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Novorapid after a meal

S

stoney

Well-Known Member
Messages
321
Location
South Wales
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Pump
Hi Everyone

Things seem to be settling down now with James and I think we are now getting to grips with the regime.

My question is:
On two occasions when James has come home from school, he has done his BG's and they have been 3.7 and 4.4. in which case he has treated a hypo. Although his food was ready a half hour later, instead of injecting before his meal (cos he has just treated a hypo) we have counted the carbs for tea and injected after the meal. It has not proved to be a problem on these occasions with his BG's but is this OK to do occasionally. I was told when the regime started he could do it after his meal providing it is done straightaway, not that we would want to do this regularly.

Thanks

p.s. It was my DSN's last day of work and we are in limbo now til someone takes her place (if at all) otherwise we will have to refer to another hospital
 
I've tried it both ways - injecting before and injecting after - and in my experience/opinion it's far safer to inject when you are sure you are no longer dipping down into hypo. That usually means eating the meal and THEN injecting. When I've done it just after going hypo, I have sometimes dipped back down into hypo and felt really ill.
Unless he eats very slowly (!) you're only really talking about, what, 15 mins difference? So not terrible.
Others may have other thoughts, but I think you have done exactly the right thing. As you say, it didn't cause a problem with his bg... don't forget that's the thing you are aiming for, however you get to it is the right way!
 
I would agree with snodger, I've tried both ways and had similar results. Also when I was first diagnosed I would "enjoy" having low blood sugars just to have the treat of the forbidden fruit
 
Hi

We always give novorapid after a meal simply because my son is only 2 and there's no guarantee he'll what's infront of him! We were advised to do it this way by our DSN and consultant.

Annette
 
We would give it after the meal, just to make sure that their blood levels have recovered from the hypo. We also sometimes reduce the insulin dose by half a unit if the blood is in the low 4's before they eat and then give the novorapid at the end of the meal. This is however an Individual thing and it will be a case of trial and error. My kids tend to eat quite quickly so giving at the end of the meal doesn't delay it too much.
 
I was in the habit of taking my fast acting after eating since having a nasty encounter with the pavement outside a pub after they took longer than usual to deliver my food one lunch time. Also much like the 2 year old mentioned I could never be certain until I'd finished how much I would actually eat at any meal until afterwards.
 
Hi Everyone

Leggott said they would inject half units. Our Novorapid is the Flexpen which does not give half units. What sort of Novorapid pens do half units :?:
 
We've a junior novopen (green & blue) and a novopen 3 (orange & blue) and both do half units.

Annette
 
Hi annettekp

Are these pens pre-filled if not, what script would be needed for the insulin :?:
 
Hi. We too use the junior pens which dispenses half units. it was only a few months ago that 1 unit of insulin would reduce my sons blood by 8 mol, so being able to dispense half allowed us to gain tighter control. Great as well for small adjustments to fine tune levemir.
 
We used the Novopen Junior which does half units. It takes the Novo 3ml penfill cartridges.
 
Hi Everyone

After logging off yesterday told James we could get a Junior Novopen that does half units to which he said we have one of those already. So I searched and Lo and Behold at the back of the cupboard there it was. Does anyone know if I would have to go through the hospital (as my DSN has now left her position) to get the Novorapid cartridges or can I just ask for this on script at my Doctors' :?:
 

Just ask the doctor to add this to his script.

Nigel
 

Oh you've scared me now! I am starting on Apidra this evening and I am very tiny and insulin has a significant effect on my BGs. Yesterday, the nurse was looking for a pen that dispensed half units for me, but couldn't find one suitable for Apidra, so told me to use 1 unit, take it immediately after my meal so i knew how much I'd eaten, keep testing and increase the carbs if necessary. If it takes my BG down 8 m/mol I'll be in real trouble!

Smidge
 
Smidge, reading on the internet you can use a half unit pen for Apidra. I remember trying to find this out a while ago when I was considering changing Jess' insulin from Novorapid to Apidra. I believe it's called the Humapen Luxura HD. See if you can get hold of one.
 
Thanks, Sophia, I'll try to find out about those half-unit pens. I've been using the Apidra for a couple of days now. The first two days I took only one unit and my BGs spiked quite high (9.7), but didn't fly into double-figures as they were previously doing. Tonight I took 2 units and have stayed around 6.8 - first time I've been that low after a meal with around 30g carb in it! I'm a bit paranoid so have tested at 1, 2 and 3 hours and the BG has held constant. I'll test again at the 4 hours and see how it is in case I need to eat something before sleep. I think 1.5 units of Apidra might suit me better - at least it would be less scary to go up in half units.

Incidentally, do you know if the Humapen Luxura HD makes a clicking noise when used? I've kind of got used to the ClikStar and find the click reassuring as I can count the units as I inject, so I know I've got the right dose. Paranoia reigns here :lol:

Smidge
 
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