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Increasing my Insulin

BigRoddy

BigRoddy

Member
Messages
23
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi folks, so I am about 6 months in to T1, and over the past few days have not been able to keep my blood sugars down below 20. For the past few months I have been on 10 levimer at night and between 6 an 10 novo rapid with meals. Over the past few days I have increased my levimer to 12 to no effect, and even today with a blood sugar of 22, I took 8 novo rapid without food, and monitored closely, got down to 13 after 3 hours.

I can only assume that I was on my honeymoon period, and am intending on gradually increasing my dosages over the next week to sort this out. What I would like to know, is safe dosages. What is a high amount of insulin to take. I would ask the neanderthals at the clinic, however they would probably suggest leaches and shock therapy.
 
there could be another reason for the change in BG's -- are you possibly coming down with a cold or infection - that can raise blood sugars substantially.
here are sick day rules just in case https://www.stockport.nhs.uk/documents/PIL/50647_MED127.pdf

as you say it may be honeymoon period ending also causing this.

realistically you need to test test test -- normally i would do about 8 tests per day and then after a period of 3 days of results make a change to basal insulin using the following guide http://diatribe.org/issues/26/thinking-like-a-pancreas


as to bolus doses with meals try to stick to known food and again test at 2 and 4 hours post meal and make small increases after a few days with the same type results

and finally - you should check in with your DSN to make her aware of any changes you are contemplating.

all the best !
.
 
Levemir is often split-dosed to give a full 24 coverage, some members find it lasts no longer than 16 hours and by injecting some at night and again in the morning it gives them a decent coverage.

As for what is a high amount, well you need as much insulin as you need to keep your bg levels stable.
 
himtoo said:
there could be another reason for the change in BG's -- are you possibly coming down with a cold or infection - that can raise blood sugars substantially.
here are sick day rules just in case https://www.stockport.nhs.uk/documents/PIL/50647_MED127.pdf

as you say it may be honeymoon period ending also causing this.

realistically you need to test test test -- normally i would do about 8 tests per day and then after a period of 3 days of results make a change to basal insulin using the following guide http://diatribe.org/issues/26/thinking-like-a-pancreas


as to bolus doses with meals try to stick to known food and again test at 2 and 4 hours post meal and make small increases after a few days with the same type results

and finally - you should check in with your DSN to make her aware of any changes you are contemplating.

all the best !
.
Click to expand...
I have kinda followed that guide without my knowledge, I am very lucky in that I can feel when I am high and low. And am as healthy as a horse. Well a horse with a kaput pancreas. Am making any changes very gradually, as I think thats the best way, avoiding the knee jerk reactions.
 
Hi, I was told to increase Insulin dosage by 2 and to decrease by 2 as well. But, I do actually increase and decrease by 1, because I am a little sensitive to Insulin. I take 9 or 10 units of Levemir only at night and I am on a ratio of 1 to 10 for breakfast, then 1 to 7 for lunch and dinner.
It can depend on weight, height, body mass, how active a person is, their work, it's different for everyone. So it would be best to do it gradually, maybe you might be able to up your dosage by a little more than 2, but always be careful and be safe, with lots of tweaking, testing and have a chat with your DSN too. I hope you can get your BS down to a good level very soon.

Best wishes RRB
 
Robinredbreast said:
Hi, I was told to increase Insulin dosage by 2 and to decrease by 2 as well. But, I do actually increase and decrease by 1, because I am a little sensitive to Insulin. I take 9 or 10 units of Levemir only at night and I am on a ratio of 1 to 10 for breakfast, then 1 to 7 for lunch and dinner.
It can depend on weight, height, body mass, how active a person is, their work, it's different for everyone. So it would be best to do it gradually, maybe you might be able to up your dosage by a little more than 2, but always be careful and be safe, with lots of tweaking, testing and have a chat with your DSN too. I hope you can get your BS down to a good level very soon.

Best wishes RRB
Click to expand...
Yea, I am 6'4 and very active both at work and home, thanks to this guy11800195_10153343197173673_5003689872303427901_n.jpg
I count my carbs, and have not had any lows or highs in about 4 months. and thought I was managing quite well.
 
BigRoddy said:
Yea, I am 6'4 and very active both at work and home, thanks to this guyView attachment 17040
I count my carbs, and have not had any lows or highs in about 4 months. and thought I was managing quite well.
Click to expand...

Hi, I thought your initial post said you now had increased BS ( quite high) and that's why you are increasing your Insulin................ but your above message says you haven't had any highs :confused: :wideyed:
 
Yep everything was going excellent until a few days ago when my BG skyrocketed. So have started gradually increasing my insulin
 
It sounds out of the ordinary then. Have you been sick? Teeth/gums are the usual place for unseen infections to lurk: they play havoc with BG levels.

It df sounds as if something dramatic and external is happening. Doesn't sound like end of honeymoon to me. People tend to report wildly fluctuating BG levels then.

Get help? You can't sustain BG levels like that for a long time. Up the exercise? Cut the carbs? Anything to lower your insulin resistance.
 
Hi lucy, no I have been feeling great, a little tired due to the high BG. I will wait for a day or 2 to see if the slight increase in insulin sorts it out. With work and the dog I am doing around 15 miles a day according to my fitness app, And I work and walk 7 days a week. I eat a low carb diet, (most days lol) and just cant explain the highs at the minute.
 
It happened to me before with no apparent reason. Maybe stress? I cant comment on honeymoon period, as I don't think Ive ever had it. I take more or less the same amount of insulin from the beginning
 
It might be an idea to check/change your insulin too. Sometimes it can go off and not work properly. Worth doing just in case.
 
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