# Basal Rates and Hormones

**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/basal-rates-and-hormones/4133
**Category:** Hormones
**Created:** [May 31, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/basal-rates-and-hormones/4133 "2018-05-31T12:51:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![T1Allison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c77e96/32.png) [@T1Allison](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/T1Allison)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/basal-rates-and-hormones/4133/3 "2018-05-31T13:04:06Z")

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How I track my hormones:

1. Day 1 of each cycle is menstruation start
2. I only basal test during week 2 of my cycle (about Days 8-12) because they are the least affected by hormones. This sets the “shape” of my basal profile and I change amplitude (temp basals) the rest of the cycle based on need. Conventional wisdom says you can basal test anytime other than menstruation, but I have found it can make your basal profile really lopsided which can become slightly disastrous when you add temporary basals (i.e. something was set at a high hormone time, then when you add 20% next month due to swings it goes that much higher and hello lows!)

My typical cycle plan for basal rates:  
Day 1: -10%  
Days 2-13: +0  
Days 14-17: +15 - +40%  
Days 18-21: +20% - +25%  
Days 22-23: +25% - +35% (for some reason Day 23 is a sluggish disaster every month so may need more)  
Days 24-30: +20% - +30%

\*\*Also note that exercise can really help keep the extra basal needs in check. If I am sedentary during ovulation, all bets are off. I try to get 10,000 steps a day to keep basals functioning properly in my body.

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