Hi All, i’m on the tandem T-slim, use Dg7, i’ve been reading through a post on the mobi - the 15/15 rule was mentioned and I want to know from the veterans of T1d on your treatment if you don’t follow this 15/15 rule treating a low? are you preventing lows or what is your revision to this rule? More than not, my lows are by mistake or just unforeseen circumstances, not because of imbalance carb/veg/protein ratios.
I’ve only ever used 8oz bottles of apple juice to treat. If i’m slow low will just start out with half-bottle, if i’m arrow(s) down low less than 70 bg, I chug the whole 8oz bottle then see. It goes without saying, I could live the rest of my days without ever looking at another bottle of juice - and the glucose tabs? forget it - more effort in my opinion. Thanks in advance for sharing a different experience to treat lows. M
For me it was a starting suggestion I’ve long since moved past. Calling it a rule is super problematic because I’m a rule follower, and like you, I know there are times I need less or I can do the math* and see when I’m going to need more. I’m also willing to deal with complications of ice cream/cake/cookies/fruit/granola if I get the carbs I need when I need them in addition to the joy I get from enjoying the food.
*Not literal math, just estimate the change from the last 3 readings, IOB, activity, you know, all the usual diabetes stuff.
Welcome back, Mary@Disco2 , I’ve missed your comments.
The general 15/15 rule proved very useful in the 1940s when it was developed, at a time when getting a blood sugar reading took days and managing diabetes was more “in-the-dark” guesswork than today’s more enlightened guessing. Now with almost instantaneous BG availability we have the ability to intelligently customize our hypo and “down-trending” conditions.
Knowing one’s own body, and with knowledge of recent activity can be key to adjustments we make; such as over-dosing a recent meal [i.e., over-counting carbs] or greater than usual activity. Keep in mind too, that certain CGM will, in addition to current BG levels also indicate predictive. For me, a 4-gram tablet is the most common correction needed especially when a meal is close on the horizon. A sharp and unexpected late-evening downtrend may get a treatment of 20 grams of mixed duration carbs. As Chris @spdif said, always use 3+ CGM readings to guide your calculation. Ah, the juice boxes you mention [24 grams each] were common for me on bike rides, worked wonderfully, but now relegated to the storm grab-bag.
Awe. thanks Dennis yeah it’s been a while since i’ve checked in. I’m on my second Tandem T slim pump - four years to go - then see if a change is desired. I prompted the 15/15 question hoping for some magic trick to avoid juice…but i’ve discovered pineapple juice in little cans so i’m getting creative…lol. hope the mobi is working out well for you.
Hi Mary @Disco2 I discovered early on in my diagnosis that the 15/15 rule shot my blood sugar up so much that I needed insulin to bring it down. I originally switched to hard mints (5g of sugar each) and would have 1 for a low. I now use fruit snacks. I can open a bag and eat 1-4 pieces depending on how low I am. The gelatin in the snacks gives it more staying power than juice. That said, I do have a juicebox on my nightstand for those rare middle of the night low blood sugar numbers.