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    • 7 hours, 5 minutes ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      TCOYD one conference and Breakthrough T1D summits. I really enjoy in person events.
    • 7 hours, 15 minutes ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Many because I am a retired RN, CDE
    • 9 hours, 21 minutes ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      If you miss a long-acting insulin injection, what are your next steps? Please share more in the comments.
      BAAAAAAD WORDS. Definitely the next step for sure.... After that more grumbling, cursing and eventually the decision whether or not taking the long acting THIS late is smart idea. If NOT, then a slightly heavier dose the next day of the short acting insulin seems real likely
    • 9 hours, 22 minutes ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      If you miss a long-acting insulin injection, what are your next steps? Please share more in the comments.
      OH boy, an impossible question to answer without a lot more specific details......ie name of insulin / miss an injection completely over 24 hrs or by shorter time frame / to list a few.
    • 14 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      While living in San Diego, I got spoiled: TCOYD is based there and their annual flagship conference occurs there. I went every year. Among my favorite break away sessions we always the ones where we as patients got to share ideas on how Endo's could better respect us as patients. All of the vendors (pharma an device) were there - great oppo0rtunity to see hands-on the devices. An added benefit to being in San Diego, Dexcom and Tandem are based there - so having face-to-face interaction with their staff was awesome. And of course, great swag! Once I moved to Portland OR, I went to an ADA conference. AS a T1D person, I was very disappointed. I had gone with the hopes of meeting my Dexcom and Tandem rep. No device companies were there. The focus of the break away sessions were are oriented to T2D. Fortunately for me, there was was an Oregon Potters Guild show at the convention center at the same time. I bought some great artwork. Since I knew Steve Edelman (TCOYD founder), I got in touch to see what I needed to do to get a TCOYD conference in Portland. I needed to have an idea of the budget so I could also work on funding support. First thing, I wanted support (not $$) from the local ADA and JDRF. Contacted them, but they never returned my calls or emails. Very disappointed I couldn't pull it off.
    • 14 hours, 1 minute ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Literal poverty prevents attending such conferences. I must survive, therefore to do so the job(s) require all that I have which remains. I would likely enjoy such conference(s), ALWAYS go for the "small" tables FIRST, their survival depends on it...
    • 15 hours, 27 minutes ago
      Lenora Ventura likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Yes, TCOYD and maybe an ADA conference. The second conference I went to in order to check out tech. Both were in the 90s.
    • 15 hours, 30 minutes ago
      Lenora Ventura likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      While living in San Diego, I got spoiled: TCOYD is based there and their annual flagship conference occurs there. I went every year. Among my favorite break away sessions we always the ones where we as patients got to share ideas on how Endo's could better respect us as patients. All of the vendors (pharma an device) were there - great oppo0rtunity to see hands-on the devices. An added benefit to being in San Diego, Dexcom and Tandem are based there - so having face-to-face interaction with their staff was awesome. And of course, great swag! Once I moved to Portland OR, I went to an ADA conference. AS a T1D person, I was very disappointed. I had gone with the hopes of meeting my Dexcom and Tandem rep. No device companies were there. The focus of the break away sessions were are oriented to T2D. Fortunately for me, there was was an Oregon Potters Guild show at the convention center at the same time. I bought some great artwork. Since I knew Steve Edelman (TCOYD founder), I got in touch to see what I needed to do to get a TCOYD conference in Portland. I needed to have an idea of the budget so I could also work on funding support. First thing, I wanted support (not $$) from the local ADA and JDRF. Contacted them, but they never returned my calls or emails. Very disappointed I couldn't pull it off.
    • 15 hours, 41 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      Have you ever attended a diabetes-related conference?
      Before retiring I would go to our local teaching hospital/ADA conferences. They were held yearly and were a great way getting my CE's.
    • 1 day, 2 hours ago
      kilupx likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Other: I was not diagnosed with T1D at a young age.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      KarenM6 likes your comment at
      Before you chose an insulin pump, did you do a “saline trial” (a pump filled with saline instead of insulin)?
      The word "chose" is past tense. In the present tense, "no." In the past tense, the ancient of days 1996, the answer was "yes." They even hospitalized you for 2 days. I was and am very healthy and horrified the medical staff when I walked up and down 9 flights of stairs to get something. C'est la vie 🫠
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      I felt my lows when I was younger. Now after 45+ years with type 1 I feel a bit of “blurry brain function” when below 50. Thankful for CGM alerts!
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      I was diagnosed at age 29. Is that considered "young"?
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Yes 74 years ago. Yes today intensely. I am one of the small percentage of folks who, instead of experiencing hypoglycemia unawareness, feels it with even more almost acute intensity today. I guess sometime the nerves go the other direction?!? 🐦‍🔥
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Trina Blake likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      The "target" is set for 100 (the lowest option with Medtronic), my alarms are 70-130. With the algorithm it's interesting with a basal that rises and falls (and the "auto-bolus") according to levels and dosing, thus my alarms (down to 2% lows this way). But... There's another setting offering different target range, I have it set 70-90 for now. Only been a few weeks so interesting to see how it goes.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Trina Blake likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      On my Omnipod, both the high and the low are set at 110, the lowest it will allow. My preferred target rang is 70 to 120.
    • 1 day, 16 hours ago
      Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Diagnosed in 1951 when I was 6 years old. I would feel terrible when glucose went low, but did not know what was wrong.
    • 1 day, 17 hours ago
      Kristi Warmecke likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Missing answer is “I felt them early in, but not it can be hard at times to physically see a low.”
    • 1 day, 17 hours ago
      Steven Gill likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      To me... (a1C has been as low as 5.2, now near 6.0 with a lot less lows). Discuss with your doc goals, read the DCCT trials (determined "multiple injections" were more beneficial than 1 or 2 shots a day (mixed). Than up to your own confidence with insulin: -how your body reacts (after dosed I notice in 30-35 minutes) it's different for everyone -confidence with understanding the glycemic scale for food (some reach the blood stream quicker, some slower) -your health-as I grow up may not hear a low alarm as quick, nor be able to react as well -and tools... I'm confident with my CGM, alarms, understanding my insulin pump A tighter or lower target can lower a1C, wasn't worth my lows. But an a1C a little closer to non-diabetic can offer a little more prevention against the damage from diabetes. We're doing this to get as old a we can and be as healthy as we can (not necessarily a brag about numbers)---read a definition of heath is to be as far from death as possible. I think that changes...
    • 1 day, 19 hours ago
      atr likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      110, which is as low as omnipod 5 allows. If I could change it, it would be 90-100.
    • 1 day, 20 hours ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      In 1973 when I was diagnosed the hospital policy was to force a low so you knew what they felt like. Around 2000 I became severely hypo unaware.
    • 1 day, 20 hours ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Initially, I felt lows long before they became problematic. This diminished gradually over time. Now, after 51 years, I feel nothing until BG drops to critical levels -50. Exception is when BG drops dramatically over a very short period of time.
    • 1 day, 20 hours ago
      Edward Geary likes your comment at
      If you were diagnosed with T1D at a young age, did you feel your “lows” right away? If you remember, please share more in the comments.
      Yes 74 years ago. Yes today intensely. I am one of the small percentage of folks who, instead of experiencing hypoglycemia unawareness, feels it with even more almost acute intensity today. I guess sometime the nerves go the other direction?!? 🐦‍🔥
    • 2 days, 12 hours ago
      kilupx likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      My alarm range is 70 - 180.
    • 2 days, 13 hours ago
      Anita Stokar likes your comment at
      If you’re on an insulin pump, what is your glucose target range?
      The whole "target" question is a mess. I think most of us here (T1D people who are proactive etc) define "target" as where we want to be after a meal or correction bolus has done it's job. Pump mfr's (and many Endo's) define "target" like they define an A1C goal: averaging 110 over time. Lots of "discussions" (notice the quotes) with my Endo about my targets (I don't accept the "standard goal" of 70-180, I prefer aiming for 70-140). So so answer today's question, my alert ranges are 70 and 120 for high (I correct if I have no IOB, but may have food on board). My target bg (post bolus) is 80-90.
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    What steps would you take if you had a glucose reading of 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) before you planned on going to bed, with no bolus insulin on board?

    Home > LC Polls > What steps would you take if you had a glucose reading of 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) before you planned on going to bed, with no bolus insulin on board?
    Previous

    Many people with T1D talk about having a "stubborn high" when talking about those frustrating instances of high blood sugar that don’t seem to respond how we would like them to, however this phrase means something different to everyone. Which of the following circumstances would you consider a “stubborn high”? Select all that apply to you.

    Next

    Do you currently have unexpired ketone strips (blood or urine)?

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field 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 Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

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    39 Comments

    1. LizB

      I would consume some carbs because right after I lay down, my BG drops. It happens every night and it’s not a compression low. It happened when I used Medtronic and it happens now with Dexcom. I have gotten out of bed to test with a meter and it always shows that I’m low. If I stay up, my BG could stay steady for hours but once I lay down in bed it will drop.

      4
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Molly Jones

      I would consume some fatty carbs with protein. If this occurs, I usually have walnuts with a small amount of ice cream.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Lawrence S.

      If I was on 80, I would take a small squeeze of honey that I keep with me at all times. Chances are that if I’m on 80 there’s a good chance I could drop lower, and the alarm on my pump would be going off constantly. I have Tandem X2, Dexcom G6 Control IQ. But, my alarm still loves going off when I start getting down toward 70.

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Jane Cerullo

      I would be fine with BS of 80. But do have a dexcom that would alert me of BS below 60. Also usually wake up at least once during night and check my Apple Watch.

      0
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. mojoseje

      I would set my Medtronic 770G on a 1/2 hr temp basal, which would beep when done, waking me up. If my bg was still at 80 or below, I’d drink a mouthful of juice.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. KIMBERELY SMITH

      I would would fixed me Turkey sandwich

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Carol Evans

      I would eat two jelly beans and go to sleep. Unless I had insulin on board from a bolus – then I might eat more carb to compensate. My CGM will alarm if my BG drops further.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Marty

      I said that I would eat some carbs, but it really depends on other factors, like what I’ve eaten and when, and how my BG has been behaving previously. If I’d had a soft landing after a normal dinner and my BG was stable, I’d probably go to bed without eating anything and rely on Control IQ to manage things.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Robin Melen

      I would have a Yasso bar frozen yogurt (best medicine in the world) and go to bed happy!

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Ahh Life

      Eat carbs.

      Unfortunately, the body keeps score, not the machine. Much more irritating are the normal BG at bedtime, then several hours later the low alert alerts—a doom loop of intense irritability. 😖

      5
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Louise Robinson

      I would eat maybe 5 to 10 grams of carb before falling asleep. That should be enough to keep me from dropping too low or spiking.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. TomH

      It depends, the context of the question is paramount: what’s my sought after level, what’s my BG been like that evening? I don’t mind being in the 80s or 90s, though when I first got started, once went below 90 I tended to continue the decline to a low. I’ve not got my pump settings tuned better and have learned from experience. I have a G6 CGM and would note the direction of travel, if on a steep decline, then treat with some carbs (10-15 max), might stay up a little longer to see if resolves; if a small decline with no carbs on board, probably a small amount of carbs (4-8?); if level or slightly increasing, probably nothing.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Janice Bohn

      If my trend arrow on Dex was straight I would do nothing. If trend is downward treat then sleep.

      0
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Sherolyn Newell

      If the Dexcom arrow was flat, I’d just go to bed. If it was going down, I would eat one glucose tablet. A Dexcom low alarm would wake me up, so I don’t worry excessively.

      2
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Bruce Schnitzler

      I would consume carbs and set an alarm to awaken me so I could check glucose.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. kim bullock

      I would stop my insulin and eat a small carb snack.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Cristina Jorge Schwarz

      If the profile is flat, do nothing.

      If I’m trending down, take a half carb or one carb (1g raises me 35mg/dL).

      If trending up, wait a half hour to make sure I level off under 95.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Anneyun

        What do you eat that is only 1/2 a carb or 1 carb?

        2
        2 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Tina Roberts

      Snack!

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Nevin Bowman

      That’s about what I aim for when going to bed.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Sue Martin

      My CGM low alarm is set at 80. So, I would eat a few carbs so that my alarm doesn’t continue to go off. Then go to sleep. If my BG gets to 80 again my CGM will alarm and I will determine what to do at that point.

      2
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Randy Molen

      I would set a temp target on my Medtronic insulin pump for 2 hours.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Karen Tay

      Now that I have the Tandem IQ I don’t worry about it anymore. 🙌

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Trina Blake

      Basically I would do nothing and go to sleep. However, If my Dexcom integrated Tandem X2 with BIQ pump shows a downward trend, I might have a few glucose tabs or a 1/2 cup juice. My target bg is 80, if I have been 80 with a flatline for a while, and I have no IOB on board then off to bed I go. If I have FOB (food on board – having eaten recently), I would go to bed.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. Janis Senungetuk

      I’d eat carbs, the amount depending on what and when I ate dinner and most importantly the direction of the G6 trend arrow. Tandem X2 Control IQ seems very quick to stop basal insulin and that often results in a a rebound high. I do my best to prevent that. Often one glucose tab (4g) will be enough to keep be at a level in range, allowing me to sleep without having to deal with alarms.

      3
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. Lynn Smith

      I would eat a couple of jelly beans and go to bed.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    26. William Bennett

      Nothing, assuming that’s a Dexcom reading not a finger stick meter. Meter reading tells you nothing about trends, so I might be more concerned, depending on what I’d had for dinner, whether I’d had to guesstimate a bolus etc. But 80mg/dL with a reasonably flat curve would be fine. Even without Control-IQ, which would be easily able to adjust my basal if I needed it.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    27. KSannie

      I cannot fall sleep with a BG below 110-115. I would eat about 3 Skittles. Anything more would put my BG up so high my pump would beep about the high sugar. Once woken up, it is hard to fall back to sleep. I use Tandem IQ

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    28. Bruce Johnson

      Too many human and equipment factors are presented in this question so a factor of safety must be added.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    29. Patricia Maddix

      I would do nothing if my blood sugar was steady and not much or any insulin on board. With control IQ the basal rate would have been ratcheted down as the blood sugar approached 80 so there should not be a problem. Dexcom will alert me if I get below 75. I have found with experience if I were to eat even a small amount at this number, my blood sugar would then jump up higher than I want. The exception to this would be if for some reason I was quite active in the evening.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    30. Chris Albright

      My answer was to do nothing. With the Tandem Tslim pump and sleep mode (Control IQ mode), I know that my basal insulin will be managed by the algorithm and if it starts to dip it will decrease insulin delivery and if my bg rises, it can increase insulin delivery to account. I very rarely wake up outside the range of 95-115.

      But the key for me is, you need to go to bed with no IOB and have no food onboard trying to raise you BGs.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    31. AnitaS

      I may watch it for a 1/2 an hour, or eat just one or two sweet tarts or jelly beans, or something super low carb with a tinge of protein, such as a jelly bean with a few nuts.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    32. Eva

      It depends. If I didn’t exercise then I’d just go to bed with my blood sugar at 80 assuming no insulin on board. My basal drops to .425 and lower starting at 11PM through 4AM keeping me pretty stable throughout the night.
      Assuming I exercised, then I’d eat a couple of slices of an apple with peanut butter before bed time. And, I’d check my blood sugar during the night because my muscles sure like to release stored insulin when I’m sleeping.

      0
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    33. Maurine Bowser

      I would take a quick carb with protein- a few chocolate m&m’s then drink 2-4 oz of Glucerna as my BS usually drops despite only 5 units of basal insulin.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    34. Wanacure

      At bedtime, my pre dinner bolus of Humalog will have expired after 4 hours. My long acting Lantus (glargine) will keep me in normal glycemic range overnight with Dexcom 6.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    35. James Cheairs

      It would depend on the CGM trend and the Loop prediction curve. If steady and no prediction to go lower, I would do nothing.

      1
      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    36. Jeff Balbirnie

      Is this a “trick” question??? Why on earth would anybody save the newest, most raw beginner T1 diabetic do anything but grab a portion of carbs, if, if they were in the least bit concerned? [Sic. WHY] Any reading in that range is unworthy of ANY concern, fear, paranoia to any degree. At 80 I would/could go straight to sleep no problem at all

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    37. T1D4LongTime

      With BG of 80, you also need to check if BG is rising/falling, consider if you’ve been moving around a lot in the hour before bedtime and your basal from bedtime till middle of the night. For stable BG of 80 with no IOB, I would breathe a sigh of relief and go to bed! 🙂

      2 years ago Log in to Reply
    38. Becky Lamont

      Sometimes it will go higher & then I go to sleep. Otherwise, I watch to see & eat if necessary.

      2 years ago Log in to Reply

    What steps would you take if you had a glucose reading of 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) before you planned on going to bed, with no bolus insulin on board? Cancel reply

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