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Can't seem to get levels up?

D

DonnaC-T

Well-Known Member
Messages
295
Location
Essex
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi
I can't seem to get my levels up. The highest I've hot it all night is 4.2. Lowest 2.1, this is whilst eating.
It went from 2.7 then 2.4 then 2.1 while eating too.
Completely confused.
Donna x
 
Have some fast acting sugar in liquid form, lucozade, full sugar pop etc. if none of them available have a glass of milk. Shouldn't need much, just 3~4 mouthfuls. Test 10 mins later unless feeling low,odd. Let us know how u get on.

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dont know of its right or not but when having a hypo/low you need to get your levels up quickly, best being in liquid form before your stomach starts digesting food properly. Alternatively, 3~4 jelly babies or equivalent.

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It's back down to 4.0, I've just had some Lucozade - never had it before. Really not sure what's going on. I've always managed to bring it up with a couple of digestives?
I've set my alarm so I can keep an eye on it.
Very strange and I just feel washed out now ?
Thanks for advice x
 
No problem, Lucozade acts very quickly so if your still only four have a few more mouthfuls tul you get to levels up. When was your last bolus, if it was less than 3 hours so you wil still have some working, get up to at least 7 before bed, otherwise you will more than likely have another hypo. If you have recently eaten that will probably start digesting and help to stay stable. If you overshoot the 7 mark a bit don't use a correction dose, as your liver wil want to replenish any glucose lost over a period of time. Hope that makes sense, but please don't go to bed less than 7 after hypos like that. Take care.

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Is bolus quick acting? I did my Novorapid at about 7 pm. I'm not sure about correction doses, I've never done that/ not been told.
Why am I still rubbish at this?
Really appreciate the replies x
 
Yes, bolus is qa (quick acting). That should be all out of you now so thats good. Just get your levels up to 7ish hopefully that wil do the job. Are you on set doses of insulin or carb counting.

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Set doses. I've asked about carb counting and am waiting for a course.
It's at 4.9 now, twenty minutes after lucozade and a bowl of cereal. X
 
Probably don't want to hear this but set doses is not a good way to manage type 1. are you on a long acting one also?

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Yes I do 3 x Novorapid 8,8 and 16. And then Lantus 24. My diabetes nurse was not particularly interested in the carb counting, quite dismissive but I asked to be referred anyway.
Would you have a bit more lucozade?
 
Do you know ouf you eat the same amount of carbs for your meals. I would guess not which on set doses will cause lots of highs/lows. for example if you have 8 units nova rapid for breakfast and have 2 slices of toast and your levels are ok from breakfast till lunch, great. However if you decided to have 3 slices of toast you would need 12 units as you have eaten extra carbs. If you decided to have 1 slice you would only bed 4 units.

However, for the basal/bolus (long/quick acting) routine to work properly and before carb counting you need to get your basal (long acting) right. This is meant to keep you stable between meals, through the night our even if you miss/delay a meal altogether. Seems like your basal may be out quite a lot as your struggling to get your levels up 4 hours after using your quick acting. There is basal testing to do to check 3 periods through the day by missing 1 meal a day, and the worst one but probably most important one overnight, as you should not drop by more than 2 overnight but without going up to much neither. will go through the basal testing in depth tomoz if you like.

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Hi donna soz to see u having a tough evening hun i agree with everything brett said hang in there and keep nagging alot of drs and nurses can be total numptys but don't give in its your health not there's and u need to get it sorted good luck and use this forum as much as u need it as sometimes this is the best place for help and advice x

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Thanks guys. I really do appreciate it. Brett, yes that would be good.
It's 6.1 now, I've set my alarm for another hour. X
 
DonnaC-T said:
Yes I do 3 x Novorapid 8,8 and 16. And then Lantus 24. My diabetes nurse was not particularly interested in the carb counting, quite dismissive but I asked to be referred anyway.
Would you have a bit more lucozade?
Click to expand...


That is a lot of insulin.

The guidance is 0.5 units per kilogram of your weight. So if you weigh 60 kilograms your total daily insulin is 30 units.

The 30 units are split between fast acting and slow acting insulin. That would mean injecting 15 units of slow acting (Lantus) per day. The remaining 15 units are divided between the meals.

My total daily insulin is 28 units. I inject 14 units Lantus. Mealtime doses are between 3 and 6 units.

When I was first diagnosed I was on a total of 36 units per day. I found that I had to eat so much more than I did before diagnosis just to keep up with the insulin. I have had the Lantus as low as 10 units but now seem to have stabilised to 13 or 14 units.
 
I didn't know about the ratios.
I'm 7.8 this morning but I feel so washed out. I'm not sure I want to spend the day with a year one class! Lol
Can you get pockets if insulin under the skin? I do rotate but can't think why this happened? It felt like I'd taken so much insulin.
Thanks again for the help, you've all been great x
 
Ambersilva said:
DonnaC-T said:
Yes I do 3 x Novorapid 8,8 and 16. And then Lantus 24. My diabetes nurse was not particularly interested in the carb counting, quite dismissive but I asked to be referred anyway.
Would you have a bit more lucozade?
Click to expand...


That is a lot of insulin.

The guidance is 0.5 units per kilogram of your weight. So if you weigh 60 kilograms your total daily insulin is 30 units.

The 30 units are split between fast acting and slow acting insulin. That would mean injecting 15 units of slow acting (Lantus) per day. The remaining 15 units are divided between the meals.

My total daily insulin is 28 units. I inject 14 units Lantus. Mealtime doses are between 3 and 6 units.

When I was first diagnosed I was on a total of 36 units per day. I found that I had to eat so much more than I did before diagnosis just to keep up with the insulin. I have had the Lantus as low as 10 units but now seem to have stabilised to 13 or 14 units.
Click to expand...
I wish, I weigh 67kg and use at least 240 units a day (yes 240 not a typo) 120 slow and at least 120 rapid and still run in the teens.

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