Working 12hr night shift need some advice on taking insulin!!

[eddyedwrds]

I just started a new job working night shift 7p-7a, 4 on then 4 off. I have been on night shift in the past and would always eat my meal around 12 or 1 am w/ my novolog. The problem w/ this job is you have to eat when you can and can't take a sit down lunch. I eat my dinner or breakfast you could call it aroung 6pm before I head to work taking my novolog w/ that meal, then my lantus at 11pm, but I don't know if I should just snack through work and then eat my 2nd meal when I get home from work at 8am. I want to know if this is ok to do because I would be giving myself about 6-8 units of novolog w/ my 8am meal then going to bed 2 hrs later? Someone please help me, I dunno what to do!?

[Alene]

I've worked nights before too. I think no matter what you do, it's going to be hard... ideally you could take your insulin and eat whenever you want to. (But we all know it never works that way.) I'm a little confused about your eating situation at work, but I think what would be best for you would be to most closely mimic what you would be doing during a day shift at night. I see that you're also worried about taking Novalog to soon before bed? That's probably okay, as long as you are waiting those 2 hours and if you have to make any corrections, you may want to wake up after that and test.

[notme]

I have also done "graveyard" shifts and they are tough on your blood sugar no matter what you do. I think your best bet is to try to keep your insulin dosage the same for all 7 days in the week. Personally, I would try to mimic a normal pattern. Take your insulin at 11 pm and then try not to eat again until breakfast.

What a pain.

[Brian23]

I work shift work as well, some nights6p-6a, some days 6a-6p. I think it is called canadian shift work. Anyway, I take my Lantus at 7pm every day. I seem to need a little more rapid insulin with the first meal depending on when i am working and what time i get up. Everything else is normal.

[Katrina Stovold]

Me too, Ive worked night shifts and if you are extremely busy and not allowed to have a proper meal break then im afraid your sugar levels suffer greatly and it sux!! the only way to do things and have a good a1c at the end of the day is this.........You must try to eat breakfast lunch and dinner at the same time everyday and you must eat the same thing everyday, this is the only thing that works for me, its a hard life but it is the only way to do it, and also give yourself your long acting insulin at the same time every day too and most importantly test your sugar levels before your meal and record them and also test your sugar levels 2 hours after your meal and record thos too, it doesnt matter how busy you are at work you need to eat when you are meant to eat and test when you are meant to test. Just have to do it I am afraid! xxHope this helps.xx