why after correcting my blood sugar does it go low?

Question

Like say its 373 and I take 8 units to correct it why does it go low 2 hours later even after eating.

I have a dr's appt monday I will ask but I just want to know now.

its part of a sliding scale but usually its would be more but I took less cause I know that much would of made me go low.

I am gonna ask my dr. She'll know.!

Before I used to have to take more thats why I take 8 but I don't really know what to take now. But I am asking my dr on Monday and hopefully she'll change it.

Answer 1

You're over bolusing. You don't need 8 units, probably closer to 7 or even 6.
And I know you know you need to talk to your doctor. I'm sure the guy that answered isn't really as cynical and pessimistic as he sounds, and I'm sure he knows you can't go to your doctor for everything, theyre busy people. It's nice to get some advice to think about from other people who know whtat they are doing.
He probably has the other kind of diabetes that you give yourself and just doesn't know any better about insulin and bolusing, and that correcting involves math you have to do yourself, its not a specified dose. Sometimes we make mistakes, it's not an exact science!
:)
Some of the people on here, I swear, just like to talk for using the words.

Answer 2

This is difficult to answer because you have only given "partial" information. Do you take any other form of insulin? Is the 8 unitis part of a "sliding scale"? When are you testing your blood sugar?

To give you some idea. Regular insulin (which I am assuming you are using), peaks in about four (4) hours after injecting. If you have taken a long acting insulin such as NPH or Lantis and you add 8 units of regular, your blood sugar can go very low, rather rapidly.

Once again. The information that you have provided is insufficient for a correct answer. Ask your doctor this question when you see him/her on Monday. The doctor will either go into an "in depth" explanation for you, or direct you to a diabetic nurse educator who can answer all of your questions, make sure that your diabetes is being controlled sufficiently, help you with your diet/exercise program, etc. Good luck.

Answer 3

First of all, it is good that you have a doctors appointment coming up. This is important to bring up to your physician. And yes, your health is in your hands. And yes, you are probably injecting way too much, a bolus of 8 units sounds a bit much, but realize that you are on the net while asking a question that could potentially result in bad advice. Here is the thing, I am not sure if you have heard of the hypoglycemic state??? Well, let me tell you abit about it. As you know the healthy range of blood glucose (herein termed bld glc) is between 70.2 mg/dL to 109.8 mg/dL in the USA or in Canada the range is between 3.9-6.1 mmol/L. You have a level that is above 3-5 times the normal range. The danger that may result is when you have such a high level of bld glc (apart from neuropathies), is taking too much insulin. This can result in a hypoglycemic condition which may result in a critically dangerous situation where your bld glc drops below the range and your Central Nervous Tissue (CNS) is 'Starved' (because all nervous tissue selectively feeds on glucose). When this happens you may become lethargic, tired, hearing impairment, speech impairment, blacking out, and at worst go into a diabetic coma and die. Now when you are exposing yourself to too high of levels of insulin this may lead to insulin receptor downregulation. This means that you have less insulin receptors on the surface of your cells. Now, the problem that may arise in this situation is the insulin will last longer in your body since there is less being taken up by the cells. Hence, potentially after two hours of administering the insulin, you bld glc is still dropping. I hope that this helps.

Answer 4

that means that 8 units is probably too much. you might actually only need 6 or 7 units

you never know what diabetes will decide to do next! you'll be adjusting insulin levels the rest of your life

Answer 5

This is a medical question - you should ask your doctor who is qualified and responsible for his answer. You do not give your detail medical symptoms, background in your question, any advice from the Yahoo answer will be wrong and dangerous! Sugar level (high blood glucose) is very dangerous, can cause serious complications; such as blindness, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.

Answer 6

you should not have to correct your sugar with insulin if you are eating appropriately. sounds to me like you need a visit with a diabetic educator.