Total change of insulin

Poodlelady

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I dislike people who swear a lot, shout and are rude. I dislike people who tell me what I should and should not be doing when they haven't the first idea about Diabetes.
I went to see the Rheumatologist, she was going to inject my shoulder but wanted me to have an X-ray first. Well, as things would have it, I had an appointment with my Specialist Diabetes Nurse and X-ray were runny late. So off I shot and had a shock. My insulin has been completely changed to NovaRapid and Levemir. As I understand it, the NovaRapid is to be injected just before or after eating, first taking blood sugar levels. The Levemir is to be injected at bed time.

OK, I am an old lady and do get a little bit muddled from time to time, but even I think I understand this routien. The levels to start me on have been worked out by the SDN and she will phone me on Wednesday to see how I am getting on.

Do I have to really knuckle down now and watch exactly what I eat or do I have more flexibility? This is all so new, the SDN didn't really explain about food at all and has made an appointment for me to see the diatician and to go on a course to understand about food, insulin and diabetes. I won't tell you I am not scared, I am, scared stiff and also at the same time hoping that this will give me better readings and less hypos during the night. At least I am hoping that I won't have to eat until I am full to busting before going to bed because my sugars are too low (because of the steroids).

I now look to you for adivce and help please
 

Fallenstar

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Hello Poodlelady :D

All of that is really good news :thumbup: I think you will find the Basal/Bolus regime a lot more flexible once you get into the swing of it. Like you have said you can tailor it more to your foods rather than the food to your insulin, ie ,stuffing yourself before bed to ward off lows.
They are two good insulins you have been put onto there aswell ,from my own personnel experience. I'm sure once you get your levels sorted out ,which will mean testing often and finding trends at first probably you will be away. You never know it may all just slot into place.

you will be able to do correction doses now to counteract the steroid highs, which will be so beneficial to you, as I know you struggled with highs due to the injections.

Great to hear you are getting good help now and are down for the DAFNE course which will be invaluable for you. It will all be explained on the course about dose adjusting for your food. Until then keep in close contact with your DSN, and if any of us can help or support you in the mean time, ask away.

Take care, and good news :D
 

Poodlelady

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I dislike people who swear a lot, shout and are rude. I dislike people who tell me what I should and should not be doing when they haven't the first idea about Diabetes.
Thank you fallenstar, I think I am getting the gist of this. I use the NovaRapid when I eat anything, and adjust during the day if my sugars are climbing up due to the steroids. That is really great news. I can once again eat fruit, I just about lived on fruit before being diagnosed and told that fruit was a no no especially my favourite fruit the banana. I was told that if I should have a couple of rashers of bacon, an egg and tomato at lunch time not to take any insulin as there are no carbs in that meal. Is this correct? I get so confused at times, I think that comes with age :lol: It is so nice to know that there are people here who will advise me and help me, that in itself gives me confidence.

Thank you once again :clap:
 

Fallenstar

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I wouldn't worry too much about individual food groups at this stage, just keep in touch with your DSN who now sound like they are helping you, after what was a rocky start. Wait for the DAFNE that will really help you, not long to go.
You will need to test before and after meals to see how foods and doses effect you. Write down your results so you can see a pattern and work it out with your DSN. They have given you initial doses and you will adjust around these with thier help.

It will be fine....enjoy them Bananas :wink: and good luck.
 

Fallenstar

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546
Ooo meant to say, carbs and cals is a fab book for you, it will help you a lot. You may get one on DAFNE, but it might be worth you getting it ASAP. carbsandcals.com. You can get it on Amazon too :D

Hope this helps!
 

Poodlelady

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I dislike people who swear a lot, shout and are rude. I dislike people who tell me what I should and should not be doing when they haven't the first idea about Diabetes.
Wonderful, thank you fallenstar, I will go in search of carbsandcals and digest it :lol: I had my first full night's sleep but woke up in a total sweat. I took my sugar levels at 6am and found that I was down to 3.5, not good, but this is just early days and doses do need to be adjusted. I just had coffee and a couple of biscuits, that brought me up to 8 by 8.30 and I felt happy at that. I had my breakfast and decided that I would have my heart's desire which was a slice of toast and jam, oh boy did it taste good :lol:

What is really nice is that I will not have to go hungry all day because steroids do make you very hungry, at one time, even the dog's biscuits looked good, now I can snack and feel comfortable :thumbup:
 

microfazer

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man-made in$ulin$, lack of C-peptide, in$ulin propaganda, half-wit medical personnel, insulin bottles that are so much thinner than beer bottles
poodlelady --- while i'm not at all a fan of the insulins you are taking, the basal/bolus routine should help you so much. not only in terms of general diabetic control (especially in conjunction with steroid treatment), but also in acheiving a (much) more normal life which ultimately should be a primary objective of any medical treatment. so cheers to that!! good luck with this, and enjoy your newly returned freedom to eat whatever, excluding doggie treats. :lol:
 

jopar

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Poodlelady

Fallenstar has about said it all..

But here's a tip you to avoid mixing your levimer and novorapid up..

Have you got some nail varnish if you have mark your Levimer pen with it. even a bit of tape around the pen will work.. Then you know with ease with pen you'll about to inject with.. So avoid the night-time scare of realising that you've accidentally injected your Novorapid instead of the Levimer and have to go on a marathon munch to avoid a hypo