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Bit of a whinge and a question???

T

Trulee

Well-Known Member
Messages
96
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Have been diabetic for almost 20 years, originally Metformin (took longer than it should to diagnose so diet only wasn't an option), which was effective on its own for over eight years, then adding various other oral meds.

Had a heart attack 8 years ago, the long recovery didn't help the diabetes and I ended up on first Byetta and then insulin which I have been on now for just over three years (Novorapid and Levemir).

I have always been about 3 stone over 'perfect weight for my height) - between 12 and 13st, but 2 years ago tried the 5:2 diet with some success, especially losing quite a bit of 'tummy fat' which has always been my problem. A year ago I suffered a severe bout of food poisoning resulting in being in hospital for almost a month and was advised not to diet for at least 6 months whilst my body recoved.

I have managed to keep my weight reasonably under control even so, putting on about 7lbs altogether, but, no surprise, all 7lbs seems to have gone to my tummy and my last Hba1c has gone fro 7.5 to 8.6 and morning sugars seem to be ridiculously high at times, ranging from 7 to 15(!!) - needless to say clinic team not happy and want me to start increasing insulin.

Only problem is as soon as I increase the daily Levemir by even a couple of units (I was taking 28 units a day, now taking 30) I end up hypoing all over the place. I was taught by DN how to work out mealtime insulin (Novorapid) and am religious at working out the carbs in a meal so these are accurate, but still it happens.

Night-time (before bed) sugars are fine, so really don't quite know what's going wrong - any suggestions?
 
When are you taking levemir? All at night? I have heard it is very unpredictable. I am on lantus and cannot split doses or I hypo all day too. I take it before bed at 10:15 or at least 3 hours away from novolog. I know there are lots of people that split doses but having two insulins on board doesn't work for me. I like my basal to keep me steady, not drop or raise me and cover the food with novolog. I have much better control and don't hypo. Long way of asking if you take levemir at night or in the morning?

Are your dinners very high in protein or fat like pizza or big fatty steaks? Maybe your bs is rising later hence the high fastimg
 
I've been on levemir for three and a half years and have never sussed how it works! Was put on 34 units originally and was ok with that, albeit that I could never get low morning readings. Then I started getting night sweats and had a couple of hypos during the night. Had been slowly reducing my daytime insulin doses (novorapid) and having posted on here somebody suggested having a protein snack before I went to bed. Adjusted my levemir does as well and now finding that I'm not getting the hypos and that my morning readings are much better.
 
A little peanut butter on a celery stick before bed helps me. Do you think possibly you were taking too much insulin, hyping and the a liver dump?
 
Thank you all, will have a think about how I am using it. Always take the Levemir in the morning, but maybe will try and move it a bit later in the day and see what happens.

I don't like to eat before bed, even a small snack as I find I don' sleep well, but might have to give it another try.
 
david1968 said:
I've been on levemir for three and a half years and have never sussed how it works! Was put on 34 units originally and was ok with that, albeit that I could never get low morning readings. Then I started getting night sweats and had a couple of hypos during the night. Had been slowly reducing my daytime insulin doses (novorapid) and having posted on here somebody suggested having a protein snack before I went to bed. Adjusted my levemir does as well and now finding that I'm not getting the hypos and that my morning readings are much better.
Click to expand...

Can I ask when you take the Levemir David, and what sort of dose you are on now?

thanks
 
Trulee said:
Can I ask when you take the Levemir David, and what sort of dose you are on now?

thanks
Click to expand...

I usually take it just before I go to bed. Dose at the moment is 5 units and I normally have a Greek yogurt immediately after to try and avoid a liver dump during the night.

Readings the last few days have been as follows:

5.3 at 22:22, 6.6 at 05:21
5.1 at 22:16, 5.7 at 05:25
5.9 at 22:34, 6.2 at 04:39
6.3 at 22:29, 3.9 at 05:31
6.6 at 23:23, 6.8 at 08:18
5.2 at 23:00, 6.2 at 07:18
 
Hey, I've been diabetic nearly 20 years and I was on levemir before going on pump. But I used to split my levemir because of high doses and not good for sites.. (Mine are so bad) but I found I didn't have many hypos by splitting my doses. Maybe speak to your DSN about splitting the doses?


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