Marilyn, I too prefer to go low than get too high! I get ticked when I’m running high, or have a high peak. When I get low, I just deal with it and usually I’m not upset. If I’m doing something active and the low interferes with the activity for a prolonged time, esp. when with someone, that is a low that will irritate me.
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Learned something new today! Thanks.
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Alas, from reading the link it appears there are two totally opposite potential effects. As I always understood, the usual reason not to use it as an infusion (or injection) site is that there’s a lot of scar tissue there that will reduce absorption to nil. BUT there are also veins that, if you happen to hit one of them, absorption will go through the roof. That makes it too much of a crap-shoot to use as a correction tactic. Ah well…
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@Dave44 - Like you and @Marilyn6, I’m far more concerned about going high than I am low. Despite having no hypo-awareness for the past 20 years, wearing a CGM is the airbag/safety belt that allows me to ingest glucose / turn off pump when my CGM curve has a downward slope.
Given that I’ve been T1 nearly my entire life, I’m acutely aware of the toll higher BG levels takes on endothelial cells throughout the body. I want no part of losing a kidney, limb or eyes, nor do I want to further escalate the risk of stroke or heart disease.
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Going low shortly after eating may be coincident with long acting insulin driving glucose hypo. Your correcting with way more carbs than you would typically expect is consistent with my experience with “basal lows.”
Is it possible that your basal insulin dose is too much?
Here’s some information from Diabetesnet about which carbs are the best and why
“Glucose is the “sugar” in blood sugar and may also be referred to as dextrose on labels. It comes in tablets, such as Dex4 or BD Glucose tablets, and in certain candies like Sweet Tarts. Glucose breaks down quickly and reaches the blood as 100 percent glucose, which makes it the best choice for raising the blood sugar quickly.
Table sugar consists of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule, so when it breaks down in the stomach, only half is immediately available as glucose. Fruit juices, like orange juice, contain mostly fructose and are a relatively poor choice for quick treatment of serious hypoglycemia because they take so long to raise the blood sugar. For mild lows, these differences may not be vital, but if a low is serious, you want to choose the fastest carb available to get you back on your feet quickly.”
I use glucose tablets, chew them thoroughly and down them with a glass of water. Chewing them disintegrates the tablets and water helps deliver them quickly to the intestine for absorption into the blood. Glucose drinks do much the same. I absolutely hate the taste and texture of glucose tablets so that keeps me from taking too much. If I use candy I always eat too much and end up with high blood sugar.
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One last question - it’s my first real low and I’m still not feeling great after 24 hours… I feel like after a hangover… is it normal, or is it just it’s my first time having a serious low?
I dropped really low in a yoga class yesterday and then I went up to the low 200’s. I am still a bit tired 24 hrs later.
A low can make you feel bad for however long it does? It will just vary how sensitive you are to how long or how bad as we all respond differently.
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The OP said in their first post that they are not currently taking any basal insulin just mealtime.
Just always have sugar with you.
I already named it a “hypo hangover” some time after experiencing them. Feel like duh for a wile afterwards. With me its usually gone in a few hours though. More time spent in the low seems makes the hangover last longer.
Don’t forget there is a 3rd variable in this balancing act, insulin sensitivity, that changes with exercise and activity level.
Test test and test, you will learn the patterns. I can usually guess what that meter is going to say now within 15 points by what I ate and how active I have been. Just by food items and amount. No real carb math anymore I associate a food item with that much of a rise and how long it lasts.
Learn this stuff glycemic index and glycemic load - Ecosia - Web
(Ecosia uses the ad revenue from your searches to plant trees)
Don’t get overwhelmed, the beginning just sucks.
I’m not on insulin but I have new doctor and my bg ran steadily in the 200’s so it may be in my future. I have a confession that I stay away from my meter because it tends to send me into anxiety. What will happen if you go rogue and don’t take your insulin regularly? I’m currently taking glipizide twice a day and am prescribed 2000 mg of metformin. I’m determined to be in charge of my diabetes, so I guess maybe after reading your post, it’s best not to spend time figuring out what happened more than focusing on what you need to do to correct it. At least that’s my plan
I hope you’re not advocating that a type 1 diabetic stop using their insulin. Going rogue? I have no idea what that means. If you’re serious about taking control of your diabetes, I suggest testing your blood sugar instead of avoiding your meter. The only way to correct/solve issues with this disease is to diagnose what caused said issues in the first place.
My question was actually meant to ask did she think that was a good idea and the intent was not to imply any instructions at all. I’m not medically qualified to impart ANY suggestions and I’m brand new here on the forum. I’m type two and actually my response didn’t include any thoughts with either type in mind. As to meter readings… Maybe I shared that when I shouldn’t because I am not insured.
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Yeah, I got that after I re-read it—I think @Jason99 just misunderstood. It’s not always easy to get tone and context exactly right in a forum post, either reading or writing 'em.
Anyway, welcome to TUD @BamaGirl68! Lots of great people with good information and much experience here. It’s a great place to learn, hope you stick around!
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I sincerely apologise for my words. I should have re-read the post as @DrBB did. You should have let us know the cause of your anxiety is from having little to no access for test strips. We will always offer to help someone in need. I for one will send you strips without question. I still get 300 strips a month even though my G6 requires no calibration. I have a surplus that I can spare if you’d like them.
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You’re right. I missed that. Sorry for any confusion!
I do that too. I put it off for hours. All day sometimes. Last night I finally did it and it was 84. One point above Dr Bs magic 83 !
My anxiety went down. Its counter productive skipping testing but when I do anxiety is always the reason.
But with me no sweets and very low carbs so there is not much to check. I get lows almost daily at least I can feel those.
One of the hardest thing about going low is not over treating it and the 15 minutes it takes for it to “turnover”. That one of the reasons I keep my intake lower in carb. Less need for fast acting or bolus. If you were to drop the less fast acting on board the easier it is to catch a drop. If happens but also tell yourself you got through it, you’re building resources and learning. This disease will surprise you and as soon as you think you get it something else will put you in your place. It took me years before I felt the stress and anxiety start to lift.
As much as I would like to go on a carb eating spree I avoid that fast acting. too unpredictable in me.