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Low Blood Sugars Daily

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seanstim

Member
Messages
7
hello new to the forum does anybody else experience blood sugar lows everyday I seem super sensitive to insulin currently on a ratio 1:25 1:30 and still seem to go low

for example this morning
99g c 3.5 units of nova rapid 1 hour after meal 7.0 2 hours after 2.8 im very active and go to the gym a lot I physical can not do a weight session without have carbs right before I workout if I don't do this I will go low. just wondering if there's anybody else about that is super sensitive to insulin because it stresses me out that I seem to be the only person.
 
Hi @seanstim

What type of diabetes do you have and when we're you diagnosed?

Have you done a basal test to check your basal imsulin is correct?
 
Hi @seanstim, welcome. Have you ever done a basal test to check whether you are taking the correct amount of basal insulin? What we often see is that sensitivity to fast acting insulins is really heavily dependent on your background insulin and is oftern a sign that this isn't quite set correctly. Details of how to do a test like this can be found here: https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/
 
I was diagnosed 7 years ago and have always seemed to be super sensitive I take 4 units of lantus and check around 10 times a day when I wake for a wee I check usually 4 to 4.5 and morning bg is always between 4 and 5 never a reading above
 
was diagnosed with type 1 but not soo sure as to what I am any more such small amounts of insulin seem to send me low
 
seanstim said:
was diagnosed with type 1 but not soo sure as to what I am any more such small amounts of insulin seem to send me low
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Your exercise could be increasing your insulin sensitivity (not a bad thing) When I was first diagnosed, I was on a basal of 2 units, but it's now still only around 7 units more than 20 years later (I'm on a pump)

Do you have half unit pens? I find they're really helpful if you're only taking small doses of insulin.

Have you considered a pump? That allows for fine adjustments and temporary basal rates for exercise.

If you're continually going low then it would suggest you need less insulin. The right amount of insulin is the amount that works for you There are people here on tiny doses and people on much larger doses. Insulin needs can vary a lot.
 
many thanks for the boost of confidence just gets me down from time to time not considered one I would really like a constant glucose monitoring meter but don't know if I would be aloud one on the nhs iv got half unit pens never considered a pump neither have my doctors advised one
 

Try a basal test as suggested just to be sure all's ok with your basal, as that's the foundation you build on so if it's wrong then you can be fighting a bit of a losing battle.

It's great Younhave half unit pens. It could be even a small reduction in insulin might help eg basal at 3.5 units or whatever. Also, don't be afraid to,tweak your ratios (if you're confident doing so) There's no rule that says they have to be multiples of 5. One of my ratios is 1 to 11g carbs. When you're sensitive to insulin, tiny adjustments can make all the difference.

You may also want to,experiment with things like reducing your bolus for a meal if you know you're going to,exercise after.
 
@azure what kind of levels do you look for 1 hour and 2 hours after finishing a meal I always tried to get below 6 1 hour after was worried to be at like 7 1 hour after ?
 
seanstim said:
@azure what kind of levels do you look for 1 hour and 2 hours after finishing a meal I always tried to get below 6 1 hour after was worried to be at like 7 1 hour after ?
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You should, of course, be guided by your health professionals and your own circumstances when deciding target levels.

I relax my targets when necessary, but as a general idea, I aim to be below 7.5 two hours after eating. I only test at one hour if I think my carb count may be wrong or if I have new foods or am eating out, etc. ideally, I like to be below 7 at two hours, but I use my judgement for each situation and avoid overcorrecting.
 
seanstim said:
@azure what kind of levels do you look for 1 hour and 2 hours after finishing a meal I always tried to get below 6 1 hour after was worried to be at like 7 1 hour after ?
Click to expand...

Sorry - just reread what you said above. The 'two hour test' is timed from the start of the meal. So if you eat breakfast at 7am you test at 9am for your two hour result. You can, of course, do additional tests as you please, but the 'timer' begins at the start of the meal.
 

Hi there seanstim,

If I go out on the bike I have to quadruple my carb intake or quarter my insulin intake. I usually take less insulin 'cos I can't see the point in getting some exersise then eating more

Some days I don't bother with an injection before I get on the bike (tandem actually which can be hard work as we live on the Penine foothills) but I do keep a meter with me and glucose tablets and dried fruit just in case.
 
Hi Seanstim - I see in one of your comments that you would like to try CGM. You may not be able to get one permanently on the NHS but most hospitals will let you have one for 5-6 days to help identify problem times etc. As I have lost 5 stone over the last year, I have had one every 3 months to check that my changes are working. I go to the clinic, they fit it, six days later I remove it and take it back and then have an appointment to discuss the results. Whilst it's on, I do calibrations tests and record the results alongside food and insulin intake. It could be worth asking your health care team about it and see if you can do the basal check at the same time
 
thanks for the advice will have to try and get one for a week see If I can last night went to bed with BG 5.6 checked middle of the night 4.6 work up 4.8 eat breakfast 75g carb took 3 units of nova rapid which I would normally go low checked 1 hour was at 6 2 hour was at 4.8 and held steady there I took 1 units of Lantus of normally have 4 but changed to 3 which seems to have helped didn't think one unit of Lantus could keep causing these morning lows thanks for the help and suggestions @azure
 
Good news @seanstim

A unit doesn't seem much but if you think of it as a percentage of your total dose then it makes sense. For people who are on larger doses, one unit change might do nothing, but for those on small doses it's a different matter.
 
Thanks a lot if you put that in context that's a reduction of 25% can you get half unit pens for Lantus I have half unit ones for my nova rapid ?? will have to play around with basal a little more often in times where my sugar levels are not normal been a great help @azure
 
I've never used Lantus, but I think there's a 'junior' pen that does half units for Lantus. Ask your DSN or GP (but be aware knowledge of half unit pens can be variable amongst non-specialists).

It's called something like Junior Star, I think, but hopefully someone will be able to confirm that for you.
 
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