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Type 1 Problems with glucose being in the 20’s
- Thread starter colin2018
- Start Date
Sounds like your dose needs adjusting. Can you contact your diabetes nurse?
O, and hello, @colin2018 , welcome to the forum!
We can't see what type of diabetes you have or what medication you're on. I don't know if you're only new on the forum or new to diabetes as well, but I'll tag @daisy1 for you. She'll post a bunch of very useful information about diabetes in general on this thread.
Good luck!
We can't see what type of diabetes you have or what medication you're on. I don't know if you're only new on the forum or new to diabetes as well, but I'll tag @daisy1 for you. She'll post a bunch of very useful information about diabetes in general on this thread.
Good luck!
D
Deleted Account
Guest
From your short description, it looks as if your insulin dose is not correct.
If this was me, I would first bring my BG down with my bolus (fast acting) insulin through a corrective dose and frequent testing.
Then I would do a basal test (fast overnight and check BG level) to confirm if your basal dose is too low (if your BG rises).
If there is a rise adjust your basal slowly (increase a little, and let it "stabilise" for a couple of days before changing again.)
Or, as @Antje77 sensibly suggests, contact your diabetes team!
If this was me, I would first bring my BG down with my bolus (fast acting) insulin through a corrective dose and frequent testing.
Then I would do a basal test (fast overnight and check BG level) to confirm if your basal dose is too low (if your BG rises).
If there is a rise adjust your basal slowly (increase a little, and let it "stabilise" for a couple of days before changing again.)
Or, as @Antje77 sensibly suggests, contact your diabetes team!
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Location
- Switzerland
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
@colin2018
Hello Colin and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to answer.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello Colin and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to answer.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
colin2018
Member
- Messages
- 15
Sorry I am type 1 diabetes with tresiba insulin at 32 units a day at the moment I have spoke to my nurse and she said she will increase my dosage next week as it can take a while to work apparently? She has introduced humalog to use as a corrective insulin which I am taking on a 3-1 ratio at the min which seems to help during the daytime but at night it is high still
scotteric
Well-Known Member
Humalog isn't just for corrections, you need to take it every time you eat. Tresiba is just to cover your fasting insulin needs. Have you been doing this?
Dixon1995
Well-Known Member
You need to take Insulin before you eat, the humalog, are you carb counting?. When you eat if you don't already. Try to cut down on your carbs and sugary foods.
Try getting a referral to see a Diabetic doctor at the hospital nearest to you, it will help if you can get some proper advice from a specialist.
If your blood sugar is in 20s, try correcting it with more insulin but we aren't supposed to tell you what units to take as it is dangerous, you'll need to work that out yourself, but if your sugars stay in the 20s even with the corrections your doing, you need more humalog corrections.
Talk to your diabetes care team first before making any major adjustments!
Try getting a referral to see a Diabetic doctor at the hospital nearest to you, it will help if you can get some proper advice from a specialist.
If your blood sugar is in 20s, try correcting it with more insulin but we aren't supposed to tell you what units to take as it is dangerous, you'll need to work that out yourself, but if your sugars stay in the 20s even with the corrections your doing, you need more humalog corrections.
Talk to your diabetes care team first before making any major adjustments!
Last edited:
scotteric
Well-Known Member
NovoRapid has basically the same profile as Humalog. Novomix is NovoRapid combined with NPH to cover basal needs. He's already using Tresiba for basal, which is much more modern and part of a basal-bolus regime, so not sure how Novomix would help.
Dixon1995
Well-Known Member
Sorry I noticed how much of an Idiot I was giving that advice and have edited my reply. I did not see he's second reply further down stating he is in fact on fast acting insulin.
colin2018
Member
- Messages
- 15
I have yes
colin2018
Member
- Messages
- 15
I’ve spoke to my diabetic specialist she’s put me on a 3-1 ratio for my humalog and that is helping a bit more my levels are averaging between 7.1 & 11.5 at the min which is a vast improvement
Dixon1995
Well-Known Member
That's a fantastic improvement compared to them being in the 20s! I hope you keep it up because it can prevent complications! And make you feel better of course
! Well done