But What If I Go Low?
There’s a reason pre-bolusing feels risky, it’s not just about timing insulin. It’s about the fear of crashing when your food gets delayed. Today, We’re Covering: Why the fear of lows is valid (and common) What helped me start...
The episode, word for word
There's a reason most people skip the pre-bolus.
It's not laziness. It's not rebellion. It's fear.
Hey, I'm Neil, and this is Your Best T1D Year podcast. I've lived with type 1 diabetes since I was diagnosed during Air Force flight training. And next week? My book Type 1 Diabetes, True Stories finally drops. I wrote it for people like us, people doing the hard thing, even when it's messy. More on that soon.
Now I'll be honest: I've still got days where I think, "Do I really want to roll the dice on pre-bolusing right now?"
Because lows? They're not theoretical. They're real. They're scary. And they change the entire tone of a day.
If you've ever pre-bolused and then the meal got delayed, you know the sinking feeling that comes with watching your CGM arrow dip.
Your palms get sweaty. You try to stall the insulin with protein or fat. You start looking for juice, crackers, whatever's closest.
So when people say, "Just pre-bolus every time," it's like... okay. Easy for you to say.
Here's the thing: that fear of going low? It's not just emotional. It's rational. And it keeps a lot of us from even trying.
One of the biggest shifts for me came when I stopped trying to perfect the pre-bolus and just started experimenting.
Some days, I'd try a 5-minute head start. That felt safer. Other days, I'd wait to see the CGM arrow flatten before I took a bite. Sometimes I even pre-bolus and set a reminder for 12 minutes later, just to keep myself on track.
It's not about bravery. It's about building trust, in your tools, your timing, your food. And yeah, sometimes you get it wrong. But when you start to learn the rhythm, the fear gets quieter.
Let's talk practical stuff:
Check your CGM trend before you pre-bolus. Flat and steady? Good sign. Sloping down? Maybe hold off.
Start small. If 15 minutes feels risky, try 5. Even a few minutes helps.
Pre-bolus when the food is almost ready, not just "planned" but actually in motion. You know your people.
Have low supplies nearby. It's not weakness, it's wisdom.
We're not chasing perfect days. We're building better timing.
If you've been afraid to try pre-bolusing because of lows, you're not alone.
But here's the thing: fear doesn't have to run the show. You get to test, adjust, learn. And when you do, that fear starts to lose its grip.
New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Here's something that genuinely surprised me, let's talk numbers, because they matter. 70% of U.S. counties don't have an endocrinologist. One in four people delay insulin because they can't afford it. Blue Circle Health is stepping into that gap with free, real care, from carb counting guidance and insulin adjustments to emotional support and peer mentoring. They've already helped hundreds improve their T1D, and it's just the beginning. Head to bluecirclehealth.org and see what they're building.
Remember, you're not doing a bad job. You're doing a difficult job.
And I'm proud of you for even thinking about trying something new.
Week 18
50 - June 9
Monday, June 9
This is the script as read on the mic, lightly tidied for reading. Education, not medical advice. Talk to your care team before you change anything about your insulin.