Novomix 30 Insulin

RayGray

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Hi there,

I am 22 and have been diabetic for 10 years now and I am still using novomix 30 insulin where i inject myself once in the morning and once in the evening, I was wondering if anyone else is still using this method? as it seems everyone has moved on to the carb counting, which i tried for a while when i was 18 and I constantly had high blood sugar,
the 2 injections a day seems to work well for me and my long term tests are always perfect, but my concern right now is that I cant seem to lose any weight
i am not overweight but this is the first time in my life ive properly tried to lose weight yet instead i seem to be gaining it particularly on my belly, i wondered if this was to do with the type of insulin i am using? but the diabetic friends i know are on the carb counting injection method so cant help me out
 

noblehead

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Well if your happy on the twice daily dose then there's no need to change to basal/bolus, there are other members on Novomix30 who are happy to stay on it just like you.

To lose weight you need to cut back on your food intake so smaller portion sizes would do the trick to kick-start things, but if you do you need to ask your DSN about reducing your insulin doses as its likely you'll also be cutting back on your carb intake, but generally if you burn more calories than you consume you will lose weight, this is why the likes of Slimming World and Weight Watchers are so successful in what they do.
 

jack412

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I think it comes down to what works for you, as is often said

there are several T1's on LCHF way of eating and will be able to advise you how they low carb and replace the lost energy with healthy fats and never be hungry

The president of bariatric Dr's gives a clearer explanation
“Dr Eric C. Westman, MD and president elect of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, has 15 years of experience helping patients lose weight and improve their health using low carb. He has also helped do several high-quality scientific studies on low carb.”

" Don't do low carb and low fat " @4.00 minutes in to video
 
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Daibell

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Hi. If you are happy with the mixed insulins then there is no strong need to change. If, however, you reduce the carbs in your diet (adjusting the insulin if needed) and still gain weight or have hypos etc, then going Basal/Bolus gives more control of sugar and weight at the expense of more injections. Note that I normally only do 3 injections per day on Basal/Bolus as my breakfast is very low carb and my Basal peaks in the morning. It also minimises hypo risk if driving in the morning. So much depends on your lifestyle.
 

iHs

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I agree with Noblehead.....it is possible to lose weight using twice daily regime but would involve eating less carb and probably reducing the insulin by 1 or 2u to begin with in relation to the new amount of carb being eaten and of course, testing bg to monitor the changes. Eating 'little and often' is probably the best way of using twice daily. Twice daily insulins can be changed to using different strengths of mix so 30/70 can be changed to 25/75 or even 50/50. As long as you are ok with the way you eat food, then there is no real need to change to bolus/basal unless something far better comes along.
 
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urbanracer

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I'm using Humalog 25/75 and I'm having trouble putting weight on! (I lost a lot of weight during the pre-diagnosis stage). So I don't think the mixed insulin itself is your problem.

So as the others have said, probably best to look at your carb and activity levels.
 

Ilya83

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I'd like to gain weight. Only 65 kg :oops: Give me some of yours !!! :)
 

jack412

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I'm using Humalog 25/75 and I'm having trouble putting weight on! (I lost a lot of weight during the pre-diagnosis stage). So I don't think the mixed insulin itself is your problem.

So as the others have said, probably best to look at your carb and activity levels.
do you think you might talk to your GP about whether he thinks a 70/30 or even a 50/50 would get you to eat more carb, to match the short acting insulin?
 

urbanracer

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Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
do you think you might talk to your GP about whether he thinks a 70/30 or even a 50/50 would get you to eat more carb, to match the short acting insulin?
Thanks Jack, I've been thinking about asking to try basal/bolus - GPs DN means well but...... visiting specialist in May so will try to discuss it then. Overall, BG's have been pretty stable since Christmas when I changed from Novomix 70/30 so a bit reluctant to change again.
 

jack412

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Thanks Jack, I've been thinking about asking to try basal/bolus - GPs DN means well but...... visiting specialist in May so will try to discuss it then. Overall, BG's have been pretty stable since Christmas when I changed from Novomix 70/30 so a bit reluctant to change again.
from what's said around here, basal/bolus will be more flexible with what you eat.
the Dr may suggest you get your background right and then keep adding carbs and bolus till you start gaining weight.

I assume you have enough proteins and fats now. have you used a food counter to check?
 

urbanracer

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Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
from what's said around here, basal/bolus will be more flexible with what you eat.
the Dr may suggest you get your background right and then keep adding carbs and bolus till you start gaining weight.

I assume you have enough proteins and fats now. have you used a food counter to check?

No not really - part of the problem is that when I found this forum (and the dietary advice) I immediately moved over to a moderate carb intake (currently less than 120g). But i haven't quite got my head fully around the 'HF' part yet and I'm probably not eating enough protein but I have not been keeping track of it.
 

jack412

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No not really - part of the problem is that when I found this forum (and the dietary advice) I immediately moved over to a moderate carb intake (currently less than 120g). But i haven't quite got my head fully around the 'HF' part yet and I'm probably not eating enough protein but I have not been keeping track of it.
you really need to work out whether fat will clog your arteries or it's just a myth.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/How-To-Overcome-Fat-Phobia.htm

your 'needed' breakdown is about 20% carb 15% protein 65% fat

120 = 480 cal
80 g protein = 320 cal
800 cal sub tota

180g fat to meet 2400 cal requirement
 

urbanracer

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Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
you really need to work out whether fat will clog your arteries or it's just a myth.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/How-To-Overcome-Fat-Phobia.htm

your 'needed' breakdown is about 20% carb 15% protein 65% fat

120 = 480 cal
80 g protein = 320 cal
800 cal sub tota

180g fat to meet 2400 cal requirement


Ok - thanks again Jack, I've noted the figures and I'll see how that fits in with what I'm eating over the next couple of weeks and try to up the protein and fat content of meals.
 
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seasky

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I am a diabetic Type 1 since last 40 years and was under medication. but since 3 months , I am on insulin Novolog 70/30 insulin asphalt , I am Injecting ( Felix Pen) 41 units in the morning before Break-fast and 13 units before dinner. But my blood glucose is always high before dinner and before bed.I almost measure everyday. Could anybody suggest what is the maximum units can be consumed per day ( I assume it is 1 unit/kg of the total weight of your body and can I adjust insulin ( decrease or increase )as per requirement ) even more than 57 units per day as my weight is 57.500kg . Thanking you and hoping to hear from some one. Pankaj Raj sharma Nepal
 

urbanracer

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Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
I am a diabetic Type 1 since last 40 years and was under medication. but since 3 months , I am on insulin Novolog 70/30 insulin asphalt , I am Injecting ( Felix Pen) 41 units in the morning before Break-fast and 13 units before dinner. But my blood glucose is always high before dinner and before bed.I almost measure everyday. Could anybody suggest what is the maximum units can be consumed per day ( I assume it is 1 unit/kg of the total weight of your body and can I adjust insulin ( decrease or increase )as per requirement ) even more than 57 units per day as my weight is 57.500kg . Thanking you and hoping to hear from some one. Pankaj Raj sharma Nepal

@seasky

Your question was answered in the other post just a few days ago.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/adjustment-of-insulin-dose-type-1.81132/
 

Wick55uk

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi there,

I am 22 and have been diabetic for 10 years now and I am still using novomix 30 insulin where i inject myself once in the morning and once in the evening, I was wondering if anyone else is still using this method? as it seems everyone has moved on to the carb counting, which i tried for a while when i was 18 and I constantly had high blood sugar,
the 2 injections a day seems to work well for me and my long term tests are always perfect, but my concern right now is that I cant seem to lose any weight
i am not overweight but this is the first time in my life ive properly tried to lose weight yet instead i seem to be gaining it particularly on my belly, i wondered if this was to do with the type of insulin i am using? but the diabetic friends i know are on the carb counting injection method so cant help me out
I was started on that when I was 1st diagnosed and yes I gained weight for a few years going from a size 34 up to a size 38 but then they put me on the novamix 50 insulin and I lost my weight and went back to size 34, so yes I think this insulin can make you gain weight but in order to not gain maybe you have to use it right and have a right diet ..... i'm just glad i'm off it now and on Novarapid now.
 

iHs

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There's an awful lot to be said for the simplicity in using just 2 injections per day instead of 5 or 6 as long as a compromise is made over the amounts of carb to be eaten. Testing bg about 6 times per day initially and adjusting the amounts of carb to be eaten according to the bg results on a meter. is the way forward with twice daily. High bg levels are usually the result of too much carb being eaten for a meal or snack so adjusting the carb to achieve desirable bg levels through fingerprick bg testing will sort the problem out. Injecting more insulin will impact bg levels about 3hrs later so no good injecting more insulin at breakfast if the high bg is before evening meal as all that will happen will be lower bg levels late morning. Adjusting the amount of carb is a safer way..
 
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