Night Time Hypos

[MeganN]

Hi guys

Right I have a few hypo questions.

When you take your sugar level at bed time, how low would you allow it to be before you went to sleep? so basically at what number would you consider eating something before going to bed.

Also, at what number is a hypo classified?? is it always below 4? I get hypo symptoms when my blood tests in the low 4's.

Any personal info would be great 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hi Megan, as with most things to do with diabetes, it's very much a personal thing. A hypo is always defined as below 4.0 mmol/l, but it's possible to get the symptoms when you are above this because it's possible that your levels are much lower than your body has been used to. As your levels become more consistently in the range of 4-7 then you are more likely to only feel the symptoms when you are below 4.0.

Regarding bedtime, a lot will depend on how much your levels normally fall overnight. Obviously, you want to avoid falling below 4.0 whilst you sleep, so you need to work out what levels is safe for you before bed so you can stay safe.

The best way to find out is to test yourself before bed, then set your alarm to test yourself again at around 3 am. Sounds awful, but this is generally the time that our blood sugar levels naturally fall to their lowest level. If you are above 4 or 5 at this time, but not too far above (e.g. double figures) then your bedtime levels were probably about right.

I used to have something to eat at night if I was below 7 (usually a slice of bread and peanut butter, which is slow to digest) - this would keep me safe through the night. Nowadays I don't have that worry because I don't take any insulin at night.

I'm not really sure with the gliclazide you are on though, as it is less easy to control and fine tune. I'd probably start by making sure I was above 7 before bed, then doing the 3am test - but others may have a better idea than me if they use gliclazide.

 

[MeganN]

Thanks northerner.

At the moment if I'm below 5 before bed i have a biscuit (one of the slower release belvita breakfast ones, but only 1) and then I tend to wake up at around 5.2 ish.

Is this a good morning reading? or should i aim lower?

 

[Northerner]

Thanks northerner.

At the moment if I'm below 5 before bed i have a biscuit (one of the slower release belvita breakfast ones, but only 1) and then I tend to wake up at around 5.2 ish.

Is this a good morning reading? or should i aim lower?

That, my dear, is excellent! 🙂

 

[Austin Mini]

Last night at 10.30pm I was 1.7. Four custard creams and an overnight dose of 6 units Humulin I saw me waking at 07.45am with a reading of 8.7. You have just got to suck it and see as all peps are different. By the way your morning reading is very good.

 

[trophywench]

Do I detect a touch of User Error Austin? LOL

I like 5s as a bedtime reading - mind you I could never risk that on Lantus, could do 6s on Levemir but have only got it down to 5s with the pump as I'm now secure in the fact that unless something exceedingly out of the ordinary happens, I won't wake up hypo.

 

[becky_boo]

Hiya, i`m still new to all this as well (only got diagnosed on 27th June) but I like mine to be about 6. But I think everyone is different. I am still going though the honeymoon stage so Im having quite alot of hypos so I wanna avoid them in the night. Just see what works best for you =)

x

 

[Austin Mini]

Now then becky-boo untill you get used to it never go to bed with a reading lower than five. Always have 'Hypo stop' next to where you sleep and also some emergency chocky rolls and a small bottle of non diet lemonade.
I have been Type 1 for twenty five years now also by bedmate of forty years she knows just what my symptoms of a Hypo are and knows what to do.
Everyone can get caught out though so be prepared and you will be OK. MM.

 

[Doghouse]

I aim for 6.5 whan going to bed, this seems to work for me. Also, I make the time of the last test to be 3 hours after the last dose of Novorapid, after this time sufficient of it has been used up to not cause a problem. It can mean that I get to bed rather later than I would really want.

 

[musicalmum]

The general guide is 4 is the floor, which was how I was taught when my son was diagnosed - but his dad can be quite with it ie still making sense and on his feet with a blood sugar of 1.5 - whereas my son starts feeling hypo at about 6.

🙂

 

[Northerner]

I aim for 6.5 whan going to bed, this seems to work for me. Also, I make the time of the last test to be 3 hours after the last dose of Novorapid, after this time sufficient of it has been used up to not cause a problem. It can mean that I get to bed rather later than I would really want.

I find that my levels can drop quite a lot between 3 and 4 hours after injecting my novorapid, so I prefer to take my bedtime test as close to 5 hours after injecting. For example, tonight I injected at 5:30. Felt a bit peckish at 8:30 so did another test to help inform my snacking choices 🙂 My level was 5.7 so I had cheese. However, an hour later I felt a bit low so tested again - 3.1 😱 Treated the hypo and now (another hour later) my level is 5.7 again. If I'd gone to bed on the first 5.7 I'd have had quite a severe night hypo. Just shows how it can be different for everyone!

 

[Vicsetter]

Thanks northerner.

At the moment if I'm below 5 before bed i have a biscuit (one of the slower release belvita breakfast ones, but only 1) and then I tend to wake up at around 5.2 ish.

Is this a good morning reading? or should i aim lower?

Sounds fantastic to me. Things get more difficult with insulin as you can gather from the T1s posting. Waking up with 5.2 gives you a fighting chance for the rest of the day. You should be very pleased.

 

[becky_boo]

Austin Mini Yeah I keep my hypo draw in my bedside table, so its next to me =) Also my other half is a nurse so Im in good hands lol Thank you for the advise x

 

[MeganN]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Looks like I'm heading in the right direction then. 🙂