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Blood sugar question

annapanna93

annapanna93

Well-Known Member
Messages
54
Location
Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hey guys,

So I know we're supposed to be under 9 two hours after eating, but how long after the two hour check are we supposed to be back between 4 - 7?

Thank you as always!
Anna
 
Some say 4hours. I've been told 5 hours by my best consultants. For me they are right.
If I drop to 5 by 3 -4 hours I am pretty much guaranteed to be hypo at 5 hours.
My basal rates are pretty good without food so it is the food bolus that knocks me lower in that 3-5 hour period.
 
annapanna93 said:
Hey guys,

So I know we're supposed to be under 9 two hours after eating, but how long after the two hour check are we supposed to be back between 4 - 7?

Thank you as always!
Click to expand...

Fast-acting insulin will peak around the 2 hour mark but remains active for up to 4-5 hours as @donnellysdogs mentions, so realistically you should be back in your target bg range by the time you next eat (or when your bolus dose is exhausted).
 
Part of the answer depends on where you started before eating, whether the bolus was taken in advance (if appropriate) and whether the carb counting was accurate.

Assuming an ideal scenario there is usually some tail to the bolus insulin at the 3 hour mark I believe so it should still be lowering albeit probably slower after the peak.
 
See what it is 3.5-4 hours after. Skip the earlier stuff for now.
 
As a T1 on bolus, you should be able to eat when you want.

However, with eating in between meals it can mean that you wont be able to tell which bolus has made you high or low.

If you have an Aviva Expert Meter and its set up for your requirements it makes eating betweeen meals easier.

However, my bestconsultants always told me to keep 5 hours between meals if possible. (Easy for me, as a rule I only like to eat once a day anyway).

You need to test, test, test and find what works for you.

If you normally eat every 3 hoyrs then you would be best to speak to your DSN and for you to get help to find the best way for you to manage that way of eating.
 
Can i ask something while on this subject?

This has happened to me a few times when I am estimating my bolous. I am honeymooning so I am only injecting a few units. I had my tea tonight, roughly 95g of carbs. I gave myself 3 units, my pre meal bs was 6.2 and 2 hrs later it was 5.7.

I had a small snack as I know the insulin is still working for up to 5 hours. Have I done this right? Or do you think im too low after two hours and maybe 2 units would have been ample?

Cheers John

Sorry for hijacking the topic
 
Jc3131 said:
Can i ask something while on this subject?

This has happened to me a few times when I am estimating my bolous. I am honeymooning so I am only injecting a few units. I had my tea tonight, roughly 95g of carbs. I gave myself 3 units, my pre meal bs was 6.2 and 2 hrs later it was 5.7.

I had a small snack as I know the insulin is still working for up to 5 hours. Have I done this right? Or do you think im too low after two hours and maybe 2 units would have been ample?

Cheers John

Sorry for hijacking the topic
Click to expand...

Inwould have had the small snack too.

However, you need a 1/2 unit pen to fine tweak... you could then try 2.5 units instead of dropping by a full unit.

We cannot actually say what insulin you should give... we can only say what we would do...

If it was me I would have had a small snack and monitored hourly.

However I would not change my bolys until I had basal tested to make sure that is right.

Then if basal was right I would lower my insulin to 2.5 units.

However, iudeally you would not be guestimating your insulin. If you get an aviva expert meter from yoyr DSN and they help you set it up and you understand how to alter your carb ratios then you wouldnt need to guestimate... the meter if its set up right and you understand how to adjust settings, then it makes it easier...
 
Cheers. I tested about half hr after my snack and was 7.1. So not too bad. My basal is only 4 units at mo. When I wake im always around the 5.2- 6.2 mark.
 
Jc3131 said:
Cheers. I tested about half hr after my snack and was 7.1. So not too bad. My basal is only 4 units at mo. When I wake im always around the 5.2- 6.2 mark.
Click to expand...

Have you got 1/2 unit pens though?

On such small doses you need to be tweaking by 1/2 units, not full units..
 
noblehead said:
At 3 hours I'd expect to be below 7.

There's tables on the net showing the profiles of various insulin's and how much is used up after each hour that passes.
Click to expand...

Hiya all,

Why <7 Noblehead?

My table shows 90% insulin used by 3 hours.

If one has injected 10 units novorapid, then 1 unit to be used.
For me 1 insulin unit = 3 BG.
If my BG was under 7 after 3 hours I'd hypo on 5 hours.
So I'd hope to have BG=8 after 3 hrs with 10 units.

Also my table shows 65% insulin taken up after 2 hours. I'd expect my BG's to be very high with 35% insulin still to be used.
I dont understand why it would be <9 unless ypu are injecting only a few units.

Thoughts? Cheers guys.
 
I think people on pumps can manage easier to stay under 7 at 3 hours to be honest.. although technically they bolus the same. They can alter basals on an hourly basis which is a bit different to MDI.
I worry if less than 6 at 3 hours because I know my bolus will last in me for 5hrs 45 mins..
 
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