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Carbohydrate counting and Mid afternoon high glucose

S

subkeeper

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Type 1 diabetes - 23 years, I have recently done the CHO counting course. Also new to these forums.

My Blood sugars after lunch seems to require much more insulin than in the morning time.
The CP ratio appears to be around 2.5 to 3 at lunch, but 2.0 in the morning and 1.5 at evening meals.
Is such a fluctuation normal?

Also exercise at 8am dramatically reduces insulin required at lunch (12-30pm), but morning insulin and food remain virtually unaffected ( I may need to take 1unit or 2 before exercise)- so a lag in response to exercise early in the day.

Exercise == 30 mins eliptical cross trainer - fairly rigorous.

If I Exercise at evening meal , my body seems to react almost immediately to the exercise, and I lower insulin requirements by 6units then. Blood sugar seems to regulate immediately after eating at 6pm and 30 min training at 6-30pm.

My blood sugars are steady overnight and in the morning. Its the afternoon fluctuation that can be complicated.

Are these fairly normal traits?
 
Hi Subkeeper,
Welcome to the forum, could your basal insulin be running out at lunchtime, therefore requiring more insulin to carb ratio. This has happened to my son who is on Levemir, we have corrected this by giving an extra couple of units of Humalog at 4pm, rather than splitting his basal.
Suzi x
 
Hi Subkeeper,
it may very well be, its a case of trial and error i'm afraid, as everyone is different. What you could do is delay lunch by a couple of hours and see if your bs is still rising. Many people find they have to split Levemir/Lantus into two doses as they don't seem to last for 24hrs.
Suzi x
 
Im puzzled by the issue. Some more information:
If I lie in at the weekend , the afternoon sugar rise is far worse, and conversely If I train in the morning, the issue is more or less eradicated. So activity in the morning is almost necessary!
The time when the sugar appears to rise is at 13-14 hours after the basal dose (between 12-30pm and 2-30pm). Its directly after lunch. Sugars can absolutely rocket into the 20s very quickly after lunch, and correction doses are very high - 2units per 1mmol.
And I feel between 20-24 hours things are stable again, that is, if sugar levels are good at 6pm, they'll be fine at 11pm.
Very frustrating!
 
Hi Subkeeper,
From what you say about the neccessity to exercise to lower bs, would seem you haven't enough basal insulin in your system. Along with high afternoon readings, i'd say your basal is running out. I can only suggest splitting your basal, you will have to talk to a health proffessional to be told what and how to split your dose. Good luck
Suzi x
 
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