Today’s post is by Annie.
There are many things about diabetes that are inconvenient, but one of the things I can’t stand is how this disease sometimes demands that you eat when you don’t want to. It seems so strange to me sometimes that we have to use food as a medication. Not only does this happen when we go low at inconvenient times, but it also sometimes happens when we give ourselves insulin before meals and end up not eating as much as we thought we would.
I must admit that during this first trimester of my pregnancy, my eating is a bit off. I am almost never hungry, and quite often feeling nauseous as well. Finally last night I was really hungry, so I made myself a substantial dinner. I gave myself insulin to cover the carbs and then sat down to eat. About a third of the way through the meal, I was full and really not able to eat anymore, but I had all this extra insulin in my system to deal with. This dilemma is extremely annoying to me and last night I really didn’t know what to do because there was no way I could eat anything extra. So, I stayed up a bit and checked every hour. I seemed to be heading low, but then by some miracle went back up, perhaps by sheer willpower! I went to bed, but of course woke up low this morning.
Now, looking back after a good night’s sleep, I realize I probably should have done a temp basal overnight with less insulin. I also will be taking my husband’s advice and only taking half of my meal time insulin before I eat, and then making sure I can really finish my meal before taking any more. Live and learn, as they say, but I just wish someone would come up with an insulin vacuum or something that could go in and get the extra insulin when we don’t need it anymore.
A girl can dream, right?
Annie, I’m sorry this is happening. I can sort of empathise having Gastroparesis. I never know if I will finish a meal or if I do will I digest it? Your hubby is offering some wise advice. Also I would try breaking your meals up. Literally eating two small dinners, rather than one large one. I hope this passes soon, hang in there sweetie.
I had a similar problem this past weekend but it wasn’t from not eating a full meal that I had planned but instead was having trouble keeping my blood sugar up. I had 4 lows in a span of about 6 hours and one of them lasted almost 2 hours. It was horrible. I suspended my pump & everything but I just kept dropping. And although I wasn’t really eating food to treat the lows, I was drinking fluids and that filled me up just as much. I thought I was going to vomit & seriously would’ve cried if I had to drink anymore at all. My hubby recently said that they should make a “shot” to treat lows instead of having to eat/drink something. I said “like glucagon?” lol. But he was referring to something quicker & simpler to administer. I hope you don’t have to endure that kind of thing much longer.
Tina – yes, I’ve read about the challenges of gastroparesis and this sort of thing. It must be very challenging to add that into the mix when figuring how much insulin/when to take it. I can’t imagine.
Stacey – YES, that is THE worst, exactly what I can’t stand! I agree with your hubby! Tell him to start working on it
Hahahah! Yes, an insulin vacuum…cute, and I soo WISH! That would be soo awesome!
It is extremely frustrating when that happens! It happens to me more so when I’m eating at someone else’ house or function like Easter or Christmas. But honestly it happened to me just a few days ago when I ordered food from a new place and wound up hating it! Jelly beans! I ate about 10 jelly beans and wound up at 80. But I panic when it happens and get mad at the diabetes. And if it happens close to bed time,i usually stay up another hour or two to watch my numbers. Oooof, diabetes is sooo high maintenance. Tina, I’m sorry you have to deal with soo many other challenges on top of this one. But God doesn’t give us anything more than we can handle. Or at least that’s what I believe. And, Stacey…I’m sorry you had soo many lows in such a short amount of time. I know you were WORN OUT! Yes, tell your husband to get on it! “It’s not all about YOU diabetes! Quit being so difficult!” You’re doing great Annie and are such an inspiration. Blessings my darling. Mwah!