• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Stop the breakfast spike.

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
S

Siannie 49

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Looking for advice to combat the breakfast spike. Son is 16 and diagnosed 10months. He eats 3 pieces of wholemeal toast. Using proper butter, apparently fat slows the spike‍♀️. Stopped eating cereal to try and help. He'll eat a bacon sandwich occasionally. What else can he try. Driving us crazy.. He wakes up lately bloods around in the 8's or 9's. Think he's coming out of honeymoon period and hormones. Any advice would be great. I've read sometimes things like choc brioche, fat in it slows spikes. Please help.
 
Hi there

Have you tried altering the timing of the insulin? We tend to be more insulin resistant in the morning, timing is a very individual thing, for me 20 minutes pre bolus for breakfast is my sweet spot but then I have to eat immediately after bolusing for my tea, there are others that need to inject 1 hour + before breakfast in order to stop large spikes

When you say spiking how high is he going? And is it coming down again by the next meal?
xx
 
Bolusing more in advance of breakfast could help a lot. I have to bolus 30 mins before my breakfast - about double the time in advance that I do for other meals.

Also, if he’s waking at 8 or 9, he might need some change to his basal insulin.

Finally, when he wakes at 9, say, does he correct that before eating?

(I eat cereal for breakfast)
 
Kaylz said:
Hi there

Have you tried altering the timing of the insulin? We tend to be more insulin resistant in the morning, timing is a very individual thing, for me 20 minutes pre bolus for breakfast is my sweet spot but then I have to eat immediately after bolusing for my tea, there are others that need to inject 1 hour + before breakfast in order to stop large spikes

When you say spiking how high is he going? And is it coming down again by the next meal?
xx
Click to expand...
It's going up to 13 /14 and its not always coming back down by lunch. We have waited all different times after having his injection. 15, 20, 30 mins etc. He usually has an added correction with his lunch.
 
Siannie 49 said:
It's going up to 13 /14 and its not always coming back down by lunch. We have waited all different times after having his injection. 15, 20, 30 mins etc. He usually has an added correction with his lunch.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a possible basal issue then, or maybe his ratio is wrong for breakfast.

I aim to wake between 5 and 7. If I’m higher than that, I correct carefully and don’t eat until I’m below 7. I find if you start the day ‘wrong’, it’s much harder to get back into range.
 
Inka said:
Bolusing more in advance of breakfast could help a lot. I have to bolus 30 mins before my breakfast - about double the time in advance that I do for other meals.

Also, if he’s waking at 8 or 9, he might need some change to his basal insulin.

Finally, when he wakes at 9, say, does he correct that before eating?

(I eat cereal for breakfast)
Click to expand...
He usually has an added corrections with his breakfast insulin. We wait 20, 30, 40 mins some mornings. 2 days ago, we upped his nighttime by 1 unit, so we will be changing breakfast ratio, on Monday if not any better. Guidance from our nurse.
 
as @Inka says it may be a basal issue, have you tried a basal test? What basal insulin is he on? xx
 
Inka said:
Sounds like a possible basal issue then, or maybe his ratio is wrong for breakfast.

I aim to wake between 5 and 7. If I’m higher than that, I correct carefully and don’t eat until I’m below 7. I find if you start the day ‘wrong’, it’s much harder to get back into range.
Click to expand...
Yeah we discussed this issue with the nurse. Try changing nighttime from 1.9 to 1.10 units, for a couple of days, then maybe Monday drop breakfast ratio from 1.7 to 1.6 carb ratio. Trial and error
 
You could also try different bread, I don't get a spike from Warburton wholemeal, but I do from Hovis. You could also try lower carb bread. Will be try a cooked breakfast? Egg, bacon etc?
 
Here's a link explaining basal testing

www.mysugr.com

How To Successfully Test Your Basal Rate

Are you looking for basal rate information and testing instructions? Perfect! You're in the right place!
www.mysugr.com www.mysugr.com

It would be worth doing one, basal needs can change at the drop of a hat unfortunately xx
 
I'm also ok with croissants, if he'll try those.
 
Siannie 49 said:
Yeah he will eat bacon and croissants. Got cho brioche yo try. Some mums give them. Hopefully we'll get it sorted, tweaking a few things.
Click to expand...

Its usually the insulin rather than the food, I find. It’s a hard job being your own pancreas.

A basal test should help, and then once that’s ok, see if his breakfast ratio needs a change. You should then find things much improved.
 
I inject as soon as I wake up , before I get out of bed it has helped me deal with my enemy “dawn” . Is he actually waking at 8 or 9 or is that after he’s got out of bed . I do find my ratio is much higher in the morning. Hope things settle down for him soon
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top