Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
Driven by gastroparesis digestive uncertainties, I now bolus most often afterwards even with Control IQ. In the good ol’ days I always, always bloused prior to a meal. Nowadays things are different and more extended. ¯\_( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)_/¯
I answered during, but it varies with me mostly because I am fairly busy. If it’s a routine meal (breakfast) then I can do it before. But if its a customized dinner, then I wait until I can count the carbs in all the parts. Or, as others have said, if I am low then I will wait a bit to allow my levels have come back up (but base the bolus off of the original glucose level). It’s never a constant time but I try to do it early if I can.
You would think that I’d remember to do it before I eat, but unfortunately I don’t always get that done. It’s usually during my meal that I remember to enter my carbs and bolus.
Usually I bolus right before I start eating. As I’m normally the one preparing the meal, the carb count can change depending on what’s in our refrigerator/freezer.
I use Fiasp Novolog which is mean to be faster acting but I still usually bolus 15 to 30 minutes before I eat, except as someone else noted, if my glucose reading is low. Blood sugar may dip a little before food is absorbed but it does reduce the highs after the meal.
I’m trying to prebolus 15 minutes or more. It’s hard to know exactly when that is when I am cooking a meal and I get nervous about prebolusing when I am below 100. I get distracted:-/ But I am trying to even out my hills a bit. I know it doesn’t need to be flat but I can go up above 160 with arrow angled upward sometimes after dinner and once it gets up there it is difficult to bring back down without aggressive bolusing and a run around.
When eating out (ha, historically speaking) I wait until the food is delivered which usually means I will go high after a meal. But eating “low carbish” helps.
I go by the numbers game as to when I shoot up. If below 70, I bolus following the meal. If in range, before the meal. If high, I bolus and wait to eat. What a game to play each and every day.
The intention is always to bolus before meals unless low, but between the kiddies and work deadlines I often forget till mid way through or after my meal these days. It does make post meal BG management more challenging for sure.
I put other because every meal presents a never ending different scenario. That said times have changed as of late, well over the last 6 weeks. Ever since starting the Keto diet I rely solely on my basal rate throughout the day unless my carb count is higher then normal then I will bolus but that hardly ever happens.
Before. Usually 15 minutes but that is always based on my starting point. If in range and normal meal, 15 minutes. If higher, I will wait longer until the CGM shows a down dot. If low, I will eat right away. No perfect plan with diabetes!
I primarily bolus before I eat. I also marked “Other” since many of my boluses are Extended (some now, the rest spread over a set time, usually 15-30 mins). The type of bolus depends on my BG, type of food eaten and expected activity after the meal.
Breakfast: before;
lunch: usually, but depends on situation;
dinner: definitely depends on situation
Driven by gastroparesis digestive uncertainties, I now bolus most often afterwards even with Control IQ. In the good ol’ days I always, always bloused prior to a meal. Nowadays things are different and more extended. ¯\_( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)_/¯
Same here! And even dosing after the meal, I usually do an extended bolus, too.
Usually right before the meal (Lyumjev). When I was on Humalog I pre-bolused appx 20 minutes prior.
It all depends on my number going into the meal, but usually I bolus either right before or during the meal.
After… slow digestion.. if I eat a fatty meal I wait till I get a rise alert from pump before bolus in order to stay away from hypo
I answered during, but it varies with me mostly because I am fairly busy. If it’s a routine meal (breakfast) then I can do it before. But if its a customized dinner, then I wait until I can count the carbs in all the parts. Or, as others have said, if I am low then I will wait a bit to allow my levels have come back up (but base the bolus off of the original glucose level). It’s never a constant time but I try to do it early if I can.
You would think that I’d remember to do it before I eat, but unfortunately I don’t always get that done. It’s usually during my meal that I remember to enter my carbs and bolus.
Depending on BG level. Usually 15 – 60 minutes before meal.
Depends on my BG before I eat. If normal or high, I bolus before the meal. If low, I wait until BG starts rising and then I bolus.
exception- if BG is low to very low, either delay insulin or decrease amount by 50%.
Usually I bolus right before I start eating. As I’m normally the one preparing the meal, the carb count can change depending on what’s in our refrigerator/freezer.
I use Fiasp Novolog which is mean to be faster acting but I still usually bolus 15 to 30 minutes before I eat, except as someone else noted, if my glucose reading is low. Blood sugar may dip a little before food is absorbed but it does reduce the highs after the meal.
I try to dose 20-25 minutes before a meal with carbs that spike like breakfast cereal. Much better post meal control!
I’m trying to prebolus 15 minutes or more. It’s hard to know exactly when that is when I am cooking a meal and I get nervous about prebolusing when I am below 100. I get distracted:-/ But I am trying to even out my hills a bit. I know it doesn’t need to be flat but I can go up above 160 with arrow angled upward sometimes after dinner and once it gets up there it is difficult to bring back down without aggressive bolusing and a run around.
When eating out (ha, historically speaking) I wait until the food is delivered which usually means I will go high after a meal. But eating “low carbish” helps.
All depends on what my BG is doing before start of a meal, and what kind of food I am eating for the meal.
I go by the numbers game as to when I shoot up. If below 70, I bolus following the meal. If in range, before the meal. If high, I bolus and wait to eat. What a game to play each and every day.
The intention is always to bolus before meals unless low, but between the kiddies and work deadlines I often forget till mid way through or after my meal these days. It does make post meal BG management more challenging for sure.
Before I take the first bite, but almost immediately.
I put other because every meal presents a never ending different scenario. That said times have changed as of late, well over the last 6 weeks. Ever since starting the Keto diet I rely solely on my basal rate throughout the day unless my carb count is higher then normal then I will bolus but that hardly ever happens.
Before. Usually 15 minutes but that is always based on my starting point. If in range and normal meal, 15 minutes. If higher, I will wait longer until the CGM shows a down dot. If low, I will eat right away. No perfect plan with diabetes!
I bolus during my meal because I want to be sure I can eat my entire meal. Also, I’m a slow eater and don’t want to have to worry about going low.
… but reading all your comments is an encouragement to me to take my insulin sooner; I know it would help reduce the spikes.
I bolus at meals; a split dose of Afrezza and Novolog. It works better and is easier than anything else I have ever tried in my 59+ years with T1D.
I primarily bolus before I eat. I also marked “Other” since many of my boluses are Extended (some now, the rest spread over a set time, usually 15-30 mins). The type of bolus depends on my BG, type of food eaten and expected activity after the meal.