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Speeding up insulin absorption on MDI

lizdeluz

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,306
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Is there a way to speed up insulin absorption on MDI. If I wake on a HI of, say, 15.0, (not recommended I know), it seems a slow process to get down to normal levels.
This morning:
06:45- 15.0 mmol/L - no breakfast, 5u NovoRapid, 20u Lantus.
07:28- 13.9 mmol//L - no food, 5.1 units of Insulin On Board, no NovoRapid injected
08:56- 11.4 mmol/L - cup of tea, splash of milk, 3.1 units of Insulin on Board, no NovoRapid injected

So, two hours later, only a cup of tea, and the journey down to an ok blood sugar level is really slow.
Exercise maybe, but exercising on high blood sugar can push blood sugar up, not down? This quite often happens when I swim, though I will get a LO later in the day.
Obviously, getting a high blood sugar in the first place is something I must avoid, but any advice on how to speed up the return to normal blood sugar levels?
 
In short, there's not really much that can be done to speed up the pace at which your insulin works... There's also the fact that high BG is harder to bring down and also because it's morning, you're less sensitive to insulin so the whole process can be even more sluggish...

Some people inject their bolus insulin into muscle to bring down high BG quicker. Personally, it's not something I would support as you do run the risk of rapid hypoglycemia which can land you in a lot of bother...
 
Don't think there is much you can do on injections unfortunately.....

Pumpers can assist with a temporary basal setting, but even that isn't perfect in all situations..
 
Thank you for your replies.
An update:
10:02- 11.2 mmol/L , 1.2 units of Insulin On Board

So now rate of drop is slowing right down and meter is suggesting I inject 1.8 (2) units. Maybe that will speed things up. I didn't know that pumps can't always help.
Anyway it's a strong motivation to stay on the straight and narrow.
 
It would be wise finding out how many mmol 1 unit drops you at different times of the day.....

As well as that correction factor, I have observed myself needing more correction the higher I am....
 
Hi @lizdeluz - I have exactly the same issue as you in the mornings, if I wake high then it takes me till lunchtime to get my BG down to single figures again, apart from taking correction doses I tend to test every 2 hours till I get it down again. If I am able to then I try and either do some exercise or gardening as both these will help improve my BG levels at a faster rate, however if i'm at work (sat at a desk) then there's nothing else I can else except correct.
 
Might want to look at different insulin if it takes that long to work?
 
Some tips from https://diatribe.org/issues/39/thinking-like-a-pancreas
  • Massage injection site
  • Take a hot bath
  • Exercise that part of your body
  • Inject into muscle
Some people find Apidra starts acting quicker than Novorapid or Humalog.

I myself did daily intra-muscular injections for over a year with good results, but now am using Afrezza which is ultra-rapid acting.
 
lizdeluz said:
Obviously, getting a high blood sugar in the first place is something I must avoid, but any advice on how to speed up the return to normal blood sugar levels?
Click to expand...

Hi @lizdeluz

You know they say you have to be careful when showering/bathing after a bolus injection, well it's to do with the heat increasing the blood flow to the area where you've injected........... which in turn speeds up the rate in which insulin is absorbed, it does work as does massaging/rubbing the area as @mentat has mentioned above.

Never fancied injecting into a muscle, far too painful

Edit to add, just be careful when using any of the techniques that are suggested in the thread.
 
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I find when my BG is high (above 14), my body becomes slightly insulin resistant. Therefore, I increase my correction dose. Not too much because I don't want to be see-sawing: something like 1.25 times as much as I would need to correct a lower high.
Also worthwhile thinking about how much insulin you have on board and making another correction dose after a couple of hours. The usual rule of thumb is Novorapid takes 4 hours to be completely absorbed. Therefore, a simple calculation is to assume, after 2 hours, you have used about half what was injected. Is this enough to bring down your current BG? If not, take another correction: <amount of insulin you would take to correct your current high> minus <half what you injected two hours ago>.
Finally, try not to stress about it. I know that's easier said than done but stress could increase your BG further. In addition, the occasional high is not as bad as a prolonged (several days) high.
 
helensaramay said:
Finally, try not to stress about it. I know that's easier said than done but stress could increase your BG further. In addition, the occasional high is not as bad as a prolonged (several days) high.
Click to expand...
Yes, I do stress when high, more so than when low - which is daft I'm sure, but I tend to blame myself for highs - and pat myself on the back for hypos.
 
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I will be careful, thanks @noblehead ...
I didn't know about the effect of hot water/Bolus injection,,,, nor about massage/Bolus injection ... That's interesting.
 
Hey @novorapidboi26 . I think it's best you call it a day on this thread. You seem to be digging yourself a bigger hole. You have made me smile though. Thanks for that.
 
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