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Highs and then drops

jtg1964

jtg1964

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Pronouns
She/Her
Inka said:
The beta cell function can decline erratically. One thing I was told was that you might still make your own insulin but very erratically. Another thing was that, because the whole system is failing, it can release insulin either too late or/and too much. That is, you can go high after food then plunge down hours later as your own insulin kicks in.
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Hi
Just read your post.Im on insulin ..type 1 just diagnosed after a year they think. Last 2vdays im having hypos then drops.How did you manage these?
Jill
 
HI @jtg1964 - what @Inka is referring to is the so-called "Honeymoon period" (Dreadful name as it is anything but!) where your pancreas every now and again decides to start working again and send your BG plummeting - I had this for 2yrs after diagnosis and it is difficult as it is so unpredictable - but the only thing you can do is keep a close eye on the downward arrows on your CGM (presuming you have one?) so you can stave off the hypo before it gets seriously low (that's what I did anyway) - as the honeymoon has come to an end I have had to double my insulin ratios/doses (slowly and safely though) and it is generally well-managed now but the honeymoon period can unfortunately be very unpredictable
 
mashedupmatt said:
HI @jtg1964 - what @Inka is referring to is the so-called "Honeymoon period" (Dreadful name as it is anything but!) where your pancreas every now and again decides to start working again and send your BG plummeting - I had this for 2yrs after diagnosis and it is difficult as it is so unpredictable - but the only thing you can do is keep a close eye on the downward arrows on your CGM (presuming you have one?) so you can stave off the hypo before it gets seriously low (that's what I did anyway) - as the honeymoon has come to an end I have had to double my insulin ratios/doses (slowly and safely though) and it is generally well-managed now but the honeymoon period can unfortunately be very unpredictable
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Hi
Yes I've a Libre ...I had had a good run so this has thrown me. I feel awful and outvoted control. I'm on nova30 at present. Appreciate your reply.
Jill
 
jtg1964 said:
Hi
Just read your post.Im on insulin ..type 1 just diagnosed after a year they think. Last 2vdays im having hypos then drops.How did you manage these?
Jill
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Jill do you mean Hypers ie highs and then drops? Hopefully you don't mean that you are hypo and then dropping lower still after treating a hypo.

With you being on a mixed insulin and only injecting it once a day, which is a very unusual situation, it will be difficult for you to compare notes with others and draw any useful conclusions, but it is common to experience erratic BG levels during the so called honeymoon period, however I think your insulin regime is part of the problem in your case and I really find it odd that they started you off on a mixed insulin, which is so out of date thinking in my opinion.
 
rebrascora said:
Jill do you mean Hypers ie highs and then drops? Hopefully you don't mean that you are hypo and then dropping lower still after treating a hypo.

With you being on a mixed insulin and only injecting it once a day, which is a very unusual situation, it will be difficult for you to compare notes with others and draw any useful conclusions, but it is common to experience erratic BG levels during the so called honeymoon period, however I think your insulin regime is part of the problem in your case and I really find it odd that they started you off on a mixed insulin, which is so out of date thinking in my opinion.
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Yes I meant hypers then I drop.
Totally agree I think they need to review my insulin.
 
jtg1964 said:
Yes I meant hypers then I drop.
Totally agree I think they need to review my insulin.
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I started on mixed insulin when I was diagnosed more than 30 years ago @jtg1964 It demands a routine: same amounts of carbs, meals at the same time each day.

How long have you been on insulin? If the drops have just started in the last two days, could it be the heat or extra activity? Are you counting the carbs in your meals, and are you injecting the correct amount of time in advance?

If you’re doing all those things and it still happens, then yes, it might be the honeymoon period. You can sometimes deal with these later drops by having a small carby snack at the appropriate time, ie before you drop.
 
Sorry if you have answered this before. @jtg1964 do you have a CGM like Libre of Dexcom?
If so, I recommend setting your low alarm higher so you have time to have a snack to avoid a hypo as your BG falls.
I know your diagnosis I has not been confirmed so you may not be prescribed a CGM until it is. If that is the case, you could benefit from the free trials available on both the Libre and Dexcom websites if you have a compatible phone.
 
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I do have a libre prescribed now. Ive set it to 4.5. Not sure if this is right for at night though as we all naturally drop at night. Would you still react?
 
jtg1964 said:
I do have a libre prescribed now. Ive set it to 4.5. Not sure if this is right for at night though as we all naturally drop at night. Would you still react?
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If your by is dropping to hypo level, I would increase the lower alert to 5.0. if you think this is too high at night, you could reduce it when you go to bed.
 
helli said:
If your by is dropping to hypo level, I would increase the lower alert to 5.0. if you think this is too high at night, you could reduce it when you go to bed.
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I have 5 during the day, when i'm active and it may go down due to excercise, and 4.5 at night when i should, normally, be just on basal. Unless i fancy a late night snack or need an adjustment dose ( and if i'm adjusting may as well have a little snack...)
 
rebrascora said:
Jill do you mean Hypers ie highs and then drops? Hopefully you don't mean that you are hypo and then dropping lower still after treating a hypo.

With you being on a mixed insulin and only injecting it once a day, which is a very unusual situation, it will be difficult for you to compare notes with others and draw any useful conclusions, but it is common to experience erratic BG levels during the so called honeymoon period, however I think your insulin regime is part of the problem in your case and I really find it odd that they started you off on a mixed insulin, which is so out of date thinking in my opinion.
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Hi Barbara
Update. Due to having hypos and hypers causing me to feel really ill and tearful they have diabetes dropped my evening Glicazide which stopped the hypos at night.Then yesterday dropped one Glicazide in the morning. What a difference.
I played 18 holes today and kept my levels within range so I was well pleased.
I know I've still a way to go but I'm feeling better ...and I've stopped crying .
 
jtg1964 said:
Then yesterday dropped one Glicazide in the morning. What a difference.
I played 18 holes today and kept my levels within range so I was well pleased.
I know I've still a way to go but I'm feeling better ...and I've stopped crying .
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Awwww that’s great to hear @jtg1964

Hope your stability continues and you can get a few more rounds in 🙂

Do you take any snacks to top your levels up during a round?
 
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