- Messages
- 19,516
- Type of diabetes
- LADA
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Just a bit of a vent really, but thoughts and tips welcome of course, no matter your type of diabetes or medication. One thing I've learnt in 7+ years of having diabetes is that the best outside the box ideas sometimes come from those who aren't too familiar with it.
During the first 4 years I needed to steadily increase my doses, until I got pretty much stable at 98 units of Tresiba and a varying amount of Levemir between 0 and 25 units, plus a bolus insulin of course.
For those unfamiliar with those insulins, Tresiba is the longest acting and most stable of all long acting insulins, perfect for steady going but not if you need to adjust your basal regularly because it takes some 3 days for a dosage change to take full effect.
Levemir is the shortest acting of all long acting insulins (outside NPH), with an action time of about 16 hours, give or take a few hours depending on dose and metabolism. Perfect for constantly adjusting your basal, but very sensitive to timing.
With the combination I have the best of two worlds: the Tresiba at the dose I need on my lowest needs days to keep me steady, the Levemir to top up as needed.
During the past 6 months I've had to reduce my Tresiba to 92 units, and Levemir hasn't been over 10 units in a long time, usually less or nil.
During the past 4 days I've experienced nighttime hypos, which I never have before.
My current sensor isn't too well calibrated so no alarms until I'm in the low 3's.
I found out I don't feel hypo at those numbers until I get out of bed to pee, even if I'm half awake to cuddle dogs and the likes. Once I get out of bed, the hypo is very clear, and I treat without issue, but it is possible that I've spent a good part of my nights in the 3's. Not sure about that because of my lying sensor, but I really don't like the thought I might have been. It's unsettling to have to deal with nighttime hypos for the first time since diabetes!
I've been down to 86 units (from 92) for 2 days now, and still lows are threatening all day with a reduced amount of bolus, and it gets frustrating. Today I woke up at 3.2, treated, went to the swimming pool for aquajogging and dropped to 3.4 again afterwards. This afternoon I took way less bolus for a slice of low carb bread and two beers than I usually take, went to make a step for an elderly dog who's staying the week with me and who has trouble getting up the couch, and a 3.7 again. Very frustrating because I was working with a circular saw, so I had to take a break for safety. I did finish the project afterwards though, with a flashlight between my teeth because it had gotten dark.
I don't mind needing less insulin, but titrating down is a rather complex job with the slow Tresiba. I don't want to go too fast because I keep expecting my needs will go up again, but I don't want those lows either, especially not the nighttime ones without useful alarms!
I guess I should eat some crisps or such before bed tonight, those should keep my BG a bit higher for a long time.
During the first 4 years I needed to steadily increase my doses, until I got pretty much stable at 98 units of Tresiba and a varying amount of Levemir between 0 and 25 units, plus a bolus insulin of course.
For those unfamiliar with those insulins, Tresiba is the longest acting and most stable of all long acting insulins, perfect for steady going but not if you need to adjust your basal regularly because it takes some 3 days for a dosage change to take full effect.
Levemir is the shortest acting of all long acting insulins (outside NPH), with an action time of about 16 hours, give or take a few hours depending on dose and metabolism. Perfect for constantly adjusting your basal, but very sensitive to timing.
With the combination I have the best of two worlds: the Tresiba at the dose I need on my lowest needs days to keep me steady, the Levemir to top up as needed.
During the past 6 months I've had to reduce my Tresiba to 92 units, and Levemir hasn't been over 10 units in a long time, usually less or nil.
During the past 4 days I've experienced nighttime hypos, which I never have before.
My current sensor isn't too well calibrated so no alarms until I'm in the low 3's.
I found out I don't feel hypo at those numbers until I get out of bed to pee, even if I'm half awake to cuddle dogs and the likes. Once I get out of bed, the hypo is very clear, and I treat without issue, but it is possible that I've spent a good part of my nights in the 3's. Not sure about that because of my lying sensor, but I really don't like the thought I might have been. It's unsettling to have to deal with nighttime hypos for the first time since diabetes!
I've been down to 86 units (from 92) for 2 days now, and still lows are threatening all day with a reduced amount of bolus, and it gets frustrating. Today I woke up at 3.2, treated, went to the swimming pool for aquajogging and dropped to 3.4 again afterwards. This afternoon I took way less bolus for a slice of low carb bread and two beers than I usually take, went to make a step for an elderly dog who's staying the week with me and who has trouble getting up the couch, and a 3.7 again. Very frustrating because I was working with a circular saw, so I had to take a break for safety. I did finish the project afterwards though, with a flashlight between my teeth because it had gotten dark.
I don't mind needing less insulin, but titrating down is a rather complex job with the slow Tresiba. I don't want to go too fast because I keep expecting my needs will go up again, but I don't want those lows either, especially not the nighttime ones without useful alarms!
I guess I should eat some crisps or such before bed tonight, those should keep my BG a bit higher for a long time.