• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

When glucose level is low , should I take my insulin?

I wouldn't advise that. If your sugars are already low and you take your insulin you will go hypo. The insulin will get into your system far quicker than the food you are about to eat.

I would suggest eating half the meal first and then maybe taking a little less insulin that you are due before finishing your meal.

What I would do personally is drink something such as lucozade (couple of large gulps) or something else sweet whatever is available.

When hypo or heading that way my priority will always be to get my sugars back up as quick as possible. You can always give yourself a correction dose of insulin a little later if needed.

In time your'll find your own solution but always get your sugars up as a priority. Insulin on top of already low sugars could result in serious hypoglycemia.
 
Thank you so much . I realise it may be a silly question,but I'm type 2 and was started on Humulin M3 on Thursday evening , Friday wasn't too bad, but teatime today was 3.3 ,so I ate my meal hoping that would lift my sugars, then realised I was due to take another dose of Insulin too . Its Saturday ,and my chemist is closed , my nurse isn't due to check with me until Monday , and my docs surgery is closed , so I've searched the internet for info , but found nothing telling me what to do in these circumstances ,and at the time my brain was foggy and I couldn't concentrate either.
should I be ok eating another (small) meal in about an hour , and taking my insulin with that?
 
If in doubt it is always better to miss the insulin. You did the right thing. When low get sugars up and then you can do what you have just suggested by having a little something more to eat with your insulin.

Ideally we should wait about two hours after eating and then test. Then you will have a more accurate reading and you can calculate how much insulin you may or may not need with your meal.
 
Thank you so much for setting my mind at rest . I'll follow your advice .
I've never done readjusting doses , but it will be the first question I will ask my diabetic nurse on Monday.
Many thanks for your kindness x
 
Last edited by a moderator:
No worries. This is a great forum. Keep close and ask questions, there will always be people on here that can help.

:)

Also do as you stated and ask your nurse and diabetes team regarding anything your not sure about. I have 34 years experience of having this illness and was not really thinking when I mentioned correction dosing. Best to do things by the book until you gain a little more experience in getting to know your illness.

As time passes you will attain more experience and things will become easier and less daunting.

:)
 
o
kevinfitzgerald said:
No worries. This is a great forum. Keep close and ask questions, there will always be people on here that can help.

:)

Also do as you stated and ask your nurse and diabetes team regarding anything your not sure about. I have 34 years experience of having this illness and was not really thinking when I mentioned correction dosing. Best to do things by the book until you gain a little more experience in getting to know your illness.

As time passes you will attain more experience and things will become easier and less daunting.

:)
Click to expand...
 
Thanks gain.
I first got diabetes in 2000 , but controlled it easily with diet , then needed tablets in 2005, but recently have had to move onto insulin . It has changed all my perceptions and understanding of the condition, and I'm probably as mystified as a total newbie .
Its a whole new ball game .
 
Best option in your case wou
Simply said:
Thank you so much . I realise it may be a silly question,but I'm type 2 and was started on Humulin M3 on Thursday evening , Friday wasn't too bad, but teatime today was 3.3 ,so I ate my meal hoping that would lift my sugars, then realised I was due to take another dose of Insulin too . Its Saturday ,and my chemist is closed , my nurse isn't due to check with me until Monday , and my docs surgery is closed , so I've searched the internet for info , but found nothing telling me what to do in these circumstances ,and at the time my brain was foggy and I couldn't concentrate either.
should I be ok eating another (small) meal in about an hour , and taking my insulin with that?
Click to expand...
Using a mixed insulin you would have been better to treat the hypo with quick acting glucose, wait 15 mins and retest. Just to be safe perhaps delay your insulin for 30 mins. You must not skip/miss a dose of mixed insulin as obviously contains both long and quick acting insulin. You need to inject at the same times each day and eat exactly the same amount of carbs for each meal as well.
 
Hi. Can you let us know what your BMI is and as a result whether you may or may not have some insulin resistance? If you find that with the mixed insulin you have big peaks and troughs it may be worth discussing Basal/Bolus regime with the DN. It does involve more injections so if the mixed works well for you then stay with it but be aware there is another option if you need it.
 
CarbsRok said:
Best option in your case wou

Using a mixed insulin you would have been better to treat the hypo with quick acting glucose, wait 15 mins and retest. Just to be safe perhaps delay your insulin for 30 mins. You must not skip/miss a dose of mixed insulin as obviously contains both long and quick acting insulin. You need to inject at the same times each day and eat exactly the same amount of carbs for each meal as well.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice ,I didn't know I had to eat exactly the same amount of carbs x
 
Daibell said:
Hi. Can you let us know what your BMI is and as a result whether you may or may not have some insulin resistance? If you find that with the mixed insulin you have big peaks and troughs it may be worth discussing Basal/Bolus regime with the DN. It does involve more injections so if the mixed works well for you then stay with it but be aware there is another option if you need it.
Click to expand...
Thank you ,I shall ask about Basal/Bolus regime next time I see the nurse if I continue having problems x
 
Back
Top