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Changes in insulin requirements

C

Catlin

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone!
I've got type 1 diabetes for 20 years.
I gave birth to my son 4 years ago and then I was advised to start using contraceptive implant which messed up with my mental health and I took it out 9 month later. Then I tried different pills but they had an impact on my sugar levels. My dosages changed all the time and I didn't know it was connected to the pills I was using. But when i started attending DAFNE course diabetic nurse noticed that my sugar levels were erratic and she was the one who said that it was contraceptive pills causing it. I stopped using them and a few months later everything went back to normal. I had my pre-pregnancy dosages of Levemir which was 6 units in the morning and 6 units in the evening. But then it started all over again. Levemir dosages were changing from 3 to 20 units. I could have the same dosage for only 3-4 days and then I needed to change it. I spoke to my consultant a few times about it but he said it's normal for people with diabetes experience these changes in insulin requirements sometimes. The thing is I'm not in control of them and I can't predict when it's going to change again.
Maybe someone had this problem and know how to fix it.
I think that somehow all that contraceptive pills messed up with my hormones. My consultant doesn't support this idea but I can't think of anything else that could affect my sugar levels in this way.
Thank you for any ideas
 
Hi have you read the leaflet that comes in your medication box , I have just opened a new box of novorapid and on the leaflet under side effects that can make your blood rise is oral contraception maybe your medication may have the same effect ?
 
It's true, we do experience a change in requirements many tines throughout the year, seasons changing, added stresses, illness, the list is endless really, we aren't in control when that happens but you just have to work on spotting the pattern and adjusting where needed, you have a slight benefit being on a split basal where effects are more instant whereas I'm on Tresiba where any adjustments take at least 3 days to have an effect

Do you keep logs of your BG's? If you do then I'd suggest you go through them all seeing if there is a pattern you can spot
xx
 
Lilylala said:
Hi have you read the leaflet that comes in your medication box , I have just opened a new box of novorapid and on the leaflet under side effects that can make your blood rise is oral contraception maybe your medication may have the same effect ?
Click to expand...
The thing is it happens even when I'm not taking any medication
 
kaylz91 said:
It's true, we do experience a change in requirements many tines throughout the year, seasons changing, added stresses, illness, the list is endless really, we aren't in control when that happens but you just have to work on spotting the pattern and adjusting where needed, you have a slight benefit being on a split basal where effects are more instant whereas I'm on Tresiba where any adjustments take at least 3 days to have an effect

Do you keep logs of your BG's? If you do then I'd suggest you go through them all seeing if there is a pattern you can spot
xx
Click to expand...

Thank you for your answer.
There's no pattern and it's the biggest problem. The dosage of levemir needs to be changed every 4-5 days I would say. The last few weeks weren't that bad as it's going up and down between 11-15 units in the morning and 7-9 in the evening. But sometimes I start with 7 units in the morning and in 2 week time I inject 20 units.
 
Have you done a basal test? Asked your team if you could try a different insulin?

Most on Levemir can adjust with instant effect if they have had more exercise 1 day for example though as it is one of the more flexible basals on the market
xx
 
kaylz91 said:
Have you done a basal test? Asked your team if you could try a different insulin?

Most on Levemir can adjust with instant effect if they have had more exercise 1 day for example though as it is one of the more flexible basals on the market
xx
Click to expand...
Yes, I was offered Tresiba but I think in my situation Levemir is better option.
I've done basal test many times, actually the last one was just a few days ago. Plus I'm using Freestyle libre which helps a lot
 
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