Insulin dosage query

[Cjburny]

Hey all, was wondering anyone could help me out with a subject I'm stumped on.

So I was diagnosed about two months ago now, and naturally been working my way up from knowing nothing to now being able to keep my bloods in a good range and have a some what normal life.

But now I've started working and my work is miles away from where I live, breakfast and lunch don't concern me as I can eat before I go and take something with me as I get one break on my shift.

I'm stumped though on what to do with dinner, by time I get back and have everything cooked it's about 21:00pm and I've been told I have to wait a minimum of four hours between taking my fast acting and my slow acting insulin before bed, this would mean going to bed at around midnight... Which for full time work I wouldn't be able to function having to wake up early on top of this to catch my train...

Is there anyway to work around this??? Is having a nap after dinner ok. Or is that whole four hour thing nonsense..

And naturally I know a lot of you are really nice and helpful but before anyone says it, please don't just comment "get a job closer" as sadly that's not an option, although I'm sure no one on this forum would, wish I could say the same for the other forums I've asked

 

[Mrs Vimes]

I was never made aware of that 4 hour rule when I was on injections. I just took my lantus at 10pm every night whatever as I went to bed.
Just bumping this hoping someone can give you the science behind it.

 

[EllenRooney93]

Hi
I have never been told about the 4 hour rule but if i do have something late at night i set an alarm for about three hours after i have taken my novorapid to make sure im not going low.

 

[AndyS]

Never heard of a 4 hour rule.

I try to always take my basal insulin at the same time and if I happen to have to bolus just before then so be it.

If I eat really late (like after my evening bolus) then I tend to find I need to adjust my ratios to be lower than normal. The only way you can answer that question unfortunately is to test for it yourself since we are all different and what works for me may not for you.

Good luck!

 

[Emily95]

I think it's because quick acting insulin lasts about 4 hours, so they want that out of your system when you go to sleep. I never go to sleep unless my last quick acting injection was 4 hours ago, so I know that I won't drop in the night.

 

[Flakey Bake]

I think this is more important whilst you are newish to insulin, probably honeymooning and suffering with changing insulin requirements. Some people have suggested doing a night time wake up alarm and BG check. This might be wise until you are confident that you won't hypo in your sleep. Best of luck

 

[Natalie1974]

Not heard that one before...but most likely to avoid insulin stacking...thus running the risk of hypos. As others have said try setting an alarm to test a couple of hours after your meal. It'll all start falling into place eventually. Are you carb counting?

 

[noblehead]

HI'm stumped though on what to do with dinner, by time I get back and have everything cooked it's about 21:00pm and I've been told I have to wait a minimum of four hours between taking my fast acting and my slow acting insulin before bed, this would mean going to bed at around midnight... Which for full time work I wouldn't be able to function having to wake up early on top of this to catch my train...

Slightly confused by your post, do you mean you've been told to keep your bolus and basal dose 4 hours apart, if so this is wrong information, as long as you inject both insulins in different sites they can be taken around the same time.

When I was on MDI I would take my lantus insulin around the same time that I bolused for my evening meal, which was between 6-7pm.

 

[Cjburny]

Sorry about the rushed post guys, naturally I'm pretty much half dead from being out of the whole working game in general and because of this, I promise I usually construct grammatically correct sentences, to clarify.

About a month after discharge and before I was told to always space my shots out with a min of four hours, which when not working is easy

But naturally now that I am I'm finding that working to this specific time scale is extremely difficult, from what I've read it seems most of you just do as you please as to what suits you.

Which is kinda what I was after, I have an appointment with my diabetic team in like a few weeks so I can always clarify then.

My BGL's are usually always good, I never really go over ten unless I'm ill (Ie right now yay) or stressing, my carb counting is pretty much on point for someone who's only been diagnosed for just over two months.

I was just kinda pumped full of water and insulin then kicked out of hospital the next day with a leaflet, two insulin pens, some needles and a good luck card so the term "being thrown in the deep end" is a very lax way of describing how my learning curve went

 

[noblehead]

The 4 hour gap is referenceto your bolus doses @Cjburny, quick-acting insulin like Novorapid can still be active up to 4-5 hours after injecting, the fear by HCP's is if you inject your bolus doses too close together you get a stacking effect which can lead to hypo's.

It sounds like your doing good btw, its early days mate