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Original poster

GD people - How long does insulin take to have an affect?

22 replies

Emmiedarling · 01/09/2012 23:05

Been bad with food today and just got a blood sugar level of 11.2

I have injected some insulin - now i want to go to bed, but i just want to check my sugars to make sure ive given myself enough.

How soon does it take affect?

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Original poster

Emmiedarling · 01/09/2012 23:22

Just re-tested my sugars and they havent come down any. Wondering what to do now... more insulin? more time? Uh I dont know!

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Original poster

Emmiedarling · 01/09/2012 23:34

Phoned midwife - so labour ward because it's night time and I'm sorry, but the midwife was a COMPLETE bitch.

Now in tears.

So judgemental. So unkind.

:'(

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lovelybertha · 01/09/2012 23:39

Please dont get upset. That can actually send your sugars up. When did you last eat and what did you have?

MerryCosIWonaGold · 01/09/2012 23:41

I don't think it's going to do any damage as a one off high reading. At the end of my pregnancy readings were all over the place, even when I'd eaten similar things. If you get consistent high readings (over a few days) you need to up the insulin. The mw probably doesn't know anything about GD.

yessirnosir · 01/09/2012 23:46

My daughter's type 1, can only assume you would be using a similar quick acting insulin, such as Novorapid? If so, I always leave an hour before I check to see any lowering of blood sugars, mainly effective within 2 hours, but will continue working for about 4 hours - hope that helps a little bit. And yes, getting upset can definitely raise your sugars.

lovelybertha · 01/09/2012 23:49

If you've been eating stuff that is high in fat, it can take longer for the insulin to kick in. As Merry says, a short-term reading like that is not going to do much harm. Taking too much insulin before you go to bed could be nasty. I think you need to wait at least a couple of hours between doses.

Original poster

Emmiedarling · 01/09/2012 23:51

Thank you for your responses.

I had peanut butter on toast with low sugar jam. I know i shouldnt have, but i did and her telling me that i'd brought it on myself and telling me off incredibly rudely did NOT help. I told her that no one could make me feel more guilty than i already felt.

Will do another reading in 20 mins or so.

I have a insulin pen - novamix.

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pinksancerre · 01/09/2012 23:52

I can only advise from a general nurse perspective. Depends what insulin and how much firstly and also when and what you last ate

MaMattoo · 01/09/2012 23:54

Please calm down. Insulin takes time to work and this depends on many factors...food type, time, stress levels also have an impact. One off poor reading should not be too bad. If you can walk first thing in the morning for 20-35 mins..even a slow crawl works. It will help your sugars.
My readings had gone mad before I had DS. I also realised that I had worked myself up into a tizzy with our of control Gd and did not enjoy the last leg of my pregnancy.be kind to yourself. Try not to worry...11.2 is NOT too bad. Not good but you know why it's high. So relax and be well behave tmrw!
Big hug as I know exactly how this feels and I have been in your shoes not too long ago. The anxiety and hormones made me weepy and sad.
Be happy! And congrats!!

lovelybertha · 02/09/2012 00:00

She sounds like a right cow! A bit of toast is really not that bad. It's not like you ate a bag of haribo! Try not to fret. Do something really gently active, as opposed to sitting down- even if it is just a bit of ironing or someting like that. Your metabolism will do a lot of what needs doing to bring your sugar level down. When did you take the insulin?

Original poster

Emmiedarling · 02/09/2012 00:03

Insulin about 11pm. So will check sugars again now. Thank you for the support! x

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Original poster

Emmiedarling · 02/09/2012 00:07

Right, insulin worked - back down to 7.7.

Thank goodness - just wish i'd never phoned the midwife for reassurance!

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yessirnosir · 02/09/2012 00:13

I think Novamix includes some long acting as well as rapid acting insulin doesn't it? If so, don't overdo it as it will continue to lower your blood sugar overnight. I don't know how tight you GD ladies are expected to keep your blood sugars, but for a type 1 the occasional 11 as a high would be considered pretty good control.

yessirnosir · 02/09/2012 00:14

Sorry, cross post - sounds good.

lovelybertha · 02/09/2012 00:15

Excellent. GD (infact diabetes in general) is really bloody difficult to get your head round. If it were just your own health you were worrying about, it would be a lot more straight forward...

You did the right thing phoning the midwife. I bet they are pretty used to that type of phone call- its just unfortunate that you rang during the Dragon's shift.

Do me a favour though, and set your alarm so you can test in the night. Night time hypos can be awful- you might need a snack in the early hours now.

Original poster

Emmiedarling · 02/09/2012 00:17

Thanks for the advice - i am sure i'll be up for a pee in a couple of hours so can then re-assess!!!

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brandysoakedbitch · 02/09/2012 00:18

can i suggest you do a bit of research about the drugs you are injecting into yourself. Novomix has quick and slowish acting insulin so injecting yourself more than once has risks. You seem to have n idea what you are doing therefore youreally do need to speak to a diabetes nurse. The amounts you inject need to have some relevance to the amount of carbs you are eating. Also makes a difference if you are eating white or brown bread etc. - you need to take further advice from professionals rather than posting on a forum need to be a bit more careful with these sorts of drugs.

lovelybertha · 02/09/2012 00:18

Sleep well.

Original poster

Emmiedarling · 02/09/2012 00:29

Brandy - I do have an idea of the drugs im using. I had brown bread - always do - and I have been advised the number of units to use depending on what i've eaten. It's just this reading was close to bed time and i wondered whether i needed to wait up to see if it came down to a suitable level.

I have been advised that I can 'top up' if necessary.

I don't think there is a problem in posting on the forum to seek others opinions and advice.

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Original poster

Emmiedarling · 02/09/2012 00:31

ps I do appreciate that I came across as not having a clue. But sometimes it can all be a bit stressful!

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lovelybertha · 02/09/2012 00:35

Of course, you'd never catch 'professionals' posting on MN. No one here has a clue what we're on about.

MerryCosIWonaGold · 03/09/2012 00:03

Even the carbs can be so weird and (I assume) change from person to person. I found that white noodles and white basmati rice were the best at controlling the diabetes and brown bread sent me shooting up. I had to test 3x per day so there was a lot of pricking going on, felt like a pin cushion, but it was really good at telling me what worked and what didn't.

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