It's complicated, but it's me, insulin problems

[worcesterwoman]

Hi
I have a complex health scenario which includes Type 2 (or similar), thyroid, asthma, allergies, IBS and Mitochondrial disease...

I am struggling to control my blood glucose, and using needles (although we now reckon my skin is just unyielding and nothing but nothing will penetrate without bruising even the Nanopass needles).
On to insulin problems, I have horrible 'bee sting' sensations most times I inject and I don't think any amount of Apidra seems to work (at least not consistently). The only predictable reaction I have is a killer appetite to vacumn up anything within eyeshot, it is worse than pregnancy cravings and they were bad. It looks like the Lantus works that I take once a day but it is the cover for meals that I think is the problem.
I have upped the dose of Apidra and then dropped the dose, and the only consistent feature is the appetite problem

I know there is more going on with my gut but for the moment I just want to try and get some control. The only success I have is when I starve all day for as long as possible and then keep my total calories down to around 800, it kills! I have so many food intolerances and have recently tried low card but my gut couldn't cope and it was like my reaction to nuts and chickpeas, baked beans (basically anything healthy and/or tasty).

I am going to try and catch up with my DSN tomorrow and am wondering if I should ask to change the Apidra to, say, Humolog, or if I should go back to Novomix 30 with maybe an extra rapid dose of something?

I know it's hard to advise, but any thoughts of what we could try would be appreciated.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. I can't comment on various insulins other than Novorapid is a very popular and problem free rapid rapid insulin. Is your needle short enough to match your body fat depth. I use 4mm needles but I'm thin; the shorter ones can be less painful. AS you are not low-carbing I wonder whether you have excess weight and are having many units when injecting? This will cause more pain. I really would recommend going for low-carb foods to reduce both blood sugar and weight. This will enable your insulin shots to be reduced (check with the DN and your meter). BTW don't worry about calories as it's the carbs that matter to us. I can't believe there are no low-carb foods that you can tolerate. We can suggest foods if that helps.

 

[noblehead]

I am going to try and catch up with my DSN tomorrow and am wondering if I should ask to change the Apidra to, say, Humolog, or if I should go back to Novomix 30 with maybe an extra rapid dose of something?.

Given your other on-going medical problems that would be your best bet to seek professional advice, if your DSN is stuck for an answer then ask to be seen by a Endocrinologist instead.

 

[worcesterwoman]

Hi. I can't comment on various insulins other than Novorapid is a very popular and problem free rapid rapid insulin. Is your needle short enough to match your body fat depth. I use 4mm needles but I'm thin; the shorter ones can be less painful. AS you are not low-carbing I wonder whether you have excess weight and are having many units when injecting? This will cause more pain. I really would recommend going for low-carb foods to reduce both blood sugar and weight. This will enable your insulin shots to be reduced (check with the DN and your meter). BTW don't worry about calories as it's the carbs that matter to us. I can't believe there are no low-carb foods that you can tolerate. We can suggest foods if that helps.

Will ask about Novorapid then, thanks. Yes to the 4mm needles, but it is my skin that is a problem not stretchy like normal skin. Yes to needing to lose weight, and not sure about low carb, can only manage very small portions of cauliflower, and any veg with taste...

 

[anna29]

Try asking your DSN about injecting techniques ?
Find one that can work better for you perhaps .
Less pain and bruises with your skin and painfulness issues .

Are you under a gastric specialist with your IBS ?
Given your gut and possible digestion issues .

I too have - the Mitochondrial condition .
It can leave me feeling exhausted or easily wiped out .

The more complex meds conditions or history we have .
The more intolerance issues we can appear to have

Are you hypo(underactive) thyroid ?
Thyroid problems and diabetes are well known together .

You could ask your GP/DSN about seeing an Endocrinologist
As noblehead above suggests .

 

[worcesterwoman]

Try asking your DSN about injecting techniques ?
Find one that can work better for you perhaps .
Less pain and bruises with your skin and painfulness issues .

Are you under a gastric specialist with your IBS ?
Given your gut and possible digestion issues .

I too have - the Mitochondrial condition .
It can leave me feeling exhausted or easily wiped out .

The more complex meds conditions or history we have .
The more intolerance issues we can appear to have

Are you hypo(underactive) thyroid ?
Thyroid problems and diabetes are well known together .

You could ask your GP/DSN about seeing an Endocrinologist
As noblehead above suggests .

 

[worcesterwoman]

Will ask about Novorapid. My injecting technique is ok from what i can tell, it's actually getting my skin to 'give' that is the problem/

The feeling wiped out bit is very evident much of the time. Will ask about an endocrine specialist too.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi
I have a complex health scenario which includes Type 2 (or similar), thyroid, asthma, allergies, IBS and Mitochondrial disease...

I am struggling to control my blood glucose, and using needles (although we now reckon my skin is just unyielding and nothing but nothing will penetrate without bruising even the Nanopass needles).
On to insulin problems, I have horrible 'bee sting' sensations most times I inject and I don't think any amount of Apidra seems to work (at least not consistently). The only predictable reaction I have is a killer appetite to vacumn up anything within eyeshot, it is worse than pregnancy cravings and they were bad. It looks like the Lantus works that I take once a day but it is the cover for meals that I think is the problem.
I have upped the dose of Apidra and then dropped the dose, and the only consistent feature is the appetite problem

I know there is more going on with my gut but for the moment I just want to try and get some control. The only success I have is when I starve all day for as long as possible and then keep my total calories down to around 800, it kills! I have so many food intolerances and have recently tried low card but my gut couldn't cope and it was like my reaction to nuts and chickpeas, baked beans (basically anything healthy and/or tasty).

I am going to try and catch up with my DSN tomorrow and am wondering if I should ask to change the Apidra to, say, Humolog, or if I should go back to Novomix 30 with maybe an extra rapid dose of something?

I know it's hard to advise, but any thoughts of what we could try would be appreciated.

You certainly seem to have a lot going on!

I'm not an insulin user, but to comment on dietary changes; as you have so many intolerances/reactions, it might be useful to try making the changes in a slower, more structured manner than most of us adopt? So, introducing (or excluding) small amounts of x, y or z for a time, to gauge tolerance, before increasing/ reducing the amounts?

My instinct would be, as other have said, that reducing carbs, per se, could help matters by reducing the insulin you actually need to inject.

Do you moisturise your skin to try to keep it extra maliable around your injection sites? I'm a demon moisturiser, so it's one of my personal mantras. Something like Shea or cocoa butter makes an excellent skin softener and needn't cost the earth or be highly perfumed.

Good luck with it all.