At what point should i do a correction dose?

[ILikeSugar :|]

Hello im newly diagnosed with type 1 about 4 or 5 months ago and was just wondering when the time to do a correction dose it? The past couple days I've been going to sleep at around 16mmol should I be taking one then?

 

[Inka]

If you go to sleep at 16mmol, what do you wake up with if you don’t correct?

 

[ILikeSugar :|]

@Inka well today I woke up at 8.9 and yesterday at 10.6 but they seem to stay high a while before going down I didnt know if this would cause any long term damage or not?

 

[Inka]

Occasional spikes won’t @ILikeSugar :| It’s more people constantly running high over a long period of time. Obviously we aim to be in range but there’ll be many occasions on which we don’t succeed.

The concern about correcting at bedtime is a nighttime hypo, which is more common during the honeymoon. These can be really nasty, so caution is best. Even now, after many years of Type 1, I still err on the side of caution at bedtime. If I do correct, I aim for a higher number. I usually set an alarm to get up and check my blood sugar too around 1am to 2am.

In addition, my correction factor is significantly lower at bedtime than at other times, so I’m really careful.

Do you have a half unit pen? What’s your correction factor?

 

[ILikeSugar :|]

Okay then @Inka I do have an alarm on my freestyle libre app to wake me if I'm low but everytime I go low at night they seem to go straight back up again without me doing anything to bring them up so now I tend to just ignore it and I'm not sure what a half unit pen is? And I've not been given a correction factor?

 

[Inka]

A half unit pen simply allows you to give half unit increments instead of one unit increments. So instead of having to decide whether to take 2 or 3 units, you can dial up 2 and 1/2 units. You can also do tiny boluses and corrections of 1/2 unit if needed.

As you haven’t been given a correction factor, I wouldn’t correct. Also, note that you dropped 8 or 9mmol over night without a correction. If you had corrected, you could easily have gone hypo. Your basal insulin (Lantus) should be holding you roughly steady overnight. However, we don’t know if it’s your Lantus dropping you 8 or 9 or your own insulin. That’s why caution is best.

I don’t have a Libre but I’d never ignore an alarm. Nocturnal hypos are horrible and potentially dangerous. Even if it’s a false alarm, it’s always best to check at night.

 

[ILikeSugar :|]

Oh okay @Inka no I havent been given a half unit pen yet where would I get one from? And yeah that's all I got told when I was diagnosed it that 1 unit takes it down 2 to 3 mmol but I dont think they gave me a certain factor, and alright I will make sure to check when it next goes off.

 

[Inka]

Your GP can prescribe a half unit pen at the request of your clinic or your clinic might have one you can have. My GP prescribed mine once he was told the name of it.

 

[khskel]

With the libre you can get compression lows if you lie on the sensor.

 

[ILikeSugar :|]

Your GP can prescribe a half unit pen at the request of your clinic or your clinic might have one you can have. My GP prescribed mine once he was told the name of it.

Alright nice I'll have a look into it thanks @Inka

 

[ILikeSugar :|]

With the libre you can get compression lows if you lie on the sensor.

@khskel that could possibly be it as it does just go up straight away and the one time I did wake up at eat to correct it I ended up being high when waking in the morning

 

[helli]

@khskel that could possibly be it as it does just go up straight away and the one time I did wake up at eat to correct it I ended up being high when waking in the morning

Libre are less accurate when high and low.
Therefore, I have been advised to never correct based only on a reading on Libre. I have been told told always take a finger prick reading before correcting a hypo or a high.
Following this approach will mean you will be able to double check for compression lows.

 

[ILikeSugar :|]

Libre are less accurate when high and low.
Therefore, I have been advised to never correct based only on a reading on Libre. I have been told told always take a finger prick reading before correcting a hypo or a high.
Following this approach will mean you will be able to double check for compression lows.

Okay then thanks I will make sure to check with a finger prick test before correcting if I need to.