Post-Meal Bloodsugars

belyro · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:04 PM

Just out of curiosity.....what's everybody's bloodsugar like, typically, about 2 hours after a meal? How high do you have to let it go to ensure that you don't go low before your next meal or snack?

Cyborg · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:06 PM

100-140 is a good target...

belyro · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyborg

100-140 is a good target...

But does it stay in that range for another 2-3 hours? Mine has to be much higher. Do you eat snacks between meals?

spike · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belyro

But does it stay in that range for another 2-3 hours? Mine has to be much higher. Do you eat snacks between meals?

When I count my carbs right, I can eat more than 1/2 of a large pizza (I'm 6'4") and keep my bg's under 130 for more than 3-6 hours. It is nothing short of amazing what an extended bolus can do for you. Also called a "combo bolus". I take 60% up front and the rest over 4 hours to account for such a food's drawn out bg raising properties.

Other foods and with mistaken carb counting I might be over 200 within 20 minutes!

Cyborg · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:26 PM

Usually the 2 hour mark is the high point if my insulin was taken correctly. I try to take my insulin far enough in advance to help drive down a high bg before eating. Symlin helps quite a bit with post meal bg spikes. I do use it, but not with every meal.

BlueSky · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belyro

..... How high do you have to let it go to ensure that you don't go low before your next meal or snack?

My BG would normally be in the 120 - 140 range 2 hours after eating. If your BG is dropping after 2 hours, it probably means that there is too much basal action. You should be able to skip a meal (and the corresponding bolus) and your blood sugar shouldn't change much. You may need to reduce your Levimir to make this happen.

grace girl · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:04 PM

I shoot for around 140-160...preferably the lower end. If I'm 130 or below at the two hour mark I have to have a small snack or I'll go low before the next meal, especially after lunch. (My am Lantus peaks around lunch time) I know that would indicate too much basal, but it's perfect the rest of the day, so I just keep a close eye on it in the afternoons.

belyro · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSky

My BG would normally be in the 120 - 140 range 2 hours after eating. If your BG is dropping after 2 hours, it probably means that there is too much basal action. You should be able to skip a meal (and the corresponding bolus) and your blood sugar shouldn't change much. You may need to reduce your Levimir to make this happen.

Wow....Mine goes down so much in the last few hours before a meal. The morning's are especially bad. If I'm less than 250 at 9am (I eat breakfast around 7am), I'll definitely need a snack before lunch. (I walk to work - 1/2 an hour.) In the afternoon and evening I don't have to let it go up so high. Just in the morning. I always thought this was at least relatively normal. My endo has never told me otherwise. *sigh*

belyro · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace girl

I shoot for around 140-160...preferably the lower end. If I'm 130 or below at the two hour mark I have to have a small snack or I'll go low before the next meal, especially after lunch. (My am Lantus peaks around lunch time) I know that would indicate too much basal, but it's perfect the rest of the day, so I just keep a close eye on it in the afternoons.

This is nothing like me!

So if you're 160 and you, say, go for a walk in the afternoon.....how many carbs would you need to keep from going low?

BlueSky · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belyro

Wow....Mine goes down so much in the last few hours before a meal. The morning's are especially bad. .....

Sounds like the Levimir is coming on too strong in the mornings. When are you injecting it? And are you splitting the dose?

belyro · #11 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Sounds like the Levimir is coming on too strong in the mornings. When are you injecting it? And are you splitting the dose?

I take 7 units in the morning (around 7am) and 5 at night (around 11pm). The night time dose is perfect.

grace girl · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belyro

This is nothing like me!

So if you're 160 and you, say, go for a walk in the afternoon.....how many carbs would you need to keep from going low?

If I was 160 I would walk, and test. If it's within range at the two hour mark I'm usually okay for the remainder of the afternoon. It's being below 140 that's a problem. If I'm below 140 and not going to be very active I usally eat two tablespoons of peanut butter, and it will hold it steady. If I'm going to be really active I add some crackers to that. Today I was 75 two hours after lunch and I had an awesome mochaccino latte....I was 120 at dinner, so I think I've found a new cure!!

It sounds like your morning Levimar (sp) may be too much...I take my Lantus in two doses, and the peak I get from the am dose is what causes my afternoon problems. I may end up having to lower it at a point, but it's at least managable. Having to be a 250 to keep from going hypo is way too much.

belyro · #13 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace girl

If I was 160 I would walk, and test. If it's within range at the two hour mark I'm usually okay for the remainder of the afternoon. It's being below 140 that's a problem. If I'm below 140 and not going to be very active I usally eat two tablespoons of peanut butter, and it will hold it steady. If I'm going to be really active I add some crackers to that. Today I was 75 two hours after lunch and I had an awesome mochaccino latte....I was 120 at dinner, so I think I've found a new cure!!

It sounds like your morning Levimar (sp) may be too much...I take my Lantus in two doses, and the peak I get from the am dose is what causes my afternoon problems. I may end up having to lower it at a point, but it's at least managable. Having to be a 250 to keep from going hypo is way too much.

Wow...if I get exercise I need WAY more than a few crackers. I think you may be right about my morning Levemir. So why doesn't my endo tell me this??

Emm · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 07:01 PM

Diabetics will always know more than any diabetes specialist, I think!

I agree, your levemir could be reduced a bit. It should just be enough to keep you level, regardless of meals (tho of course that's not always how it works out for everyone).

I try to keep my 2 hour BG under 7.5mmol (135). If I'm higher than 8 I'll take an extra dose of Novorapid to knock me down. High numbers scare me - I want to keep all my body parts as they are! (if only I could control the aging process too lol)

If I'm exercising more than normal I do need a small snack to keep me even, but most days I'm fine as-is.

Have a word with your endo and see what he/she thinks...?

belyro · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emm

Diabetics will always know more than any diabetes specialist, I think!

I agree, your levemir could be reduced a bit. It should just be enough to keep you level, regardless of meals (tho of course that's not always how it works out for everyone).

I try to keep my 2 hour BG under 7.5mmol (135). If I'm higher than 8 I'll take an extra dose of Novorapid to knock me down. High numbers scare me - I want to keep all my body parts as they are! (if only I could control the aging process too lol)

If I'm exercising more than normal I do need a small snack to keep me even, but most days I'm fine as-is.

Have a word with your endo and see what he/she thinks...?

How can I have diabetes for 25 years and not even know that it's possible to have such reasonable after-meal bloodsugars? I definitely need to talk to my endo. I just don't know why she wouldn't have encouraged me to do this already. She says "You need to get it down", but she's not great at giving me suggestions as to how. That's nuts.