How many insulin units a day

[onemanandhiswife]

Hi,
I am on Novorapid & Levemir, I have lost almost all of the weight that I needed to over the last 2 years and yet I still have to inject 210 units a day, this seems an awfull lot to me, is anyone else on these amounts? Just curious. :?

Debbie in Plymouth

 

[mrburden]

Hi,
I'm T1 and on the same 2 insulins. I take a total of 168 units a day. My specialist thinks that is "quite a lot" for my height (5' 8") and weight (13st 8lbs). However, the diabetic nurse has told me that she has T2 patients who take a lot more than me. I don't really get to exercise much due to a number of reasons. Up until recently I did a fair bit of cycling but the insulin levels were not much lower even then.
Mark.

 

[josie38]

I have moved this so you could get more replies :lol: :lol:

 

[jopar]

I checked your profile and it says you'll T2

There isn't a set ratio of insulin for an individual, so you can't say that every 5ft 4' 8 1/2 stone female will be using xxx amount of insulin.. as other factors also come into play which will mean that a different amount is required..

Factors such as;

Are the T1 or T2, the latter is residence based to is likely to need more insulin to do the same job
Diet, A individual eating an higher carbs, or basing a diet on higher fat is likely to need more insulin

Activity levels.. Somebody who is very active is likely to need less insulin

Then on top of that you've got that you just need more than the next diabetic along..

When we think about we don't actually know how much insulin a non-diabetic will actually creates to maintain a level BG through out a day, how much it will bung at xxxx amount of carbs being eaten etc..

So if your weight if fine and well done of achieving your weight loss goal, and your control is stable and well controlled, one must assume that what ever amount in units a day you'll using must be right..

 

[Fallenstar]

Hi

I have been Type 1 for 20 years, when I first was put on Insulin my doses were a lot lower. I was very insulin sensitive, I still am, though my doses have increased over the years but I am still very sensitive to my fast acting but I do exercise hard and for long periods of time so have learned to self adjust precisely for my needs over the years......The Diabetes still throws me some curve balls though, especially on a nightime for me ..but I keep on keeping on :wink:

I agree with Jopar there are no set figures it is whatever keeps you in good control. Generally type "2's need more insulin as it is at cell level that the insulin is not being taken up, not that they are not making any insulin like most type 1's. As we age everything at cell level slows down in our bodies so eventually a Type 1's insulin needs will increase as at cell level our insulin is not taken in as efficiently as when we were younger so doses will usually increase with age from being first diagnosed, irrespective of fitness, weight gain , diet ect

You could try a herbal supplement called Chromium Picolinate this makes glucose be taken up quicker at cell level, obviously speak with your team first but I have found amazing results with this and when I am not training I take this as otherwise my insulin needs go up by about a third. I cannot take this before training as it makes my sugars come down way too fast. I have trained on and off over the years with and without the Chromium and it makes such a difference to my insulin requirements I really don't think it's a placebo and has been one of my keepers.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[Pneu]

You could also try a change of insulin! Insulin is not a one fits all solution and I would advise people to try a different approach if the one you are using doesn't work..

When I changed to MDI I started to use Levemir and was having to take 200+ units a day split into two lots of two injections... I asked to change onto Insulatard as this was similar to the long acting in my old mixtard and I am now injecting only 52 units a day in total split over two injections and have much more even fasting blood sugars..

 

[ebony321]

I think what peeps have said already sums it up, type 2's often can seem to need alot.

aswell as looking into different insulins have you discussed using oral meds to help with insulin resistance as well as insulin?

Also depending on age this can affect your needs for insulin, hormone wise, hormones aren't just for teenagers lol. I use a varied amount of insulin depending on what i eat, but my background insulin is 24 units a day, for my size i've been told this is high for a T1, i also have a high ratio of insulin to carbs. Been advised i will still have 'raging hormones' until im about 25. im 23 now so a while to go before i hope for less insulin haha!

also you don't mention diet, if you eating alot of carby or sugary foods this will also increase your need for insulin too, if your diet is fair and balanced then fair enough if you could cut down on some carby foods in some places this could also help.

Also the more insulin you take, the more likely you are to put on weight, the more weight you put on the more insulin you need. Quite a vicious circle. I've been naughty lately and eaten ALOT of cr*p i could have done without, and i've put on a few pounds!

Again as mentioned exercise is also key, the more you do, the less you will need insulin. simples. can be hard if you have other medical conditions or if you work in a fairly in-active job.

you say you've lost weight (well done ) has your insulin requirements lessened with weight loss? obviously theres only so much weight you can lose, but if weight loss seems to have a significant affect on your insulin needs maybe a few more pounds would be of benefit.

Not sure how much of my waffling will benefit you, or which will apply to you but just a few things to ponder about see if it may help.

 

[donnellysdogs]

So long as you are keeping within targets of 4-7-8....me personally I wouldn't worry...however.......If worried I would ask Consultant to try different insulin....

 

[Pneu]

to an extent I think you are correct donnelly... however insulin as a hormone doesn't just deal with control of blood glucose it also deals with for instance telling our bodies to put down fat... it can therefore be a bit of a viscous cycle if you are having to inject large doses of insulin that then cause you to increase in weight which then increases your resistance etc...

I am not sure what constitutes are 'large' dose? I certainly wasn't happy injecting 200+ units a day... for a start its a pain having to do multiple injections at the same time when the pen only goes to 60 units! certainly there can be no harm in trying other insulins or methods to reduce your insulin intake.

 

[ptfc4171]

Well 5 weeks ago Iwas taking 250 units of Lantus and the same of Novorapid each day. I spoke to the hospital as I was extremely concerned , They put me on Vicotza and since then I have cut the Lantus out completely am now down to 30 units of Nvorapid per day and lost 2 stone into the bargain.

I've a couple more stone to go but they expect if my weight continues to drop in a couple of weeks they might even stop the Novorapid

 

[squeeze321]

I have insulin/carb ratios which I use to control my diabetes so I inject to what I am eating but on average I have about 63 units per day. I don't eat a lot which might be why my insulin doses are so low.

 

[dafne-jim]

Hi

I have been Type 1 for 20 years, when I first was put on Insulin my doses were a lot lower. I was very insulin sensitive, I still am, though my doses have increased over the years but I am still very sensitive to my fast acting but I do exercise hard and for long periods of time so have learned to self adjust precisely for my needs over the years......The Diabetes still throws me some curve balls though, especially on a nightime for me ..but I keep on keeping on :wink:

I agree with Jopar there are no set figures it is whatever keeps you in good control. Generally type "2's need more insulin as it is at cell level that the insulin is not being taken up, not that they are not making any insulin like most type 1's. As we age everything at cell level slows down in our bodies so eventually a Type 1's insulin needs will increase as at cell level our insulin is not taken in as efficiently as when we were younger so doses will usually increase with age from being first diagnosed, irrespective of fitness, weight gain , diet ect

You could try a herbal supplement called Chromium Picolinate this makes glucose be taken up quicker at cell level, obviously speak with your team first but I have found amazing results with this and when I am not training I take this as otherwise my insulin needs go up by about a third. I cannot take this before training as it makes my sugars come down way too fast. I have trained on and off over the years with and without the Chromium and it makes such a difference to my insulin requirements I really don't think it's a placebo and has been one of my keepers.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[AMBrennan]

t can therefore be a bit of a viscous cycle if you are having to inject large doses of insulin that then cause you to increase in weight which then increases your resistance etc.

I strongly suspect that that claim is false; insulin resistance means insulin isn't working any more i.e. can't move all exceeds glucose from the bloodstream into muscle and fat. If 1u of insulin lowered my BG by, say, 5 mmol/l then 1u moves about 5g glucose into cells. If I became insulin resistant and needed 10u to lower my BG by 5 mmol/l then 10u would still only move 5g of glucose into cells - how, exactly, should that lead to an increased weight gain?

 

[moonstone]

I think it's a lot more complicated than that.

 

[Fallenstar]

other Hormones in play :wink:

 

[Geri]

Hi, I found this thread very interesting as I have just posted on the thread concerning 'long term type 1s who have never needed intervention.'
I have had type 1 for 42 years and am also on Novorapid and Levemir. My total doe for all meals and nightime is 22 units.
I cycle abit but was on a similar dose when I drove everywhere too. I remember 1 summer when I was about 14 when I was just injecting 8 units per day, but Im obviously heavier than then.
It is strange that people need such different amounts, I carb watch and take approx 90 carbs per day. If I over do the insulin or give myself a top up after eating something naughty, I always get a hypo, I am also sensitive to insulin too.
It has been very interesting to hear the amounts of insulin other people take, quite a mystery I think.