My Insulin No Longer Works

Hi there I am new to this but i'm hoping that i can find help here as my diabetic team are not that helpful. In November last year my blood sugars were high teens and HI I was taking enough insulin to kill a horse and yet my blood was permanently high, eventually after a lot of pressure my nurse got a consultant to listen to me and change my insulin. To note I have been diabetic for 25 years I started on Actrapid and insulatard, changed to Novo Rapid and Lantus about 10 years ago. The consultant asked me if I new what type 1 diabetes was...... you can imagine I was less than impressed with the start to our conversation, anyway she agreed that the insulin was not working anymore and changed me to Humalog, at first it seemed to work ok ish but now I am back to where I was and Im taking far too much insulin with little responce in the blood results and from November to now I have put on two stone which is making me a very unhappy bunny. I am still waiting for a consultant to see me again but the nurse informed me today that there is only one more insulin on the market to try and then that's it............. she says she has three other people that insulin no longer works for but said 'we wont look at that bleak prospect unless we have to, so basically I am beyond scared at the minute, can you help me?

brett said:

Are you able to reduce carbs to help with the weight and insulin problem. If you have become insulin resistant to the insulin metformin can be used to help (i think). Silly question but, have you upped your doses?

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My carb intake is fairly low really anyway, for example today one slice of toast with butter and a cup of tea - blood 27.3, took 25 units of insulin two hours later blood 28.1 and at lunch 26.4 and so it goes on i just cant get my head around it any more. Is metformin for type two though not type 1?

brett said:

Is it possible to get a stronger insulin dosage. Think I've read it here somewhere. The normal one is u100 strength but seem to remember a u500 strength, worth asking about.

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That is interesting ive not heard of that i will have to ask tomorrow, thanks.

robert72 said:

There are more than 3 insulins on the market, your DSN should know this.

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Im affraid my nurse just doesnt seem to help me in they i need her too and all it has done is made me terrified that there is no more help available. Do you think she mentioned three because of cost implications from our hospital trust?

brett said:

do you only take humalog now? Is this a quick acting/long acting?
what size needles do u use?


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I take Humalog three times a day and Lantus twice a day and my needles are novofine 31G 6

robert72 said:

It may be that those are the only 3 she has experience of. ActRapid is less expensive than Humalog/NovoRapid/Apidra

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I started my diabetic trip on Actrapid and insultard do you think it may be worth asking to return to those insulins, the only reason i came off them was i was having alot of hypos but looking back the hypos were down to me and my inexperience, i had not considered these at all, i didnt stop them because of them not working... im a little excited at this propect now

robert72 said:

Actrapid: 100 iu/ml, 1 x 10ml vial=£7.48
Humalog: 100 iu/ml 1 x 10ml vial=£16.61

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this is fasinating i feel when i see my not so lovely nurse tomorrow i may sound as if i actually know something

noblehead said:

And there's always animal insulins to try if all else fails,. To say there's only one more to try is untrue. Metformin can be prescribed for type 1's who have insulin sensitivity problems, also exercise can make you more sensitive to the insulin that you inject so try and keep active.

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do they still use animal insulins?