Why is it taking my glucose so long to go down?

[ModyGirl]

You can cleary see where I ate dinner today and how long it is taking for my blood sugar to go back down! Only had the libre for 3 days but noticing this with almost every meal. Is it simply a case of not taking enough insulin?

 

[Zhnyaka]

Perhaps there is not enough insulin (but quite a bit, because bg drops to normal), but more like too fast carbs and a shot of insulin after a meal. What did you eat and when did you get the injection?

 

[ModyGirl]

So possibly carbs hitting the system too quickly, causing a spike before insulin can catch up? I took the insulin just before I ate - perhaps I need to do it some time before?

 

[Zhnyaka]

So possibly carbs hitting the system too quickly, causing a spike before insulin can catch up? I took the insulin just before I ate - perhaps I need to do it some time before?

depends on what you eat. Usually, ultrashort insulin is taken 15 minutes before meals, but with hypoglycemia, of course, after meals. The problem is that when bg rises, insulin acts even more slowly and it needs more than normal glycemia. Food saturated with fats slows down the action of carbs (so much so that you have to take 2-3 injections for pizza). In addition, it also depends on the characteristics of the body. So look for yourself how fast what food increases your bg (it will be different for different foods) and how fast insulin works for you and try to make the action of carbohydrates come quite a bit before the action of insulin

 

[Matt2023]

Hi Hollie,

Thank you for asking this question as it is very similar to what is happening to me. These sensors are great in that they open your eyes to how you body is reacting to each type of food and like now why it is taking a long time to the insulin to work.

I am also learning so much still, which can only be a good thing for our diabetes management. but I think you are on the right track, I am adjusting when to take my insulin too and I will now also time how long it takes for the insulin to work with certain foods, thanks too Zhnyaka.

Thank you Zhnyaka for the tip about how fats can slow down the release of carbs, that is something I have learnt from you. Appreciate it.

 

[DEBBIESCOTT]

I’ve got MODY 1 (HFN4A) on 20mg gliclazide a day, if my blood sugar doesn’t come down quick enough after a meal I have a small snack like a cheese string or a few nuts & within 15 minutes it’s back down in the 5’s
No idea if this would be relevant to you

 

[ModyGirl]

@DEBBIESCOTT nice to come across another MODY! I've got the HNF1A gene. Seems we are a rare breed!

 

[pumper1969]

You do have to get used to different foods/meals absorbing at different rates. Imagine at the extremes, you eat 5 tsp of sugar (massively quick spike, approx 25g) versus a big Sunday roast plate but with mainly veg - still 25g of carbs your body will take a long time to absorb them in amongst all the other non-carbs.

On top of considering the food type, I'd just experiment with taking your insulin slightly sooner as I think that will iron out the increase and flatten the rise/fall. But also accept you can't get it right every time (!), but your dosages seem right because it does return to the right level, just the timing of the dose needs adjustment.