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How to test for Insulin resistance ?

Cliodb

Cliodb

Well-Known Member
Messages
45
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi , was wondering if there is a test i can get done to see if i am insulin resistance ?
At the moment i am on 12 units of toujeo , and then 1 unit of novorapid per every 4 or 5 carbs (depends on time of day)
 
Add what is your total daily dose? What is your weight?

There are average TDD expectations by weight.

But, average or not, the most important thing is taking the insulin you need to control your blood sugar. If 12 basal and 1:4 bolus keeps you in range, why worry about it?
 
my average daily dose is about 28 units of novorapid (8,10, 10 ) and 12 toujeo so i tink that makes my TDD 40. i am 89.3kg. I know i need to lose weight and have increased my exercise and have improved my diet but im on steroids , have 23cm ovarian cyst, enlarged spleen , fluid retention and was told by my dr to only do gentle exercise so it makes weight loss a slower process.

I am little worried about it as i have only been diabetic since June and am 27 years old so dont want my insulin needs to increase lots as time goes on. Also its just about keeping me in range i am going high (blood sugar of 9 or 10) about once a day.
 
Hi @Cliodb Your insulin needs will change from time to time, whether it's weight gain or a change in the seasons, your daily dose isn't a constant, so as long as your insulin doses are keeping you in range then just be mindful of looking for changes in your readings. I used to be obsessed with insulin resistance but learnt over time to just stay in my target range, my needs change through the month though as I have to increase my doses around my period due to hormonal changes, just another joyful thing to think about once a month.
 
John Walsh says to find the total daily dose of someone of your weight and average insulin sensitivity you muliply your current weight (89) by 0.53 units = 47.17

So you are well under that. Your TDD doesn't suggest insulin resistance.

Your insulin to carb ratio at 1:4 is a little steep and I wonder if that might be explained by a lack of basal. Your bolus might be having to make up for this. Generally a 50/50 basal bolus split is advised. You seem to be 70% bolus and only 30% basal. You might want to consider a bit of basal testing just to check you're on the right basal dosage - https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/
 
Its my dr who has set my dose not me, I was told not to take more then 10 units per meal and to take the same amount everyday. I had previously just been adjusting for my carb ratio and was taking on about a TDD of 50 units and he said this was to much so add to cut down on insulin.

I am just still a bit confused by it all and frustrated i haven't been able to my blood sugar in 2 days

Thanks for taking time to answer :)
 
What sort of doctor was this? An endocrinologist? Unless you are having hypos there is no such thing as too much insulin, the right amount of insulin is whatever you need to stay in range.
 
catapillar said:
John Walsh says to find the total daily dose of someone of your weight and average insulin sensitivity you muliply your current weight (89) by 0.53 units = 47.17

So you are well under that. Your TDD doesn't suggest insulin resistance.

Your insulin to carb ratio at 1:4 is a little steep and I wonder if that might be explained by a lack of basal. Your bolus might be having to make up for this. Generally a 50/50 basal bolus split is advised. You seem to be 70% bolus and only 30% basal. You might want to consider a bit of basal testing just to check you're on the right basal dosage - https://mysugr.com/basal-rate-testing/
Click to expand...

Thanks for all that info

I was going to try test my Basel before but got confused , it says "Your last meal should be at least 4 hours ago, but not more than 12 hours ago" so dose that mean if for example i was doing the afternoon fast i would have breakfast maybe around 7 or 8 am, wait more then 4 hours and then test every hour from 12pm to 6pm.
 
catapillar said:
What sort of doctor was this? An endocrinologist? Unless you are having hypos there is no such thing as too much insulin, the right amount of insulin is whatever you need to stay in range.
Click to expand...

He is a general consultant that i meet in the diabetic clinic, i dont have a endocrinologist.
 
I have had 3 hypos, once was when i was trying to figure out my ratio and took to much insulin and my BS was 2.9, the other two were when on holidays so was guessing carbs at times and exercising more , they were both BS in the high 3's.
 
@Cliodb I see you say you're on steroids. That can increase your insulin needs anyway - not that your doses are high, but just to add some information :)
 
azure said:
@Cliodb I see you say you're on steroids. That can increase your insulin needs anyway - not that your doses are high, but just to add some information :)
Click to expand...

Thanks , thats good to know. was kind of worried that next time my dr would tell me to lower my insulin more.
 
Cliodb said:
Hi , was wondering if there is a test i can get done to see if i am insulin resistance ?
At the moment i am on 12 units of toujeo , and then 1 unit of novorapid per every 4 or 5 carbs (depends on time of day)
Click to expand...
Try not to worry too much! as others have said insulin requirements can vary from time to time. This is inconvenient but just shows how your body functions in different circumstances - this is totally normal. I had a particular strong spell of resistance when I had muscle aches. I nearly thought insulin had stopped working - so don't be startled if you ever feel like you've been injecting water just try and look for patterns in behaviour hormone weather exercise stress sleep etc.. lol.
 
As others have said, there is no such thing as too much insulin as long as you match it to manage your blood sugar. If you have excess weight then you are probably eating too many carbs. It's important for T1s as well as T2s to have some control over carb intake to avoid weight gain and hence insulin resistance.
 
I agree you're on not very much basal at 12U. I've always taken 25 Lantus I weigh 72kg. I probably take half as much Novorapid/day as you. I take about 40 units of insulin total: 25 basal 15 bolus FWIW. Sounds like you're just getting started and doing well. Do you have an appt with an endocrinologist? It's never been clear to me whether or not every Type 1 sees or at least communicates with one regularly there.
 
TheBigNewt said:
I agree you're on not very much basal at 12U. I've always taken 25 Lantus I weigh 72kg. I probably take half as much Novorapid/day as you. I take about 40 units of insulin total: 25 basal 15 bolus FWIW. Sounds like you're just getting started and doing well. Do you have an appt with an endocrinologist? It's never been clear to me whether or not every Type 1 sees or at least communicates with one regularly there.
Click to expand...
TheBigNewt said:
I agree you're on not very much basal at 12U. I've always taken 25 Lantus I weigh 72kg. I probably take half as much Novorapid/day as you. I take about 40 units of insulin total: 25 basal 15 bolus FWIW. Sounds like you're just getting started and doing well. Do you have an appt with an endocrinologist? It's never been clear to me whether or not every Type 1 sees or at least communicates with one regularly there.
Click to expand...

I think that toujeo might be more concentrated then other insulin, im not really sure. it says on the pen its "300 units/ml" where as my novorapid is "100 units/ml", so could my 12 units be equal to a higher dose of a different insulin :s

I am trying to do basel testing, but missed one of my alarms this morning, so am going to try again tomorrow.

In the diabetic clinic i just meet with a general consultant and diabetic nurse, but i have asked my gp to refer me to a endocrinologist as my thyroid started acting up the same time as i think my diabetes started developing, and i still havent got my thyroid back under control yet . My thyroid had been stable with no changes in my medication (150 eltroxin) for a least 11 years, and then my gp said my medication need to be increased to 175 , then after a month he wanted to change to 175/150 alternating days , and about a week ago he told me to bring it down to 125 daily. I will probably be waiting a few months to get a appointment with one. from speaking with a nurse at the clinic when i first went their is two dr their one who is an endocrinologist and the dr i see, they said they wanted to get me seen by the endocrinologist because i have alot of other conditions but he was full.
 
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