Subscribe Now

[hb-subscribe]

Trending News

T1D Exchange T1D Exchange T1D Exchange
  • Activity
    • 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      There are certain areas on my body where the insulin is more effective than others.
    • 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Sometimes, which makes sense to me. It seems like it takes a while til the new insulin is absorbed.
    • 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      There are certain areas on my body where the insulin is more effective than others.
    • 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
      atr likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Usually the opposite. Fresh insulin sometimes sends me low.
    • 2 hours, 6 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      Mostly pump because I want to quickly see insulin on board. Tandem on IPhone when holding my great-niece while she sleeps since getting my pump out of my pocket always wakes her ☺️. Dexcom app if not in need of insulin.
    • 2 hours, 6 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      usually the pump; sometimes my phone.
    • 2 hours, 6 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump (Tandem X2). Since I have to carry a work phone close to 247, I don't want to deal with two phones (device overload!). As I go about my day, looking at my pump meets my needs, I can decide to bolus etc - and edit the bolus. For more in depth data review and analysis, I use the TConnect.
    • 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I read it from my pump.
    • 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      On my insulin pump
    • 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump. Keep it simple.
    • 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      Do you realize what you have just said: "Obscurantism, gobbledegook, and pointillism used not as an art form but as a 'Gotcha!' of legal/financial determinism?"
    • 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      How much of this is intentionally misleading? My mail order prescription service says that can’t possibly know the cost of a medication until after it’s been shipped, which is too late to cancel or return, of course, and makes it impossible to comparison shop.
    • 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      I have an MA in writing and lit, but gobbledegook is gobbledegook. The fancy term is obscurantism.
    • 2 hours, 13 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How well do you understand the details of your health insurance coverage?
      They change all the time. Generally not in a direction to improve my health, but to increase the money in their wallet.
    • 2 hours, 28 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      When you change your insulin pump site, do you tend to notice a spike in your blood glucose levels afterward?
      Usually the opposite. Fresh insulin sometimes sends me low.
    • 23 hours, 33 minutes ago
      Sarah Berry likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      My pump
    • 1 day ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      One nice thing about a watch for readings is that, while it is normally redundant, you can be separated from your phone. For example, when you are in water.
    • 1 day ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I use both as you can’t do everything you want in one or the other
    • 1 day, 1 hour ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I selected “other” because my preference (smart watch, mobile phone, or pump screen) depends on circumstances. Watch for a quick and discrete view; pump if I’m preparing for a profile or activity adjustment or bolus, mobile phone if just a food bolus.
    • 1 day, 1 hour ago
      John Barbuto likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I use both as you can’t do everything you want in one or the other
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I use both as you can’t do everything you want in one or the other
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      Laurie B likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I’m curious about the reasoning behind using a dedicated reader. Could someone please enlighten me?
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      Laurie B likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I selected “other” because my preference (smart watch, mobile phone, or pump screen) depends on circumstances. Watch for a quick and discrete view; pump if I’m preparing for a profile or activity adjustment or bolus, mobile phone if just a food bolus.
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      mojoseje likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      For Minimed, the dedicated reader is the pump.
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      mojoseje likes your comment at
      If you use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), where do you prefer to view your CGM readings?
      I chose "dedicated reader". That reader is my pump, a Minimed 780G.
    Clear All
Pages
    • T1D Exchange T1D Exchange T1D Exchange
    • Articles
    • Community
      • About
      • Insights
      • T1D Screening
        • T1D Screening How-To
        • T1D Screening Results
        • T1D Screening Resources
      • Donate
      • Join the Community
    • Quality Improvement
      • About
      • Collaborative
        • Leadership
        • Committees
      • Centers
      • Meet the Experts
      • Learning Sessions
      • Resources
        • Change Packages
        • Sick Day Guide
        • FOH Screener
        • T1D Care Plans
      • Portal
      • Health Equity
        • Heal Advisors
    • Registry
      • About
      • Recruit for the Registry
    • Research
      • About
      • Publications
      • COVID-19 Research
      • Our Initiatives
    • Partnerships
      • About
      • Industry Partnerships
      • Academic Partnerships
      • Previous Work
    • About
      • Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Culture & Careers
      • Annual Report
    • Join / Login
    • Search
    • Donate

    If you wake up in the middle of the night to treat a low, do you brush your teeth before going back to bed?

    Home > LC Polls > If you wake up in the middle of the night to treat a low, do you brush your teeth before going back to bed?
    Previous

    Did you have any diabetes-related achievements or milestones in 2023? Share what you’re proud of in the comments!

    Next

    Does your diabetes care provider discuss/bring up goals from a previous discussion/visit?

    Samantha Walsh

    Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.

    Related Stories

    " At T1D Exchange, we’re proud to announce our Medical and Research Advisory Team — an accomplished group of leaders in endocrinology, research, and quality improvement. Together, they are redefining what’s possible in type 1 diabetes (T1D) care through rigorous data analysis, innovative research approaches, and real-world implementation. Their collective expertise is central to our mission of improving outcomes for all people living with T1D.  “We’re excited to be working with our advisors given their deep expertise across a broad range of areas in T1D,” said Dave Walton, CEO of T1D Exchange. “Their involvement magnifies our reach, knowledge, and impact. These advisors are shaping the future of diabetes care — driving innovation across research, clinical practice, and quality improvement.”    Meet the Medical & Research Advisory Team  The T1D Exchange Medical and Research Advisory Team brings together four leading endocrinologists, each offering a unique perspective and shared commitment to advancing T1D care:    Jenise Wong, MD, PhD Pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco Focus areas: Diabetes technology adoption and usability; health equity and access to care and technology; community-based and peer-support interventions; culturally responsive care          Jennifer Sherr, MD, PhD Pediatric endocrinologist at Yale Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut Focus areas: Clinical trials in diabetes technology (CGM and AID systems), disease-modifying treatments and immunotherapies, and emerging technologies and medications, including continuous ketone monitoring and nasal glucagon     Viral Shah, MD Adult endocrinologist at Indiana University Health and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana Focus areas: Diabetes technology and adjunctive therapy trials; translational and data-driven research; T1D complications and bone health         Nestoras Mathioudakis, MD, MHS Adult endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland Focus areas: AI-driven clinical support tools; EMR-based data analytics for clinical decision making; data-driven quality improvement; health equity in T1D care        This accomplished team’s expertise spans adult and pediatric endocrinology, research, and quality improvement affiliated with leading institutions nationwide. Collectively, they have authored over 500 diabetes publications and secured research funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, Helmsley Charitable Trust, the American Diabetes Association, and Breakthrough T1D — while remaining actively engaged in both clinical care and research.  “These individuals represent an impressive body of work while remaining deeply involved in the day-to-day realities of diabetes care,” said Walton. Their expertise covers the full spectrum of T1D care — from AI and predictive analytics to complication prevention, automated insulin delivery, continuous glucose and ketone monitoring, GLP-1 treatments, health equity, mental health, autoantibody screening, and disease prevention.    Turning insight into impact  The team’s work goes beyond research, focusing on translating insights into real-world practice. By leveraging data to scale best practices, the goal is to drive meaningful, measurable change across clinics and communities.  “Our advisors will help to extend our impact — whether through QI strategy, research innovation, funding opportunities, or new data-driven solutions,” said Walton. “We want to take what’s working at individual centers and spread that as broadly as possible.”   He added, “As a Collaborative, we’re also focused on advanced population health strategies such as exploring predictive data models to identify risks earlier and intervene before complications even begin to happen.”    The power of the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative  Central to this work is the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) — a nationwide network of clinics working together to improve care through shared data, benchmarking, and evidence-based practices.  “I’m thrilled to serve as a Medical Advisor for T1D Exchange, because I’ve seen firsthand the impact this network can have on patient care,” said Dr. Nestoras Mathioudakis. “T1D Exchange is the premier organization for quality improvement in type 1 diabetes, with unparalleled assets like a large EHR database and robust patient registry.”  He added that he is excited to apply his expertise in EHR research and big data analytics to generate real-world evidence across diagnosis, management, and outcomes.  Dr. Viral Shah echoed that perspective, reflecting on T1DX-QI's evolution: “I have been involved with T1D Exchange since its early days and have had the privilege of witnessing how it has transformed the quality of diabetes care across the United States. I’m delighted to return as a Medical Advisor.”  He emphasized the importance of accelerating impact. “I look forward to working closely with the team to accelerate the evidence generation and to help translate these insights to improve patient care.”   Dr. Jenise Wong highlighted the visible impact of T1DX-QI on the delivery of care. "I’m truly honored and grateful to be working with T1D Exchange as a Medical Advisor. T1DX-QI is a remarkable resource for centers that are using continuous process improvement to improve the quality of care for people living with diabetes.”  “Diabetes centers working with T1DX –QI have done amazing work using QI methodology to make care accessible and equitable for all people with diabetes,” she said. “It’s inspiring to be a part of a collaborative in which centers have been creative and thoughtful with initiatives to address individual and systemic challenges to care, improving clinical outcomes as well as the patient experience."  Looking ahead, Dr. Sherr highlighted the opportunity to build on the existing strong foundation. “I’m very excited to be working as a Medical Advisor for T1D Exchange,” she said. “It’s a privilege to help shape what comes next for a group that’s already doing such impactful work.”  “Sharing what’s happening in clinical practice, benchmarking across centers, and understanding outcomes is how we figure out what’s working, what’s not, and where we go next,” she said.      The future of T1D care   With this team’s vision and expertise, T1D Exchange is positioned to accelerate progress in T1D care — bridging research and real-world practice to drive meaningful, measurable impact.  Together, we look forward to advancing innovation and improving outcomes for everyone affected by type 1 diabetes.   "

    5 days ago  
    Meet the Expert

    Meet the Expert: Improving Diabetes Care Through Precision Medicine 

    Jewels Doskicz, 2 weeks ago 8 min read  
    Meet the Expert

    Meet the Expert: Bridging Research, Technology, and Real-World Care 

    Jewels Doskicz, 2 weeks ago 9 min read  
    Insulin & Meds

    Ask the Expert: Diana Isaacs on Benefits, Risks, and Real-World Use of GLP-1s in T1D 

    Jewels Doskicz, 3 weeks ago 6 min read  
    Meet the Expert

    Meet the Expert: Advancing Equity, Improving Outcomes, and Reducing the Burden of T1D 

    Jewels Doskicz, 1 month ago 8 min read  
    Our team

    Spotlight on T1DX-QI: Clinical Leadership Committee 

    Jewels Doskicz, 2 months ago 6 min read  

    28 Comments

    1. Molly Jones

      I have used sugar and water to make glucose pills that are just the right size to be able to swallow with water during the night, so I don’t have to worry about brushing my teeth.

      2
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. MT

        How did you make these?

        2
        2 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. George Rich

        Sugar is what is used by bacteria to make acid that eats away at your enamel which by definition results in tooth decay.

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
      3. Molly Jones

        Mixing as much sugar as possible to a small amount of water then flattening the mixture and using a small straw for sizing the tablets.
        Afterwards let the tablets dry for at least six hours or more, then store them in a plastic bag or container.
        It’s good to measure the sugar, divide it by the number of tablets and know how many carbs each tablet contains.

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Lawrence S.

      I brush my teeth before I go to bed each night. Once I am in bed I only get up to use the toilet.
      I treat my night-time lows exclusively with honey. It does not require brushing my teeth.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. George Rich

        Lawrence, honey is a sticky carbohydrate that will contribute to tooth decay if you don’t brush.

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. mojoseje

      I have peppermint gum in my bedside table. When I have lows in the night, I have no energy to get up and go brush my teeth.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. George Rich

      I am a dentist with T1DM and I actually was the one that submitted this question. Unfortunately, tooth decay is also a complication of Diabetes that is often never mentioned. Always brush after reversing low BG in the middle of the night!!!

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. JeremyW

        I wonder how much the odd-hours sugar contributes to this statistical higher tooth decay

        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. terrih57@msn.com

      I always lay there and know I should get up and do it. But…..

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Jane Cerullo

      I roll over take a glucose gummie turn off alarm and go back to sleep. Can’t even imaging brushing teeth. Would wake me up and probably would have trouble going back to sleep. Have my own teeth with no problems lol.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Lynn Smith

      No, but I do use a flosser that’s sitting right beside me.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Linda Rumbelow

      If I have a low in the middle of the night I will have juice, so I just rinse my mouth with water.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Dave Akers

      I have perfect solution… keep skittles and water by your bedside… use the water to swallow skittles whole! Never touch the teeth and they dissolve and absorb quickly!

      2
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Kris Sykes-David

      Having a low is nuisance enough, getting up to brush my teeth would having me laying awake for a while. I eat the tabs then drink some water.

      4
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Yaffa Steubinger

      I keep a water bottle on my end table. Treat the low, swish the water around my mouth, and go back to sleep…hopefully.

      4
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. Sue Herflicker

      A lot depends on what I eat. Most of the time I just drink water after to cleanse my mouth!

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Janice B

      It is bad enough to be woken and have to treat wait for sugar to rise and then try to get back to sleep. If I also brushed my teeth there would be no getting back to sleep

      6
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Eva

      Usually i treat a d over night low with oj and i drink it with a straw. I usually use a straw to drink everything but water and wine. And i use a stainless steel straw.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Alan Segal

      I just want to get back to sleep!

      6
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Janis Senungetuk

      No. I have glucose tabs and a small capped bottle of water within reach on the bedside table. I’ll eat a glucose tab (4g), drink a sip of water and go back to sleep. If the low alarm wakes me again I get up, go to the kitchen, test my bg with a meter and respond to the meter results either by recalibrating the CGM or drinking 4 oz (approx) of apple cider. Then I’ll brush my teeth.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Joan Benedetto

      We use only juice for our son at night which he sips through a straw. Per dentist’s recommendation, we then have him sip some water.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Carol Meares

      Not always but quite often I will rinse with mouthwash.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Jeanne McMillan-Olson

      Drink water!

      2
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Jeff Balbirnie

      An interesting question, I wonder what they are truly curious about? Blind habits? Rituals? The tooth decay all our low treatments surely must cause ie its concentrated sugar after all. Or simply they do “this”, wondered if anybody else did too

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. T1D4LongTime

      Never…. that would be enough activity to awaken me for the next day. Once my feet are on the floor, I begin FOTF rise in BG and cannot go back to sleep. I take my Welch’s fruit gummies from the bedside and only get up to meter if I feel the SG does not match my BG after looking at the SG Trend line on the app.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Mr Joe

      great info

      3 weeks ago Log in to Reply
    23. Mr Joe

      Interesting discussion, small nighttime habits can really make a difference when managing health routines and overall well-being. It’s helpful to see people sharing their personal experiences and tips.

      In a similar way, teachers can also manage and access their records efficiently through fone sep, which simplifies important tasks.

      3 weeks ago Log in to Reply

    If you wake up in the middle of the night to treat a low, do you brush your teeth before going back to bed? Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.




    101 Federal Street, Suite 440
    Boston, MA 02110
    Phone: 617-892-6100
    Email: admin@t1dexchange.org

    Privacy Policy

    Terms of Use

    Follow Us

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • linkedin
    • instagram

    © 2024 T1D Exchange.
    All Rights Reserved.

    © 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
    • Login
    • Register

    Forgot Password

    Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

    Skip Next Finish

    Account successfully created.

    Please check your inbox and verify your email in the next 24 hours.

    Your Account Type

    Please select all that apply.

    I have type 1 diabetes

    I'm a parent/guardian of a person with type 1 diabetes

    I'm interested in the diabetes community or industry

    Select Topics

    We will customize your stories feed based on what you select here.

    [userselectcat]

    We're preparing your personalized page.

    This will only take a second...

    Search and filter

    [searchandfilter slug="sort-filter-post"]