Any one with type one diabetes and insulin resistance?

[lma89]

I currently take around 140 ish units of insulin per day 80 are basal doses I take 40 in a morning and 40 at bed time the rest are bolus and correction doses because I cannot get a hold of my sugar levels atall. It's been creeping slowly up for the past month, and my body is demanding more
I am going to my doctors tomorrow to put this to him because 6 months ago I finished a course of steroids for a virus I had that left me in extreme pain. Before then my insulin was low and hba1c was spot on. Obviously with the steroids my insulin rocketed I am now on more than I was when I was taking steroids. The insulin needs did settle slightly after the steroids stopped but I haven't been able to go back down to my dose before steroid. Now I cannot satisfy my blood sugar atall. I am beyond exhausted I cannot sleep Im over checking my sugars. So, does any one else have this problem or have been diagnosed with it, if so what's the treatment I've heard about metformin but I thought that was just type two, also I remember a type one diabetic friend mention once she had to take extra injection that makes her cells open up to absorb insulin
Just so I know what to expect and can go armed with appropriate questions to get myself sorted sooner than later

 

[TorqPenderloin]

Can't say I have the same problem, but many on here do.

Just curious, aside from insulin, what else are you doing to help regulate your blood sugar? I'm not suggesting that you don't need additional medication, but there are other approaches to combatting insulin resistance.

 

[Flakey Bake]

Hi, Yes I take metformin in addition to lantus and novorapid. I am type 1, but probably also type 2 too. I found metafomin helpful. Like you my insulin requirement were rising faster than I could calculate increases and keep up. (about 100 units a day). The metformin has stopped the rise and also asllowed me to keep a reasonably stable weight for the first time since starting insulin (about 3 years ago). I do occasionally suffer a few unpleasent side effects (wind and acid indigestion), but on the whole the benefits outweighs the costs in my case. Many people cannot tolerate it, but start slowly with low doses and expect a settling in period of a several weeks. Also only take them towards the end of a meal, this massively reduces side-effects. The big difference in positive effect came from increasing my dose from 1g a day (2 tablets of standard release metformin) to 2 g. Some people take a slow release version and find the side effect are reduced.Staying acive and moderate excercise is also very beneficial for me for reducing insulin resistnce. Best of luck

 

[lma89]

I'm on my feet constantly at work moving about my **** food intake has reduced alot since I moved out and got my own place due to tendinitis in my heel made worse by standing all day when I get home any other activity apart from house work is the last thing on my mind

 

[noblehead]

@lma89 , if your not under the care of a hospital diabetes consultant then you should ask your gp for a referral over, they are more experienced at dealing with complex issues to do with type 1 diabetes and will look at your overall insulin usage and make suggestions on how to reduce it.

 

[lma89]

Yeah I use both, once yearly as I have had no problems and local community nurse for 3 monthly bloods. I am seeing community nurse tomorrow and again Tuesday for bloods, with specialist on 9th Feb couldn't get in any earlier. Will change to levemir to see if it's just allergic reaction to humulin I currently cannot sleep more than 3 hours a night and I break out in hives which neither happened before being moved onto humulin. I hope it's just the insulin not agreeing with me and nothing more

 

[YorkshireAli]

Yes, I'm insulin resistant and take Metformin along with Lamtus and Humalog. I've been on Metformin for about eighteen months, since I changed to a new diabetic consultant and he said I was T1 and insulin resistant (as is common, apparently, where there's a history of T1 in the family).

At that time, I was eating the well plate food things - plenty of carbs, among other things - and was injecting a total of about 100 units a day combined. And, not surprisingly, had put on quite a bit of weight over the previous few years. I just couldn't get on top of things and was at my wits' end. He suggested Metformin to help me become more insulin sensitive, and recommended the LCHF way of eating. It was a revelation. My blood sugars came down to more normal levels almost immediately, and the amount of insulin (the Humalog) went down from about 60+ units a day to about 10-15. And of course I felt a lot better, physically, and from feeling like I was in control more. I lost quite a bit of weight at first, and although the rate has slowed down since, it's still on the downward trend.

I didn't get on with the Metformin I was originally prescribed, but changed to the slow release version, and haven't had any problems with that.
​

 

[LucySW]

@yingtong is a very long-time Type 1 who has used Metformin in addition to insulin w great success for a long long time. See what he has to say?

 

[LucySW]

Yes, I'm insulin resistant and take Metformin along with Lamtus and Humalog. I've been on Metformin for about eighteen months, since I changed to a new diabetic consultant and he said I was T1 and insulin resistant (as is common, apparently, where there's a history of T1 in the family).

At that time, I was eating the well plate food things - plenty of carbs, among other things - and was injecting a total of about 100 units a day combined. And, not surprisingly, had put on quite a bit of weight over the previous few years. I just couldn't get on top of things and was at my wits' end. He suggested Metformin to help me become more insulin sensitive, and recommended the LCHF way of eating. It was a revelation. My blood sugars came down to more normal levels almost immediately, and the amount of insulin (the Humalog) went down from about 60+ units a day to about 10-15. And of course I felt a lot better, physically, and from feeling like I was in control more. I lost quite a bit of weight at first, and although the rate has slowed down since, it's still on the downward trend.

I didn't get on with the Metformin I was originally prescribed, but changed to the slow release version, and haven't had any problems with that.
​

@YorkshireAli's way, Metformin plus LCHF-ing, sounds completely logical. What we're talking about is lowering insulin resistance / increasing sensitivity, after all. An additional technique to explore is intermittent fasting. It may sound horrid, but I don't think it is. Have a good read through the Jason Fung site and see if some of his programme might suit you. (It works for me.) One can start gently by not eating late, then work up to just skipping either breakfast or lunch, and above all not snacking. The idea is that the body's insulin thermostat (homeostat, technically, I suppose) gets a chance to reset itself, so insulin levels drop back.

Have a look and see what you think.

https://intensivedietarymanagement.com/blog/

 

[naomi clem]

I currently take around 140 ish units of insulin per day 80 are basal doses I take 40 in a morning and 40 at bed time the rest are bolus and correction doses because I cannot get a hold of my sugar levels atall. It's been creeping slowly up for the past month, and my body is demanding more
I am going to my doctors tomorrow to put this to him because 6 months ago I finished a course of steroids for a virus I had that left me in extreme pain. Before then my insulin was low and hba1c was spot on. Obviously with the steroids my insulin rocketed I am now on more than I was when I was taking steroids. The insulin needs did settle slightly after the steroids stopped but I haven't been able to go back down to my dose before steroid. Now I cannot satisfy my blood sugar atall. I am beyond exhausted I cannot sleep Im over checking my sugars. So, does any one else have this problem or have been diagnosed with it, if so what's the treatment I've heard about metformin but I thought that was just type two, also I remember a type one diabetic friend mention once she had to take extra injection that makes her cells open up to absorb insulin
Just so I know what to expect and can go armed with appropriate questions to get myself sorted sooner than later

i have sever type 1 with sever insulin resistance im now on a pump useing u500 insulin with all the other meads all my bloods were up in the 25 and abouve befor i started on the pump and yes u500 is 5 x stronger than normal insulin

 

[lma89]

Changed to levemir today first injection will be tonight with a lower dose just incase it is humulin causing these problems also full blood count done let's see. Thanks for all your comments they are very helpful

 

[SamJB]

Sounds like you know it already, but some steroids are well known to increase insulin resistance.

There are two things that can bring it down. The first is exercise. Exercise brings extra insulin receptors to your cells' surface, meaning you need less insulin per gram of glucose. Hence your insulin sensitivity improves.

Secondly, I've shifted a load of weight recently trying to get into shape for my honeymoon. My insulin sensitivity has almost doubled. I've gone from 1 unit of Novorapid per 6 g carbs, to 1 unit per 10g. Apparently, it's internal body fat, the stuff around organs that has the largest affect on insulin sensitivity.

 

[lma89]

Yes I just wonder if it has left me with some insulin resistance I have been off them 6 months now I wonder if it's to do with fat around organs but obviously the amount of insulin I take isn't helping nurse did suggest if this new insulin doesn't make a difference to consider talking to a specialist for a course of metformin to help give the fat a push. Oh it's a never ending job. Day off please!

 

[RuthW]

Exercise is the only thing that reduces insulin resistance. Metformin mops up excess glucose and carries it out of your body. Your insulin resistance is in some sense "unnatural" in that it is induced by steroids so I don't know exactly how much exercise will help. Losing weight and exercise are the only two "natural" remedies. Maybe combining them with Metformin may be your solution.

 

[lma89]

2nd day of levemir and I'm taking 15 units before bed and 10 units am with steady readings through the day just need some slight adjusting but will do that on a day off work just incase, I can only blame the insulin I've gone from 40 units am and 40+ pm I am full of cold now so I expect it to reduce when I shift it

 

[SteveGladden]

Not sure if this any help? I have been type 1 for 53 years and too have found that sensitivity has reduced, I have been on Metformin for about 4 years or so, it does work (reduce dosage of actrapid) but it's definitely not an exact science with me. I find that sensitivity through the day varies, morning particularly where at the moment I don't even give myself any Actrapid, but boost the Lantus dose. My advice for spiralling doses, would be just cut back, stop eating excessively try to manage high blood sugars by additional bolus (very small doses, for obvious reasons), once you have an idea about direction of travel of your sugars, work out your unit/carb ratio and remember that the whole thing is dynamic and subject to change. I have always struggled with trying to be on top of it, but hba1c's are good so that is good enough. Another helpful matter is one of exercise and keeping on top of weight, fats in the body will always make a difference to sensitivity.