Have no idea what I'm doing

[smwsmw]

I’m shocked at the lack of professional support you are getting! I imagine they are starting you on less insulin than they think you will eventually need, in order to gradually and safely increase it. I am Type 1 and worked nights for ten years and that adds to the challenge - if you have not been referred to a Diabetes Nurse Specialist, rather than seeing nurse at GP, I suggest you request referral to one. You really need more support than you are currently receiving. Wishing you the best of luck with it all xxx
Oh, and with Novorapid, you don’t have to stick to strict mealtimes - you inject when you eat. When I was first diagnosed about a hundred years ago, I was on old long-acting insulins and had to eat at very set times, but not any more - there is a bit more flexibility with Lantus and Novorapid. Lantus given same time of day regardless of what else is going on.

 

[Vwvonnie]

VwVonnie - You will find that you can do anything if you have to. The only real problem with taking insulin is that you'll need to plan ahead and eat to a strict timetable.

I'm trying but I don't have a set time at work for a break could be anywhere between 11 and 4 in morning x

 

[Zilsniggy]

So I work nights and have lunch at around 2am I don't eat during day but have been told to do novarapid before food so do I take at night and not during day and Lantos at 8am
My nurse not at work today x

I am T2 like you and insulin dependent. Like you, I also work nightshift. I change my insulin regime when on nightshift as I eat during the night. I consider the meals I have as: breakfast(whatever I have when I get up, doesn't matter what time it is), then next meal as lunch, then next as dinner. So I take my novorapid with these meals. You will have to decide when to take your Lantus, but you need to take it, as it provides a background level of insulin which your pancreas isn't providing. You will need to check your blood sugar often as sometimes nightshift has strange effects on your sugars, I find I can become hypo quite easily in the early morning.

The other thing is what you are eating

If you stay with a high carb diet, the insulin you've been prescribed may not be enough to cover what you are eating. Perhaps keep a food diary foir a week and also record your blood sugars so that you can see how you react to what you are eating. It might also help to see blood sugar trends.

 

[Zilsniggy]

VwVonnie - You will find that you can do anything if you have to. The only real problem with taking insulin is that you'll need to plan ahead and eat to a strict timetable.

With newer insulins such as Novorapid, this isn't as much of a concern. Novorapid is a fast acting insulin and can be taken a half hour before food. Similarly Lantus provides a background amount of insulin which the pancreas isn't providing. Thank god strict timetables are no longer necessary!

 

[Zilsniggy]

I'm trying but I don't have a set time at work for a break could be anywhere between 11 and 4 in morning

Perhaps you need to have a chat with your employer regarding this.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I think we should consider that you are an insulin dependent diabetic.. it doesnt matter whether T1 or T2 at this stage.

Take insulin as directed. I take it you have a blood meter and a log/record book.

If you drive, make sure you test beforehand, before food and 2-3 hiyrs after food.

Try to initially keep to same sort of foods and keep records daily in your lig book what you have done/ate etc..

Most of all. You are an insulin deoendent diabetic and you need close monitoring and your dsn should be contacting you regularly to help you.

 

[Vwvonnie]

I am T2 like you and insulin dependent. Like you, I also work nightshift. I change my insulin regime when on nightshift as I eat during the night. I consider the meals I have as: breakfast(whatever I have when I get up, doesn't matter what time it is), then next meal as lunch, then next as dinner. So I take my novorapid with these meals. You will have to decide when to take your Lantus, but you need to take it, as it provides a background level of insulin which your pancreas isn't providing. You will need to check your blood sugar often as sometimes nightshift has strange effects on your sugars, I find I can become hypo quite easily in the early morning.

The other thing is what you are eating

If you stay with a high carb diet, the insulin you've been prescribed may not be enough to cover what you are eating. Perhaps keep a food diary foir a week and also record your blood sugars so that you can see how you react to what you are eating. It might also help to see blood sugar trends.

Thank you I'm trying to but I really can't eat before I goto work so only ear once a day/night I thought nurse said to take novarapid after food

 

[Zilsniggy]

Thank you I'm trying to but I really can't eat before I goto work so only ear once a day/night I thought nurse said to take novarapid after food

You arer normally told to take novorapid roughly half an hour prior to eating. Failing that, take it with food. I have trained myself to eat as soon as I wake, since I was like you and couldn't bring myself to eat when I woke.

It works, stops liver dumping when you leave it a while to eat.(And accompanying high sugars).

 

[Zilsniggy]

Previously type 2 on metformin and glicazide il be honest I really don't know what's going on

VwVonnie - You will find that you can do anything if you have to. The only real problem with taking insulin is that you'll need to plan ahead and eat to a strict timetable.

With faster acting insulins these days, that isn't an issue.

 

[Zilsniggy]

I didn't realise type 2 could be controlled with insulin blood sugar was 19.9 when I woke had insulin my once a day one it's now 23.8 I really don't know what to do as I work nights so I would of thought that it's better to take in evening I have novarapid to take 3 times a day but I don't eat during the day as I'm in bed im so confused x

Basically you don't eat during the day on nightshift, so you need to take your insulin during the night, when you eat. There's nothing to be confused about here. Your nurse should have asked if you work and how you manage with shifts, indeed what shifts you do, and given advice to suit. As you're awake during the night, you need to be taking your insulin then, when you're up and about, active and eating meals.
You should do some reading, google insulin response and you might find info relating to Lantus(basal insulin) and Novorapid(bolus insulin) and how they work They basically mimic your body's response to food, one being a background insulin which is there all the time(Lantus) the other being a faster response to food eaten(novorapid), mimicking your pancreas' normal response to food eaten (Phase 1 and 2 insulin responses).

 

[Zilsniggy]

I'm trying but I don't have a set time at work for a break could be anywhere between 11 and 4 in morning x

You need to take your insulin when you eat, it doesn't really matter what time, you don't need to pplan meals ahead now, that advice relates to old fashioned insulin dosage, not novorapid.