Basal

[newbs]

Last night my BG was 8.2 before bed, had not eaten since 6pm so decided test my basal - this went a bit pear-shaped as I woke up feeling hypo so had a small amount of lucozade then tested my BG and it was 4.6. This morning my BG was 6.5. What do you think would have happened if I hadn't had the lucozade? I know I need to test basal properly but would you leave it as it is or reduce it further still?

I am still planning to try moving it to mornings but don't want to do that before I've had gastroscopy tomorrow.

 

[Northerner]

Personally, I'd be tempted to lower it, as you dropped 4mmol/l or more from your bedtime level. Ideally, you shouldn't vary by more than 2 mmol/l up or down overnight (not easy to get 'ideal' though, of course! 🙂)

 

[Amandajane]

Hi

I never come across the terms basal and bolus before I found this board, I assume it's fasting acting and background insulin, but I have now come across the term basal testing? I have searched for this on the Diabetes UK site and nothing comes up - what is it?

Regards
AJ

 

[newbs]

Thanks, Northerner. I think that's probably what I'll do tonight. 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hi

I never come across the terms basal and bolus before I found this board, I assume it's fasting acting and background insulin, but I have now come across the term basal testing? I have searched for this on the Diabetes UK site and nothing comes up - what is it?

Regards
AJ

It's a procedure to check that you have the right dose of background (basal) insulin - you test regularly over a period of time when you have no fast-acting insulin or carbs digesting (or any food, for some people, as protein and fat can also affect the results for them).

Have a read of this:

http://diatribe.us/issues/13/learning-curve