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Hyperglycaemia (High Blood Glucose)

High blood glucose can occur while using the pump for the same reasons it did when you were not on the pump, including some situations that are unique to insulin pump therapy:

Too Much Food
Not Enough Insulin
Loss of Insulin Potency
Not Receiving Insulin From The Pump

The goal of treating hyperglycaemia is to prevent Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and delay or prevent diabetes complications due to high blood glucose over an extended period of time.

If for any reason you are not receiving insulin or are not absorbing the proper amount of insulin, your blood glucose will rise quickly. This can occur with insulin pump therapy from the interruption of insulin delivery due to the infusion set becoming dislodged, infusion set clogs, leaks, or from the insulin no longer being absorbed properly.

Since the pump only delivers short-acting insulin, hyperglycaemia can occur rapidly. It is important that you understand these guidelines:

Hyperglycaemia Protocol

If one blood glucose reading is above 13.9 mmol/l, immediate steps must be taken:

	Immediately take a correction bolus with the pump
	Recheck your blood glucose in 60-90 minutes.

If the reading is not coming down, do the following:

	Take a correction insulin injection by syringe (not through the pump).
	Change infusion set.
	Drink liquids with no calories every 30 minutes (for example: Diet Ginger Ale, Broth, Water).
	Test blood glucose every 2 hours and continue to take correction insulin injections until blood glucose reaches target.
	Check urine for ketones and call your doctor if ketones are present.
	Call your doctor if your blood glucose and urine ketones remain elevated or you are unable to drink.

NOTE: You should always have a meter, glucose strips and ketone strips available to you at all times to test your blood glucose and ketones. Without them, diabetes management becomes a guessing game and the threat of serious problems from hyperglycaemia or DKA increase.