Anyone else have issues with breakfast cereals and insulin dosing?

[sg295]

Hi all!

So first it was pasta and rice, now it’s breakfast cereals, I can’t seem to win at the moment!

So typically what happens is I always spike pretty bad after eating it at first (sometimes as much as 8mmol up from where I started!). Although, as long as I’ve done the correct amount of insulin it does (usually) come down pretty well.

However, sometimes it comes down a bit too much and makes me hypo a little later (not entirely sure how much later but think it’s anywhere between 2 and 4 hours later?)

So unlike pasta (and sometimes rice) that seem to make me crash at around the 1-2 hour mark, this crash happens more slowly and it’s not every time but it’s certainly annoying when it does happen!

Any advice on this please? Would split doses work with this too perhaps or do I need to do something else?

Thank you 🙂

 

[Lily123]

I get the spike and then my numbers come down to normal levels but I just about avoid the hypo. I think because I walk for half an hour about 30 minutes after breakfast that my numbers come down again. I have no idea whether splitting the dose would work but it may be worth a try?

 

[sg295]

I get the spike and then my numbers come down to normal levels but I just about avoid the hypo. I think because I walk for half an hour about 30 minutes after breakfast that my numbers come down again. I have no idea whether splitting the dose would work but it may be worth a try?

Yes I usually avoid the hypos but just sometimes I end up crashing! Every time I eat them it’s a guaranteed double figures spike for sure!

I think whether I crash or not partly depends on how much I’m on my feet during the day. If I’m sitting down doing written work then far less likely but if I’m up on my feet and busy, more likely.

Could be worth a go then thank you! Although not that I’m any good at split doses anyway, can never seem to get it right (oops!)

 

[helli]

There are two problems
- cereal is high carb
- in the morning, it is common to experience insulin resistance

That does not mean cereal for breakfast is out of the question.
If your levels are returning to the right level, you probably need to change the timing of your breakfast dose and pre-bolus earlier for breakfast. This is not uncommon.
Try moving your pre-bolus by 5 minutes at a time.

 

[helli]

Just seen your latest update. The crash when you are on the feet is a third thing
- when we are active, our bodies are more efficient at using insulin

So, if you are going to have an active morning, you need to reduce your insulin. Again, only trial and error will help.

 

[sg295]

There are two problems
- cereal is high carb
- in the morning, it is common to experience insulin resistance

That does not mean cereal for breakfast is out of the question.
If your levels are returning to the right level, you probably need to change the timing of your breakfast dose and pre-bolus earlier for breakfast. This is not uncommon.
Try moving your pre-bolus by 5 minutes at a time.

Hi, thanks for your message!

What typically happens is I have a rather large spike (guaranteed to be somewhere in the double figures) and then generally it returns back down to a normal level.

Just ocassionally it seems to come down a little too much and make me hypo which I think it partly to do with how busy I am in the day. But yes I will try adjusting the pre bolus and see what happens, thank you!

 

[sg295]

Just seen your latest update. The crash when you are on the feet is a third thing
- when we are active, our bodies are more efficient at using insulin

So, if you are going to have an active morning, you need to reduce your insulin. Again, only trial and error will help.

Yes I don’t even necessarily mean super active like going for a run but even just the fact I often use up a lot of energy doing my job!

But yes I think it does need reducing in certain situations. I guess as long as the big spike does come back down it’s not really an issue?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I think whether I crash or not partly depends on how much I’m on my feet during the day. If I’m sitting down doing written work then far less likely but if I’m up on my feet and busy, more likely.

Could you consider a different carb ratio for the busy days or do you not know which days these fall on?

 

[sg295]

Could you consider a different carb ratio for the busy days or do you not know which days these fall on?

I am on my feet for the vast majority of the day most days so perhaps some days this just affects me more than others?

I guess I could always try reducing it slightly and seeing how this goes, could always increase it again if it’s not quite enough 🙂 problem is I feel like it would be a small tweak I need and my pen is really not very precise - can only do whole units, not even half!

 

[Inka]

If I remember correctly, you’re still in your honeymoon period having only been diagnosed recently? Spikes and later hypos are pretty normal during the honeymoon. Often your own insulin will kick in too late to help deal with the spike and over-react, so it pushes you low.

You can try to move your bolus forward cautiously to reduce the spike a little, but I was told it was fine if I was back in range by the next meal. That’s also the DUK target.

I found I needed to snack to help stop this pattern, so I simply had a small snack if needed to ward off any low later. As my honeymoon ended, things smoothed out a bit and I didn’t need to do that. I eat cereal pretty much every day, and my spike is very moderate indeed.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

It might help to add some more fat or protein into your breakfast. Some full fat Greek yogurt or a couple of eggs might help even out the cereal spike then drop.

 

[nonethewiser]

No issues but only ever eat proper porridge, most days n fact. To it add full fat greek yogurt or peanut butter, both help dampen down any bg spikes.

 

[sg295]

Ok interesting, thanks for that! Didn’t think about adding certain other foods in to help with that but a good point! Thank you

 

[Essex]

Since I am type 2, not sure how relevant my observations are, but...
I have found that by avoiding cereals at breakfast (I used to eat weetabix just with semi-skimmed lactose free milk) and switching to lactose free yoghurts my mid morning 'hypos' disappeared (as long as I have some nuts and seed around 10ish) and my BG levels generally came right down and kept more stable throughout my day
Its been my 'silver bullet', fingers crossed ....

 

[Leadinglights]

Ok interesting, thanks for that! Didn’t think about adding certain other foods in to help with that but a good point! Thank you

I remember Anthony Worrell Thompson saying in his low GI cookbook you can convert a high GI food to lower GI by adding healthy fat and protein.

 

[rebrascora]

Well I ran out of yoghurt and berries for my usual breakfast so had 50g low carb seedy granola with a splash of milk. Prebolused 30 mins instead of my usual 45. Started eating with a readings of 6.6 and topped out at just under 14 for 35g carbs and ended up having to give it another couple of units to bring it down. Cereals just don't work for me in any quantity more than a "sprinkle" for texture at breakfast time. Just not worth the aggravation and not as enjoyable or filling as my yoghurt and berries either. Must hit the shops today as I hate spiking above 10 and my Fiasp seems to become suddenly very dilute above that level.