Is there any rule about taking insulin before bedtime?!
Question: Is there any rule about taking insulin before bedtime.?
I read somewhere that taking insulin before bedtime (any or just fast-acting) is bad before bedtime. I was wondering if there is any truth to this.? Thanks in advance.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
That's old practice based on earlier insulins (most notably NPH) which had strong and somewhat unpredictable peaks in their activity profile. With modern insulin analogs, it is much less of an issue (if any issue at all).
- Long-acting insulin analogs, such as Lantus and Levemir, are designed to be (relatively) non-peaking and to be present in the body at all times, 24x7. They are often prescribed to be taken at bedtime.
- Rapid-acting insulin analogs, such as Novolog and Humalog, are predictable enough that they can be safely used to correct high blood glucose levels at any time (including bedtime), provided that you know how to accurately calculate the correction dosage.
Many health professionals do still advise taking a snack along with the insulin when doing a bedtime correction, but, really, doing so only increases the chances of an error slipping into your calculations. (Instead of calculating only the correction, you have to calculate the correction, plus the carbs in the snack, plus the amount needed to cover those carbs. Each calculation is based on estimated numbers and each additional estimate creates additional inaccuracy in the result.)Health Question & Answer
- Long-acting insulin analogs, such as Lantus and Levemir, are designed to be (relatively) non-peaking and to be present in the body at all times, 24x7. They are often prescribed to be taken at bedtime.
- Rapid-acting insulin analogs, such as Novolog and Humalog, are predictable enough that they can be safely used to correct high blood glucose levels at any time (including bedtime), provided that you know how to accurately calculate the correction dosage.
Many health professionals do still advise taking a snack along with the insulin when doing a bedtime correction, but, really, doing so only increases the chances of an error slipping into your calculations. (Instead of calculating only the correction, you have to calculate the correction, plus the carbs in the snack, plus the amount needed to cover those carbs. Each calculation is based on estimated numbers and each additional estimate creates additional inaccuracy in the result.)Health Question & Answer
In the hospital setting I normally check a person's blood sugar four times a day -- before meals and at bedtime. When covering an elevated blood sugar at night, I generally give less or perhaps none at all. Lack of a meal is definitely considered when administering insulin at bedtime.
However, it also depends on the type of insulin you use. If you used a long-acting insulin like NPH, it may not be good to take regular insulin at night (unless your sugars are out of control) because when the NPH kicks it, your blood sugar will drop.Health Question & Answer
However, it also depends on the type of insulin you use. If you used a long-acting insulin like NPH, it may not be good to take regular insulin at night (unless your sugars are out of control) because when the NPH kicks it, your blood sugar will drop.Health Question & Answer
1) it depends on the type of insulin you are using. Novolin and Novolog are both short acting and work in 15 minutes. If you take it at bedtime you should probably take a snack before injecting.
2) Insulin glargnine (lantus) is almost always prescribed at bedtime. This is long acting. They do this so that it can control the morning blood sugar. NPH is not as long acting but is usually prescribed in the morning and evening to help keep insulin levels steady to mimic what the body should produce.
So there is LITTLE truth to what you read. Lastly, its aways good to do a finger stick before you inject...just to check. GoodluckHealth Question & Answer
2) Insulin glargnine (lantus) is almost always prescribed at bedtime. This is long acting. They do this so that it can control the morning blood sugar. NPH is not as long acting but is usually prescribed in the morning and evening to help keep insulin levels steady to mimic what the body should produce.
So there is LITTLE truth to what you read. Lastly, its aways good to do a finger stick before you inject...just to check. GoodluckHealth Question & Answer
Below are 5 Top Reasons why Self-testing is important and how you could control the disease :
Know Your Levels :
Check your blood sugar level frequently. This will let you know how much insulin you will need in order to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible.
But How frequently should we test .? If your blood sugar levels are within a target range, you just need to test once before breakfast each day and occasionally at other times of the day. However for those who take insulin, you may need to check your blood sugar levels several times a day. The usual time to test your blood sugar level are : before bedtime, one to two hours after meals or a big snack, before you go through any Strenuous physical activity or exercise because this will lower your blood sugar and you may want to make sure that your blood sugar do not drop too low either.
Managing diabetes is all about balance. This include keeping a balance on the food we eat, medication we take and the right amount of exercises to keep your blood sugar levels within the targeted range. This is important because our bodies can no longer do it for us. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels gives us a gauge on where our blood sugar levels are right at the moment and provide us sufficient time to act before complication sets in.
Good Control Keeps Complications at Bay:
Complication sets in if your blood sugar level remains consistently high and you do nothing about it. This includes complications to the eyes, kidneys and numbness to the hands and feet. These areas of your body have very small blood vessels and nerves which damages easily with the excess sugar circulating in the blood. The longer the blood sugar is high, the more severe the damage. Tight control of blood glucose levels by performing your own self-test regularly will therefore prevent, delay and minimise the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Assess The Effectiveness Of Your Medications:
Keeping your Blood Sugar Level in checks will also allow you to see how effective your medication or insulin is in controlling your glucose levels. If your medication is not effective in maintaining your blood sugar within the right range, it needs to be adjusted. Frequent self-testing will help you and your doctor to make the right choice in prescribing the right amount of doses and medications more accurately.
Minimizes The possibilities of Life-threatening Emergencies:
High blood sugar (Hyperglycemia) can occur during stress or when taking medications that affect the blood sugar. Testing can help you keep better watch on blood sugar so you can take the appropriate steps before it gets too high. Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) can happen if your blood sugar level drops too low. Our advise is, if you exercise, test your blood sugar level before, during or after exercise to avoid a dangerous dip in blood sugar. Do take note too that drinking alcohol can also lower your blood sugar and thus, monitor your level closely if you drink. It is better to do more then to be sorry after that.
Help Your Heart, Save Your Kidney !
People diagnosed with diabetes has an increased risk of heart and kidney diseases. This occurs slowly over time while your blood sugar remains consistently high.
Save your heart and kidney by keeping your blood sugar in control. You owe it to yourself to do this and you can still lead a healthy and meaningful life even if you have diabetes if you Control it well.Health Question & Answer
Know Your Levels :
Check your blood sugar level frequently. This will let you know how much insulin you will need in order to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible.
But How frequently should we test .? If your blood sugar levels are within a target range, you just need to test once before breakfast each day and occasionally at other times of the day. However for those who take insulin, you may need to check your blood sugar levels several times a day. The usual time to test your blood sugar level are : before bedtime, one to two hours after meals or a big snack, before you go through any Strenuous physical activity or exercise because this will lower your blood sugar and you may want to make sure that your blood sugar do not drop too low either.
Managing diabetes is all about balance. This include keeping a balance on the food we eat, medication we take and the right amount of exercises to keep your blood sugar levels within the targeted range. This is important because our bodies can no longer do it for us. Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels gives us a gauge on where our blood sugar levels are right at the moment and provide us sufficient time to act before complication sets in.
Good Control Keeps Complications at Bay:
Complication sets in if your blood sugar level remains consistently high and you do nothing about it. This includes complications to the eyes, kidneys and numbness to the hands and feet. These areas of your body have very small blood vessels and nerves which damages easily with the excess sugar circulating in the blood. The longer the blood sugar is high, the more severe the damage. Tight control of blood glucose levels by performing your own self-test regularly will therefore prevent, delay and minimise the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Assess The Effectiveness Of Your Medications:
Keeping your Blood Sugar Level in checks will also allow you to see how effective your medication or insulin is in controlling your glucose levels. If your medication is not effective in maintaining your blood sugar within the right range, it needs to be adjusted. Frequent self-testing will help you and your doctor to make the right choice in prescribing the right amount of doses and medications more accurately.
Minimizes The possibilities of Life-threatening Emergencies:
High blood sugar (Hyperglycemia) can occur during stress or when taking medications that affect the blood sugar. Testing can help you keep better watch on blood sugar so you can take the appropriate steps before it gets too high. Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) can happen if your blood sugar level drops too low. Our advise is, if you exercise, test your blood sugar level before, during or after exercise to avoid a dangerous dip in blood sugar. Do take note too that drinking alcohol can also lower your blood sugar and thus, monitor your level closely if you drink. It is better to do more then to be sorry after that.
Help Your Heart, Save Your Kidney !
People diagnosed with diabetes has an increased risk of heart and kidney diseases. This occurs slowly over time while your blood sugar remains consistently high.
Save your heart and kidney by keeping your blood sugar in control. You owe it to yourself to do this and you can still lead a healthy and meaningful life even if you have diabetes if you Control it well.Health Question & Answer
Many diabetic patients on insulin suffer hypoglycemia at night this known as Somogy phenomena to treat this you need to split your insulin injection to one before meal at night and the other before bedtimeHealth Question & Answer