For the third year in a row, I have had to adjust the level of insulin I take to follow drops in temperature. Since I live in northern California, it isn't snowing or anything, but the interior temperature of my apartment is around 54 in the wintertime as opposed to 74 or higher in the summer.
While one would usually assume that a seemingly-minor 20 degree difference in temperature wouldn't affect blood glucose levels, once again this year my overnight BGL's have dropped along with the thermostat. Sunday night I woke up at around 3 AM with a BGL of 63; Monday, around 4 AM at 75; and last night again, around 4:30 AM at 68.
How can I prevent this from happening? Three years ago, it meant moving from one Lantus injection per day to an injection in the morning and a smaller dose in the evening. Now, the pump makes it easy by allowing me to create a custom dosage rate between midnight and 5AM during which I only receive 85% of my usual basal rate. I'll have to be rigorous about doing a blood test when I wake up to zero in on the proper custom rate, but these late-night hypoglycemias are wrecking me sleep pattern.
Of course, this may not happen to you or the diabetic you love, but it is something to keep in mind. Keeping your blood test kit and some form of sugar on your bedside table also helps reduce the impact such "Late-Night Lows". As for me, I'll see how this custom rate goes and throw another comforter on the bed.
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