House work

Woodywoodpecker

Woodywoodpecker

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Pronouns
She/Her
Hi everyone not had the best off days. Just wondering how u all manage your glucose when doing housework. A tend to have a banana before I start, but find I’m going low very quickly especially when hoovering, feel like I have to keep eating to stop going low. I do take unit less off levimer if having busy day, breakfast feel I need full units off nova rapid or go high. Any tips be great please
 
I've been going to Pears as an alternative to jelly babies and the like. About 12-15g of carbs and relatively fast acting for me anyway.

Assuming its the butlers day off of course 😛
 
As you are going low you will need less insulin or more carbs. I rarely drink fruit juice, but used the housework as an excuse for a small glass of juice or a nice piece of fruit before I start. You could also try reducing your bolus a little more. I use a pump and have to set an exercise mode for housework. I found I needed about half my usual bolus before I got started.

It is a juggling act and a case of trial and improvement.
 
Woodywoodpecker said:
Hi everyone not had the best off days. Just wondering how u all manage your glucose when doing housework. A tend to have a banana before I start, but find I’m going low very quickly especially when hoovering, feel like I have to keep eating to stop going low. I do take unit less off levimer if having busy day, breakfast feel I need full units off nova rapid or go high. Any tips be great please
Click to expand...

I usually do housework after a meal if possible as my blood sugar is higher then. If I do it at other times, I judge whether I need top up carbs. If it’s clearly going to be very energetic housework, I drink a 150ml can of Coke, have some sweets, have a ‘treat’ item, etc.

If you’re going low doing very moderate tasks or exercise, you might well need to look at your insulin doses @Woodywoodpecker
 
SB2015 said:
As you are going low you will need less insulin or more carbs. I rarely drink fruit juice, but used the housework as an excuse for a small glass of juice or a nice piece of fruit before I start. You could also try reducing your bolus a little more. I use a pump and have to set an exercise mode for housework. I found I needed about half my usual bolus before I got started.

It is a juggling act and a case of trial and improvement.
Click to expand...
If I take less insulin for breakfast I go high, do lower my levimer by 1 unit
 
Inka said:
I usually do housework after a meal if possible as my blood sugar is higher then. If I do it at other times, I judge whether I need top up carbs. If it’s clearly going to be very energetic housework, I drink a 150ml can of Coke, have some sweets, have a ‘treat’ item, etc.

If you’re going low doing very moderate tasks or exercise, you might well need to look at your insulin doses @Woodywoodpecker
Click to expand...
This morning only dusted bedrooms and hall, but do dust doors etc. had banana before I started but find a do start to go low. Did ask at hospital she said if doing within 2 hours off taking insulin, drop breakfast one to 4, but find go to high 16. Never though off having coke, will try this next time thanks
 
SB2015 said:
As you are going low you will need less insulin or more carbs. I rarely drink fruit juice, but used the housework as an excuse for a small glass of juice or a nice piece of fruit before I start. You could also try reducing your bolus a little more. I use a pump and have to set an exercise mode for housework. I found I needed about half my usual bolus before I got started.

It is a juggling act and a case of trial and improvement.
Click to expand...
Is bills your long acting one
 
I am puzzled. If you drop your insulin, you go high but if you keep insulin the same and do housework you go low. What happens if you drop the insulin and then do housework, does that not balance out.
 
Interesting. Not a fan of housework but having come back from a short break with a stinking cold, I spent yesterday in bed, dozed , coughed, sneezed etc etc . Felt better this morning so had two small slices toast with scrambled eggs and my coffee. Needed to change our bed completely, right down to mattress topper, that done , spare duvet brought down from the loft, change pillows as well. Now I feel quite odd. I'm on Metformin only but this has happened before , sorted with usually some diet tonic to drink or water if needed. I don't test, but adding this to my queries when I see DN tomorrow. Cancelled my flu/COVID for yesterday. Anyone any suggestions ? I wonder if I am not consuming enough carbs to cover a task like that? Might explain my lightheadedness and woozy.
 
Woodywoodpecker said:
This morning only dusted bedrooms and hall, but do dust doors etc. had banana before I started but find a do start to go low. Did ask at hospital she said if doing within 2 hours off taking insulin, drop breakfast one to 4, but find go to high 16. Never though off having coke, will try this next time thanks
Click to expand...
What do you normally take for breakfast. Is this too big a drop in bolus? Do you have a half unit pen? That could give you more flexibility on the adjustments that you make.

Another thought about highs after meals, how soon before a meal do you inject? I find that I need a bigger pre-bolus time in the mornings than I do in the evenings.
 
@Woodywoodpecker i am wondering if you have a half unit pen.
This may help with your breakfast dose on days you do house work - you can experiment with dropping your breakfast bolus by half a unit.
I believe half unit pens are only available as reusable pens but, unless you have dexterity issues, reusable pens are far better for space (the cartridges take up less space in your fridge), the environment (less waste) and they are more robust.
 
Leadinglights said:
I am puzzled. If you drop your insulin, you go high but if you keep insulin the same and do housework you go low. What happens if you drop the insulin and then do housework, does that not balance out.
Click to expand...
Insulin
Leadinglights said:
I am puzzled. If you drop your insulin, you go high but if you keep insulin the same and do housework you go low. What happens if you drop the insulin and then do housework, does that not balance out.
Click to expand...
take insulin for breakfast about half 6-7, not doing my housework then so tend to go high if lower dose. Usually at weekends do housework about 9
 
helli said:
@Woodywoodpecker i am wondering if you have a half unit pen.
This may help with your breakfast dose on days you do house work - you can experiment with dropping your breakfast bolus by half a unit.
I believe half unit pens are only available as reusable pens but, unless you have dexterity issues, reusable pens are far better for space (the cartridges take up less space in your fridge), the environment (less waste) and they are more robust.
Click to expand...
Not got half pen, didn’t know about them till came on here. Due to go to hospital for checkup next month will ask then
 
SB2015 said:
What do you normally take for breakfast. Is this too big a drop in bolus? Do you have a half unit pen? That could give you more flexibility on the adjustments that you make.

Another thought about highs after meals, how soon before a meal do you inject? I find that I need a bigger pre-bolus time in the mornings than I do in the
Click to expand...
 
Woodywoodpecker said:
Insulin

take insulin for breakfast about half 6-7, not doing my housework then so tend to go high if lower dose. Usually at weekends do housework about 9
Click to expand...

Ok, so if you’re doing housework 2hrs plus after your breakfast, you might need to keep your breakfast bolus the same, but have a carby snack like Coke or sweets or flapjack prior to starting your housework and/or while doing it.
 
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