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Constant HIGH Sugars Driving me insane

livharriet

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
So im 22 had diabetes since i was 7, and its been a constant battle of fits in the night to running highs for no reason what so ever
ive been on the pump - no luck tried every insulin available and it still hasnt improved
i dont eat sugary foods, i take all my injections and 0 effect. im sick of it i now fear that i will get more complications later in life! i take thyroxine also

Im needing help !!! i constantly feel ******, for example i go to bed with a blood of 9 have my basal injection wake up on 20!! altered it and no change

injections have become so painful too i have no idea why & my doctors are useless!

Please can someone give me some tips!!! Im desperate
 
@livharriet I assume you Basal/bolus you insulin and carb count? if so go back to basics, start really counting carbs not just guessing, weigh your food and work it out, re-check you ratios too.

Have you thought about doing LCHF? or at least cutting down your carb intake for a bit.

Do you change your injection site frequently? You could be having insulin absorption problems causing the fluctuations.

Is the thyroxine doing it's job?

Keep your chin up! (does wonders for BS control!)
 
@slip what's LCHF? And tbh I don't eat much, no bfast no snacks just lunch and dinner..I do change my injection sites yes I'm allergic to needles so it's agony! And this will sound daft but I think my body gets used to the insulin then rejects it as it's always really good for about 3 months on a new insulin then I get highs and sore!
Thyroid was tested ok yeah,
@noblehead I'm at hospital clinic but they honestly are the worst! I know more than them they never suggest anything to help they ask me what I want. Last time I said can I try the tablets that type 2 take as I'm at my last straw..they said yes, also the basal I am on mixed with thyroxine is apparently a no go according to google asked my nurse she was like oh I don't know and nothing else was said!
 
@livharriet, no experience of thyroxine and what effect it has on diabetes control, but the type 2 drug you mention is likely to be Metformin, some type 1's on the forum use this drug when they encounter insulin resistance.

In your shoes I'd by-pass the nurse and ask to speak with a consultant or ask your gp if you can move hospitals to get a better diabetes care team, in the mean-time start with some basal testing and once you get that sorted you can then look at things like your insulin-to-carb ratio's & diet., I'm assuming because you've been on a pump before your well aware of basal testing, correction doses and I:C ratio's, just go through it all again and come back if you come unstuck.
 
I know what you mean, i feel the same, although i have to admit i do eat quite a few carbs, last night for example, i had 100g pasta, took 11 insulin as that's what it worked out at, went low about 2 hours after, so had something (not too much) 1 hour later was normal, then another 2 hours later before i went to bed i was 11 (not too too bad but i want it better!), so had 2 units to bring it down (supposedly) to around 7, wake up this morning and its 10.6, its like well that worked didnt it - not!

Im guessing for me its the pasta i ate that caused a slowly rising reaction. Have you thought if you are taking too much slow acting causing your liver to react? Sorry im not much help, but i just totally understand your frustration, i feel like giving up at the moment but trying to be strong, good luck!
 
@Lozj82 omg that's crazy!! I'd never have more than 6 units of insulin I'm also sensitive to insulin haha more problems! well I went to bed on 8 woke up at 20!? No idea why or how
 
@livharriet The body is a complicated thing (i dont think extra hormones help either!). The theory is so simple, eat this, take this and you will be fine, not so and it frustrates the hell out of me lol. I can eat the same thing for 2 days and have completely different readings - how can that be!!!! Sorry....getting stressed (something else that doesnt help,a no win situation lol)
 
@noblehead that is the consultant too! No input what so ever

Start with the basics then as mention earlier, it pays to get the basal dose right above all else.

@Lozj82, with pasta (especially when it's combined with a high-fat intake) sometimes means people need to split-dose their insulin to avoid the postprandial hypo and the slow rise in bg levels several hours later, I had to do this on MDI and still do using a insulin pump.
 
Hi Liv,

I've just undergone a few months of high BG which was very frustrating, however I believe my experience was down to a tooth infection. I had a bit of pain on a tooth which only happened for a week before I went to the dentist, had root canal work done and my BG has come back down to normal.

I've found from experience it's either infections, hormones/stress, miscalculating carbs, bad insulin or background not working.

There is a reason it's just finding out what - keep a diary to track your results too, this has helped me analyse my BG ratios and see patterns/trends more easily and it's easier then to discuss with your nurse/doc.

Let us know how you get on.
 
Hi. You mention you have foods with low sugar but do you also keep the carbs down in food; sugar is just naother carb. As others have said you possibly need to go back to basics. You say you are insulin sensitive yet say you inject more and more and it has little effect? Both can't be true. It sounds like your Basal may be too low? Ref the Thyroxine do ask your local pharmacist as they are the experts on drug conflicts.
 
I'm sensitive to novarapid yes if I was to have say 7 units for a big pasta I would go low! Also 1 unit brings my blood down by about 5 which for a 22 yr old isn't the norm
 
I also take thyroxine and wasnt aware of any interactions but if you do find out, would be nice to know :-)
 
@livharriet - your example of going low with pasta may be the exact same reason @Lozj82 goes low, too much insulin too early to cover the carbs. Pasta carb can have an affect 5-8hrs on (if not more!)

Do some basal testing and try a few days minimizing your carb intake, also do you have an injection device that does half units - if you are that sensitive you really need one.

@Juicyj good to hear you got to the bottom of your issues!
 
@livharriet, no experience of thyroxine and what effect it has on diabetes control, but the type 2 drug you mention is likely to be Metformin, some type 1's on the forum use this drug when they encounter insulin resistance.

In your shoes I'd by-pass the nurse and ask to speak with a consultant or ask your gp if you can move hospitals to get a better diabetes care team, in the mean-time start with some basal testing and once you get that sorted you can then look at things like your insulin-to-carb ratio's & diet., I'm assuming because you've been on a pump before your well aware of basal testing, correction doses and I:C ratio's, just go through it all again and come back if you come unstuck.

Hi livharriet

As what I'm about to say isn't a strictly T1 issue I feel I can comment... I really recommend finding a better care team because your health is so important and it sounds like you are having complex issues that need help from some really good HCPs.

As noblehead says, asking your GP for help is a good place to start. But if they aren't too bothered about helping or put obstacles in your way please do not give up. There has to be a way, and there are people on the forum who know how to change diabetic care teams and how to find info on who is good and who is not.
 
If you're going that high over night I would think you're on either too little long acting, or on too much which is sending you low in the night making your liver push out a load of glucose sending you really high afterwards. Probably the best way of finding out which is a couple of nights regular blood checking though the night. But of a pain to do but it would show you which way to go. Also do you rotate your injection sites? If your injections are hurting the site might need a rest...
 
Yes I rotate
Arms legs butt! Long lasting injections have always been a nightmare leaving me bruised and in agony
 
Which long acting do you use, I always got really nasty red welts with levamir lantus doesn't cause it though. Might also be worth getting smaller needles, which ones do you use? I'm on 5mm at the moment...
 
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