratios or done any basal rate testing within the last year?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If the Dr.s are saying that a 4 hour would be better than a 2 hour I would give it a try but you are correct in being worried about rapid changes.  I am not sure if this actually is considered a rapid change or not but if you are concerned try 3 hours for a while and then go to 4 and do it in little steps.
Helpful - 0
402079 tn?1201541827
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am sorry I am not on the pump at this time and I do not know what you are referring to when you say active insulin.  I do know that growth spurts and hormones really effect how much insulin an individual needs.  The teenage years are very hard for a diabetic and the parents.  I am a female, so my experiences are different but going through puberty and growing was a hard time for me.  I went from very good control at age 13 and then at 14 and 15( I was a late bloomer) had a hard time with my insulin doses and all the changes my body was going through.  I know I am not answering your exact question but I wanted you to know that what you and your son are going through is not unusual.   I would follow the advice of the your doctors, because they do have experience with these types of problems, but I think you are also doing the right thing by inquiring, because although doctors know a lot they often do not understand ever twist and turn of a diabetic because it is a very hard disease to manage and so many factors effect blood sugar on a daily basis.  I think if you look on the JDRF.org website(Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Website) you might find some answers to your questions or be able to get in touch with someone by choosing the option for ODST which can help you get in touch with a family that has experienced some of the same things.  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Diabetes - Type 1 Community

Top Diabetes Answerers
231441 tn?1333892766
Manila, Philippines
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Here are three summertime recipes that will satisfy your hunger without wreaking havoc on your blood sugar.
If you have prediabetes, type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable. Find out how you can stop diabetes before it starts.
Diabetes-friendly recipes and tips for your game day party.
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Simple ways to keep your blood sugar in check.
8 blood sugar-safe eats.