My Mom is having "a reaction" to re-starting insulin. She has woke up with very low blood sugar...

[rickluthe]

...the last 3 nights. Any advice?

 

[Brunneria]

Can she set the alarm for the middle of the night, wake up, test, dose as appropriate, then go back to sleep?

 

[rickluthe]

Thanks; she won't like it, but good idea. We're contacting her Dr. also.

 

[Ambersilva]

With low blood sugar urgently give some fast acting glucose or sugar. Test again after 15 minutes and if levels are still low give more sugar or glucose or juice like apple or orange and test again at 15 minutes. Do not inject insulin. It is surprising that one or two glucose tablets, sugar or juice may be enough. Follow up with some carbohydrate such as toast.

If blood glucose rises slightly more than advised levels resist the temptation to correct with insulin. Keep testing. Seek medical advice from medical professionals if you are worried. Also seek advice from medical team on reducing amount of insulin injected and/or increasing carbohydrate eaten at each meal.

 

[rickluthe]

Thanks! We had a bit of a time getting her to go back on her insulin at all...

 

[AlexMBrennan]

Can she set the alarm for the middle of the night, wake up, test, dose as appropriate, then go back to sleep?

And what will that achieve? You already know that she has hypos every night, and you don't "wake up and dose" for your nightly hypos.
Since we have established that your mom has hypos every night, it seems probable that the basal insulin is responsible (if she injected too much for dinner you wouldn't expect it to happen every day) and you should either reduce basal insulin or add a small bedtime carbohydrate snack (depending on what insulin you are using).

 

[mo1905]

Good advice from Alex. Also, what numbers are we talking about when you say "very low blood sugar" ?

 

[Brunneria]

And what will that achieve? You already know that she has hypos every night, and you don't "wake up and dose" for your nightly hypos.
Since we have established that your mom has hypos every night, it seems probable that the basal insulin is responsible (if she injected too much for dinner you wouldn't expect it to happen every day) and you should either reduce basal insulin or add a small bedtime carbohydrate snack (depending on what insulin you are using).

'Dose' is a multipurpose word.

You can dose with glucose just as easily as with insulin.

In addition, it would allow her to build a picture of her glucose levels during the night.