Low blood sugar between meals

[maurokings]

Hi! I'm in a 20ui HUMALOG after meals regiment, however, in between meals and during the night my blood sugar levels drop below 70.  Should I stop taking the HUMALOG?

[Super_sally888]

Humalog is a fast acting insulin. Typically it is taken before meals - up to 15 minutes before (not after) to match the amount of carbs eaten.  It's duration of action is 3 - 5 hours, with most of the action in the first 2 hours.

You need to work out a carb:insulin ratio (ie.  how much Humalog you need to cover how much carbs/ protein).

If you are going low overnight (how low?), then you need to be taking a lower dose of Humalog with your evening meal.

What time do you eat dinner?

Test  your blood sugar before dinner.  What is that number?  Ideally it will be 80 - 100 range.

Take your insulin, then eat your dinner, then test your blood sugar 2 hours after starting to eat dinner.   Your blood sugar should ideally not be higher than 40 units above your predinner number (ie. 140).

Don't eat anything further (unless you go low early) and then test again at 3 and 5 hours.  If you are low by 5 hours you will need to take a lower dose of insulin the next evening  - reduce by say 2 units.  (note: This assumes you are eating the same amount of carbs / protein every evening).

Keep repeating until your 5 hour post eating numbers are in the range of 80 - 100.

Of course better if you work with your Dr / diabetes educator to work out a carb/ insulin ratio.

Usefull books to look up are Think Like a Pancreas, and Using Insulin by John Walsh.   Hope this helps.

[diabetes86]

The amount of humalog you take is suppose to match the amount of carbohydrates you eat.  if you take 20 IU of Humalog you need to eat the SAME amount of carbohydrates at each meal, else your BG will jump all over.

Humalog lowers BG
carbohydrates raise BG

the two need to ballance.

ask your MD to work out an insulin /carb ratio for you to adj the insulin to match what your eating.