Insulin need is getting more and more am concerned!!

[JConnor]

Hi all before christmas i was managing well on 4-5 units of Nova rapid with meals, in total i take 36 units of lantus a day.
All of a sudden my need for insulin has increased, i am now on 15 units with each meal and 2 hours after meal i am still 16-18. i dont know whats causing it or what to do, seems a really high figure and am getting worried.
Dont want to end up with DKA again only started 15 units out of sheer desperation, at the time was taking 8 and got so fed up with high figures, decided was bringing my levels down and didnt care if resulted in hypo (which it didn't in end) have been taking 15 units for last week now
Any advice would be really appreciated as way im feeling next number ill pick out of thin air will be 30

 

[Davears]

hi J, I too went threw this a few year's ago! firstly is your insulin one of the mixed range, or is it fast acting only? I found when on the mixed I was never getting enough of the fast in the mix so was ending up with high BS. Changing insulin helped solve it in part. secondly have you tried going for a brisk walk, about half hour to an hour after eatting. youll find if you do youll burn off more of the carbs in your system, this should result in lower BS levels.

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[l0vaduck]

Hi all before christmas i was managing well on 4-5 units of Nova rapid with meals, in total i take 36 units of lantus a day.
All of a sudden my need for insulin has increased, i am now on 15 units with each meal and 2 hours after meal i am still 16-18. i dont know whats causing it or what to do, seems a really high figure and am getting worried.
Dont want to end up with DKA again only started 15 units out of sheer desperation, at the time was taking 8 and got so fed up with high figures, decided was bringing my levels down and didnt care if resulted in hypo (which it didn't in end) have been taking 15 units for last week now
Any advice would be really appreciated as way im feeling next number ill pick out of thin air will be 30

Is it possible that your insulin has gone off? It can lose potency if it does. It might be either your Lantus or your Novorapid. Also have you changed your injection sites? This could explain a change in absorption - if you have, the new sites may be less absorbent, or if you haven't, you might have some scar tissue reducing absorption. Another possibility is an infection of some sort.

Do you count carbs in meals? If not maybe you're eating more carbs without realising it.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Many people dont actually believe they eat more over christmas... But they do.... So be aware that you will prob be one of the 80% of us that eat more... But may think we arent!!!

Cheistmas is also a strange time for holidays, families, stress, fun, alchohol etc..... All will have an impact on you.. And your D.

Dont rush in to thinking ... Needing more.. Something wrong.. Etc......

I say this because since going in to my pump... I know ilI will need to bump up all my basal rates before and after xmas so they run at 250%!!! And I never hideously binge or go ott on food.. But xmas.. Yes, i have my bittle of drambuiee!!! And I do eat more.. Normally I dont have roasties.. But xmas.... Yes, i have roast potatos, roast parsnips, sausagemeat, stuffing, pigs in blankets... The lot.....carb wise not actually too much excess... But fat content wise... Hideous... This slows down everything in me... I dont do my job gardening.. And I need hugely more insulin...

Dont be worried about the qty of insulin... Sorry to say.. I would recommend that you take whatever insulin you need to keep your bloods under control.... Far better to take what you need .. Or to low carb etc.. But whatever you do... Dont worry sbout qty of insulin.. All our bodies are different.. Our needs are different etc... You tale what your body needs.... You will slways have to adjust as you move through life.. But initially I certainly wouldnt worry at this time of year on my insulin needs going up...

 

[JConnor]

I only changed insulin pens on Friday so don't think it that, threw last one away wondering if it wasn't working fully. I alway so a test before every injection and insulin coming out. I continually switch between thigh and stomach.
I haven't done carb counting course yet and not rely gad any diabetic nurse support as such.
Think I am going to have to see GP tomorrow as just don't know what to do, as of today I'm putting it up to 20 with each meal maybe 25 tomorrow just don't know what to do. Anymore

 

[spats]

Early days yet. Your body needs to adapt to the changes.!! I've just been on insulin full time a year now
I had been given quite a good regime of going up or down 2 units as needed after 4 days that need change. But now alter as I think needed every day. With this I settled to comfortable readings fairly quickly, and can change as I pick up colds have surgery and the such without getting worked up as to my doses!!
Stress builds up need , female hormonal changes alter need and I presume you may have the responsibility of children having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Christmas is only days away, also new year holiday!! give yourself a chance.Maybe keep an activity diary to see what changes your insulin needs so you can learn to predict what to do. A helpful web site I found talked about keeping a balance of half body need as Lantus, and the other as meal time short acting in divided doses. You don't say, but are you on any diabetes tablets such as Metformin which are said to help with insulin management?
Hope you have a useful meeting with GP . A great shame you lack any professional support in these early days.

 

[Ambersilva]

I I continually switch between thigh and stomach.

I was recommended to inject Lantus, the slow, long acting insulin in the thigh and to inject the fast acting meal time insulin around the stomach area.

The theory is that the fast acting insulin gets to where it is needed faster when injected around the stomach area to deal with food intake. And the slower acting Lantus which has no peak action works slowly to maintain a steady level in the background over 24 hours.

 

[SamJB]

Sounds like your not giving enough long acting insulin to me and that you are topping up with Novorapid. Are you sure that it is correct?

 

[bethan90]

Have you been feeling poorly lately? Like the flu or something? I always get this sort of thing a week or two before/during illness and times of stress

 

[AMBrennan]

secondly have you tried going for a brisk walk, about half hour to an hour after eatting. youll find if you do youll burn off more of the carbs in your system, this should result in lower BS levels

(Some types of) Exercise increases the effectiveness of insulin, so that might work. I am not entirely sure if it would be a significant improvement over taking more insulin though.

way im feeling next number ill pick out of thin air will be 30

Well, don't. Unfortunately, your doctor can't do any more than follow the standard algorithm: If fasting BG is high/low then increase/decrease basal insulin by 10%ish every 3 days; if postprandial BG is high/low then increase/decrease fast-acting insulin by 10%ish.
So don't increase your dose by more than 2u per day.
This excerpt from the Greater Glasgow and Clyde's handbook has more details (it is written for kids but still applies - apparently, adults don't need easily readable flowcharts).

 

[JConnor]

Will try using stomach for Nova Rapid see if that has any effect.
@spats, am only on insulin have no idea which ones i should be changing when. I have my first proper appointment with DSN at the new hospital on 1st Feb. So frustrating as even after DKA had no support from anyone.
half of time i dont know if im coming or going, dont seem to have any real control continually playing catch up.
Hopefully soon someone will start giving me proper support

 

[Davears]

more insulin is one way, yet exercise is also important and beneficial. the reasons for this are- your body stores insulin in body fat, so if you exercise youll burn off fat and release insulin (dont think its much) yet the cobination of exercise and that little extra insulin thats release will be of help.

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[Ambersilva]

Davears wrote,
"more insulin is one way, yet exercise is also important and beneficial. the reasons for this are- your body stores insulin in body fat, so if you exercise youll burn off fat and release insulin (dont think its much) yet the cobination of exercise and that little extra insulin thats release will be of help"

Is that so? That's new to me. I thought that insulin transports glucose to the cells to be stored as energy. Insulin itself is not stored in the fat. Insulin enables the energy in the cells be used for the body to function. A combination of fast and long acting insulin helps the user to achieve an insulin profile that mimics that of a body´s own insulin release.

 

[Davears]

it is so yes 100% fact! why do people who have constant high BS lose weight? because the body burns off fat looking for insulin. yes insulin is dedigned to do what you suggest, yet unused insulin, or insulin thats been in your blood stream forvto long is stored in fat cell's. feel free to ask your doctors

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[AMBrennan]

why do people who have constant high BS lose weight?

Because you pee out calories in form of sugar - mellitus means "honey-sweet" :sick:

Maybe it's you that should have another chat with a doctor.

 

[Davears]

the information is correct, it was given to me in my teen years by one of the countrys top diabetic specialist!

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[SamJB]

I'm not convinced that's correct Davears. Can you point us towards your source for that? I.e. link to a journal paper, website etc.

 

[Davears]

I cant - this information was given to me by Dr Price, who was head of diabetes at great almond street hospital during the late 80s early 90s. he may well still be there, yet its been a kong time since I last visit that particular clinic. im sure any doctor will confirm that your body stores insulin in fat cell's though...

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[Davears]

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/h ... -cell2.htm
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[Davears]

just googled the above...and theres many more sites that mention this!

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