how often do you test during the night

[bev]

Hi all,

I was just wondering (after a comment on another thread) how many of you routinely test your levels during the night? I am thinking that because your adults and clearly all fully grown that your not suffering with growth hormones so maybe you just test if you have been sporty or eaten unusual carbs? Alex will be off to Uni one day and I realise that he probably wont want to actively test himself but am hoping that he will test for the above reasons - so just thought I would ask you all so I can get an idea of what adults really do as opposed to what us parents would like to happen!Bev

p.s. I routinely test Alex before I go to bed and again around 3am and then take it from there - some nights (if he isnt growing) he remains stable until 7am - other nights he is all over the place with growth hormones!

 

[novorapidboi26]

I have personally never done it unless I am doing a basal test..........

Back when I was diagnosed though, 1999, I was 15, there wasn't anyone telling my to do it routinely.......

I think if Alex is already in the routine you might find he will probably do it more than most would, but I don't think he necessarily needs to do it and shouldn't, unless as you say there has been some out of the ordinary event. But this is just, or at least should be, normal diabetic protocol.....🙂

What do you think he will be studying at Uni?

 

[bev]

Hi Novorapidboi26,

Thanks for your reply. So if you had been unusually active would you not check - or just have extra carbs just in case? Alex will most likely take something like Biomedicine (like his sister) as he loves Science and never stops asking questions! His sister wants to be a Research Scientist and I can imagine Alex would do well going down the same road too! Alex wants to be 'very rich and have the best things in life and own a Penthouse flat in London' - so he tells me anyway!Bev

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Bev

I only rarely test overnight... these are some of the reasons I'd set an alarm

1. Occasional basal tests/tweaks
2. If I've had a 'tricky' meal that evening which involves going to bed with 1-2u (or more) IOB and the expectation that at least some carbs are still chugging away.
3. During illness to and/or other periods of uncertainty (unsure about set for example)

I might try to test if I've had a few drinks too - though I don't tend to get much of a BG drop after drinking, it's more the spikes I have to worry about.

 

[Copepod]

I only test at night if I'm awake, which is usually because I'm staffing a check point or transition area during an adventure race, which means an unusual pattern of activity and eating.

If I've drunk alcohol or run in evening or had a very physically active day, then I always test before going to bed, but, then I always test before going to sleep - alcohol intake & exercise just makes it even more important, (not that I can drink more than a maximum of 2 pints of 5% beer, and prefer beer to more than a smaller amount of spirits or wine).

Several times I've woken up at night, feeling a bit odd. Unless I'm unsure whether I'm heading low or high, I just eat something. But I've never set set my alarm to test.

That was my practice since diagnosis, which included a year doing MSc within a year of diagnosis. I didn't have type 1 diabetes when I did my BSc in my 20s, but would probably have done the same then, too - students need sleep, and studying, attending lectures, doing practicals, cycling to / from uni were all pretty routine, so only needed to test on unusual days of sport or drinking, perhaps one day a week. 🙂

 

[DeusXM]

I test according to the rigorous schedule of 'whenever I feel like it'.

More specifically, I will tend to test under the following circumstances:

*When I have been either high or low before bed and had to take some form of corrective action
*When my morning readings don't make sense
*If I've had something different to my usual routine like a takeaway

However, what this invariably works out as is "whenever I wake up in the middle of the night". Probably about 2-3 nights a week I tend to wake up for no particular reason at around 3am anyway so I tend to always test then just to keep an eye on things. I haven't set my alarm specifically for a nighttime test since...oh, probably over 10 years now.

As a general rule, I seem to have a pretty good ability to guess my BG based on how I feel at any given moment so I work on the principle that if I wake up, something must be wrong somewhere in my body. 90% of the time it isn't but it never hurts to check if I'm already up.

At the risk of ruffling feathers as well, I would say there is largely no point whatsoever in healthy adults testing in the middle of the night, every single night and I certainly don't think there is a need for an 18-year-old at university to do this.

What I would say is that before I went to uni I made a conscious effort to try and test more in the nights when I went 'out' so I had a good handle on what booze does to my BGs overnight. I would say this sort of self-training is critical for adult life and it needs to be done independently of parents because having parents involved in it will mean the scenarios bear no resemblance to what will actually happen as an adult. Also, as a 15-year-old I felt pretty much it wasn't actually necessary for my parents to know what alcohol did to my blood sugar. Having my mother know a pint of beer raises my BG by 2mmol/l and that 8 pints will cause it to drop by 6mmol/l 8 hours after serves absolutely no purpose because it was MY diabetes.

Having said that, there is a lot to be said for being introduced to alcohol (rather that D management with alcohol) in a vaguely parentally supervised situation. Because from the age of 14-16 I only drank in 'safe' situations I had a good overview of what booze would do to me, diabetically, but also how to enjoy booze without serious excess. Put it this way, I was never an 18-year-old who felt the need to finish a bottle of vodka on their own.

 

[AlisonM]

If I wake up and think I may be hypo, I test. I don't deliberately wake myself so I can test unless I've had a persistent hypo during the day and am still low at bedtime. In which case I'll set the alarm to wake me (if I get to sleep) once, perhaps twice depending on the readings. There's no set pattern to it.

 

[bev]

At the risk of ruffling feathers as well, I would say there is largely no point whatsoever in healthy adults testing in the middle of the night, every single night and I certainly don't think there is a need for an 18-year-old at university to do this.

I dont expect Alex to test every night - that isnt realistic for a busy student - but I would like to think that if he has any worries or if he has changed his routine then he will test at the appropriate times.

What I would say is that before I went to uni I made a conscious effort to try and test more in the nights when I went 'out' so I had a good handle on what booze does to my BGs overnight. I would say this sort of self-training is critical for adult life and it needs to be done independently of parents because having parents involved in it will mean the scenarios bear no resemblance to what will actually happen as an adult. Also, as a 15-year-old I felt pretty much it wasn't actually necessary for my parents to know what alcohol did to my blood sugar. Having my mother know a pint of beer raises my BG by 2mmol/l and that 8 pints will cause it to drop by 6mmol/l 8 hours after serves absolutely no purpose because it was MY diabetes.

It should be remembered that the impact Type 1 diabetes has on the immediate family is phenominal and cannot be ignored just because the young person has taken over the reins - it doesnt quite work like that. A parent will always worry about their offspring - whether that is diabetes/education/relationships - it will always be that way - a parent is a parent for life! The more the whole family learn and educate themselves - the more supported the person will feel - even though they will be fully-independant it doesnt mean we wash our hands of their diabetes. Obviously it is the young persons condition and they have to deal with it the way they see fit - but that shouldnt mean that they cant lean on a parent if the going gets tough - and most parents would rather be fully engaged with the latest diabetes changes/research in the knowledge that any support they give will be at least based on reality rather than a text-book answer. Knowledge is power. 🙂 Bev

 

[bev]

I only test at night if I'm awake, which is usually because I'm staffing a check point or transition area during an adventure race, which means an unusual pattern of activity and eating.

If I've drunk alcohol or run in evening or had a very physically active day, then I always test before going to bed, but, then I always test before going to sleep - alcohol intake & exercise just makes it even more important, (not that I can drink more than a maximum of 2 pints of 5% beer, and prefer beer to more than a smaller amount of spirits or wine).

Several times I've woken up at night, feeling a bit odd. Unless I'm unsure whether I'm heading low or high, I just eat something. But I've never set set my alarm to test.

That was my practice since diagnosis, which included a year doing MSc within a year of diagnosis. I didn't have type 1 diabetes when I did my BSc in my 20s, but would probably have done the same then, too - students need sleep, and studying, attending lectures, doing practicals, cycling to / from uni were all pretty routine, so only needed to test on unusual days of sport or drinking, perhaps one day a week. 🙂

Hi Copepod,

What an adventurous time you have!I think most students would agree about testing routinely and I am not kidding myself that Alex will be any different. The only slight difference is that Alex uses the pump which can (sometimes) be more problematic than injections in terms of set-changes and the impact that can have.🙂Bev

 

[pgcity]

I test during the night when

Basal testing
When I am I'll and its all a but wonky
When I have drunk more than usual
When I have corrected to see if it worked
When I have been too low before bed

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Only test at night if I have woken up, or basal testing.

 

[Pigeon]

I only test in the night if I can't sleep and feel more wide awake than I should, thinking I might be hypo. If I wake up in a cold sweat and shaking then I just drink Lucozade.

If I've been exercising or low before bed I just have 10-20g carbs before bed and hope for the best. I got diagnosed when I was 26, routine nighttime testing was never suggested to me.

Aside from anything else (and I know you probably don't want to think about this yet) it would be very disturbing for my partner if I set alarms to test in the night. The one time I did want to test (took lantus instead of NovoRapid at tea time!) I drank a lot of water before bed so that I'd wake up for the loo and could test then.

 

[Tina63]

My lad was 15 at diagnosis and we were NEVER told to test at night, so I have to be honest and say it never dawned on us to. It was only after some considerable time that on here I read about people doing so and was shocked both that they did, and we didn't, probably in equal amounts.

My lad was still definitely growing then, and probably still is slightly now at 18.

He has had just one night time hypo that we are aware of, I head him crashing and banging around, he was trying to get downstairs for food/drink.

I have been in and checked on him occasionally, just visibly, when I have heard any unusual noises from his room, but have never tested him, he would never forgive me if I did. He has taken full control from day one and would not let me near him.

He is on injections though, and the more I learn about pumps the more I think they sound majorly labour intensive, so really wonder if they are worth all that hassle. Night time testing night after night must be extremely wearing for all concerned. Only my opinion of course.

Tina

 

[rossi_mac]

Hi,

My comments...I have never set an alarm for testing, have woken a bit confused as to the time or what I feel, sorry to say mainly in respect to drinking too much, so I test and generally don't sleep much as I am thinking I might be low/high. If I've been over exerting I would eat plenty before shut eye and if high I would stay up late to check not silly high. To note I wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 and I think I had stopped growing by then!

Cheers

Rossi

 

[Pumper_Sue]

He is on injections though, and the more I learn about pumps the more I think they sound majorly labour intensive, so really wonder if they are worth all that hassle. Night time testing night after night must be extremely wearing for all concerned. Only my opinion of course.

Tina

Hi Tina, pumps are life changing and the quality of life from having one is amazing.
Being on a pump does not mean testing every night all night long either 😱

A pump isn't any good though for anyone who can't be bothered to carb count or test blood sugars or even do the basics for staying alive as in injecting insulin.

Parents will always test their child or children during the night. It doesn't matter if they are on a pump or injections, Parents have to have peace of mind and children's blood sugars tend to have a mind of their own.

 

[Copepod]

Hi Copepod,

What an adventurous time you have!I think most students would agree about testing routinely and I am not kidding myself that Alex will be any different. The only slight difference is that Alex uses the pump which can (sometimes) be more problematic than injections in terms of set-changes and the impact that can have.🙂Bev

You've just stated the reason why I prefer MDI to pump - wasn't going to say and risk being accused of anti-pump prejudice, which I don't have, just I find MDI suits my life better.

 

[AJLang]

I'm on a pump, it's the best thing that has ever happened to me🙂. It has made my BGs so stable during the night that I can go to bed at 5 without worrying. I only test during the nigh to basal test, if I feel hypo or sometimes if I wake up to go to the bathroom. I've had that approach for more than 40 years and never needed help for a night time BG.

 

[bev]

You've just stated the reason why I prefer MDI to pump - wasn't going to say and risk being accused of anti-pump prejudice, which I don't have, just I find MDI suits my life better.

Hi Copepod,

You must never feel that you *have* to like pumps!😉It is down to personal preference and if MDI suits your lifestyle then that over-rides anything in my view. For us MDI just didnt work - Alex is/was insulin sensitive and he was either high or low - because we couldnt do the tiny amounts needed. We have also found it invaluable in terms of growth hormones and illness and being pro-active rather than re-active which suits his teenage lifestyle!🙂Bev

 

[bev]

Hi Tina, pumps are life changing and the quality of life from having one is amazing.
Being on a pump does not mean testing every night all night long either 😱

A pump isn't any good though for anyone who can't be bothered to carb count or test blood sugars or even do the basics for staying alive as in injecting insulin.

Parents will always test their child or children during the night. It doesn't matter if they are on a pump or injections, Parents have to have peace of mind and children's blood sugars tend to have a mind of their own.

Hi Tina,

Sue is quite right.We used to test when on MDI. It is about testing the blood glucose not checking the pump - and the need to do that remains the same whether its injections or a pump. There is more work initially when starting on a pump - but once you have educated yourself it is an amazing tool and we would not go back to MDI - unless of course it was an emergency! Sadly for you your son isnt compliant yet - but maybe when he has got used to his two injections a day he might see the benefits of trying to take control and you never know one day he might want a pump!Bev