Quick Fix Tip To Lower High BG Faster

Having to deal with stubbornly high BG levels that linger on for what seems an eternity, even though I bolus properly according to my insulin-to-carb ratio, is something I still experience on occasion especially after a mixed meal. This frustrating scenario is something I hear T1Ds complain about all the time on social media. And I feel ya, it is a gruesome challenge for all T1Ds. Getting not only the bolus dosage, but also the timing right for a mixed meal is practically a nightmare and one  I prefer to dodge as much as possible.

Why it's so difficult with mixed meals

In mixed meals, (a) carbs stick to the proteins and fats, which take longer to digest (throwing the timimg off) and (b) the chemical bond between the 3 macros creates inflammation in the gut, which in turn triggers the release of cortisol. This causes the BG to spike further, throwing off the initial calculated bolus dose as well.

So, taking into consideration that it is too complicated to do only one initial bolus dose and that using other alternatives are not readily available at a social event, that leaves me with basically 2 options:

a) we go cold turkey and quit mixed meals all together, or

(b) use a quick effective technique to fix the BG level

An effective quick fix

It is a technique that my health care providers recommend a while back, and many T1Ds discover on their own. By splitting my extra bolus insulin correction dose evenly across 2 separate injection sites, I brings down stubborn high blood glucose levels quickly and efficiently after mixed meals. I apply this method when 3 or more extra units of bolus insulin are necessary, and use either an insulin pen or an old-school 0.3 syringe that can administer insulin in half units, so I can split the dose with precision. So, for example, if I need an 3 extra units of bolus insulin 3 to stabilize my BG level around 2.5 - 3 hours after a meal, I will inject 1.5 units on the right side of my abdomen and the other 1.5 units on my left side of my abdomen. I have noticed that injecting on both sides of my body works best for me. Generally, my blood sugar is already dropping in under an hort. Mind you, the higher the BG spike, th longer it make take for it to drop, and the absorption rate varies from person to person.

If you're using a pump, this technique can also be used by adjusting one of the split doses through the infusion site and then administering manually the other split dose via the insulin pen or syringe.

Why this works

Essentially, 2 smaller doses injected into 2 separate sites allows the body to absorb the insulin faster and more easily as opposed to 1 large dose that is gradually absorbed because it is injected into 1 single site.

Hope this information was useful. Skål!