Today Neil stops saying "trust me" and starts saying "here's the study." A trial published in Diabetes Care found that dosing rapid insulin 15 minutes before a meal dropped the blood sugar peak to about 167, versus about 221 when dosing at the meal. That's a 50-point lower peak, from timing alone. Same dose, same food.
Then the twist that keeps you from getting weird about it: a second study in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics found 20 minutes early won at the one and two-hour marks, but 30 minutes early did NOT beat 15. There's a sweet spot, usually 15 to 20 minutes for most people on regular rapid insulin, and your exact number is yours to find. This is the proof that this one small change is worth it.
In this episode:
- The Diabetes Care study: 15 minutes early cut the peak by about 50 points
- Why earlier isn't automatically better (the sweet spot explained)
- The 15-to-20-minute window most people land in
- How to start hunting for your own personal pre-bolus timing
This Week's Challenge: Get honest about your natural timing right now. When you sit down, are you dosing early, late, or mid-chew? Find your starting line.
Helpful resources and newsletter: https://yourbestt1dyear.com
Connect with Neil: TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@the.betes Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebetes Facebook: https://facebook.com/neilgreathouse LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/neil-greathouse-a607b912 Website: https://yourbestt1dyear.com
Books on Amazon: Type 1 Diabetes – One Day at a Time: https://a.co/d/6UHooWJ Type 1 Diabetes – True Stories: https://a.co/d/dfIlyI1
What is Your Best T1D Year?
Managing Type 1 Diabetes doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Each 5-minute episode of Your Best T1D Year is packed with practical strategies, mindset shifts, and a little humor to help you feel more in control and less frustrated by diabetes.
Hosted by Neil Greathouse, this Monday, Wednesday, and Friday podcast delivers quick, relatable episodes that make learning about T1D effortless - so you can build small wins that lead to big changes.
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