worryingly high levels

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Chrissy2k

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Hi, me again, I really need help and I don't seem to be getting it, last night my blood sugar was 28.3mmol, I was very worried about it, so I phoned NHS Direct, they just told me to sip water and take 5 units of Novorapid, then to check again at 2am. At 2am my reading was 27.9mmol, so it had come down a little bit, but nothing significant. I take 2x 500mg Metformin twice a day, 50 units of Glargine and 3x20 units of Novorapid, my endocrinologist has said that I have a significant insulin resistance.

If that is the case should I be on different insulin, or not any insulin at all? I just don't get it! All I know is that I feel ill, tired, thirsty,blurred vision and generally ****, I take 4 injections a day and I'm not getting any better. My last HBa1C was 10.6% and I'm a type 2, I don't carb count, but I don't eat a lot of carbs anyway. I've tried seeing what foods affect me, but my doctor has cut my testing down to 6 tests a week, so I can't even do that now.
What I really want to know is how do I get my levels down and keep them that way? I can't go on feeling like this :?: Sorry to rant on, I just needed to let off some steam.
 
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sugarless sue

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Rude people! Not being able to do the things I want to do.
Have you also checked for ketones in your urine, Chrissy ? With these levels + significant ketones you should go the A & E.

If there are no ketones then you may want to try cutting carbs down drastically for a day or two to see if that makes a difference to your levels. Do you have a carb counter book ?

Get an emergency appointment with your GP asap. With levels like that you need to be able to test much more frequently and, as someone on insulin, you should be allowed to !!
 
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cugila

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People who are touchy.......feign indignation at the slightest thing. Hypocrites, bullies and cowards.
Just noticed you are a Lantus user.........there is a lot of information here about it's good ? and possibly bad points. There may well be some connection and I hope Janabelle or one of the other knowledgeable ex-Lantus users is around soon. If not discuss this too with your GP or Consultant. I am sure it can have a negligible effect in some patients ?

Ken
 
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Chrissy2k

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Thanks for the reply folks, I don't know about ketones in my urine as I don't know how to test for them, nobody has mentioned this to me before. I really feel like a mushroom right now (kept in the dark and fed on s**t) the doctor is supposed to help me, not create more problems. I only saw the endocrinologist on thursday and he didn't seem concerned at all, he just laughed my symptoms off as though it was a trivial matter. What really worries me is going to bed with such high levels, I'm scared that my levels will rise during the night and I might go into a coma, am I just being silly here, if so, please tell me and put my mind at rest,
thanks for taking the time to listen to me and post a reply,
Chrissy
 
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sugarless sue

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Rude people! Not being able to do the things I want to do.
After hearing the state you are in just now you need to get someone to take you to A & E now !

They will test your blood and urine for ketones and at least put your mind at rest and may be able to correct your high blood sugar levels.

Chrissie, this is your health here, levels like you have are not good in anyone's book ! If the doctor won't help then you must take charge of your own health are get it checked out immediately.

Keep drinking extra water to prevent dehydration.

Please let us know how you get on.
 
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Chrissy2k

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17
Thanks Sue, I took your advice and got my husband to take me to A & E, they have increased my insulin and told me to see my GP on tuesday. They tested my blood and urine and everything is fine, I don't have ketones in my urine and there's no sign of infection. I've just had another dose of Lantus and my BG is down to 18.1, so, although it's still high, it is coming down. Again, thank you for your help, it was very much appreciated
 
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GrumpyAardvark

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Hi there

I would say that you need advice on titrating your insulin, first your background (lantus) to get your fasting (before breakfast) blood glucose down, and then the bolus that you take with each meal so that you take the right amount of rapid acting insulin to bring your blood glucose down again after each meal.

Before I saw that your gp us only allowing you 6 tests a month I was going to suggest testing your blood before each meal and at bedtime today to give your gp some idea what is going on (although it will have been affected by the events of the last 2 days). You're certainly going to need some more to titrate your doses.

Have you had your injection technique and sites checked recently? This can also affect absorption of the insulin.

See if you can get referred to the local specialist diabetes team who can help you with this.
 
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Chrissy2k

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Hi Grumpy, thanks for the reply. To be honest, I don't really know much about taking insulin, I was on novomix for 2 months, but that didn't work, so I have now been put onto novorapid and lantus, but they don't seem to be working either. I see an endocrinologist at the local hospital and he has said that I have significant insulin resistance, which is all very well, but it doesn't help me. Every time I phone my DSN she puts my insulin up, I'm now on 60 units of lantus once a day and 26 units of novorapid 3 times a day, my BG before lunch was 25.5mmol. I really don't know where I'm going wrong, and I know it's not my diet although I'm going to keep a food diary for a few days and see if I can spot anything abnormal. I don't carb count, but I eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg. I'm trying cutting out my fruit to see if it's that, but I'm hoping it isn't, I love my fruit.
Anyway, thanks for the reply,
Chrissy
 
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cugila

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People who are touchy.......feign indignation at the slightest thing. Hypocrites, bullies and cowards.
Chrissy.
You have to count the carbs you are consuming. Some while ago Sue posted the advice we hand out to Diabetic's in another thread. Have you read that ? What some people call a 'healthy' diet can be anything but. ........if you are a Diabetic. Testing and a food diary is the only way that you will see what is happening.

Can you tell us what a typical days diet for you is at the moment ? When you inject, when you test etc. It might help all of us to try and understand things better and offer you some better advice. Something is wrong somewhere and if it isn't down to your diet then that really only leaves the Insulin you are on or some other thing that may need further investigation by your Consultant.

Ken
 
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GrumpyAardvark

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Speak to your DSN again as high blood glucose usually means not enough insulin or the insulin not getting in (e.g problems with your technique or absorption of the insulin). It's not your fault as you are obviously doing the best you can. Keep a good detailed, honest food diary and ask to see the dietitian as well as he/she will be able to look at your carbohydrate intake against your insulin doses. Make sure that one if them explains to you how your insulin works if you aren't sure - the only stupid question is one you don't ask :)
 
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