How to do fasting tests?

[nskelton]

I'd be interested in testing my basal insulins for both the morning and night. I do have access to a freestyle libre so would possibly help using that if I wanted to test it.

How would I go about it, and I am heading home for Easter for uni and usually my insulin requirements change at home?

At the moment I inject at 9.30pm ish but sometimes hypo in the night but by the time I get up even if I don't hypo my blood creeps up slightly...
Thanks,

Nick

 

[Juicyj]

Hi Nick,

Here is a useful link to guide you on your basal testing:http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007

It sounds like you're taking too much basal which is why the testing would be very useful for you. What background are you on ? Before going onto a pump I was on Tresiba which has a flat profile and lasts 36 hours, it's an ideal basal insulin for night time hypos, but it's probably best to check your current requirements first

 

[nskelton]

Hi Nick,

Here is a useful link to guide you on your basal testing:http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007

It sounds like you're taking too much basal which is why the testing would be very useful for you. What background are you on ? Before going onto a pump I was on Tresiba which has a flat profile and lasts 36 hours, it's an ideal basal insulin for night time hypos, but it's probably best to check your current requirements first

Thank you!
I'm on Levimir and currently take 13 and it drops off maybe by 2-3 which has me all worrying and if my blood is 6 before sleeping I always eat something which I never used to do/nor like doing . Then in the morning it shoots up for example this morning I got woken up at 3 ish and it was 5 and then at 8.30 am my blood was 8.4

 

[Juicyj]

When do you take levemir ?

Morning highs are generally caused by the dawn phenomenon, I woke this morning at 4.2 and with no food had risen to 5.6 about 2 hours later.

 

[nskelton]

When do you take levemir ?

Morning highs are generally caused by the dawn phenomenon, I woke this morning at 4.2 and with no food had risen to 5.6 about 2 hours later.

I used to take it just after 8 but since being at yni and seeing these rises I've been taking I at 9.30-10 ish

 

[rachel162]

Quite often people take less basal to eliminate the lows overnight and then take a small amount of fast acting upon waking to combat dawn phenomenon...Might be something to discuss with your dsn?? Good luck basal testing, your libre will definitely help!

 

[nskelton]

Quite often people take less basal to eliminate the lows overnight and then take a small amount of fast acting upon waking to combat dawn phenomenon...Might be something to discuss with your dsn?? Good luck basal testing, your libre will definitely help!

I take 12-13 sometimes less if I've exercised but I have no idea if it's right as I always seem to drop. I can't sleep in beyond 8-8.30 ish as it wakes me up if I go up and I hate that where as I used to be able to sleep in before uni! And I am usually injecting a small bit of novo rapid upon waking.

I also get anxious of hypoing before bed so have 10-15 g of carbs if my bloods popping down usually if it's below 6 I can't relax and sleep. But then it can push it up. Weird as it's all happened since uni and I get litrle sleep and would love to sort it out

 

[rachel162]

I take 12-13 sometimes less if I've exercised but I have no idea if it's right as I always seem to drop. I can't sleep in beyond 8-8.30 ish as it wakes me up if I go up and I hate that where as I used to be able to sleep in before uni! And I am usually injecting a small bit of novo rapid upon waking.

I also get anxious of hypoing before bed so have 10-15 g of carbs if my bloods popping down usually if it's below 6 I can't relax and sleep. But then it can push it up. Weird as it's all happened since uni and I get litrle sleep and would love to sort it out

Yeah everything changed for me in terms of basal rates when I went to uni as well...I know how frustrating it can be!

I've not been on injections for a few years now, but I know when I was younger I always had to eat something small before bed so my basal could be high enough to combat DP. Splitting my basal helped considerably as I could have less overnight then more to last me through the day, although I can't remember which insulin you can and can't do that with...others will be more informed in that respect!

I'd say if you always seem to drop your basal probably needs adjusting, but check it for a few (exercise free) days with your libre to see if you can spot a pattern overnight. Then look at a few days when you are exercising to see if you need more of an adjustment (whenever I go to the gym in the evening I'll drop my basal for a few hours so I don't end up low later). It's a frustratingly long process but definitely worth it when you see improvements.

Once you're more stable you may be able to worry less about hypos, but to be honest so long as eating a bit when you're at 6 isn't taking you too high, it might be easier for now than the risk of going low, especially if you may be dropping anyway.

Glad you're trying to improve things now rather than just ignoring it (as I did at uni) and good luck!

R x