Insulin Change

[ElizaChota]

Had to change my insulin doses for the seventh time this month. Still pretty high blood sugars. I said to my diabetes specialist, "I'm losing hope." I saw my nurse practitioner too today. Apparently he does not want to test me for type 1.5 diabetes cause it might cost money to send it away.
Just so you know, I don't have money to send anything away to get tested. So I was thinking about stopping insulin, with my nurse practitioner and diabetes specialists permission. Don't know how much that is going to help me. But it would be better than having to get two injections twice daily. This got reduced from four times a day to twice a day. But I'll get two injections at each visit. Might need to add another visit again.

 

[Marie 2]

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear it. I don't know a lot about the Canadian system, I am in the US. But if you are a type 1 or LADA you will slowly need more insulin, not less. That is only one of many reasons it would be nice to know. It won't work to become really insistent for the tests? At 21 and already needing insulin seems like it would be leaning towards a type 1 versus a type 2.

 

[ElizaChota]

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear it. I don't know a lot about the Canadian system, I am in the US. But if you are a type 1 or LADA you will slowly need more insulin, not less. That is only one of many reasons it would be nice to know. It won't work to become really insistent for the tests? At 21 and already needing insulin seems like it would be leaning towards a type 1 versus a type 2.

Yeah, and I tested my blood sugar level just a couple minutes ago and it was 27.3. My NP cut our appointment short today because his next patient was there so I didn't have the opportunity to ask him again.Don't know what to do. So I had someone call the nurses that do my injections to see what the hell I can do. I'm drinking water right now.

 

[ElizaChota]

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear it. I don't know a lot about the Canadian system, I am in the US. But if you are a type 1 or LADA you will slowly need more insulin, not less. That is only one of many reasons it would be nice to know. It won't work to become really insistent for the tests? At 21 and already needing insulin seems like it would be leaning towards a type 1 versus a type 2.

Thanks for being so informative.

 

[Marie 2]

So a nurse does your injections? You don't? 27 is too high so you need to figure out how to improve that. Did anyone explain DKA symptoms or how to test for ketones?

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/diabetic-ketoacidosis.html

 

[ert]

Had to change my insulin doses for the seventh time this month. Still pretty high blood sugars. I said to my diabetes specialist, "I'm losing hope." I saw my nurse practitioner too today. Apparently he does not want to test me for type 1.5 diabetes cause it might cost money to send it away.
Just so you know, I don't have money to send anything away to get tested. So I was thinking about stopping insulin, with my nurse practitioner and diabetes specialists permission. Don't know how much that is going to help me. But it would be better than having to get two injections twice daily. This got reduced from four times a day to twice a day. But I'll get two injections at each visit. Might need to add another visit again.

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. It is awful that your health care system in Canada doesn't cover the specialist referral and blood tests that you need. It's important to get a proper diagnosis so that you're are on the right treatment plan. I change my insulin doses every day due to a variety of factors such as exercise, food, weather, coffee consumption etc, so please don't lose hope because of dose changes. I give my own injections with an insulin pen which is easy to use. I hope you get your treatment sorted and soon.

 

[Rokaab]

But it would be better than having to get two injections twice daily. This got reduced from four times a day to twice a day. But I'll get two injections at each visit. Might need to add another visit again.

Hang on, do you know what they are giving you? 1 injection 4 times a day to 2 twice a day seems very odd

And as @Marie 2 said, its very odd for a diabetic not to do their own injections (unless unable to do themselves) , especially because it'd mean you can't really do anything else (like go to a job or go anywhere)
.
And yes levels of high 20's are not good at all, something does need to be done about that - sooner rather than later. Can you go to A&E/ER and see if they can help since your specialist seems to be being entirely unhelpful.

 

[ElizaChota]

Hang on, do you know what they are giving you? 1 injection 4 times a day to 2 twice a day seems very odd

And as @Marie 2 said, its very odd for a diabetic not to do their own injections (unless unable to do themselves) , especially because it'd mean you can't really do anything else (like go to a job or go anywhere)
.
And yes levels of high 20's are not good at all, something does need to be done about that - sooner rather than later. Can you go to A&E/ER and see if they can help since your specialist seems to be being entirely unhelpful.

Yes they are giving me NovoRapid (is a sliding scale, got upped to the maximum of 15 at supper) and Novolin (got increased to 8 units) at breakfast.
NovoRapid and Tresiba at supper. The reason why I'm not doing my own injections is due to a safety issue, I suffer from very bad mental health issues too. And it's just to keep me safe, and the Emergency Physician said that my family doctor needs to be the one to make the referral.

 

[ElizaChota]

So a nurse does your injections? You don't? 27 is too high so you need to figure out how to improve that. Did anyone explain DKA symptoms or how to test for ketones?

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/diabetic-ketoacidosis.html

Yes I've already had DKA and I had to go back on insulin because of that. And supposedly I'm a type 2 diabetic. I read that's it's very rare for type 2 diabetics to get DKA. So that's why my diabetes specialist thinks that I have type 1.5 but the problem is my NP. I have KetoStix in my bathroom and I've tested but it always says negative or a trace. Yeah, I had to call the nurses to come back at 10:30 at night and they were suggesting I go to the Emergency Department. But I didn't feel comfortable going because it wasn't 34. But I was shaky, and my heart was racing and I felt so nauseated that I couldn't even drink my water. I threw it up

 

[Rokaab]

But I didn't feel comfortable going because it wasn't 34. But I was shaky, and my heart was racing and I felt so nauseated that I couldn't even drink my water. I threw it up

If your sugar levels are high (even if not at 34/HI), you are feeling nauseous and are throwing up you really MUST go to the Emergency Department as those are signs of DKA, which is a killer.

 

[ElizaChota]

If your sugar levels are high (even if not at 34/HI), you are feeling nauseous and are throwing up you really MUST go to the Emergency Department as those are signs of DKA, which is a killer.

Yeah, I'm going to see if the new insulin changes will work. And I'm going to test again tonight. I got 14 units of NovoRapid and 52 units of Tresiba. But it's almost like, the more insulin they give me, the higher my sugar goes.

 

[Skyking]

If you're in Ontario, you can call Telehealth 1 866 797 0000, and talk with the medical staff. They may recommend you go to Emergency. Last time I called them when I had a problem, they called the ambulance to take me to Toronto General Emergency Dept.

 

[KK123]

If you're in Ontario, you can call Telehealth 1 866 797 0000, and talk with the medical staff. They may recommend you go to Emergency. Last time I called them when I had a problem, they called the ambulance to take me to Toronto General Emergency Dept.

Hi there, this post is 10 weeks old but good advice. x