Help!

[sue1309]

I have T2 diabetes and would like some help or advice please. My blood reading is usually 4-5 before meals. 4 hours later it can be the same or just a little higher. I inject Lantus at night - currently 80 - 100 units. When I get up in the morning my fasting bloods can be 10!! What's happening? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[pavlosn]

Probably due to Dawn phenomenon ; the liver releasing glucose into the blood stream to set you up for the day's increased energy needs.

If you are not on metformin then going on this might help as it suppresses liver from releasing glucose.

Although I am not on insulin and know little about it, splitting you dose in two and taking some in the morning may help. If you take it all at night you go lower overnight and the liver will be more likely to respond to raise your levels in the morning.

Hopefully someone with more relevant experience such as @noblehead will be along soon to advise further.

Pavlos

 

[sue1309]

Probably due to Dawn phenomenon ; the liver releasing glucose into the blood stream to set you up for the day's increased energy needs.

If you are not on metformin then going on this might help as it suppresses liver from releasing glucose.

Although I am not on insulin and know little about it, splitting you dose in two and taking some in the morning may help. If you take it all at night you go lower overnight and the liver will be more likely to respond to raise your levels in the morning.

Hopefully someone with more relevant experience such as @nobblehead will be along soon to advise further.

Pavlos

Thanks Pavlos, I can't take Metformin, my stomach just won't accept it!! But I will certainly split my insulin into 2 doses and see what happens. Thanks again SUE XX

 

[Cloudlesssky]

Hi there,
Not being an expert, but should you not check with your doctor or diabetic nurse before changing how you take your insulin?
Just a thought!
Good wishes,
BeeGee

 

[pavlosn]

Hi there,
Not being an expert, but should you not check with your doctor or diabetic nurse before changing how you take your insulin?
Just a thought!
Good wishes,
BeeGee

@sue1309

I tend to agree with @BeeGee.


I would hate you to act on my advise on a matter regarding insulin, without checking with someone more qualified first. I really have no experience with insulin. All I gave you was an educated guess!

Pavlos

 

[AndBreathe]

I have T2 diabetes and would like some help or advice please. My blood reading is usually 4-5 before meals. 4 hours later it can be the same or just a little higher. I inject Lantus at night - currently 80 - 100 units. When I get up in the morning my fasting bloods can be 10!! What's happening? Am I doing something wrong?

Sorry Sue, I can't profess any degree of understanding of the finer details of insulin, but that seems like a hefty old dose of insulin, all in on hit.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along and make a meaningful comment.

 

[Cloudlesssky]

And yes, I really do understand about the body not happily tolerating Metformin!

 

[AndBreathe]

Just to clarify, my last post sat for a while before I posted, so should be read in the context of no existing replies, as was the case when I wrote it. (Not suggesting anyone else's replies are "not worthy".)

 

[Cloudlesssky]

Love it, AndBreathe - that's just how misunderstandings can happen, isn't it?!
Difference is, I know I'm not at all knowledgeable yet, so couldn't possibly take any offence from your comment!!!
Good to say "hello"!
Take care
Bee Gee

 

[pavlosn]

Just to clarify, my last post sat for a while before I posted, so should be read in the context of no existing replies, as was the case when I wrote it. (Not suggesting anyone else's replies are "not worthy".)

If referring to my own advice, do not concern yourself about hurting my feelings, I admit that I know little about insulin treatment.

 

[pavlosn]

Love it, AndBreathe - that's just how misunderstandings can happen, isn't it?!
Difference is, I know I'm not at all knowledgeable yet, so couldn't possibly take any offence from your comment!!!
Good to say "hello"!
Take care
Bee Gee

Considering that you only advised caution before acting to change the way insulin is taken on the sole advice of someone, me in this case, who qualified his advice by clearly stating that he has little experience or knowledge of insulin treatment, I would say that your comment is very sensible.

I only made my own comment as food for thought and a precursor for comment from someone with more relevant experience, as I thought I made clear.

 

[sue1309]

Thank you all....but my nurse practitioner has previously suggested that I split my Lantus into 2 doses, so pavlosn your advice was spot on hun!!!
Yes, it is a large dose, but it's what I'm used to taking....it used to be a lot higher!!!!

 

[pavlosn]

@sue1309

So glad you came back to post your update.

I was worrying myself silly that I had posted something that sort of sounded sensible to me without having any expertise about it, and you had rushed to put it into practice without checking first with someone more qualified.

I should have trusted your judgement more.

I hope it proves more than a sensible idea and actually does the trick of giving you more steady glucose levels.

All the best

Pavlos

 

[sue1309]

@sue1309

So glad you came back to post your update.

I was worrying myself silly that I had posted something that sort of sounded sensible to me without having any expertise about it, and you had rushed to put it into practice without checking first with someone more qualified.

I should have trusted your judgement more.

I hope it proves more than a sensible idea and actually does the trick of giving you more steady glucose levels.

All the best

Pavlos

Thanks....so do I!! Please don't worry, I'm not one of these people that rush in without thinking first.....gave half a dose last night, and along with Gliclazide my BM was 5.8 this morning!! Took blood about 1.55pm...5.5!! Had a couple of toasted pikelets for my lunch, we'll just have to wait and see.....

 

[Daibell]

Hi. That's a very high Lantus dose. Can you let us know your BMI as I suspect you may have excess weight? If so, it is essential to reduce that by low-carbing. Having insulin with excess weight can result in a vicious circle due to insulin resistance. I may have guessed wrong but let us know what your diet is.

 

[sue1309]

My BMI is around 43. I follow a low carb diet and have done for about 3 years now but nothing seems to help. As I'm disabled I'm unable to exercise...I also have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis and in constant chronic pain. Diabetes is the least of my problems at the moment. Simply getting up in the morning is a massive feat for me!!!

 

[pavlosn]

My BMI is around 43. I follow a low carb diet and have done for about 3 years now but nothing seems to help. As I'm disabled I'm unable to exercise...I also have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis and in constant chronic pain. Diabetes is the least of my problems at the moment. Simply getting up in the morning is a massive feat for me!!!

Sorry you are having so much on your plate!

I am sure you appreciate that @Daibell only enquired so as to offer more constructive advice.