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Suggestions for how to hit fasting target overnight

S

seawaves

Member
Hi, I am about 5 weeks and are doing well hitting my post meal targets (at the moment!) but I am struggling to hit my overnight fasting targets of 5.3 and below. I am often around 5.5 when I got to bed but if I then just do my Levimir overnight without eating anything I go hypo so pre pregnancy I had a small snack to bring me up to about 6.5 and then do my overnight insulin and would often bring me out in range. But now in early pregnancy the snacks I am trying keeping bringing my blood sugar too high and then end up with a blood sugar around 5.9 - 6.8 when I wake. Any ideas on snacks that may help here? I had heard somewhere that protein snacks before bed might help with fasting glucose but I think that was in gestational diabetes patients so don't know if it works with other diabetes types, so would really appreciate your wisdom/ tips on how to approach this.
 
I found the fasting target hard to achieve without risking hypos @seawaves even as an experienced pump user. My consultant didn’t seem too worried about it either (neither endo or OB). I tried to keep it under 6, which was more achievable.

Try reducing your snack size in increments? Or try adding fat to your snack?
 
Can you have half a snack?
Your levels seem very good so hopefully minor tweaking and you'll be at target.
 
Adding fat usually slows down the absorption of any food. Depends what the snack consists of as to how to achieve that though - so give us a clue please! then helpful suggestions can probably be made. 🙂
 
So pre pregnancy I would eat a few chewy banana chips if I was slightly too low (used to work brilliantly) but now my blood sugar raises too much. Also tried an oat cake with peanut butter. I wandering if I can tolerate being a bit lower before bed ( say 6) and then doing insulin without a snack as before pregnancy my blood sugar would drop as soon as I took Levemir and I just don't get that trend at all since I have been pregnant. Also as this is an IVF pregnancy and I am still taking supportive progesterone and I am wandering if this is also having an effect on my overnight resistance. All being well should be taking this up to about week 10.
 
The progesterone could well be having an effect @seawaves Presumably you’ll be stopping that around 14 weeks? I don’t think it would be having a massive effect anyway. Banana chips are quite fast and carby, so I’d try something else maybe. In pregnancy, I used to go for easily measured things like a digestive. I could then eat precise amounts of carbs by breaking it in halves or quarters, eg I could have 3/4 or 1 and 1/4. Oatcakes would work too.
 
It not too much higher than your target so only a small adjustment is likely needed.

As others have said you are better to be steady, have a good pattern than risk a hypo. I personally would be tempted to carry on as you are. Things change quickly when pregnant, this might be a small amount you can let go and prepare for the next change as your hormones change.

I found as soon as I got the hang of what was going on it would all change.

Also congratulations! And how are you feeling?

Take care.
 
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