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4 hypos in a 12hrs

T

Type1Mum

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone,
Today's been one of those days! Feeling like the hypos have claimed the day.
I work 4 days a week and my insulin amounts work well for the days I'm working, but today was a day off. Should be easier than working you think, but with a 3 & a 4 year old the school & playschool run, the housework, shopping and general catching up I always seem to hypo. Granted today was worse than usual! Lol So I thought I'd message to see how you guys adjust you insulin for days say at a desk and days that are more active. I've tried dropping units from my fast acting but it always seems to end in hypos! HELP please!! Lol
 
Hi Type1Mum
Sorry to hear about the hypos. Tricky to prevent them when busy especially if you are on a basal / bolus regime. Using something like the Libre monitor would help (sadly not yet available on prescription) but expensive.
I was having frequent issues with hypos on basal / bolus (especially overnight) and asked to be considered for an insulin pump.
I have been on one for over six years now and the number of hypos has dropped dramatically whilst my HbA1c has improved,
much less blood glucose variability. May be worth considering this as an option (also bear in mind only 1 "injection" every 3 days rather than several) also basal rates of insulin can be adjusted easily to account for levels of activity.
Hope this is of some help.
 
Hello there I personally reduce my basal dose on more active days by about 20% then test more and keep jelly babies at close hand - testing more frequently is a good way to see what's going on so try and up the anti on this to try and prevent a hypo before it happens ;)
 
WHM said:
Hi Type1Mum
Sorry to hear about the hypos. Tricky to prevent them when busy especially if you are on a basal / bolus regime. Using something like the Libre monitor would help (sadly not yet available on prescription) but expensive.
I was having frequent issues with hypos on basal / bolus (especially overnight) and asked to be considered for an insulin pump.
I have been on one for over six years now and the number of hypos has dropped dramatically whilst my HbA1c has improved,
much less blood glucose variability. May be worth considering this as an option (also bear in mind only 1 "injection" every 3 days rather than several) also basal rates of insulin can be adjusted easily to account for levels of activity.
Hope this is of some help.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your advice. I'm on the Libre and still can't seem to avoid them! My diabetic nurse spoke about the pumps before, but I'm not completely sure what they do if I'm honest and the pros against the cons! Maybe I'll speak to her again...
 
Juicyj said:
Hello there I personally reduce my basal dose on more active days by about 20% then test more and keep jelly babies at close hand - testing more frequently is a good way to see what's going on so try and up the anti on this to try and prevent a hypo before it happens ;)
Click to expand...
20% ok maybe I'll try that tomorrow and see what happens. Yes jelly babies have been on hand all day, just don't seem to be taking me above 4.6 all day. Warning signs are not kicking in until I'm really low so I think the 20% will definitely be a good place to start. Thanks again!
 
Hi @Type1Mum . Sorry you've had a difficult day. Has there been any pattern to your hypos?
Have they been within 2/3 hrs of eating and bolusing or have they been 5 hrs or so after eating?
What has been your hypo treatment?
Always have to change my ratios for the weekend but if something unexpected crops up I can be a bit ********.
Hope tomorrow is more stable.
 
therower said:
Hi @Type1Mum . Sorry you've had a difficult day. Has there been any pattern to your hypos?
Have they been within 2/3 hrs of eating and bolusing or have they been 5 hrs or so after eating?
What has been your hypo treatment?
Always have to change my ratios for the weekend but if something unexpected crops up I can be a bit ********.
Hope tomorrow is more stable.
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks for you reply. No not linked to eating and dropped one unit of every meal for being more active too. Hypo treatments have been jelly babies, apple juice and glucotabs (I'll try anything!) how much do you change you ratios at the weekend by? I think this is what I need to do, but not sure by how much? The one unit I've dropped at each meal is 20% novorapid but I kept the levemir the same.
 
Hi @Type1Mum . At the weekend I keep my basal insulin the same but my bolus goes 2:1 as opposed to 1:1 in the week.
One thing I would definitely look at if I was you is hypo treatment.
Jelly babies, glucose tabs etc are fine for getting you out of a hypo but I would personally follow up with some proper food especially if I was continuing to be active.
Don't know your dietary regime but for me jelly babies or glucotabs would have been followed by a sandwich or some malt loaf or a banana with peanut butter.
Only a suggestion but maybe worth a try if you go low and don't have the chance to slow down.
I have 2 grandkids now days and know how easy it is for diabetes to be the last thing on my mind at times.
 
i second the advice to follow up with some long acting carbs. If I have a busy day and am going lower than normal, I have glucose and then a small biscuit or similar.

I do have a pump but sometimes I still need to 'top up' with food as its not always possible to predict how active you'll be with young children! If I know the whole day will be more active, then I do use a temp basal rate on my pump, which I find very useful.
 
therower said:
Hi @Type1Mum . At the weekend I keep my basal insulin the same but my bolus goes 2:1 as opposed to 1:1 in the week.
One thing I would definitely look at if I was you is hypo treatment.
Jelly babies, glucose tabs etc are fine for getting you out of a hypo but I would personally follow up with some proper food especially if I was continuing to be active.
Don't know your dietary regime but for me jelly babies or glucotabs would have been followed by a sandwich or some malt loaf or a banana with peanut butter.
Only a suggestion but maybe worth a try if you go low and don't have the chance to slow down.
I have 2 grandkids now days and know how easy it is for diabetes to be the last thing on my mind at times.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice. To be honest I eat 3 meals a day and no snacks, so following it up with a slow burning carb is probably a very good call! Yes I treat the hypo and have someone wanting something so that's probably not helping! Ha ha
2:1 sounds like a safe way to do it, I could always correct if the pre meal was too high?
I thought there must be other people who have found a solution to this! Thanks again for the advice.
 
azure said:
i second the advice to follow up with some long acting carbs. If I have a busy day and am going lower than normal, I have glucose and then a small biscuit or similar.

I do have a pump but sometimes I still need to 'top up' with food as its not always possible to predict how active you'll be with young children! If I know the whole day will be more active, then I do use a temp basal rate on my pump, which I find very useful.
Click to expand...
Thanks I think the long acting carb follow up is a very good call (& im not sure why I never thought about it before?!) really appreciate the extra info, suppose sometimes you're too close to see!! Ha ha
 
deffo agree with following up the quick acting with a slow carb -- 1 digestive is 11 carbs, or 2 Jacobs cream crackers
do let us know how you progress
all the best !
 
As basal and bolus generally run hand in hand I always have to alter both.
Ie if I eat more for xmas times my qty of bolus goes up in 24 hours, not evdn the ratios.. so I will need mire basal too.

The same goes when I'm hypo.. if its not due to a carb mess up counting... I will need to altsr basal and bolus.. It might just be 1/2 unit of basal that is knocked off but it us normal for me to considering changing both bolus and basal in your scenario.

Have you got 1/2 unit pens?
 
donnellysdogs said:
As basal and bolus generally run hand in hand I always have to alter both.
Ie if I eat more for xmas times my qty of bolus goes up in 24 hours, not evdn the ratios.. so I will need mire basal too.

The same goes when I'm hypo.. if its not due to a carb mess up counting... I will need to altsr basal and bolus.. It might just be 1/2 unit of basal that is knocked off but it us normal for me to considering changing both bolus and basal in your scenario.

Have you got 1/2 unit pens?
Click to expand...
No haven't got a 1/2 unit pen. I've tried the 2-1 ratio this morning at breakfast and it's kept me at 7.6 so that seem to have worked this morning. I will see how the rest of the day/weekend goes.
Thanks for the above. I see the logic in adjusting both. I still find it interesting that we all react differently to differently to certain times and different things work best for each of us at times. I think if the 2-1 takes me to the lower end of the "ideal" level I will adjust the background next. Thanks again.
 
Get a 1/2 unit pen for basal and bolus... this would give you an opportunity to fine tune a little bit more.
The latest meters like the aviva expert also do 1/2 unit recommendations for doses....
 
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