[breezeonby]

I just had a terrible low. I was writing an email and I got really light headed and I COULD NOT THINK. I tested at 34 at 11:05PM. I saved most of my carbs for dinner, I ate cheese ravioli and a dinner roll and took a large bolus at 7PM. I have a diabetes check-up with my doctor tomorrow. I have never blacked out but I am afraid that I might. I really do not have much warning until my blood sugar drops below 45. My Mother goes to bed very early and is hard of hearing and I am afraid that I may black out while being alone. I just can't stop taking my insulin and I am not sure why I am going so low. I may need to to reduce my Actos or Glucotrol. I have already reduced my basal insulin by 10 units at night over the last 3 weeks. I hope to get some answers tomorrow. :noidea:

 

[onaughmae]

Be careful girl! That is so scary! Let us know what your Dr says. Be sure and keep your meter and a snack close by.

 

[stripes]

Oooh breezeonby it's scary, isn't it! Just do what onaughmae said and have a snack near you if you're worried, and test lots even if it's just for piece of mind. Hope the doctor will help tomorrow!

 

[Shanny]

(((Breeze))) I bet you feel crummy now too. Cussed lows. And (like you need to hear it again ) . . . be careful!

 

[dfrazier]

sounds like you should mention switching insulins to your doc. I had that problem about 10 yrs back. Now im on humalog which you take depending on how many carbs you have. So your covering exactly what you eat if you do it right and your lows wont be so LOW. I had a crash the other night from drinking on st pattys day and luckily my gf was there to get me what i needed.

 

[diabetes86]

I saved most of my carbs for dinner, I ate cheese ravioli and a dinner roll and took a large bolus at 7PM.

Do you use a sliding scale with the Bolus. That low was 4 hours after eating sounds to me like too much Bolus. what was your BG 1 hour after eating?

Have you been exercising lately.

 

[breezeonby]

Do you use a sliding scale with the Bolus. That low was 4 hours after eating sounds to me like too much Bolus. what was your BG 1 hour after eating?

Have you been exercising lately.

I count carbs and usually don't correct for a low or high reading when I test before meals. I had my carbs matched correctly. I don't test after meals. I am always around 120, 2-hours post meal. I have gastroparesis and that can cause my blood sugar to go wacky at times. I have been to 3 gastroenterologists for the gastrparesis and none of them can shed any light on the predictability of the gastroparesis. It is a common minor complication, but can make taking insulin tricky. I didn't walk last night. I just don't know why I go so low at times.

 

[Richard157]

Breeze, if that happened to me then it might be due to my needing a change in my carb ratio for my evening meal. I take 1 unit of Humalog for every 6 carbs I eat. That is called a 1:6 carb ratio. that gives me a high two hours after breakfast so I use a 1:4 ratio which gives me more insulin. That solved my high BS after breakfast problem. If I had lows after my evening meal I would try a 1:7 ratio, which would involve my using less insulin and result in higher tests in the late evening. I don't know how your gastroparesis works into the equation since I don't have that problem. I am just thinking that it may just be a matter of too much insulin for that time of day. Many insulin users do not seem to realize their carb ratios can vary throughout the day. Carb counting with carb ratios is much more effective in controlling BS levels than a sliding sccale.

 

[diabetes86]

Carb counting with carb ratios is much more effective in controlling BS levels than a sliding sccale.

I thought that is what a sliding scale is. How much you take depends... Your not takin 6 IU regardless of...

 

[Richard157]

I take 1 unit for every 4 carbs before breakfast and 1 unit for every 6 carbs the rest of the day. If I eat something very late in the evening, after 9 pm, I take 1 unit for every 8 carbs . I am more sensitive to carbs at that time. That is carb counting. It is different and more precise than using a sliding scale. If you study John Walsh's book "Using Insulin" you will get a better understanding of carb counting.

 

[stripes]

I know that random lows can occur when you accidentally inject into your bloodstream or something like that. I remember once I was about 20mmol before dinner, didn't inject as much as I should have for the carb-heavy meal I had, we went out (no exercising really) and half an hour later I was feeling light-headed and measured my glucose and it was 2.5. I told my doctor about that and he was stumped! Doesn't happen very often, but it can happen.

 

[breezeonby]

Richard: I had my diabetes check up today and my doctor made several changes. One change is to increase my carb ratio from 1:5 to 1:8 each meal. He decreased my Glucotrol and we decreased my basal insulin dose. I have to test more often the next 3 weeks. I quit testing after meals because my BS was always within normal ranges. Tonight before dinner at 7PM, I tested at 77. I ate my meal and counted my carbs, factored in the new ratio and tested at 9PM and I was at 58. I have been instructed to not allow my BS to fall below 80. When I am under 80, I have to eat some fast acting carbs and at bedtime if I am under 80, I need a carb/protein snack. I didn't know that your carb ratio could be different at times during the day. Tonight was a good example that I had too much insulin at dinner. With all the changes my doctor made, I feel like I am back to diabetes 101. I will survive the changes and still be in control! I still have faith in myself

 

[breezeonby]

This makes no sense!

What is going on? I just answered a post and took my blood sugar at
11PM as instructed and now my blood sugar is 155. At 9PM, I was at 58 and ate 3 glucose tabs. There is no way that 3 glucose tabs increased my blood sugar by almost 100 points. I have had it with gastroparesis. This complication has made my life a confused mess! I thought that maybe I was taking too much insulin at dinner. My food is taking too long to digest! I am at wits end! Help! Sorry, but I am really frustrated everyone!!!!!!

 

[Shanny]

Oh Breeze - what a colossal mess. You & your doc have some real figuring out to do . . . when you're at 58, you can't monkey around waiting & hoping your digestion will kick in! Good that you used glucose tabs - at least you know exactly what you were taking.

I had just read your previous post a few minutes ago & was feeling really glad that you have a plan to not drop so low. Good grief - now what?!


(((Breeze)))

 

[breezeonby]

I know what I need to do, is to see an ENDO. I love my regular doctor, but he knows little about gastroparesis. I know of an endo in the city who will see me without a referral. I just might call on Monday and see when I can be seen.....

 

[Shanny]

I know what I need to do, is to see an ENDO. I love my regular doctor, but he knows little about gastroparesis. I know of an endo in the city who will see me without a referral. I just might call on Monday and see when I can be seen.....

That's EXACTLY what you need to do! Make that call, girl!