Insulin??

[Tazzman]

I have lost over 6st in the past few years I've been type one for about 8yrs and control my sugars very well I do alot of exercise. But now I'm finding that if I take my insulin it's now putting me under 5.0 blood sugar level. I think I'd be better off not taking it and can easily maintain around 6.2bsl with out it. Does anybody else have this problem or even come across it. Would there be any long time side effects from stopping insulin. Many thanks.

 

[EllieM]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Would there be any long time side effects from stopping insulin. Many thanks.

Well the short term effect would be DKA and death if you're not making any of your own. So I strongly urge you to have a chat with your diabetic team. Plus weight loss is usually associated with lack of insulin.

Are you T1 or T1.5/LADA ? Some of the latter in particular seem to manage to keep their honeymoon period going for a long time and don't need much insulin while they are on it, but eventually they stop producing their own and need (as in die without it) injected insulin. Another issue with honeymooners is that the change to needing insulin can be quite sudden and if you've been making insulin and then you stop making it you need injected insulin immediately.

In your position I would talk to my diabetic team URGENTLY. If they say it's OK for you to temporarily stop insulin then go for it, but it would be irresponsible and dangerous for anyone on this forum to suggest such a thing.

 

[Jaylee]

I have lost over 6st in the past few years I've been type one for about 8yrs and control my sugars very well I do alot of exercise. But now I'm finding that if I take my insulin it's now putting me under 5.0 blood sugar level. I think I'd be better off not taking it and can easily maintain around 6.2bsl with out it. Does anybody else have this problem or even come across it. Would there be any long time side effects from stopping insulin. Many thanks.

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

What insulin/s are you prescribed?
What was your weight prior to the 6st loss.?
How low are your BGs going under the the 5s?
It's difficult to acertain what you're experiencing without a little more detail.

 

[searley]

Hello and welcome to the forums.



Well the short term effect would be DKA and death if you're not making any of your own. So I strongly urge you to have a chat with your diabetic team. Plus weight loss is usually associated with lack of insulin.

Are you T1 or T1.5/LADA ? Some of the latter in particular seem to manage to keep their honeymoon period going for a long time and don't need much insulin while they are on it, but eventually they stop producing their own and need (as in die without it) injected insulin. Another issue with honeymooners is that the change to needing insulin can be quite sudden and if you've been making insulin and then you stop making it you need injected insulin immediately.

In your position I would talk to my diabetic team URGENTLY. If they say it's OK for you to temporarily stop insulin then go for it, but it would be irresponsible and dangerous for anyone on this forum to suggest such a thing.

Hi and welcome

Agree here if you are T1 you need insulin

If you are LADA then you may still be producing some so there is a little more flexibility

Below 5 is ok unless you drive.. it just depends how much below and how you feel when below 5. 3.9 is the point you’d be classed as hypo.

In a case like this the right thing todo is discuss with your care team as they have access to all the facts. It may just be that a dose adjustment is needed.

No insulin will equal weight loss.. but as stated if you are T1 then this may lead to DKA and a hospital stay/death etc

The type of insulin and regimen can also be changed if required. Don’t know what you take and when

But you certainly don’t want to do something that seems obvious only to risk worse side effects

 

[KK123]

I have lost over 6st in the past few years I've been type one for about 8yrs and control my sugars very well I do alot of exercise. But now I'm finding that if I take my insulin it's now putting me under 5.0 blood sugar level. I think I'd be better off not taking it and can easily maintain around 6.2bsl with out it. Does anybody else have this problem or even come across it. Would there be any long time side effects from stopping insulin. Many thanks.

As others have said, you are type 1 and NO, you cannot stop insulin, it's as simple as that really. What you eat and exercise may well keep your glucose levels low but it is as much about the basal insulin too, you may get away with no bolus (because of diet or 'lifestyle') but your body requires basal 24/7. Before the advent of insulin, people tended to go on what we would call a low/no carb diet and they managed to struggle on for a few weeks or in some cases months. Then they died. It was called the wasting disease by some because without insulin the body simply cannot function and literally starves because it has no way to utilise the energy from food. You've been type 1 for 8 years so I doubt you are in any honeymoon period (possible I guess). If your levels are getting too low for you then you need less insulin, we cannot advise on how much of course so talk to your GP/Diabetes team. I must stress for anyone else reading this post, what you are proposing is dangerous and ultimately fatal.

 

[Antje77]

But now I'm finding that if I take my insulin it's now putting me under 5.0 blood sugar level.

Hi @Tazzman , and welcome!
I agree with the others, stopping your insulin is very dangerous!

May I ask, how much insulin are you taking for your basal, and how much typically before eating? Do you usually adjust your doses yourself or are you on a set amount of insulin?