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Blood sugar frustrations

annapanna93

annapanna93

Well-Known Member
Messages
54
Location
Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

I am at my wits end and I don't know what to do.

My blood sugars are hardly in target anymore and I can't get them to come down and I just don't understand why.

I've increased my Lantus steadily - I'm now 6 units more than I used to be and it's doing nothing. My bloods won't decrease, I put it in hours ago and I'm still around 8.

I'm also incredibly drained, I look exhausted all the time and my face feels really puffy and my eyes really small.

Is it because I'm home all day isolating?
I just can't figure it out.

Any type of help would be so appreciated xxx
 
Hi @annapanna, sorry you’re having a hard time. Have you contacted your GP, Consultant or DSN yet?
A few thoughts:
Are you doing less physically and thus need more insulin?
Have you done a basal test?
Are you increasing your bolus as well as your basal?
Is your Lantus, and your bolus insulin, in date?
Could you have a non-T1 related bug or infection that’s affecting your insulin levels?
Could you be pregnant?
Have you been using Lantus for a long time? (Some people can build up a resistance to a particular insulin)
Are you eating more during lockdown?

Hope your medical team will be able to offer some solutions; we can’t tell you how to solve this problem, but maybe my questions will help?
 
becca59 said:
So Lantus is your basal and should just keep you steady. Which bolus are you on? Do you have correction doses?
Click to expand...

Apidra. At the minute I'm not finding any of them particularly effective.

I do and they still refuse to budge. I just don't understand what's going wrong

Thank you so much for your reply xx
 
Fairygodmother said:
Hi @annapanna, sorry you’re having a hard time. Have you contacted your GP, Consultant or DSN yet?
A few thoughts:
Are you doing less physically and thus need more insulin?
Have you done a basal test?
Are you increasing your bolus as well as your basal?
Is your Lantus, and your bolus insulin, in date?
Could you have a non-T1 related bug or infection that’s affecting your insulin levels?
Could you be pregnant?
Have you been using Lantus for a long time? (Some people can build up a resistance to a particular insulin)
Are you eating more during lockdown?

Hope your medical team will be able to offer some solutions; we can’t tell you how to solve this problem, but maybe my questions will help?
Click to expand...

I'm definitely doing a lot less. I work in a restaurant so am usually on my feet/walking around 10-12 hours a day. Being in isolation has meant a lot of sitting around & slight weight gain despite not eating any more than usual.

I think I will have to try a basal test to see if that helps. I've been on both Lantus & Apidra for three years now, and often feel like my Apidra isn't doing much.

I haven't rang my endocrinologist as she has moved onto a Covid ward, but maybe a nurse would be able to help.

Thank you so much for your reply xxx
 
annapanna93 said:
I'm also incredibly drained, I look exhausted all the time and my face feels really puffy and my eyes really small.
Click to expand...

I think you should talk to your doctor. Blood sugars are notorious for rising and being hard to control when you are ill.

Otherwise, check out @Fairygodmother 's suggestions, since she seems to have covered a lot of the possibilities.

Only one more thought. Has your weight gone up during lockdown? If so, that could be causing increased insulin resistance....
 
EllieM said:
I think you should talk to your doctor. Blood sugars are notorious for rising and being hard to control when you are ill.

Otherwise, check out @Fairygodmother 's suggestions, since she seems to have covered a lot of the possibilities.

Only one more thought. Has your weight gone up during lockdown? If so, that could be causing increased insulin resistance....
Click to expand...

Yeah my weight seems to be up a few kilos which isn't helping the way I feel for sure.

Thank you for your reply xxx
 
I've had 10 units of Apidra and it just won't move
 

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annapanna93 said:
About an hour ago and my blood has since risen to 12

Thank you for replying xxx
Click to expand...
I'd give it a bit longer, and I echo the other replies you've had: Is your Lantus still in date or has it been kept out of the fridge for too long? Can it be you have some illness brewing?
Have you eaten anything in the last hours?
 
Antje77 said:
I'd give it a bit longer, and I echo the other replies you've had: Is your Lantus still in date or has it been kept out of the fridge for too long? Can it be you have some illness brewing?
Have you eaten anything in the last hours?
Click to expand...

It's a fairly new pen, so hopefully that's not the problem.

I'm hoping it's not an illness coming, with everything going on that makes me nervous
 
Hi,
Sorry to hear how you're feeling. Are you able to do some exercise? I too usually work on my feet most of the day so when I was instead working at a desk and laptop really noticed my ratios needing to go up. Even just some gentle yoga seemed to help increase my sensitivity again. I was quite shocked by that!

Lots of fab suggestions above too.
Perhaps an email to your diabetes team would help if you don't feel you can ring? Then it can be passed on or responded to when is convenient for them if you say your consultant has been moved to a covid ward? There will be someone able to help, take care in the mean time, I hope you feel better soon!
 
Last edited:
UK T1 said:
Hi,
Sorry to hear how you're feeling. Are you able to do some exercise? I too usually work on my feet most of the day so when I was instead working at a desk and laptop really noticed my ratios needing to go up. Even just some gentle yoga seemed to help increase my sensitivity again. I was quite shocked by that!

Lots of fab suggestions above too.
Perhaps an email to your diabetes team would help if you dont feel you can ring? Then it can be passed on or responded to when is convenient for them if you say your consultant has been moved to a covid ward? There will be someone able to help, take care in the mean time, I hope you feel better soon!
Click to expand...

Thank you so much

When do you usually exercise? And do you do it at the same time every day? Xx
 
No worries!

I'm not one for routines... sorry! Usually something relaxed in the morning any time before 10ish then something more aerobic after work but it really depends and I'm not great at being strict enough to do something every day either I must admit!

Hope you manage to get through to your diabetes team!
 
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