[dragonfly1113]

I am getting really worried about some low readings that I have been getting the past couple of weeks. I thought it was my Novolog Pen and threw it away but that was not the case. My Endo is getting me ready to go on the pump next Monday and so for the past two months I have been giving myself shots kind of like I was on a pump. For the past month and a half I have been working in a strawberry field getting it ready to pick berries. (which I started doing the past two days and it is a lot easier than hoeing the weeds out) Last week I gave myself a correction dose right before bedtime. My bg reading was 213 and I corrected it with a 2 unit shot of novolog and gave myself 7 units of Lantus (was taking 18 units of Lantus and it has gone down to 7 in the past two months) A hour after I went to bed I had a reading of 35. I thought I was going to pass out. Before that reading my dinner reading was 46 and I didnt even know it.
Threw my pen away and then last night this happened...
Ate a mounds bar gave myself 2 units to cover the carbs. At bedtime 2 hours later my bg was 236. Took a 2 unit correction shot. 2 hours later I woke up sweating very badly. Sat up and my head was spinning. Checked sugar and it was 28. I did a no no and ate 3 bowls of ceral and didnt even attempt a shot. Got up this morning and my sugar was 304. Was scared so I only took one unit correction and then went to the strawberry patch. 2 hours later was 65. I should have taken a 4 unit correction but only took 1 and it dropped to 65. Called my doctor and was told no more correction shots before bed. And to drink a regular coke while working instead of diet. Have any of you experienced this before. It is like I am becoming very sensitive to insulin (my opinion) Anyone who can relate with me or at least help me understand?
Susie

[Tony]

Kind of sounds like your over night basal is to much maybe. But than you was taking a correction dose before bed. Maybe cause you are more active now. And need less insulin. I get like this every year around this time. But not as low as your numbers. I'm alot more active now than the winter.
You should be able to keep from going low with the pump. That will help you out. You can have different basal rates thru out the day and night. I think you can have 7 or 8 basal rates.

Have a meal and check your bg 1 1/2 after to see if your insulin to carb is right.

[Jon]

Susie, are you on Lantus or another long acting insulin? Because the amount of long acting you take could reduce the amount of fast acting (Novolog) you would need.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Jon
Susie, are you on Lantus or another long acting insulin? Because the amount of long acting you take could reduce the amount of fast acting (Novolog) you would need.

You lost me. She is on two different insulins

[Jon]

I don't know if she is or not. That is why I was asking. Don't they usually give you lantus with Novolog? I don't think Novolog works long enough to use it by itself. At least that is what they tell me for my son. He takes NPH with his.

[Gina]

She is on Lantus and novolog she used to be on 18 units of lantus but now is only on 7 units...

just for the past two months only on 7 units of lantus...

to me it sounds like maybe the 7 units is even too much or the correction scale is way off...

more like the corrections are off because everytime she corrects a couple of hours later she is low...

MY QUESTION's are
what is your correction scale and what is your insulin to carb ratio?

[dragonfly1113]

I am on Lantus and Novolog. They keep reducing my Lantus. It has come down a lot in the past two months. I am still taking the same amount of Novolog (1 unit per 15 grams carbs) It is my correction doses that seem to be the problem and I guess maybe my Lantus? I can really tell a BIG difference between winter and summer months. This is the first summer I have really stuck to giving myself shots (well spring, its not summer yet) like I am suppose to. In the winter my doses on insulin is over double. Except my shots to cover what I eat. Before going to an Endo my regular doctor didnt have me to take shots to cover what I ate. I was taking Lantus and humolog as correction shots. Now I cover all three areas, which is cool because I can eat what I want to now. Havent gained any weight yet so must not be eating too much junk. I am actually losing weight.
Susie

[dragonfly1113]

Gina,
We must have been posting about the same time. I take 1 unit of Novolog for every 15 grams of carbs. Havent had any problems with that. My correction scale is...
Below 150- no correction
151-200 - 1 unit
201-250 - 2 units
251-300 - 3 units
and so on.
I seem to be having the problem of very very low bg at bedtime.
During the day I go low sometimes because I am working very hard in the strawberry patch but today I drank regular coke and was fine. Had one time I was 65 but hadnt been drinking much.
After this month I will not be doing anything at all so my basal rate will probably go back up. Right now it is set at 7 units of Lantus. It was set at 18 units and when I went to the Endo he set my basal at 12 units and it has kept coming down every week.
Susie

[Gina]

everyones correction scale is so much lower then mine used to be...

when i was on regular shots these were my corrections
150-200-3
201-250-4
251-300-5
350+ 6

[dragonfly1113]

Gina,
Before I started using insulin for my food I had to take higher doses of insulin. When they started me with the "take 1 unit per 15 grams of carbs my doses were lowered.
Did you take high doses like that and cover for carbs?
Susie

[Tony]

Originally posted by Gina
everyones correction scale is so much lower then mine used to be...

when i was on regular shots these were my corrections
150-200-3
201-250-4
251-300-5
350+ 6

When you are on the pump you you take less insulin than shots.

[pacon]

I also use Lantus and Novolog, 19 U Lantus and 3-5 U Novolog per meal, and my insulin to carb ratio is the same as dragonfly1113, 1 unit per 15 grams carbs. But my correction scale is one unit less than dragonfly1113’s.

Below 150- no correction
151-200 - no correction
201-250 - 1 units
251-300 - 2 units

If I used the same correction as dragonfly1113, I would definitely get low.

[dragonfly1113]

Pacon,
Are you a type 1 or 2? I am type 1 but they say I am still making insulin. On the c-peptide test I was lower than the normal scale. Was dx 3 years ago as a type 2. But was postive on the GAD antibody test so they say I am type 1.
Susie

[pacon]

I am a type 1. I have been a diabetic for 28 years, so I am absolutely not making any insulin by myself anymore. My correction ratio is in accordance with the 1800 rule. But this rule only applies when you don’t make insulin of yourself anymore. Since you still are making insulin, your correction ratio should be even less.

[dragonfly1113]

Pacon,
What is the 1800 rule?
Susie