Newbie

[Dafis64]

Hi, my name is Linda
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 4 years ago, which was a bit if a shock being in my 50’s
it has taken me awhile to get the hang of things, and I am still learning all the time.
one thing I would like to ask if for the last couple of days my blood glucose is going as low as 3 after injecting the correct amount of insulin for what I have eaten, any ideas why this is happening ?, both the meals I had where pasta dishes with a creamy sauce

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Dafis64 It could be the hot weather or it could be the fat in the creamy sauce delaying the glucose rise. Do you normally react in this way to that meal?

 

[Dafis64]

Hi no I have never noticed it be before, but I don’t usually have meals like that all the time

 

[Inka]

It could be a combination of the fat and the pasta. A not insignificant amount of Type 1s need to split their bolus for pasta (even pasta with a non-fat sauce). It would depend if you drop low then go up later. Do you have a half unit pen? They’re useful for splitting boluses and getting more accurate boluses too.

 

[Dafis64]

Thank you for the response, I will try this and see what happens next time,
i do have a half unit pen so will give that a go too

 

[Inka]

You’d have to experiment carefully with any split to find what works. Take part of your bolus as normal, then have the other part immediately after your meal/30mins after/an hour after - whatever works. Always experiment cautiously - better too high than hypo.

 

[Dafis64]

Thank you, definitely better to be too high

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

one thing I would like to ask if for the last couple of days my blood glucose is going as low as 3 after injecting the correct amount of insulin for what I have eaten, any ideas why this is happening ?, both the meals I had where pasta dishes with a creamy sauce

How long have you been keeping your doses the same? I do wonder if it may simply be that your insulin needs might have changed.

I remember in the first few years after diagnosis my doses gradually ramped up and seemed to settle - but for decades now there is a more or less continual dance of ’up a bit… down a bit…’

Warmer weather Spring / Summer generally seems to need less insulin than Autumn / Winter for me.

So while I agree that pasta and creamy sauces certainly does have a reputation, and may benefit from a split dose - there may also be other factors at work?

 

[Dafis64]

Hi thanks for your response
I have been injecting, 1 unit of nova rapid for every 10g of carbs eaten,
I have done this from day 1, but only recently it’s seems I have had issues with the dropping in blood glucose
due to see diabetic nurse at the end of the month

 

[trophywench]

Well I always used to need that, for about the last 49 years in fact except when I've chosen to have eg cake with a cuppa in the afternoon, when I've needed a lower amount per 10g. However, for my evening meal I now need a bit more and also need to split the dose. I've also needed to 'play' with my basal insulin dose which certainly isn't anything new. Nothing stays the same forever with any type of diabetes hence it should come as no surprise to your nurse and I sincerely trust she'll be able to suggest the right amount to reduce dose by. I've usually found that it's better to either reduce or increase by the smallest amount so I don't have a disaster pdq, cos I can always try a bit more (or less) the next day, can't I? - and therefore so can you,

 

[Dafis64]

Hi thank you, for the response
it’s all still early days for me I suppose even though it’s been 4 years
it seems you always seem to be learning something new having diabetes
and not all can stay the same, I suppose our bodies are changing all the time the older we get so to be expected.