Early AM lows

[carolyn]

My bg's have been going low around the 3am mark. This has been happening for about a week. Usually I go higher around 5-6am. Anyone got any ideas?

[Cluck]

My bg's have been going low around the 3am mark. This has been happening for about a week. Usually I go higher around 5-6am. Anyone got any ideas?

What meds are you on? If you are on insulin, it could be that the activity profile peaks at that time.

I'd suggest a snack at bedtime with some fat to stretch out those carbs. Something like a cracker with peanut butter or similar.

[carolyn]

Thanks Cluck. I'll try that.

[jwags]

I eat a snack around midnight, usually a low carb energy bar or a nut bar around 150 calories. It prevents me from getting reactive hypoglycemia and spiking. Exercising before bed also helps me become more insulin sensitive.

[xMenace]

My bg's have been going low around the 3am mark. This has been happening for about a week. Usually I go higher around 5-6am. Anyone got any ideas?

It's your natural circadian rythym. Adapt to it.

[carolyn]

Thanks xMenace. Could you fill me in with what that means please?

[zoelula]

Do you take your basal at bedtime? Perhaps the basal dose needs to be adjusted or the time you take it?

[DanG]

Do you take your basal at bedtime? Perhaps the basal dose needs to be adjusted or the time you take it?

Yep.
I used to wake up low at 3am - with paramedics.
I switched to taking lantus in the morning.
With the 5-6am spike which the op mentions, that might not work, but it worked for me.

[SueM]

As you are on a pump why not just lower your basal?
Problem solved.

[carolyn]

Thanks for all of your advice. I am on a pump, so I am going to try lowering basals. Thanks again.

[Beckernj]

i snack before bedtime at around 11pm and sleep at 12-1. maybie try a snack of like 20-30 carbs before bed

[ant hill]

Take 1U off the nightly dose basel and see what happens.

[networkguy]

Ah youre on a pump. I would adjust your basal by .10 starting about 2 hours before you go low. Then do some night time basal testing to follow up.

[Subby]

1 unit might be catastrophic. .10 might be completely ineffectual. Here's my suggestion: make sure you know what you are doing and why when it comes to setting basal rates. If you can't come up with an approach to how much you adjust your dose all by yourself, I think you probably shouldn't do it without learning more first.