Sarah Howard
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.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
Every time I eat carbs my blood sugar rises to 200 for almost half an hour then decreases. Increased insulin to carb ratio makes no difference but can cause lows majorly. The only way to prevent this is if I am dropping rapidly before eating or being very physically active before and afterwards (which also causes the lows).
I’ve had the same problem for years. Recently, my Endo told me to eat more protein with my meals. I started doing it several weeks ago, and have noticed a significantly lower number of high blood sugars. But, I still get some.
With the protein in my meals, I’ve also noticed that my blood sugars don’t drop as quickly when I’m exercising (running).
Same here. For me, I think it comes down timing. I tend to give premeal insulin immediately before eating, but carbs inevitably absorb faster than my insulin does. ~30 min before meals would probably help avoid this, but also set me up for lows if meal is delayed or I get distracted.
Same for me. I agree about the timing. I use enough insulin because it goes back down to normal, but it doesn’t seem to work fast enough. If I take it too soon, I will go low before the carbs kick in. If I take more, I get too low later.
I incorrectly answered 1, but it looks like I had 3 periods of CGM readings above 180 on last 24 hrs.
Apologies, I clicked on the prior question of the day from my email regarding # of hypoglycemic periods, but it directed me to today’s question. The response options were the same so I didn’t notice until after I submitted.
Ha! I had a good day with zero. But that’s a snapshot. I get plenty of high blood sugars.
Me too!
3 Am -10 AM. 11:45 -4:30 PM- 12 noon fol,lowing day
Thank you, researchers, for including the mmol/L conversion! <3
I answered twice, and they were sustained periods, but I suspect it’s because I have a cold. There are days I don’t at all & can’t figure out how that was accomplished.
My FSL is set at 150 so I cover before it gets any higher.
Wow! Bad timing on this question! I was placed on an oral steroid because of asthma. So high bg until a temp basal kicked in. Doing great now!
I’m glad you’re doing better, Patricia! 🙂 Those steroids can be brutal on the BSes!
72 years old,60 with T1d. I use Control IQ all the time now. I went high twice because I forgot to bonus for a meal. My memory is my biggest issue now. No complications other than failing memory…..
Bolis, not bonus. Same idea though….
You caught me on a good day, I answered 1 but I was wrong, it was actually a high of 176 mg/dL, so it was 0 times. I usually go high after my high protein/fat, low carb, sedentary breakfast. That is unpredictable.
Same for me! 0 for last 24 hrs. Usually 1 maybe 2 typically.
As my obese NP keeps preaching to exercise less and to raise my A1C above 5.5. I’m looking for a very scarce resource here in Portland, Oregon. An educated person who can counsel a T1 on health matters from a viewpoint of working to help us, rather than preach at us.
Exercise less? No, no, no. T1Ds have run marathons, climbed mountains, been to Antarctica, won Olympic Medals in swimming, etc. We can learn how they avoid hypoglycemia.
Post prandial
I learned a new term!
Zero, thanks to Tandem’s Control IQ app.
I answered 3, but mainly because I’ve been sick and just dx’d w/Covid (mild as it seems to be).
You have my best wishes for a speedy recovery, TomH!
I’m glad to see your symptoms are mild. I hope that continues!
2, one of which was a rebound high.
Found out that dexcom is off 40 points so when it says 180it s actually 280 so i subtract 15 and I’m still high so that’s why I have. high bgs alot
I do my best to avoid highs. I have my CGM set to alarm at 160. Usually I will only go high on days I change my infusion set. So many of them take awhile to absorb properly.
I set my CGM high at 130 mg/dL, so I get ample warnings of impending high levels. But: keep in mind I try to inject and eat 3 meals at same times every day. And though not on Keto diet, I eat no more than 15-30 net grams of carbohydrate per meal, gets lots of fiber every meal from veggies and nuts and seeds, eat at least 2 -3 meat exchanges each meal. No more than 10 grams net carb from fruit at breakfast and no more than 10 grams net carb from fruit at dinner. FULL DISCLOSURE: I’ve been avoiding usual 40’ aerobic 3x/week and lifting weights 2x/week and weekly yoga classes at gym since COVID pandemic. Going back to that rigorous schedule, now with a CGM, I might have to adjust my CGM alert levels.