When do you bolus?

nantomsuethom · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 10:49 AM

I was recently talking with someone who told me that you should bolus 10 min. before eating (he did say that he would never do this again though- lives alone- bad experience). I dont remember our Endo/CDE telling us this.

We tried it last night and Thomas went a little low (65) about 3 hours later. I dont know if it was related. Well, he bolused, ate a few bites then went to play a new PS2 game he just bought, about 20 min. later he finished his dinner.

If you bolus 10 min. before eating will it keep your BG from going too high or does it not make a diff?

Nancy

duck · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 11:36 AM

To me, it depends on what my blood sugar level was before I eat--If I'm low, I may bolus as I start to eat. Otherwise, I feel low all the while I am eating and sometimes it lingers for a while after I am done eating.

If I am within a normal range, I bolus (or try to) about ten minutes before eating--This seems to work well for me.

If I am high, I add insulin to my meal bolus to compensate for correcting the high, and I take the bolus at least ten minutes before I eat (sometimes more, depending on when I checked my sugars).

But this is just me.

Shalyndria · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 12:54 PM

I generally bolus right after I finish eating. I have seen many reports on PP BG's in relation to bolus times, though, and some have said that it's best to bolus prior, others have said it doesn't make a significant difference when one is on an analogue insulin. Personally, I think it's a YMMV thing and may depend on a person's sensitivity. It's probably a good idea for anyone that is struggling with PP readings to bolus prior to eating.

FYI Nancy, I deleted your double post

Shy

Belinda · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 03:33 PM

Well sometimes it is before a meal, sometimes during and sometimes after. It all depends on premeal numbers, what I am eating and how hungry I am. I hate to do all my bolus before a big meal since sometimes I get full and just quit eating.

nantomsuethom · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 06:19 PM

Thanks for deleting my double post Shy, that was bothering me!

I want to try giving Thomas his insulin 10 min. or so early again tomorrow, for breakfast and dinner, to see if it makes a diff.

He will sometimes be 200-250 2 hours after eating then at 3 hours he will be in more of a normal range, around 110-130, depending on what he is doing.

JasonSmithMT · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 07:00 PM

My Endo suggested doing a bolus after a meal mainly because you will always have a better idea what the carb count is. If you bolus before and eat more or less then you will have a problem especially if you eat less and the complete bolus is already delivered.

My opinion is that if you are a slow eater, have a problem with gastroparesis, or the meal is made up of fast acting carbs with little fat or fiber to slow down GI absorbtion than this approach won't be the best. If it is a meal that is served over a long period of time it would be best not to wait until after the complete meal. For meals that you would use an extended bolus then I can imagine it making a huge difference wether you did it before or after the meal.

Jason

soremom · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 11:36 AM

I am with Jason about the carbs, I tend to eat less than what I think I am going to. If I bolus before than I am in real trouble.

I started bolusing after eating when I was on MDI's. I was having trouble with going extremely low after eating, within about an hour. I would sometimes wait even a half hour or so after I ate, test and then bolus. But this was just me and the problems I had with lows.

I still bolus after I eat but don't wait any more. The pump is helping things stay on tract. Yeah! I do think is your own personal experience and you should do what works for you best.

Kim

nantomsuethom · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 09:04 AM

Ok, I give up (not really).

No rhyme or reason to anything we do. I just think it has to do with him being 11 years old!!!

dpav · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 03:26 PM

OK
I have had the better results with bolusing after taking a test after I eat and doing that an hour after the meal is over. Then I bolus for the BS reading I have and bring myself to normal with that. I have been under good control with this method. I quit bolusing before because I never know if I can eat all that is served or planed on being eaten. Also my body may have left over insulin in it and that adds to the equation as well. I usually never break from the function of eating. by breaking up the process , it makes for inaccuracies. If I am eating I eat then stop. Otherwise I get mixed readings and messed up boluses.

Don