What has been your morning fasting blood sugar?

[LiveNormal]

I am on MDI with 3 injections of regular insulin before meal and 2 NPH at lunch and bedtime respectively.

I found that morning fasting BS has been the time of the day that my BS would go anywhere they like. Like this morning, it is 10.5mmol/L. My bedtime BS was good at 5.7mmol/L (I took 6 units of Actrapid for dinner, which was 4 hours before my bedtime), and I happily went to sleep after taking 15g of biscuit (which I consider slow carb).

Can you share your experience in controlling your morning BS and how to make it stablise at the targeted range?

Pls also specify whether you are a pumper or not. If not, please state type of insulin used. Any tips will be very much appreciated.

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Dx Jun'2000
Most recent A1c: 6.5% (Jan'06)
MDI (actrapid and insulatard)
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[Cinnabon]

I was on MDI and there was hardly a way to control the "Dawn Phenomenon" with MDI. I was on the same exact insulin as you. As soon as I started pumping, I was able to control it because of the different Basal Rate at the times of the Liver reacting.

[LiveNormal]

Below are my 2 morning data

Mon:
Previous night's bedtime reading: 5.7 mmol/L
Bedtime snack: 10g carb (8 units of insulatard)
Series of BS readings before breakfast:
0653 : 10.3 mmol/L (10 units of actrapid) ==> too much insulin causing a rebound??
0837 : 8.0 mmol/L
0946 : 5.8 mmol/L
(BS drop speed: 0.46mg/dL per min)

Tue:
Previous night's bedtime reading: 5.7 mmol/L
Bedtime snack: 15g carb (6 units of insulatard)
Series of BS readings before breakfast:
0648 : 10.7 mmol/L (10 units of actrapid) ===> not enough insulin??
0903 : 2.4 mmol/L
(BS drop speed: 1.11 mg/dL per min)

Why is that? Could it be that I was having a rebound in Monday's case while having a DP in Tueday's case?

BS control has become my full time job now. Wondering if all of you guys out here have other full time job other than BS monitoring...

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Dx Jun'00
Recent A1c: 6.5% (Jan'06)
MDI actrapid and insulatard
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[BlueSky]

...... Why is that? Could it be that I was having a rebound in Monday's case while having a DP in Tueday's case? ....

Doesn't look there was any "rebound" there. A rebound occurs when your blood sugar goes low - like below 4.0 - and the release of glycogen sends it up sharply - to like 15+mmol/l. Your highish morning BG was probably from the bedtime snack the previous night.

When using NPH, the bedtime shot should at least partially cover breakfast the next morning. Bear in mind that NPH has maximal action between 4 and 12 hours after you inject it. So the evening shot is peaking at breakfast time (7-9am). And it is why you see your BG dropping steadily in the morning, in the absence of food.. Is there any reason why you aren't eating breakfast earlier? :wavey:

It is much easier to get a handle on flat action basal insulin, like Lantus or Levimir. Have you considered this?

[Cinnabon]

I would go to bed with a 5.7 and wake with a 19! with or without having a very small snack. I think U are gaving Dawn Phenomenon.
Look here:
Dawn Phenomenon (http://www.diabetic-talk.org/dp.htm)

[JJeenn]

My morning numbers are the only numbers that are consistently horrible. I go to bed at like 5-7 almost every night, am usually 5-8 at 2:00 in the morning, and then wake up at 12-14 or so. If I go to bed at a higher level like last night I was 9.7 at bedtime, 10.1 at 3:00 AM, and then 15.0 this morning. Drives me insane.

I suppose it's good that they are always high. When I was on NPH they could be 15 one morning and 2 the next and were totally unpredictable.

But my endocrinologist says if my insurance will cover a pump it will help a lot with the morning numbers, so here's hoping!

[LiveNormal]

Is there any reason why you aren't eating breakfast earlier? :wavey:

It is much easier to get a handle on flat action basal insulin, like Lantus or Levimir. Have you considered this?

Well, I did eat breakfast for both mornings but for the 1st morning, I delayed it till 3 hours after actrapid when my BS dropped to an accepatable pre-meal range.
I would love to try insulin pump but not changing to other basal insulin like Lantus or Levimir. My endo told me that these have not been proven for taking when one is trying to conceive. Still hunting for any financial aids available for sponsoring me with an insulin pump... or is there any 2nd hand market where I can hunt for a cheap insulin pump with affordable supplies of infusion set?

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Dx Jun'00
Recent A1c: 6.5% (Jan'06)
MDI actrapid and insulatard
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[Cinnabon]

Insulin pumps usually run on only 1 type of insulin. Humalog or Novolog. There are people who use different methods. A lot of women have had GREAT pregnancies and deliveries on a pump.

[Cyborg]

My 30 day average is 108

[BriOnH]

I consitently wake up between 70-125. I try to make sure I get 12 hours of normal, stable blood a day. I usually get 8 hours and while asleep its the easiest for me to do that. During the day I allow myself a lot more wiggle room.

Man 108 is awesome Michael!!! I havent had a 30 day average like that in a looong time.

[KickStart101]

I've never had those Insulins and I don't have DP.
Before I left home I've mostly tinkered with my doses 'til
I'm Happy with the result also.

I was put on a high dose of Prednisone for RA last March which
was awful. I finally sacrificed having more pain with less Pred.
and taking less Insulin. So I weaned myself down from 30 mg.
to 10 mg. A lot of tinkering that was. Then I have the Pred.
eye drops after my cataract surgery in Sept. and for the next
4 wks. I don't find them bad though as far as raising my sugar.

I usually take:
10 units (Humulin L) and 7 units (Humalog) when I get up.
4 units (Humalog) - 5 hrs. later and 7 units (Humulin) 7 hrs. later
and 5 units Humulin 6 hrs. later.

33 tdd---5 injections. I also eat 4-6 small meals a day.


I'm on Humalog and Humulin L (my last bottle I'm sad to say).
My fbs are usually between:
4.0 and 6.4 .They automatically start rising without eating or
drinking anything by 40 minutes. I like to be around 7.5 when
I go to sleep.
My last A1c was 6.6 which my Dr. and I are Happy with since
I've been stable.

I don't know about the food where you live but the Chinese Food
where we eat I find some of it is quite sweet. We only eat it once
a month.
Whether you are having a Baby or not you should still test often "until"
you are sure of what effect the food, Insulin, exercise, etc. has on
your body and that you are at the right doseage for you. :) I usually
test 6 times a day. :) Good Luck.