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Always low on a night

S

Smiler99

Well-Known Member
Messages
174
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Needles
My libre 2 scan 4 or more hours after my tea has been in the 5s I was told never go to bed on less then 7mmol, it goes high according to libre and then straight back down to in 5s I just don't know what I'm doing wrong
My ratio is 1 unit to 20 grams of carbs
 
What time you have your dinner? it might be too late

I mean you go to bed while the rapid insulin is still active
 
I think you mentioned two problems
- going high. If you are returning to the level you started, you may benefit from taking your bolus earlier. Different carbs digest at different rates whereas insulin has a fixed profile. Ideally, we want to match the peak of carb digestion to the peak of the insulin curve. Usually, this means taking insulin earlier.
- going lower than you want. You are likely to be taking too much insulin. When calculating your insulin dose, do you include a correction factor? Typically, we thinking of this as extra insulin we need to bring us down to the required level. However, if we start lower than we want to finish, we want to subtract an amount of insulin from the calculation.

For example, if your insulin sensitivity factor (sometimes called ISF) is,1 unit of insulin reduces your blood sugar by 4 units, you will want to take half a unit less than you calculated with your insulin to carb ratio to bring your level down to 7 instead of 5 after your meal.
 
In Response said:
I think you mentioned two problems
- going high. If you are returning to the level you started, you may benefit from taking your bolus earlier. Different carbs digest at different rates whereas insulin has a fixed profile. Ideally, we want to match the peak of carb digestion to the peak of the insulin curve. Usually, this means taking insulin earlier.
- going lower than you want. You are likely to be taking too much insulin. When calculating your insulin dose, do you include a correction factor? Typically, we thinking of this as extra insulin we need to bring us down to the required level. However, if we start lower than we want to finish, we want to subtract an amount of insulin from the calculation.

For example, if your insulin sensitivity factor (sometimes called ISF) is,1 unit of insulin reduces your blood sugar by 4 units, you will want to take half a unit less than you calculated with your insulin to carb ratio to bring your level down to 7 instead of 5 after your meal.
Click to expand...
I haven't learnt anything about carb counting the nurses don't seem bothered by this even though I am struggling

I count what I eat , but the ISF I don't have a clue
 
Last edited:
Smiler99 said:
I haven't learnt anything about carb counting the nurses don't seem bothered by this even though I am struggling

I count what I eat , but the ISF I don't have a clue
Click to expand...
Hiya, have you a correction ratio? Say for example you're BG was sitting at 12 and you wanted to bring it down to 6 & your ratio was 1:3 you would take 2 units of insulin. Does this help?
 
Soplewis12 said:
Hiya, have you a correction ratio? Say for example you're BG was sitting at 12 and you wanted to bring it down to 6 & your ratio was 1:3 you would take 2 units of insulin. Does this help?
Click to expand...
I would take just one that helps
 
I must be more sensitive on a night thanks peeps
 
Smiler99 said:
I would take just one that helps
Click to expand...
If the one unit brings you back in range then that is good but to optimise your results you might need a bit of help in adjusting your basal rate or you bolus rate.
One thing to try is to have a carb free meal & see if your basal holds steady. Then you know your carb ratio might need a tiny bit of adjustment
If doing 1:10 ratio and too high 4/5 hours after a meal try 1:8 ratio. It's so difficult to get both right.
 
Soplewis12 said:
One thing to try is to have a carb free meal & see if your basal holds steady. Then you know your carb ratio might need a tiny bit of adjustment.
Click to expand...
With a carb free meal, we still insulin as our bodies will break down protein to sugar.
This is why carb free is not the way to do a basal test. And the reason I avoid very low carb meals.
 
Soplewis12 said:
If the one unit brings you back in range then that is good but to optimise your results you might need a bit of help in adjusting your basal rate or you bolus rate.
One thing to try is to have a carb free meal & see if your basal holds steady. Then you know your carb ratio might need a tiny bit of adjustment
If doing 1:10 ratio and too high 4/5 hours after a meal try 1:8 ratio. It's so difficult to get both right.
Click to expand...
I had 15 grams yesterday for my lunch (dinner in North East) and I was in the 5s I had no insulin. I took less less insulin with tea half a unit and was at 8 when I went to sleep
 
In Response said:
With a carb free meal, we still insulin as our bodies will break down protein to sugar.
This is why carb free is not the way to do a basal test. And the reason I avoid very low carb meals.
Click to expand...
Hi In Response,
My suggestion was given to me directly from specialist diabetic nurse. From experience it did actually help me.
 
Smiler99 said:
I haven't learnt anything about carb counting the nurses don't seem bothered by this even though I am struggling

I count what I eat , but the ISF I don't have a clue
Click to expand...

Rather than wait for a NHS carb counting course, you could have a look at the online Bertie course, https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/

I've done very well on what I learnt from it.
 
In Response said:
I think you mentioned two problems
- going high. If you are returning to the level you started, you may benefit from taking your bolus earlier. Different carbs digest at different rates whereas insulin has a fixed profile. Ideally, we want to match the peak of carb digestion to the peak of the insulin curve. Usually, this means taking insulin earlier.
- going lower than you want. You are likely to be taking too much insulin. When calculating your insulin dose, do you include a correction factor? Typically, we thinking of this as extra insulin we need to bring us down to the required level. However, if we start lower than we want to finish, we want to subtract an amount of insulin from the calculation.

For example, if your insulin sensitivity factor (sometimes called ISF) is,1 unit of insulin reduces your blood sugar by 4 units, you will want to take half a unit less than you calculated with your insulin to carb ratio to bring your level down to 7 instead of 5 after your meal.
Click to expand...
I would go in to hypo if I did that, as I'm still in honeymoon stage. That is good information if it ever changes
 
Smiler99 said:
My libre 2 scan 4 or more hours after my tea has been in the 5s I was told never go to bed on less then 7mmol, it goes high according to libre and then straight back down to in 5s I just don't know what I'm doing wrong
My ratio is 1 unit to 20 grams of carbs
Click to expand...
What happens when you take less Insulin than your current ratio?
 
I am struggling at the moment too I’ve been recently diagnosed in November.
It keeps going low and it’s really wearing me down. I’m a busy man I work etc.
i am currently only taking my long shot in the morning as the insulin during the day is really messing me up.
 
Lew202 said:
I am struggling at the moment too I’ve been recently diagnosed in November.
It keeps going low and it’s really wearing me down. I’m a busy man I work etc.
i am currently only taking my long shot in the morning as the insulin during the day is really messing me up.
Click to expand...
I'm just another diabetic who got diagnosed in November last year. I take my long acting before bed. Abasaglar that is. That's the one I've lowered first when going low or eating too much during the day. If you're in the honeymoon phase too the ratio for Novorapid doesn't work. You have to adjust to find a sweet spot. I only take 2-3 units for meals upto 80g of carbs. Your diabetes isn't gonna go away. As long as you do things gradually I'm sure you'll get there. Hope this helps. If you can or have got Libre2 it helps a lot
 
Lew202 said:
I am struggling at the moment too I’ve been recently diagnosed in November.
It keeps going low and it’s really wearing me down. I’m a busy man I work etc.
i am currently only taking my long shot in the morning as the insulin during the day is really messing me up.
Click to expand...
Try searching Carb Loading on YouTube if very active during the day. I've been doing so for the last fortnight. It works great
 
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