• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

INSULIN

M

Malcolm Scanes

Newbie
Messages
4
I have been a diabetic for c20yrs. Gone through the norm of diet, pills (various strengths and mixes), ended up on Pills and Insulin Lantus Glargine of which I take 80ml each morning prior to breakfast. I have also been prescribed Novorapid some 4-6yrs ago, which I take after food generally at the rate of 20ml per meal (I do vary this according to what I have eaten). The problem I seem to have, is If I take my BS level prior to eating, eat my meal (I'm a very slow eater, chew everything, where a normal person perhaps takes 30 min to eat a meal, I take 75 mins), then I inject the Novorapid, after an hour or so take another BS reading, where I thought the insulin should reduce my BS level its gone up.
I have over a period of time experimented with the amount of insulin I give myself, according to various leaflets that have been given to me by diabetic nurse experts.
Am I correct in thinking at a very basic level, my BS level equals a value, I eat food depending on the sugary content of the food, my BS level goes up! I then inject with Insulin, and that brings my BS level back down?
 
Hi Malcolm,
Do you carb count? ie 10g carbs = x amount of insulin. Most people find their carb ratio differs at different time of the day, ie breakfast may be 10g carbs = 1.5 units of insulin, teatime 10g carbs = 1 units of insulin ect. Plus everyone is different. If you don't carb count it would be worth taking a course, it really is the only way to get the response you desire from your insulin. Another idea to get the results you want, as your a slow eater would be to split your dose, half before the meal and the other half afterwards. This is something we do when eating slow acting carbs like pizza or pasta.
Suzi x
 
Hi Suzi
no I don't carb count, wouldn't no how to, but sounds complex and time consuming to knowing every ingredient that goes into a meal!
Your idea of splitting insulin doses sounds good. The only one thing that I still cannot get my head round is when taking insulin does it not reduce my BG levels. I even have experimented in taking larger doses to see if that had any affect.
 
Hi Malcolm,
I see your T2 on insulin,, therefore i don't think carb counting would work for you, but lowering your carb intake probably would. Carbs convert to glucose therefore rise your blood sugars, and if large amounts of insulin aren't lowering your bs then i think the only way to go, is to reduce your intake of carbs, and see how you get on. I know after experiencing diabetese for 20 yrs it may be hard to change your ways, but i'm confident you'll reap the benefits.
There are many T2's on the forum with experience and heaps of suggestions, and i hope they can help. Think i'm a little out of my depth advising a T2, as i'm a parent of a T1 11yr old son.
Anyhow take care, and hope someone can come along and give you the correct advise,
take care,
Suzi x
 
Can I ask

Why are you taking your novorapid after you've eaten?

Of course your blood sugar is going to go up if you inject insulin after your meal..

You are supposed to inject novorapid about 10-15 minutes before you eat, this give the insulin enough time to adsorb into the body, so that when the carbs start to adsorb the insulin is already to tackle it! but the actually timing of this will depend on fat and type of carb content

When injecting for food, it is very handy to know the carb and type of carb content of your food, this will enable you to work out the correct dose, and if you are eating a high fat content or slow adsorbing carb such as pasta then this will allow you to find the perfect time to inject..

Some meals like pizza or pasta actually respond better if you inject part of the insulin before you eat, and then the rest after you've eaten, the spilt and time delay is trial and error I'm afraid, but you should with a bit of experiment find a level that suites you and maintain a stable bg..
 
Back
Top