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Inject insulin before or after a meal.

J

johnstoc

Active Member
Messages
29
Location
oldham
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,
Question, do type 1's find themselves injecting insulin just before or just after a meal?

Been T1D for about 10years, injecting after a meal.
Reasoning, carb count the meal. Work out the units, injecting after the meal.

If I injecting before the meal, what if I don't finish the meal? I've injected too much insulin.

Went to see a consultant yesterday, and he said inject before said meal, I actually thought I misheard him so didn't challenge. But got me thinking.

What do other T1D do?
 
I inject upto 30mins before the meal depending on the meal and my current BG level.

If out for the meal I will usual inject just before the meal as there is no guarantee how long meal will take or size of meal.

When first diagnosed I cut out alot of my snacking as i can’t be bothered to bolus for it … so come meal time I am usually ravenous and finish every meal.
 
I have been advised to always inject before eating.
Fast acting insulin works slower than the time it takes for us to absorb the carbs in the food we eat. If I I inject after eating, my blood sugars peak high before coming down for this reason.
If you are based in the UK, you are entitled to Libre which will help you see these peaks and allow you to adjust your dose timing to minimise them.
I understand your concern about not eating everything on your plate. How often does this happen? For me, it is only when I eat out l. Then I give myself multiple injections: one small injection before I eat and then a top up when I have finished and know how much
 
johnstoc said:
Hi all,
Question, do type 1's find themselves injecting insulin just before or just after a meal?

Been T1D for about 10years, injecting after a meal.
Reasoning, carb count the meal. Work out the units, injecting after the meal.

If I injecting before the meal, what if I don't finish the meal? I've injected too much insulin.

Went to see a consultant yesterday, and he said inject before said meal, I actually thought I misheard him so didn't challenge. But got me thinking.

What do other T1D do?
Click to expand...
Although Type 2 and not on insulin, was wondering the exact same thing.
 
The reason to inject before the meal is that insulin can take at least 30 minutes to start working and food digestion can be quicker than that. If you inject after a meal the two things will not coincide. My Freestyle Libre 2 shows what happens when I forget to inject.
 
Daibell said:
The reason to inject before the meal is that insulin can take at least 30 minutes to start working and food digestion can be quicker than that. If you inject after a meal the two things will not coincide. My Freestyle Libre 2 shows what happens when I forget to inject.
Click to expand...
At least 30 minutes? Some of us found NovoRapid taking 40 minutes or longer in the morning.
 
Depends on what I’m eating pasta , pizza etc definitely after sometimes two hours after but as a general “ normal “ rule it’s 20 mins before for me , but nothing is “ hard and fast” I’ve found in the 40 + years of diabetes
 
It used to always be before a meal, but since going onto Fiasp insulin and getting a Libre, it depends on my blood sugar, and what I'm eating. Normally I'll bolus for the meal 15 minutes before, but if bloods are high, it can be up to an hour before, if they're edging towards hypo territory, I either bolus mid meal or after my meal, otherwise I hypo. Pasta etc is part before, part later on.
 
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