# Daisy Mae's swimming BG thread

**URL:** <https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894>\
**Category:** Sports & Exercise\
**Tags:** exercise, blood-sugar, swimming\
**Created:** [May 11, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894 "2017-05-11T23:29:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 28

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**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/541 "2017-06-30T22:48:25Z")

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[quote=“Eric, post:540, topic:894”]  
This is wonderful! Disconnect 2 hours before you started right? How long before you started did you take the bolus, was it 2 1/2 hours?

[/quote]I took the .5 unit bolus right when i was shutting off my basal. i waited 2.5 hours until i disconnected and got into the pool. my BG pre-swim at 2pm was 156 (before i turned off my pump it was 107, and it went high despite the mini bolus of .5 ) i ate NO SWEDISH FISH TODAY 😉 . (LOL) but i did eat a lg handful of almonds w/out bolusing while i waited the 2.5 hours before swimming. (dont know if that made a BG difference or not.)

when i got home from the pool, despite the 1 unit bolus i gave myself post-swim, shot up to 163, but 2.5 hours later, my BG has come down to 134.

i am carbing up. (havent broken out the Ovaltine yet. i might just treat myself to it as an after dinner treat 😊 . ) i am guessing that i will have to lower my basal by 10 - 20% for over-night.

PS: my breathing was challenged today, and my heart rate was deffinately up. i wasnt able to test my pulse, but i am thinking of buying a watch on Amazon which measures your pulse at the same time. i think that will be helpful for me.

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/542 "2017-06-30T22:58:53Z")

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> [@daisymae](#):
>
> I took the .5 unit bolus right when i was shutting off my basal. i waited 2.5 hours until i disconnected and got into the pool. my BG pre-swim at 2pm was 156 (before i turned off my pump it was 107, and it went high despite the mini bolus of .5 )

Today was great! I am sure the almonds might have raised you a bit too, but you can tinker with that 0.5 unit bolus a bit if you are not happy with the 156 you started at today. Dang, that was awesome today!

> [@daisymae](#):
>
> i am thinking of buying a watch on Amazon which measures your pulse at the same time. i think that will be helpful for me.

A lot of the heart rate watches are not really that good when you are in the water! I will ask around and try to get a recommendation for one that might work better in the water.

* * *

On an unrelated topic. We gotta get you an official updated profile image!

 ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/f/f0de6ae75f71be332078d38edc4c7c83c6f7c135.jpg)

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**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/543 "2017-07-01T01:52:35Z")

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eric, sent you a PM on the “BASAL” site.

Ovaltine was made by God. 😄

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/544 "2017-07-01T02:35:12Z")

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Now you gotta get some of that vanilla flavored protein powder mix to combine with it!

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**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/545 "2017-07-01T17:29:44Z")

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eric left you a PM on the “Basal Site.”

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**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/546 "2017-07-03T21:58:23Z")

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So experiment # 20 was going really well until i started plateauing at 103. i got nervous so i went back to my old friend, the Swedish Fish. what a ding-a-ling i am; didn’t i learn my lesson the first time??? Duh.

well i over-did it. 1/2 a fish will do, so why do i find myself eating more of them?

also, i need to find a carb/sugar source that works right away and does NOT hang around and spike my BG an hour later. (this is exactly what happens with the fish)

so this is my shout out to all of you exercisers: please tell me what you do to supplement during your training sessions.

SOS

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**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/547 "2017-07-03T22:38:53Z")

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> [@daisymae](#):
>
> also, i need to find a carb/sugar source that works right away and does NOT hang around and spike my BG an hour later. (this is exactly what happens with the fish)

DM,  
The spike you are seeing later is not a delay from the Swedish fish, it is because your insulin is all gone.

Today you disconnected 1 3/4 hours before swimming, and then swam 2 hours. The total of 3 3/4 hours of no insulin is what is causing the spike when you get out of the pool and walk home.

The big trick is to over-bolus immediately when you get out of the pool, and if possible, a smaller amount 30 minutes before you finish! 😉

Today I think you said you took one unit post-swim. That’s not covering all the insulin you missed while disconnected.

It takes a while to get comfortable with giving yourself a big bolus when your BG is not high yet. But if you know you **will** spike, you can start to become comfortable with giving yourself a pretty big bolus for what **will** happen.

So just make a note of today. If I have these numbers right, you finished around 125 (is that right?), you took 1 unit, and then ended up spiking above 180.

All these things are good to see! Next time you can be more comfortable with a bigger amount when you finish.

Ideally - you finish, take _enough_ insulin, walk home, and when you are home your BG is in range and dropping and you can eat.

I take a lot of insulin when I finish, and do you know what makes be bold enough to do that? Just one thing - always having enough chocolate milk ready for as soon as I need it. 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/548 "2017-07-04T03:02:58Z")

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well after the tough evening battling high BGs, i am back down to 107 before bedtime, but i still have .9 units IOB.

(now i know for tomorrow that i will have a big glass of milk w/ Ovaltine as soon as i get home 😉 .)

depending on my BG when i turn off my basal tomorrow, i will adjust my bolus either above or below .5 units ) then, after my swim, i will bolus hard and eat immediately when i get home)

tomorrow will probably have to be a short swim b/c its the holiday and i have to be with my family to eat and then watch the fireworks, but i will try and be more tuned in to how to handle things.

i am not certain whether i should lower a TB for overnight or not. i guess i will find out during the night when i wake up and then adjust accordingly. i’m having some PB before i go to sleep.  
thx a million. i really thought i could blame everything on the swedish fish. now i know.

have a good night and i’ll let you know how everything goes tomorrow.

happy holiday.  
DM

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**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/549 "2017-07-05T20:23:55Z")

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eric, i am seeing you a PM on the "coach "site

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/550 "2017-07-05T21:40:58Z")

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EXPERIMENT # 21

prepped 1 hour 45 min detached from pump starting at 140 BG @ 11:45am

1:45pm bg 140 pre-swim  
2:30pm bg 110 (ate 1 Swedish Fish)  
3pm bg 97 (ate 1 more fish)  
3:30pm bg 115 post swim and took 2 units basal “replacement” bolus manually. (4 hours without any basal in total)

BUT:  
4:15pm, BGs shot up to 171 OMG why is this?  
then, within just 45 min, my BG shot down to 127/ then 109 w/ still 1 unit IOB

I am plugging away at this. non-D people take for granted how challenging it is for us to just be able to exercise. so many calculations. and then all the re-fueling, with the timing having to be just right. and, the interference during our work-outs to test and take some carbs just to continue.

i think i am making progress, though. glitches that just need to be tweaked. haven’t heard back from any of you guys in a while. i hope that i am not boring you to death. i really do miss the encouragement; its what keeps me going when all is not right. i think about the others of you guys who have shared your stories with me, and it keeps me going. especially all of you swimmers (who have to either detach from a pump, or manage MDIs )

thats all the news thats fit to print today. hope this post finds you all well and in your target range 😉  
yours truly, Daisy Mae

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/551 "2017-07-05T21:54:09Z")

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@daisymae Could the short spike at 4:15 been due to the extra fish at 3:00?  
I know it’s harrowing to not correct at 97 while you’re exercising, but you have to remember that there’s no (or very little) insulin on board.

Just an uneducated guess😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/552 "2017-07-05T22:56:10Z")

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> [@docslotnick](#):
>
> Could the short spike at 4:15 been due to the extra fish at 3:00?

doc, thats exactly what eric suggested.  
DM

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/553 "2017-07-05T23:09:03Z")

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@daisymae @Eric It’s obvious then that great minds think alike 😁

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/554 "2017-07-05T23:37:26Z")

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Here is part of our conversation today on PM about it.

We were talking about something else and then got onto this. DM and I have a hard time staying on topic!

😀

* * *

> [@On another topic](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1359/11):
>
> 1:45pm bg 141  
> 2:30pm bg 110 (took 1 Swedish fish)  
> 3pm bg 97 (took 1 fish)  
> 3:30pm bg 115 (finished swim, 5 minutes later, gave myself 2 units, which was double what i gave myself earlier this week)  
> 4:15pm bg spiked to 175 (w/in 45 minutes!!!)

> [@On another topic](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1359/13):
>
> A few things.
> 
> When you came down to 110 and took some sugar, and then at 97 and you took some more, at some point you should wait a bit and trust that you will level out. I know you are getting nervous at 110, but what if you had skipped that fish? You see how you came up 18 points pretty quick after that second fish? That’s just part of the big spike to 175 you are seeing.
> 
> What if you waited a little more before you take those fish? Will you keep dropping? No! Eventually you would stop!

> [@On another topic](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1359/11):
>
> my question is this: how on earth do i bolus for food when i already have those 2 units OB? do i over-bolus? and, if so, how much should i over-bolus for? how do you figure this for yourself? do i just use my pumps’Wizard feature? or will that take away the much needed insulin? should i just do a 1:10 CR and let it ride?

> [@On another topic](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1359/13):
>
> I think you should ignore correction boluses as part of IOB.
> 
> You took 2 units and 1.5 hours later you came down to 127. If you had ignored that IOB, and also taken an additional bolus for food, you could have eaten with it.
> 
> So you over-bolus, take more than the correction. Keep in mind, a lot of that correction is missing basal, and part of it is bringing your BG back into range. Don’t count that as IOB.
> 
> Think of it like this:  
> Suppose you’ve been disconnected 3 or 4 hours…  
> When you finish swimming
> 
> take some for replacing basal  
> take some for the high BG you know is coming  
> take some for the food you need to have following exercise
> 
> That’s a pretty good bit of insulin!

> [@On another topic](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1359/14):
>
> OK. you are 100% right when you say that i get nervous when i am 110 and then 97 w/in a 1/2 hour later. i get afraid that i will just go low and sink 😉
> 
> so, if i understand you correctly, i take all of the insulin in one giant bolus once i get out of the pool and am on my way home. then, as soon as i am home, i eat.

> [@On another topic](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/1359/16):
>
> Yes! You are replacing the insulin you haven’t been getting since 11 am, you are correcting the high BG, and you are taking insulin for the food you are about to eat! So that’s what you have to calculate.
> 
> Work from today’s number. You took 2 units and still had a big spike. Did you eat?
> 
> If you take a big bolus and walk home, and then eat, you have slowed the big spike, or kept it from getting too high, and you have prepared for the meal.
> 
> Also, you know how I tell you to take a small bolus 30 minutes before you finish? That will also prevent the big spike!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/555 "2017-07-06T19:46:56Z")

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No Swedish Fish today; just a short 1 hour swim (my husband needed me to help him at the Verizon store) it was disappointing to not be able to put in that extra hour. i have really gotten used to it. the longer i have been swimming for, the easier it is to go the distance. i remember when 1 hour felt like forever. now, 1 hour feels like a warm up, rather than “real” exercise. well, anyway, we all have our “bad” days. my goal is to swim for 2 1/2 -3 hours so long as i can trust that my BGs stay stable. i really do need to trust that i will plateau once my basal wears off. with no IOB, i should be able to swim longer without any problems.

just thought i would post how the day to day trials and tribulations are moving along, in case anyone is still following my swimming experiments.

11:30am turned off my pump  
12:30 BG 128  
1:30 BG 139 (jumped into the pool)  
2pm BG 144  
2:30 BG 132 (got out of pool and gave myself 1.7 units of insulin) (maybe it was too much “replacement” for only 3 hours off of my basal???) but its always an experiment, so we’ll see how it turns out.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/556 "2017-07-06T20:03:03Z")

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> [@daisymae](#):
>
> 1:30 BG 139 (jumped into the pool)  
> 2pm BG 144  
> 2:30 BG 132 (got out of pool and gave myself 1.7 units of insulin)

Only 7 down from the start of your swim until the end. Do you know what we call that?!

**FLAT!**  
👍

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/557 "2017-07-07T02:00:53Z")

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still, despite taking my “basal replenishment” bolus, and not having eaten anything that should have spiked me, after coming down into PERFECT target range, i shot up about 1 1/2 hours later. i gave myself NO correction, and then my BGs returned back to normal. whats up with that???

in any case, i ate big time tonight. plenty of carbs and protein. plan to swim for as long as humanly possibly tomorrow (my friday swim binge/pre-weekend)

PS: left you a PM on the Cheesecake thread. it should be coming tomorrow.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/558 "2017-07-07T21:28:33Z")

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another (almost) flatline:  
1:15 (pre-swim) bg 128  
2pm bg 138  
2:30 bg 115  
3pm bg 117  
3:15 bg 121

YAY for me. no swedish fish at all (and can you believe i actually went into the pool at 128?) OMG !!!

a moderate 2 hour swim. a little sore, but nothing i need Advil for.

this is with a 2.5 hour 0% TB, totaling 4.5 hours off any insulin. (well i did give myself the pre-bolus of .5 units before turning off my basal) post swim, i bolused 2.5 units. just tested 2 hours post bolus, and my BG was 83. i am wondering if it will spike again like yesterday? or maybe crash?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/559 "2017-07-07T22:25:07Z")

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> [@daisymae](#):
>
> 1:15 (pre-swim) bg 128  
> 2pm bg 138  
> 2:30 bg 115  
> 3pm bg 117  
> 3:15 bg 121

Nice job!

When we started this in May, I told you one day you’d be comfortable starting your swim at 120. Do you remember that? 😉

> [@daisymae](#):
>
> post swim, i bolused 2.5 units. just tested 2 hours post bolus, and my BG was 83.

Did you eat?

If not, do the same thing, but add some insulin for your post-swim carbs.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![daisymae](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/daisymae/32/1199_2.png) [@daisymae](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/daisymae)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/daisy-maes-swimming-bg-thread/894/560 "2017-07-08T16:46:13Z")

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> [@daisymae](#):
>
> just tested 2 hours post bolus, and my BG was 83. i am wondering if it will spike again like yesterday? or maybe crash?

i didn’t spike at all, but my BGs came down to 60 and it was hard to bring them up. lots of chocolate 😊 .

overnight went fine, but woke up low (68) and i bolused anyway for a light bfast. 2.5 hours after bfast, BG was 85. yay. ☀

tomorrow i will pig out; burger, brioche bun, fries and guacamole w/ chips. i can hardly wait. its got to be one of my favorite meals ever.

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