[Brian23]

I just started taking Novolog with my meals and I am all over the place. For example today, I woke up @10:30 am at 120mg/dl, 11am drank Protein shake, 12:15 pm 7 u lantus, 3 u novolog then ate bowl of cereal and milk. At 1:45 pm. random check 107 mg/dl, 2:20 pm (before lunch) was at 54 mg/dl. So I kinda panicked and drank 1/2 Dr. Pepper, then ate Chips and Salsa, some cheese dip, and 3 Tacos. 2hrs later 319 mg/dl! So I took 2 u novolog and waiting to come down. What gives?

[2high]

Well, it looks like you well and truly over-treated that 54. For most people, 15-20g of carbs is PLENTY for a 54, so the Dr Pepper (yuck yuck yuck!!! ) would have been easily enough... it's the chips and tacos and things that would have sent you up.

Are you counting carbs?

[Brian23]

Trying to, not very good at it... Can you give me some tips. How many carbs should raise me up from a 54mg/dl. I used to be able to eat the tacos and stuff without any insulin(like 2 weeks ago) and my sugar would go up to about 220 mg/dl

[Jan B]

Brian,

You answered a bit of your own question . . . you panicked. Don't panic when low -- just have about 15 carbs and wait 10 -15 minutes and recheck your bg. 1/3 of a Dr. Pepper alone would probably have been enough carbs to correct the low.

Did you check your bg at 12:15 before you ate the cereal? Did you match the carbs in your cereal and milk to the 3u of Novalog? It sounds like the 3u was a little much, or you were lower than you thought before eating.

[2high]

The amount of carbs needed to raise you from a 54 ranges person-to-person, but most people I know use around 15g. Sometimes it can take a bit longer than the recommended 20 minutes to come up properly, as well, but try not to panic, although I do know that's hard.

Do you have an Insulin: Carb ratio sorted out yet? What about a correction ratio?

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by Brian23

.... Can you give me some tips. How many carbs should raise me up from a 54mg/dl. ....

There is no easy answer to that question as we are all different, and it also depends on what we are doing at the time. Your beta cells are still probably producing some insulin. So you need to figure it out by trial and error.

The trick with eating to correct lows is in measuring the amount of carbs and not exceeding the requirement . Until you get used to it, try sticking to something that is easy to measure. My favorite is ordinary white sugar. It is easy to find, measure and and use. There are about 5 grams of reasonably fast acting carbs in each teaspoonful of sugar. I would use two teaspoonsful to correct a 54, and I might have a 3rd one if I had been very active. But you could be quite different.

I put the sugar in water, swirl it around in the bottom of the glass and drink it. Glucose tablets work just as well, but you have to keep on remembering to to keep them with you . Once you have figured out your requirements using this simple benchmarking tool, you will be able to consider using different foods to achieve a similar effect ...

[rzrbks]

(1)Your Hypo is Exactly why I have glucose tabs all over the place--in pocket, in car, in briefcase, in wife's car, in file cabinet at work, and, of course, at home.

Glucose tabs are pretty Exact way to measure what you need to recover from a low.

Nomally, you chew 4 tabs = 16 carbs and this brings you up in 15-20 minutes. I know that unless I'm way low, below 50/2.7, 2 tabs will bring me right up into "Safe range."

(B) why do you inject After eating? Is there a special reason?

(Thirdly) Why would you do a "random check" when less than 2 hrs had passed since you'd eaten?

Sorry, I'm a little slow today, that's why I'm asking these questions.

[Brian23]

B..I inject after eating sometime if I have a high.
C..I do a random check because I am very new to rapid insulin.

[rzrbks]

didn't someone train you about insulin to carb ratios?

for most meals I use a 1:15 ratio----1 unit novolog/novorapid for 15 carbs.

for breakfast, if I have regular coffee, I use 1:4 ratio and if I'm eating certain sweets or french fries I use a 1:6 ratio.

Also, if I check before the 2 hours are up, I know my #s are not going to be anywhere near their normal levels.

I do check if I feel Extremely high or If I feel I going low, but normally. I just wait out the 2 houors.

[David_S]

I think your numbers are all over the place.. because you are new to it.. but for me.. I am pretty consistent with getting up and eating breakfast at breakfast time.. ( 3 kids) so I never start the day that late. I take lantus at night and I don't need insulin again until dinner.. 2 units. I watch the carb counts in food and I eat moderate carbs.. spacesd out with snacks to match my exercise ( walking 4 hours a day as a mailman) so I don't go low. I inject at dinner before I start eating too. Not sure if that makes a diff. I correct a low with the glucose tabs.. they are all over the house and in the cars. I don't do it with food.. my wife says.. correct first then eat a 15 carb snack. It works well. She often prompts me for that as when I go low I am reported to be " out of it and staring at her." Even so.. chips, Dr. Pepper and 3 tacos is an overkill even as a meal for me! Maybe rethink how you correct.. get a plan.. think about the carb ratio/ meal numbers too... hey it takes time and practice to sort this all out.