Is anyone else having problems (or had problems) over-treating lows? I find I don’t really “feel” low until I’m under 55 mg/dl but then I sort of panic (especially with a Dexcom screaming at me) and drink just a little more juice or eat just one too many glucose tabs and end up shooting to 140 before I level back out. The good news is that the 140 (on the Dex) is usually just a quick peak, and I’m back around 100 within half an hour or so. I’d like to just get to a nice even 100ish without the peak. Is this possible? Is it me over-treating (my assupmtion) or is the Dex over-analysing and freaking me out for no reason? I do test when the Dex shows I’m low, to confirm that, and it’s usually right on par . . .
Any advice is very welcome. Thanks!
Since pregnancy, I can’t detect a low until the 40s or 30s. But, I’m so used to it now that I don’t freak anymore. I just take the appropriate glucose tablets, check a half hour later, and if BG is good, eat some long-lasting carbs to make sure I dont drop again (calculating one unit of insulin less than usual for the carbs).
From what I can tell, it seems like you are over-treating as well. See if you can try to have a little patience with your BG and take just one glucose tablet at time. Try to remind yourself that there are many non-diabetics who live day to day on a 50 BG and they are just fine. (Like my dad- his average BG is between 50-60 at any given time)
Other than that, I really wouldn’t worry about a quick 140 spike. Your baby will be just fine with that. Especially since it’s only lasting about a half hour.
Chill out, pat your baby belly, and smile. You’re doing just fine.
Thanks!
I guess it’s still hard for me to get my head around being OK at 60 or even 50 after 20 years of treating when I hit 70. And since the Dexcom is new since I got pregnant, the alarms and everything trigger a bit of a “correct now!” response. I guess I do need to relax a little and have some patience when treating. The eating long-lasting carbs part makes sense too. Great tips, Thank you!
I’ve only been on the Dexcom for about 10 days now, but I’ve noticed that it tends to scream alarms at me when I’m not really low. I’ve over-treated a couple times because I saw Dexie start reading LOW instead of a number, only to test and come up in the low 70s on my meter.
I don’t use a CGMS – so it could be that I am seeing the same spike, but not noticing it.
Like Marps said, I wouldn’t worry about spiking to 140 – I would only worry is you are spiking to something higher.
I treat my lows with a measuring cup and juice when I am home and a bottle with juice when I am away from home. I need to fight the urge to drink a little more juice, but it is easier when I pour out just what I need and measure it.
During pregnancy, my threshold for feeling my lows has lowered to around 55 mg/dl as well. My doctor doesn’t want me treating until 65. I treat lows from 55 mg/dl to 65 mg/dl less aggresively (5-10g of carb). Below 55 mg/dl, then I treat with 10-15g of carb.