Type 1 diabetes is a complicated condition. It’s not just carbs and insulin. There are so many factors that affect bg. So many things to think about. So much that has to be done intuitively. The complexity of T1D makes it easy to forget things sometimes. Even things as important as your basal insulin. But don’t worry! Here are some simple tips to help you remember your basal insulin, every time.
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No matter which kind of long-acting, or ultra-long-acting, insulin you use, your basal insulin should be taken at the same time every day. It doesn’t matter what else is going on. Regardless of where you are, whether or not you’re eating, and what you’re doing, basal insulin needs to be consistent.
Some people split their basal dose and take it twice a day. Those doses should also be taken at regular intervals, roughly 12 hours apart and at the same time every day.
It sounds fairly straightforward. And most of the time it is. But, even with all of the tips and tricks in the world, everyone forgets to take their basal from time to time. Here are some ideas that you can implement today to make sure you remember your basal.
Create a routine
One of the best ways to remember your basal insulin is to work it into your routine. Maybe you should take your basal when a certain meal. Maybe you take it when you wake up in the morning or when you go to bed at night. Just make sure whatever time you choose is consistent.
Most basal insulins have about a two-hour window. That means, if you usually give it at 7 pm, giving it anywhere between 5 pm and 9 pm once in a while should be fine for your bg. Ultra-long-acting insulins, like Tresiba, have an 8-hour window, which is a lot more flexible.
Even with that flexibility, you want to keep it as close as possible to the same time every day. Not only
Store your basal insulin in a spot that will remind you to take it
Once opened, insulin is good in or out of the fridge for 28 days (some are longer, check the insert on your insulin for its specific storage timeframes). Regardless of type, opened insulin does not need to be kept in the fridge. So, you might as well keep it in a place that will help you remember to take it.
If you take it with a meal, maybe somewhere in the kitchen would work for you. On a counter, shelf, or kitchen table.
If you give your basal when you wake up or before you go to bed, somewhere in your bedroom or bathroom might be best. On a nightstand, next to your toothbrush, or close to your phone charger.
If you’re often on the go and don’t have a consistent schedule, something portable could be the best fit. In a purse or briefcase, in your d-bag, or next to your keys.
No matter what location you choose, make sure your basal insulin is visible. You don’t want to keep it somewhere that is easily overlooked, like in a drawer or cupboard. That visual will help you remember your basal too.
Set an alarm to remember your basal
It sounds simple. Set an alarm on your phone, or on Google or Alexa. Here’s the important part… don’t turn the alarm off until you’ve given the dose.
Life happens. Sometimes you might not be able to give your basal when the alarm goes off. Maybe you’re in the bath. Maybe the dog really needed to go outside. Or, if you’re like my son, you’re near the end of an epic Fortnite game and you can’t just get up and give insulin in the middle of a match Mom!
Sorry, got a little off track there…
The point is, if you’re not ready quite yet, hit snooze or reschedule the alarm. If you clear your alarm without giving your basal, you’re likely to forget whether you’ve done it or not.
Write it down
Even with alarms, sometimes you get distracted or interrupted.
The alarm has gone off. You’re heading to your basal insulin, which you keep in a special place in your room. You’re almost there and your toddler starts crying. You consider quickly doing your basal and then attending to your upset child. But, no, you decide against it.
It’s ok. You can deal with whatever is happening with your little one. You’ll remember to take your basal after. Right?
But what if you don’t? What if it takes more than a couple of minutes and when you’re done, you forget about your basal? Now you can’t recall whether you quickly gave your basal first or dealt with your child first. What if you accidentally give your basal twice?
Situations like this can happen easier than you’d think. It can be helpful to have a log.
Manually track your basal doses
Physical logs can be really helpful. Especially if more than one person might be giving basal insulin. Two parents giving their child insulin for instance. Keeping track of what was done when and by whom will help avoid situations like accidentally doubling your child’s basal dose.
- Use a mini calendar and check off the day when you do your basal dose. Or, get fun stickers to cover the date when you’ve done your insulin.
- Keep a notebook next to your insulin and write down the time, date, and dose when you give your basal. This “little book of pricks” is a pretty fun option!
- Create and print out a personalized spreadsheet to keep track of all of the important details.
- Tell someone else in the house when you’re doing your basal. As they say, two heads are better than one.
Not into manual? Try these instead
Maybe you’re on the go too much to carry a calendar or notebook around with you. Or, you don’t want to create more garbage and recycling than you have to. Maybe devices are more your thing.
- Start a group text to keep everyone who is involved up to date. Mom, Dad, siblings, friends, partners… whoever might be helping with diabetes management can stay in the loop.
- Use a diabetes app like Dexcom, Sugarmate, or your favorite bolus calculator app. Most diabetes apps have a logbook or a place for notes. If you make a habit of using it, you’ll find it easier to remember your basal.
- Keep a simple notebook or logbook app on your phone.
Whichever way you choose to keep track of your basal doses, do it consistently. When you automatically make a note somewhere about having taken your dose, it’ll be a lot easier to determine whether or not you’ve done it.
Use a weekly pill organizer for pen tips
This is my absolute favorite, 1#, if you do nothing else make sure you do this, trick.
My son and I do all of the things to remember his basal insulin. I have an alarm on my phone. He has an alarm on his phone. His Tresiba lives on a ledge in his room next to the sharps container (which he never uses by the way). We have a specific time that works for our schedule. Our Google device chimes a reminder in the living room.
And STILL we both sometimes forget to actually do his basal injection!
The weekly pill organizer has been a lifesaver. It lives next to his Tresiba pen.
In our hectic house with 3 kids and 3 pets, everyone is always on the go doing this and that… often around bedtime one of us would suddenly think of it. Did you do your Tresiba?
And we’d look at each other. Both trying to retrace our steps. Remembering alarms going off and being cleared, but did either of us actually get the Tresiba? Did he get his basal insulin?
Now, we just look at the pill organizer. If the current day has a needle tip in it, we haven’t done his basal. If it’s empty, we did it! So much easier.
T1D is complicated enough
Studies have shown that people with T1D make an average of 180 more decisions a day than someone without T1D. If we can take some of those off of our mental plates, we probably should.
Set your child up for success. Set yourself up for success. Which idea are you going to implement in your T1D management first?
~ Leah
Do you use any of these tricks to remember your basal insulin? Do you have tips or tricks to add to the list? Share them in the comment section!
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