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'normal' levemir / novorapid dosages

I

igs

Newbie
Messages
3
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Even more than many things
Hi, I've been type 2 for 20 odd years, well controlled on repaglinide until a couple of months ago when everything went pear shaped and I was diagnosed with beta cell? failure

I was put on insulin 2 weeks ago but seem to be chasing my own tail on dosages, constantly increasing them just to keep my fasting levels the same. I was started on 3 units novorapid with meals and 4 units of levemir overnight but already I'm up to 10 units of novorapid with meals (and I'm only on 50 carbs per meal) and 16 units of levemir (6 in the morning,10 at night now)

I guess I am still seeing my own insulin output decreasing, and that I'll need to keeping upping my injected insulin but I have no idea where dosages can get to - am I already using a lot or just a little? I would appreciate any guide as to what others are using.

PS with beta cell failure and fully insulin controlled am I now a type 1 or stay a type 2... I registered here as a 1.5 :D

thanks, Ian
 
Welcome,
I hope that you are getting a lot of support from your doc/nurse as you start to use insulin.
I have no idea where dosages can get to - am I already using a lot or just a little? I would appreciate any guide as to what others are using
Click to expand...
How long is a piece of string?
If you had no insulin resistance and no/ little beta cell function some people suggest that you might need do use 0.5u per Kilo. However lots of people use very much more (hundreds of units) and others very much less. ( some below 20u). Often people who are very active may use less but active adolescents with raging hormones may use more.
As a T2 ,you may well still have some of your own insulin still but may also have insulin resistance . You may end up increasing your insulin considerably from the doses you have started on,but it has to be done gradually and safely.


PS with beta cell failure and fully insulin controlled am I now a type 1 or stay a type 2... I registered here as a 1.5
Click to expand...
You're a T2 using insulin. T1.5 is an unofficial term. It is mainly used for people with LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults) This is a type of T1 in adults, which is slower progressing than T1 in children, taking up to about 6 years to develop into true insulin dependence. T1.5 is also sometimes used for MODY which is a genetic form of diabetes.


edit: typos
 
Thanks for the quick reply, its good to know that my dosage is not getting outrageous.

Support and advice from my GP surgery is best classified as dangerous. I was very lucky as NHS Direct put an ambulance crew in to me, they helped me make a few calls which resulted in an emergency hospital appointment at the diabetes clinic where I was put on insulin; the consultant's report indicating that test results available to the surgery contra indicated everything they had advised and prescribed. Yep, I'm looking for a new surgery.

The hospital nurse is great when she's available - part time, on holiday now and the whole department is, in any case, being scaled down and moved 15 miles away.

So, for the next 10 days I'm experimenting with novorapid and levemir based on web information..... upping dosages by not more than 10% every 3 days and glucose testing frequently. Interestingly - well for me - I am approaching the 0.5u per kilo, total today will be 36u (16 levemir,20 novorapid) to 83kg weight.

thanls,Ian
 
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