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What should I do?

RosieDred

Well-Known Member
Messages
289
Location
South Wales
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I was diagnosed type 1 in November and about 2 weeks ago I started carb counting with a ratio of 1:15, which had been working perfectly except for one day where I did a 13 hour shift.

Not sure if this is relevant but I became ill last week in Thursday and spent 2 days vomiting. I have now been fully recovered and feeling better since Sunday.

Since then my bg readings have been a nightmare. Im either going hypo an hour after eating or I'm having readings of 9 or 10. I just can't seem to have normal readings at the moment.

I woke up on 9.7 today. I had breakfast and used a ratio of 1:20 as I'm working a 13 hour shift. I also gave myself an extra 1 unit to bring me down a little. An hour later as I got into work I was 3.6. I hadn't done anything except get ready for work. I treated it and now I'm 9.3.

I'm getting really fed up. I spent 2 months getting it okay but not exactly good then I finally get it right and get good numbers and now this.

I don't know what to do or why this is happening? Is my ratio wrong or my basal? And why would it change after just 2 weeks? I just want to curl up in a corner in work and pout for the rest of the day.


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Hi RosieDred,
You were only diagnosed in November so the first thing you have to do is cut yourself some slack! Also, if you want to hide in a corner and pout then go ahead J
The best tool you will ever have in controlling your BG levels is experience. That, sadly, and unlike diabetes, only comes with time, not immediately.
Now, I’m only suggesting the following through my own personal experience as each and every diabetic is different but I would not be too concerned with using a correcting dose of insulin until you’re are confident that you can recognise the patterns of your readings. If you hadn’t corrected this morning then you wouldn’t have dipped so low and needed to correct. This would then have told you that what you took at breakfast was more than required as you started high.
How much insulin did you take for your breakfast?
Carb counting is a great guide and starting point but, again, you need experience coupled with this to know what your BG levels are going to do. I find, as I’m sure many people do, that I am a creature of habit and eat the same thing over and over again. You will soon learn what insulin you need to cover each meal. You will also learn that you need different ratios for different meals.
A lot of trial and error I’m afraid but relax and accept it’s a steep learning curve. After six years I still find myself going through periods of wonky readings and you just have to test regularly and look for patterns. It gets easier.
Post your carbs at breakfast and what insulin you took, we’ll help you get a better idea J
 
Hi, thanks so much for your reply. I'm just frustrated because it was going really well for about 2 weeks and u haven't changed anything so don't know why it's all gone all over the place.

For breakfast I had:
1 piece whole grain toast: 9.7g
1 options hot chocolate: 5.8g
50g weetabix choc chip minis: 35.5g
200ml semi skimmed milk: 9.6g

Total carbs: 60.5g and used ratio of 1:20 (would normally do 1:15)

I injected 4 units of novo rapid and then bg readings shot down an hour later.

Just had lunch an hour and a half ago and sugars have gone from 8 down to 5.4.

I wish I knew what I was doing wrong, I'm eating the same stuff I always do


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Have you noticed a significant difference in how much insulin you are injecting since you started carb counting? The only real change in your routine appears to be starting to count carbs – the answer could be in there.
It’s not an exact science. I use a 1:15 ratio in the morning and on work days I always have 3 slices of toast (wholemeal) at 48g and a glass of fresh juice at 15g (63g total). At weekends, however, I would drop to a 1:20 ratio as I am more active (housework!).
I have the same breakfast 5 days out of 7 so it’s very easy to learn what works. Keeping a food diary with what you eat, your workings of carbs and pre and post readings for a couple of weeks is a great way to see what’s happening. Look for patterns.
Also keep in mind that your breakfast ratio may not be the same as lunch and dinner. All sorts of things (exercise, activity, stress etc) can affect your BG levels throughout the day. However, keep testing and look for patterns…….when do you get most of your high readings? Same with low. When you see the patterns you can adjust accordingly and tweak your ratios.
You will get it right again. I think I have gone through an adjustment period at least once a year for the six years I have been diabetic. Lots of testing and recording always sorts it out.
 
Hi. As others have said do relax and give things time to settle. Normally you would adjust your Basal to make your morning fasting test between 5 - mmol. If you do make any adjustments, leave 2-3 days between each change to allow for settling
 
Hey, thank you both for your help.

I tested my basal before I started adjusting my mealtime insulin and it was fine. I was staying the same in between meals and waking up on the same levels as I went to bed on so that's fine.

Before I was carb counting I was on fixed insulin 4 times a day and my sugars were either up or down.

Since I started carb counting my sugars have been pretty much all within target range so I've been really happy with it.

I've been using 1:15 for all 3 meals because it's been working out prefect that way up until the weekend. Not changed anything so don't know why it worked fine last week but not this week.

After lunch today I dropped to about 5.7 after an hour and a half (from 8). That wouldn't be too bad except for the fact that before my tea I was 11.5! All I are in between was a cracker with some butter . Feeling rubbish.




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Just to add, an hour after tea I went down to 4.2. Had a packet of Pom bear crisps as I was in work so needed to be higher and had no other food left to munch on. Have had these as a snack before and they do bring me up but only a little usually. Now I'm 11.4


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Really need advice. Was 6.1 on waking and now 3.6 after breakfast. Firstly, still wondering as to possible reasons for this. Secondly, what do others use to treat hypos? I honestly don't think I can swallow another jelly baby and dextrose tablets are starting to turn me sick now too...


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Fresh orange juice or full sugar coke might be easier for you if you can't stomach Gluco tabs,dextrose tablets or jelly babies.
 
Thanks Nathan, I've been trying a ratio of 1:20 the past fee days which a had helped except for breakfast time, where I've tried a ratio of 1:30 today. Fingers crossed it works


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