Insulin Resistance

[Agraham1826]

Hello, my current bolus ratio ranges form 1 unit / 4.5g of carbs to 1 unit / 6g of carbs, with 27units of basal. I don’t know if this classes as insulin resistance but it just seems like such a large amount of insulin. I find it really hard to loose weight, I’m not over weight but I have been in the past and literally the only way I lost weight is after being really ill. I’m not bothered from a vanity aspect but I am worried as I’m now 30 and I don’t want to be storing more fat as I know insulin resistance is strongly tied to cardiovascular problems. Also when my blood sugars go high it takes so much insulin to bring them back down and often I end up taking too much insulin because I have to keep dosing and then panic. For reference I’m female, 5”7 and 11 Stone, mentioned before I’m 30 and I exercise about 30 minutes three times and week and have an active job where I walk around a lot. I have my annual review in a couple months and don’t know if it would be stupid to ask about it!

 

[CheeseSeaker]

Hi @Agraham1826,

Firstly there are no stupid questions - Diabetes is a complex condition (was going the type 'Monster' but changed my mind...) and no-one knows everything, its effects are different for us all but there are general trends - we need to experiment and 'guess' sometimes to find what works.

1. Insulin requirements is individual - there isn't a too much for anyone - just what works, but people (including medical) can often tell you the average use, which just might mean you're above average rather than being the mid-point (so no help to say you should be average).
2. Have you tried switching injection sites - sometimes we build resistance if injecting into the same bits over and over (I did, now I switch regularly).

Hope that helps a bit

 

[Juicyj]

@Agraham1826

Agree with Cheese - your insulin ratio is an individual thing, no 2 people even same height/weight would comparable. Also definitely not a stupid question - there aren't any, ask your team but also show them examples where your BG levels have gone high and taken a while to come back down again. I use exercise to bring down stubborn highs myself, I used to rage bolus but have tried to be more careful due to hitting the floor a few times, so I get out for a run/walk if I can to work through it.

Things i've learned with t1d and being female is that we have to contend with more hormones that men, so our ability to control a complex condition throughout the month will vary, some days we will be more insulin resistant than others. You don't mention insulin delivery so unsure if you're on a pump or not ? I too have struggled with weight loss but am trying to incorporate weights into my exercise routine more now as that can help t1d with more muscle mass which improves your basal metabolic rate in regards to burning more energy, also because I am peri menopausal so now have to work harder at maintaining muscle mass due to declining levels, I have seen some weight loss but more so difference in body shape through doing this.

Managing t1d is very individual that's why we know ourselves better than the professionals, our experience is based on our 24/7 management too so never feel it's silly or stupid to ask any question, you are your own master/professional so your experience is valuable and important.