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just gone to insulin type2

etaf

Member
Messages
22
Location
Witterings, West sussex, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I have just recently been told I now need to go onto insulin - which started on 15 feb 25
stopping the Gliclazide medication

i was told to start at 8 units first thing in morning and told to increase by 2 units after 3 readings if not at a stable 8 - the aim is to get to a fasting morning reading of 8 I'm currently between 11 and 13

i have followed and now this morning i'm at 18 units , after a reading this morning of 12.5

I'm also taking 2 metformin twice a day and in the morning Dapagliflozin

I spoke again to the nurse last week and she seems to be very happy with the progress , just keep increasing by 2 units after 3 readings until you find your level - some people are on 60 units and twice a day

i just wondered what others experience was and how long it took to get to correct level , but i guess every one is different , lifestill , weight etc - so maybe i just site it out for the next few weeks/months
 
I apply my insulin a little bit differently. I couldn't see how increasing my insulin by 2 units every 2-3 days was going to help. I do it this way. I check my BG before each meal (and after 1 hour and 2 hours), work out how many carbs are in my meal and then inject an amount of insulin to cover, a) a high(er) that normal BG level, or b) the carbs in my meal, or c) both. My reasoning is, I wouldn't need the same amount of insulin to cover the carbs in a chicken salad as I would in fish and chips. Over time I got to know pretty much how much insulin I need depending on my BG level and my carb intake. I hope that makes sense.
 
thanks for that , makes sense , but i said do i need to do something like that based on food and she no, keep with this principle at the moment the fasting morning reading is the critical one to get right
but thanks for the insight
 
etaf said:
thanks for that , makes sense , but i said do i need to do something like that based on food and she no, keep with this principle at the moment the fasting morning reading is the critical one to get right
but thanks for the insight
Click to expand...
What insulin regime are you on @etaf, are you on mixed insulin - that’s is slow and fast insulin together or do you inject every time you eat?

I’m at risk of cross posting as a T2 diet only but the regime you are on will make a lot of difference to the advise you will get here.

My dad was on mixed insulin fixed dose twice a day and the advice from his DSN was the same the nurse has given you. My dad had to eat a set number of carbs with each meal once he found his optimum level and his insulin dose was fixed, which he did in the way your nurse is describing
.
 
Sounds like you’re on a basal once a day insulin. These typically ‘work’ for 18-40 hours depending on brand.
I’m on a once a day basal insulin and started off on 16 units, also advised to increase incrementally until my glucose levels stabilised.
Over a couple of weeks I went up to 24 units before things stabilised. At the same time I was cutting my carbs down…probably wasn’t my wisest move as I had a few tough weeks where I felt quite ill.
Anyways from Dec 23 to now and things are very different for me. My A1c went from 67 to 41 then 39. My weight dropped as I embraced a low carb lifestyle.
So also did my insulin needs and I found I needed to take less and less. I did try at one point to do without it but that backfired and my levels shot up.
Today I’m finding my lifestyle works best with 8 units in the morning and 4 more late afternoon.
My time in range is in the high nineties. I’m still following a low carb lifestyle and the weight has stayed off.
Insulin worked for me better than any oral meds.
Best wishes.
 
Humulin I is an intermediate acting insulin.

About intermediate-acting insulin

NHS medicines information on intermediate-acting insulin – what it's used for and key facts.
www.nhs.uk

You can also get it as a reusable pen with cartridges that you keep in the fridge until you put them in the pen. (Personally I've never seen the point of having single use pens, as they are environmentally less friendly and use up way too much space in your fridge.)

I wouldn't personally be too worried about how much insulin someone else on the same regime is taking. Some people need only 10 units a day, whereas others need 100s (they make extra strength insulins for those people.) It al depends on your insulin resistance and how much insulin of your own you still make. (And of course, your diet, exercise, illness, etc etc.... )

Because insulin is dangerous if too much is taken, and everyone needs differing amounts, there is really no way to correctly predict the amount a new user will need and you have to just gradually increase the dose....

I hope you have been warned about hypos @etaf ? I would strongly recommend any insulin user to always carry some form of emergency sugar with them in case their blood sugar goes low.

Hopefully you'll get on top of it all soon, good luck.


edited for typo
 
etaf said:
thanks for the replies
I should have said what the insulin is
Humulin I KwikPen 100units/ml suspension for injection 3ml pre-filled pens (Eli Lilly and Company Ltd)

only inject once in the morning only - not dependant on any meals
Click to expand...
I’m on a different insulin from you so no comparison between the number of units I’m on compared to what you will need. But the process of increments to find your balance is the same.
 
thanks very much for the reply
yes had warnings of hypos and also i had a lift glucose bottle i purchased at pharmacy , and jelly babies and coke
But now i purchased a litlte hypo bag to carry with me at all times

Gluco HypoWallet (Complete Kit)

The HypoWallet is a durable hypo-management kit which is designed specifically for you. Each Hypowallet contains: 1 x 10 pack of chewable Lift GlucoTabs - Flavour may vary 1 x 60ml shot of Lift GlucoJuice 2 x 25g tubes of Glucose Gel This re-stockable and re-useable kit is perfect pocket friend...
www.diabeticsupply.co.uk
and all family know about it
 
etaf said:
and all family know about it
Click to expand...
that is really good. You do not want to know how many times I have been rescued from a hypo by family members. (Though hopefully you won't get as many hypos as this fully insulin dependent T1).
 
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