scary low...

[missakins]

I woke up this morning for no particular reason, when the realisation settled over me that I didn't feel right. My insulin just got changed to a higher bedtime N dose (25 units) so I checked my sugars, and my reading was 50! I kinda freaked a little, and took 4 of my glucose tablets (16gm carbs) my husband wanted me to eat something a little more

Comments

[ikyschd]

You would want something with a low glycemic index, which is how fast it processes the glucose in the food.
For example Hummus and crackers would be a wonderful bedtime snack because hummus is aobut a 2 on the scale (takes forever to digest it), whereas cookies or ice cream is more like 80 or 90 and will just make you spike up high until the long acting insuling kicks in.

--I say all this form experiance with NPH, but on Lantus I do not eat a bedtime snack unless I am under 90 or 100 in which case I might have 5-10g carbs

[y0ssarian]

You definitely want a little protein before bed. Even the most complex carbs will be digested within about 3-4 hours. Protein will help carry you through until morning. Checking around 2-3 is also a good idea. There is something called the Simogi (I'm probably spelling this wrong, its been about 10 years since i've seen it in print) effect that will cause you to spike during the night, then wake up very low. Worth checking out. 50 is pretty low, but i've been down to 34 and still semi-functional, so it could have been worse.

[veraln]

I usually eat peanut butter crackers before bed for the protein. It is everyone's first reaction to panic with a low (I am guilty of this all the time). I am now on the pump and I'm trying to treat my lows differently...eat 15 carbs (breakfast bar, jello cup, slice of bread with peanut butter)...test....and still under 100, eat another 15 carbs. I also use glucose if I'm real low because it helps me to get rid of that shaky feeling.
---Question for you and others?---- Do dreams wake you up when you are low? Ive had the strangest dreams that force me to wake up and test. I'm always right. It's strange

Re: Dreams

[reggitsti]

I've had bad dreams when I've been low, I can't remember what exactly but it hasn't been nice. My GF remarked that if she has a can of coke last thing at night she has odd dreams too, so I wouldn't be surprised there is somehting in it.

Bedtime snack

[dominatria]

A better bedtime snack would probably have warded off the low, yes. The best way to judge what you should eat is to know how many BS points a carb(yes, a single carb) will bring up your sugar. It takes careful monitoring for a while...something best done under your DR.s watch, but from there you can measure out your carb intake before bed to match what you will need to eat.