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Post meal insulin administeration

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Sanober

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Not really knowing what's going on inside my Endocrine system!!!
I've just started the Basal-Bolus regime today.

So much to get my head round!

I'm back at the hospital for follow up on Wed. As a precaution I'm set on just 2units of the quick acting insulin for my meals as my carb intake is on the low side for the DN (she wants me to get that up a bit, to be honest so do I!).

I can be a slow eater at times, is it ok to take the quick acting insulin 20mins after I finish my meal?
 
Why wait 20 minutes after eating Sanober?.....just inject immediately after finishing your food would be a better option and this would avoid a post-meal spike!
 
Hi Sanober!

Glad you're on the insulin at last :D

You'll find your own way eventually, but I take my bolus (Apidra) as soon as I've finished my main meal - i.e. before any pudding I intend to have. I find this usually works. If you want to increase your carb, you'll need to count the carbs and take the correct dose of bolus for your ratio. You will find it easier if you don't mess aboout with your carb intake for a while - learn your ratio on a regular amount of carb and only adjust the carb once you know. If you keep altering your carb in the early days, you'll probably confuse yourself.

Good luck - it's not as scary as it feels!

Smidge
 
Hey Sanober
Glad you have started on the insulin...you will be feeling like a new person on no time...Hopefully a healthier one :D
It will be a lot of trial and error at first but you will get there, I don't blame you for wanting to inject after a meal if you are a slow eater. I do this if I have a low pre meal reading ,and I tend to digest a main meal pretty slowly ,so split dose for evening meal most of the time..or as you have said dose 10 minutes after eating. You will work out what works best for you in no time.

What insulins have they put you on?
 
Aaaw thanks Smidge and FallenStar the lovely LADA ladies :lol:

Basal is Lantus
Bosul is Novorapid

They've got me on really baby steps at the moment. I remember the DN saying best to just take after eating for now until I learn how to adjust and I forgot to point out I can be a real slow eater.

Nigel, I don't think I explained myself too well earlier, I wasn't waiting for a while after finishing, but it took me 25mins to finish my dinner and I was just worried if I should have stopped 10mins in and taken the insulin, I just remember the DN saying 10mins after meal is 'fine'.

I took the Novorapid after the 25mins and I didn't get the weird feeling (false hypo from fasting 20.5 to 13.2) that I had earlier today.

Btw I was given a 2nd meter to keep at work...amazing when diagnosed T1 (or semi T1 in my case) the test supplies have become abundent. I remember when I was T2 I had to go and buy my own :evil:

I did sheepishly ask for a Ketone blood test meter and I wasn't surprised when they said 'cutbacks' and they had to really justify the reasons why. I can't have all the fancy gadgetry, lucky I even got Ketostix which is more than some folk get.

Thanks all, as always v grateful
 
Sanober said:
Nigel, I don't think I explained myself too well earlier, I wasn't waiting for a while after finishing, but it took me 25mins to finish my dinner and I was just worried if I should have stopped 10mins in and taken the insulin, I just remember the DN saying 10mins after meal is 'fine'.
Click to expand...


I was wondering why you would wait for 20minutes to pass after eating before taking insulin! :D

Yes injecting 10mins in is a good suggestion by your DN and shouldn't be a problem, getting the timing of insulin doses right is really trial & error and lots of testing is required to get the balance right.........so those abundant supplies you have will come in handy! :wink:

Basal/bolus is a fantastic insulin regime once you master your carb to insulin ratio's, the 'false hypo's' you experience will gradually improve over time once you establish good control; be guided by your diabetes nurse and ask her to put your name down for the carb counting course DAFNE (dose adjustment for normal eating) which is recommended for those on a basal/bolus insulin. The waiting time for DAFNE is rather long so this will give you time to adapt to injecting insulin.

Good luck! :)
 
Thanks Nigel, I was back up at the D-clinic today, the DN there was great as I went through the 10 questions I had that this forum has been spared from answering :lol:

I was told I have to be a complete T1 to get on to DAFNE or minimum wait a year...but I can't complain. I have to go up every week/2weeks and spend however much time I want with the DN and dietician there.

Still on baby steps for now, but already a bit more improved :clap: still getting the odd spaced out feelings but not as bad as the false hypo day 1, but my readings are edging down. I'm back at the clinic next week.

So much equipment and testing and recording to do, it feels like I'm setting up a science lab.
 
Hi Sanober!

Glad those BGs are heading in the right direction at last! Keep on with the baby steps and be prepared to back-pedal fast :lol: I started on 6 units basal at night which was great for a week and then crash! I ended up reducing by by 2 units, then a further two units and then only taking it every two or three days! This went on for about 6 weeks and then I gradually had to increase it again :crazy: . I never did get back up to 6 units - I take 4 in the morning and 1 at night now. That's LADA for you - a constant source of surprise :lol: Keep your fortnightly DSN appointments even when you think you don't need to. The DSNs are not great with LADA, but they do take a great interest as they are learning as well - they usually only get to deal with straightforward Type 1s and 2s. They will love to go through your food chart with you.

You can go on a DAFNE course with LADA, but my consultant told me you only get one shot at it (a daft NHS rule :roll: ) and he advised that as my condition won't stabilise until I become full Type 1, it is best to wait until then. However, the good news is that in spite of the daily surprises of LADA, good BG control is much easier to achieve while you are still producing your own insulin.

Hope it keeps going well.

Smidge
 
Hi Smidge, thanks, I'm definitely going to stick to my appointments, good to know someone else on baby steps, smaller than mine :lol:

I'm on 12u Lantus and 2u Novorapid 3 times a day to cover 3 main meals.

Had a couple of false Hypos, not pleasant! I was around the 5 reading (I've not see a 5, EVER, in my reads since I started testing a few months ago).

Day 6 and nothing major yet, fingers crossed. Headache two days in a row though :think:

I'm lucky that the DN/Dietician/Clinic I deal with have a few LADAs - they actually said they've got 11 variations of Diabetes on their books! I've got the contacts on email and direct phone, thank god because I thought I could do ok myself but after those false Hypo experiences was glad I could get instant advice - basically I shouldn't let 5-6hours pass without eating a little something.

...I really don't want to 'feed the insulin' though, so will see. It's a lot of ongoing adjusments eh.
 
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