Type 1.5 Problems with overcompensating for hypos.

[antoniobarba1944]

After being diagnosed with type 1 LADA last year, and after studying the results of my blood levels for 6 months, my diabetic specialist in the hospital gave me a ratio of 1 unit of insulin to 10 grams of carbs. The target that she gave me for my blood results was to keep between 140 mg/dl and 180mg/dl, and to keep my carb intake at around 200 grams per day. For much of the time I find it works, but I find that now I am getting quite a few days when my blood sugar level drops below 50mg/dl and I am beginning a Hypo, and in the mornings after a satisfactory reading the previous night my blood levels are sometimes over 200 mg/dl. I find that I can compensate for the high blood reading with a slight increase in my insulin before breakfast. However to compensate the hypo, which I do with about 25 carbohydrates of food, I seem to be overcompensating, and ending up then with a very high reading. I wonder if anyone can give me some ideas of how they deal with hypos without overcompensating ?

I am type 1 lada using 3 x humalog insulin pre - meals and 1 x Lantus at night .

 

[Heathenlass]

Hi there, and welcome
Just a guess here, but the clue seems to be where you say : " to compensate the hypo, which I do with about 25 carbohydrates of food"

I'm assuming you mean food containing 25g carbohydrate ? Any particular kind of food ? I'm asking this because not all carbohydrate has the same effect on raising blood glucose (at least it doesn't in my case ! ) For example, if I ate bread that contains 25g of carbs, my BG would go through the roof
Personally I treat hypos with dextrose tablets because it's a controlled measure that I know will raise my BG out of hypo into normal range without overcompensatng .I generally only need two, but the amount will be different for others, as we are so individual..

A plus is that I don't actually like them so am not tempted to eat more than I need

Signy

 

[antoniobarba1944]

Hi there, and welcome
Just a guess here, but the clue seems to be where you say : " to compensate the hypo, which I do with about 25 carbohydrates of food"

I'm assuming you mean food containing 25g carbohydrate ? Any particular kind of food ? I'm asking this because not all carbohydrate has the same effect on raising blood glucose (at least it doesn't in my case ! ) For example, if I ate bread that contains 25g of carbs, my BG would go through the roof
Personally I treat hypos with dextrose tablets because it's a controlled measure that I know will raise my BG out of hypo into normal range without overcompensatng .I generally only need two, but the amount will be different for others, as we are so individual..

A plus is that I don't actually like them so am not tempted to eat more than I need

Signy

Thanks for your imput Heathenlass, as I am still only learning about the complex way diabetes has to be treated, any help from people with similar problems is much appreciated. I think trying dextrose tablets may be one path to try. I live in Spain , but I expect the farmacia here will sell the same or a similar product.

 

[antoniobarba1944]

hi 1.5 brilliant name
not much help as i use act rapid insulin via pump
on a day were you go low try to keep a record for blood sugars as i was told to change the bolus rate after 3 days then see if a pattern emerges
now you say you take 25 grams of food which is what if i do the same i use lucozade 7 fluid or a small glass as it will work within 5 mins or 3 glucose tablets at 4 grams each you must remember to try what suits u
years ago we were told sit down and a glass of milk
now the only way to check is blood sugars say at 3.6 take it again 5 mins later then after you have eaten then 30 mins may help what signs do you get eyes out of focus or hearing is more acute
also find out when you insulin peaks i.e. 4 hours and adjust for low points in the day i.e. 12-30 pm 4-30 pm afternoon
so how fast does you 25 grams work on bringing you back from low
ie have been 3.6 bs then like u go over 16.00 my ratio 15 grams to 1 unit of insulin for can act within say 5 mins if fast sweet /sugar or if it is bread poss 30 mins to asorb
also if you increase insulin do it very SMALL steps each day or when the panic goes bell goes good luck
and steady does it
good luck vic 55 year insulin person

Thank you Vic Hill, I will have to check between what type of carbs I use to compensate a hypo, to be honest I have been taking juice or a few biscuits one time, and another time a cake , another time a small chocolate biscuit. I will have to try glucose tablets and see if I they suit me.

 

[Heathenlass]

You are welcome, Antionio

I know you can buy "Glucotabs" in Spain, but they are a little expensive (here too) compared with other brands. Speak to your pharmacist as there ARE others, I just can't remember the names

Signy

 

[antoniobarba1944]

You are welcome, Antionio

I know you can buy "Glucotabs" in Spain, but they are a little expensive (here too) compared with other brands. Speak to your pharmacist as there ARE others, I just can't remember the names

Signy

Thanks Heathenlass, first thing tomorrow I will pop into the farmacia and find out what glucose tablets are available here. Until now I had not even thought about glucose tablets. When I lived in the UK and was playing a lot of soccer, a few games every week, I used dextrose tablets for an energy boost, also I will be able to get a definite measure of grams of carbohydrates with them.

antonio

 

[donnellysdogs]

I have 7 dolly mixtures if between 3 and 4 bg. If lower than 3 I have 10 dolly mixtures.depending on what I am doing... If gardening or walking etc then I will also have a digestive or half a slice of bread


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