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Type 1 with lower bg at 5.3 just before bed.

S

stephiep6

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
What level should my bg be as I go to bed. Worry about having a hypo overnight.

I have been a type 2 diabetic for 12 years but last week it was confirmed I was wrongly diagnosed and I am actually Type 1. Struggling with levels dropping at night. I take 34 units of slow release insulin at 8pm and today started on 1 unit of fast acringe insulin ant meal times. Any advice welcome.
 
Hi @stephiep6 , welcome to the forum.

The blood glucose level T1's are comfortable with before bed are highly individual.
Those who tend to have nighttime hypos will likely want to be a bit higher than those who tend to be stable during the night.
Have you been having lows during the night?

Do you use a CGM like Freestyle Libre or Dexcom to alarm you when you go too low? This may make a big difference.
I assume you've been on basal insulin for a while, have you experienced nighttime lows before? Do hypos wake you up?
 
Hiya

Thanks for replying. I use Libre 2 and have the alarm set to go off at 4.3. It has gone off a number of times over the last week since using it. My levels are erratic and I am worried about using fast release insulin. My first night and I was already having big drops just in slow release. I have taken a couple of swigs of lucozade and I am now at 6.2?
 
Haven’t had a hypo and not sure what to expect? I’ve always had hypers being low is new to me!!!
 
Have you been on your current dose of 34 units of long acting insulin for a long time or is this a new dose as well?
Your fast acting insulin is a very low dose compared to your long acting, so I wouldn't expect sudden lows from that 1 unit taken hours before bedtime.

Lucozade works quickly to get your blood glucose up, but the effect also wanes quickly.
If you're worried about nighttime hypos, you might want to eat something like a sandwich or some crisps, those will work for a longer time than lucozade.

Do you have a fingerprick meter and strips as well?
Libre is wonderful for patterns, but not always for absolute numbers.
What about setting the alarm a little higher yet, and should it wake you double check with a finger prick?
 
I’ve been on slow release insulin for about 5 years and recently went back to my clinic as not managing my levels well (too high). Last week they confirmed I had been miss diagnosed and I’m type 1 and have just started me on fast release. However, my diet has been much better for the last couple of weeks and this obviously has really helped bring my bg levels down. Just trying to be consistent which is what I really struggle with! Will try crisps and a sandwich but I struggle with eating in the middle of the night . Thank you for your advice - very much appreciated.
 
Once you get the hang of the fast acting you may find you need less of the basal to keep you steady? I try to have my BG at around 6 before I go to sleep and if need be I eat a biscuit around 10 or 11 to push it up a bit
 
That is really helpful. My alarm seems to go off around 6am so I have been taking a bottle of lucozade to bed and have a couple of swigs! Do you just use fast acting for main meals or when you eat anything, such as snacks?
 
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