New to insulin injections, can you explain this confusing BG result?

[Indy1282]

I thought so, but thought it better not to be contradicting the 'expert'!

He also strongly advised me to take statins (which I have always declined and will continue to do). He said I am at high risk due to my cholesterol levels. Though my cholesterol ratio is only 3.28 which is supposed to be healthy. He also told me to re-use needles several times and put the cap back on each time, which contradicts the manufacturer instructions completely, but maybe this is NHS practice, who knows.

I really wouldn't recommend reusing the same needle several times - once it gets blunt it will bloody hurt when you inject!

Once or twice is fine though.

 

[Hertfordshiremum]

Thanks and yes my GP mentioned that to me when she referred me to the diabetes clinic. It's early days at the moment for them to decide exactly what the score is, and even whether I need to continue on insulin injections permanently, but early indications are that this will be the case. I'm just delighted the insulin is working because for most of the last month I've been stuck at double figures or high single figures. On insulin I got down to 5.1 before bed last night which is a great relief. I look forward to lots more testing and fine tuning of insulin dosage and timing, to really take back control, so to speak.

Hi Dave

I am new to this site however felt compelled to post that considering diabetics are a greater risk of infection I would never reuse a needle!! Ignore your GP on this please! Is this a cost issue? Also someone in the NHS has told me that drug companies are paying GP's everytime someone is issued statins. I too have been offered them three times and declined every time. I can't prove this is true but I have no reason not to believe it. Finally 5.1 before bed could be a bit low as you are not going to eat all night, if it drops past the 4's you could have a hypo in your sleep. Mine is very variable, including at night, I always make sure my before bed measurement is at least 6. Just so you are not alone no 2 days are the same results wise for me either even if I exercise the same and eat the same! Very frustrating isn't it.

 

[kitedoc]

I thought so, but thought it better not to be contradicting the 'expert'!

He also strongly advised me to take statins (which I have always declined and will continue to do). He said I am at high risk due to my cholesterol levels. Though my cholesterol ratio is only 3.28 which is supposed to be healthy. He also told me to re-use needles several times and put the cap back on each time, which contradicts the manufacturer instructions completely, but maybe this is NHS practice, who knows.

The only thing you can be sure about is that the bread and potato will alwys tend to cause blood sugar rises which are difficult to control. What would happen if you took less insulin and just had bacon and eggs for several days in a row and see what happens instead?

 

[InsulinWarrior]

Also keep in mind that where you inject insulin can affect its absorption rate. I find that if I inject into a muscle, it starts working faster than when I inject into fat.

 

[becca59]

Do not re use needles. End of!

 

[kitedoc]

I really wouldn't recommend reusing the same needle several times - once it gets blunt it will bloody hurt when you inject!

Once or twice is fine though.

There are people in the world whose finances and local supply issues lead to reuse of needles for injecting insulin. Yes the ouch factor and infection risk can be higher but sometimes needs must.

 

[Deleted member 99312]

Hi Dave

I am new to this site however felt compelled to post that considering diabetics are a greater risk of infection I would never reuse a needle!! Ignore your GP on this please! Is this a cost issue? Also someone in the NHS has told me that drug companies are paying GP's everytime someone is issued statins. I too have been offered them three times and declined every time. I can't prove this is true but I have no reason not to believe it. Finally 5.1 before bed could be a bit low as you are not going to eat all night, if it drops past the 4's you could have a hypo in your sleep. Mine is very variable, including at night, I always make sure my before bed measurement is at least 6. Just so you are not alone no 2 days are the same results wise for me either even if I exercise the same and eat the same! Very frustrating isn't it.

It wasn't my GP, it was the specialist at the clinic (hospital) who told me that. So far I've been changing the needle once a day and it's been seemingly fine. My current prescription is for 100 every 28 days so I could change it more often and maybe I should.

The fasting number the morning after the 5.1 was 6.3. In my first week of doing this I seem to be there or thereabouts now, with numbers rarely over 7.8 and usually well under (but still comfortably over 4.0). I think I'm doing alright. It's quite a lot of work but it sure is great to be able to eat relatively normally again for the first time in years.

 

[MeiChanski]

It wasn't my GP, it was the specialist at the clinic (hospital) who told me that. So far I've been changing the needle once a day and it's been seemingly fine. My current prescription is for 100 every 28 days so I could change it more often and maybe I should.

The fasting number the morning after the 5.1 was 6.3. In my first week of doing this I seem to be there or thereabouts now, with numbers rarely over 7.8 and usually well under (but still comfortably over 4.0). I think I'm doing alright. It's quite a lot of work but it sure is great to be able to eat relatively normally again for the first time in years.

Needles should always be changed, insulin can block it, the bent needle can be quite painful to inject and it can also affect control. Your GP can prescribe more insulin needles, you just need to book an appointment to ask.

 

[kitedoc]

It wasn't my GP, it was the specialist at the clinic (hospital) who told me that. So far I've been changing the needle once a day and it's been seemingly fine. My current prescription is for 100 every 28 days so I could change it more often and maybe I should.

The fasting number the morning after the 5.1 was 6.3. In my first week of doing this I seem to be there or thereabouts now, with numbers rarely over 7.8 and usually well under (but still comfortably over 4.0). I think I'm doing alright. It's quite a lot of work but it sure is great to be able to eat relatively normally again for the first time in years.

What do mean eat normally @Dave P ?

 

[Deleted member 99312]

Needles should always be changed, insulin can block it, the bent needle can be quite painful to inject and it can also affect control. Your GP can prescribe more insulin needles, you just need to book an appointment to ask.

I don't believe insulin is blocking it as I am doing an air shot before each injection. Nor is it hurting. But given I could use more I will do so in any case. It just seems like a waste and I doubt there is a clinical necessity to throw them away after just one use when they would almost certainly be perfectly fine for at least two uses.

(It isn't about me personally saving money as they are free TO ME, but not free to society as a whole which does pay for them through taxes and resources which end up in landfill.)

 

[Deleted member 99312]

What do mean eat normally @Dave P ?

I mean not having to eat an ultra low carb diet to the order of under 20-30g carbs a day in order not to have soaring blood sugars.

 

[MeiChanski]

I don't believe insulin is blocking it as I am doing an air shot before each injection. Nor is it hurting. But given I could use more I will do so in any case. It just seems like a waste and I doubt there is a clinical necessity to throw them away after just one use when they would almost certainly be perfectly fine for at least two uses.

(It isn't about me personally saving money as they are free TO ME, but not free to society as a whole which does pay for them through taxes and resources which end up in landfill.)

That is the issue, you can’t see what’s happening underneath the skin. The needle is only intended to be used once and discarded into a sharps bin. The needle becomes blunt if you use it more than once. You are developing a higher chance of lipohypertrophy and the needle breaking off. Needle manufacturers based their safety checks on needle being used once. I think needles, used test strips are all treated differently to landfill because of bacteria, hepatitis b/c and cross contamination

 

[kitedoc]

I mean not having to eat an ultra low carb diet to the order of under 20-30g carbs a day in order not to have soaring blood sugars.

So called 'normal' diabetic diets range from zero up to 300 g carbs per day and the food industry has dictated, distorted and influenced what is 'normal' for well over a century.
That is why i asked. The variation does somewhat affect diabetes control and ee also know that dietitans and doctors are influenced by the food industry greatly and falsely in many ways.

 

[Deleted member 99312]

I'm aware of that.

 

[kitedoc]

But still leaves a big range when you say 'normal.

 

[Deleted member 99312]

ok