Bedtime snacks for type 1 diabetic

J

janedent

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi.
I'm 68. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in March and on Abarsaglar and Novorapid. At first things went quite well and I seemed to be avoiding hypos. But now I'm getting a lot of hypos at night. I eat berries and soya yoghurt before bed. May it's too low carb. Does anyone have any suggestions for a bedtime snack that you've found keeps your blood sugar OK through the night? Any suggestions much appreciated. Thank you.
 
It would be better to correct your insulin dose then you don’t have the lows. Is there a reason that isn’t an option for you?
 
janedent said:
Hi.
I'm 68. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in March and on Abarsaglar and Novorapid. At first things went quite well and I seemed to be avoiding hypos. But now I'm getting a lot of hypos at night. I eat berries and soya yoghurt before bed. May it's too low carb. Does anyone have any suggestions for a bedtime snack that you've found keeps your blood sugar OK through the night? Any suggestions much appreciated. Thank you.
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Even more than thinking about what you're eating last thing, I'd be looking at when you're taking your last shot of insulin - and how much you're taking.
 
Perhaps your Abasaglar dose is a bit too much @janedent ? Or maybe you’d find a twice daily insulin would suit you better (because you can have less at night).

Good bedtime snacks are carby things like oatcakes, digestives, etc.
 
Are you using a Constant Glucose Monitor like Libre or Dexcom? Just wondering if you are having genuine hypos or if these are possibly compression lows, where lying on the arm with the sensor on it causes it to give false low readings? If they are CGM low alarms, are you double checking them with a finger prick? My concern is that you might be relying on a CGM and it is perhaps recording false low readings and making you worry about hypos that are not actually happening. Do you wake up feeling hypo? Usually you can tell by looking at your graph as Compression lows will generally be quite a sharp dip whereas a genuine low through the night will usually be a slow steady descent.

It is however not uncommon for your remaining beta cells to go through a bit of a revival after insulin treatment is introduced and they start releasing more home grown insulin, so your doses may need reducing, if they are genuine hypos that you are experiencing.

What level have you been advised to go to bed on? Ie. The general advice can be, to make sure your BG is above a certain level , usually 8mmols during the early months of diagnosis, so if you were say on 6mmols at bedtime, then 8-10g carbs should push you just up above 8mmols, so a digestive biscuit or a ryvita with some peanut butter. If you were a bit lower, say on 5mmols then maybe a slice of toast with peanut butter.

First and foremost though, you need to be certain that these are definitely hypos you are having and not a glitch in your sensor system by double checking with a finger prick if you don't feel hypo.
 
Sorry to hear about your overnight lows @janedent

When are you next due a chat with your nurse? Perhaps they could advise you of an appropriate tweak to make to your Absalgar dose as your insulin needs ebb and flow through the year (downwards if having hypos, or upwards if waking above range). As more years pass by you’ll get used to your insulin needs changing in different directions, often just as you seem to have got things set ‘just right’ 🙄
 
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