My 12 year old son age, diagnosed about four months ago, is still in his honeymoon phase, and his last A1c was 5.5%. Since his lunch is now a half and hour later than last year with a gym class before lunch, I asked his doctor if I could lower his morning Humalog so he doesn’t go low before lunch. He refused saying to increase his snack to 45 grams of carb. The problem is my son just can’t eat that much. The 30 carb snack is just enough to keep him going to lunch so that he can finish his lunch. When he was first diagnosed and I had to call because the insulin dose was to high for the honeymoon phase I was told that I had to adjust the insulin on my own. So why can’t I adjust for this situation? I want to do the right thing but I also don’t want him dropping too low.

I would tend to agree with you. The worst thing in the world is to “push” more food on a child, especially when he is not hungry, to prevent a low blood sugar. A better solution would be, as you suggested, to decrease the morning Humalog. An increased snack in the morning might lead to a smaller appetite at lunchtime, leading to the risk of lower blood sugars in the afternoon with NPH peaking. Keep your physician and health care team informed of your decisions.

JMS
Additional comments from Joyce Mosiman:

I believe people with diabetes should adjust their insulin when they have the knowledge to do so. What you have suggested appears to be a reasonable solution, especially since you found the other solution of eating more to be unsatisfactory.

Perhaps if you explain you have tried that solution, you could approach the physician again with your solution. It is important that you feel like an important member of the team and competent to solve day-to-day problems.

JM

[Editor’s comment: With an hemoglobin A1c of 5.5%, I suspect your son may be having more lows than you realize. Please monitor closely.

SS]