Who takes the most insulin

martinbuchan

Well-Known Member
Messages
354
Patti - saw my diabetologist today. wants me to carb count once i have settled down. He says DAFNE is the accepted, proven course. He also said most patients put on weight after as they take bigger portions as they get more insulin confident. I don't need to put on any more weight and already cheat with dosing for bigger than necessary meals.

I think I am a MODY (implications for my family as it had s very serious mode of inheritance for my children). There is an underlying trend for diabetics and medical staff to see Type 1 as pure victims od a disease and Type 2 as a lifestyle choice (even tho it has a bigger genetic predisposition). Hence your request for DAFNE was turned down for being type 2 although you are an insulin user.

At the moment my BS is 3.6 and for the fourth evening running I feel hypo. I have an almost pregnancy type craving for oranges this week. Already on 1000mg Vit C tabs every day. (diabetics are often low in vit c levels).


I have GP and dietician friends socially who know sod all about the new type synthetic insulins. Primary care settings are not sufficient IMHO for complicated diabetics. Keep at them Patti but in the nicest way possible.


Marty B
 

Pattidevans

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128
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by martinbuchan</i>
<br />Patti - saw my diabetologist today. wants me to carb count once i have settled down. He says DAFNE is the accepted, proven course. He also said most patients put on weight after as they take bigger portions as they get more insulin confident. I don't need to put on any more weight and already cheat with dosing for bigger than necessary meals.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I didn't think that I (as a supposed T2) was refused the DAFNE because I "deserved" my diabetes in their eyes - as you suggested. I understood that it was because they felt that DAFNE wouldn't work for T2s because of the unpredictability of a T2s reaction to injected insulin. Obviously your Diabetologist feels differently which is interesting indeed.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I think I am a MODY (implications for my family as it had s very serious mode of inheritance for my children). There is an underlying trend for diabetics and medical staff to see Type 1 as pure victims od a disease and Type 2 as a lifestyle choice (even tho it has a bigger genetic predisposition). Hence your request for DAFNE was turned down for being type 2 although you are an insulin user.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Have you checked out http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14047009.php The author, Jenny, is extremely knowledgeable Re: MODY and is a MODY herself. There are some excellent resources on that site.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">At the moment my BS is 3.6 and for the fourth evening running I feel hypo. I have an almost pregnancy type craving for oranges this week. Already on 1000mg Vit C tabs every day. (diabetics are often low in vit c levels).<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We can often be very in tune with our bodies' needs without necessarily knowing why. So it doesn't surprise me if you crave oranges.


<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have GP and dietician friends socially who know sod all about the new type synthetic insulins. Primary care settings are not sufficient IMHO for complicated diabetics. Keep at them Patti but in the nicest way possible.



<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I don't bother them much any more, I normally get on with things. However I have to say the practice nurse and I seem to get on very well, she frequently gives me papers that come through from the PCT, especially re: discouraging testing, because she knows I will use the information to fight the restrictions in any way I can such as writing to MPs and encouraging others to, that sort of thing. I often send her stuff that's interesting too... like the BDEC online course.

Talk about some GPs though, I know someone who goes to the GP in his practice who supposedly "specialises" in diabetes. This GP said to him "I'm not going to put you on Metformin because you might have hypos, I'm going to put you on Gliclazide instead!" Ye gods.... it doesn't give you much faith does it?

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
 

Fugs

Well-Known Member
Messages
72
This may appear to be an odd question, but I'vd been mulling it over for weeks now without coming to an answer. The fact that I'm blonde (not one who has to dye their roots black[:p]) probably doesn't help.
Does there come a point when it's actually not worth taking insulin? I've been taking ever increasing amounts of insulin - currently 600 units a day yet my sugars are still to high for me to record on my bm machine. The local cottage hosp got a reading of 46.7 today.
Is the insulin doing me any favours?

>^..^<
 

martinbuchan

Well-Known Member
Messages
354
Fugs, it might be worth trying one of the new GLP drugs. Injectable Exenatide or oral Sitagliptin. These are new and restricted but you need something. Look it up and ask your GP etc

Good luck

Marty B
 

martinbuchan

Well-Known Member
Messages
354
Patti- Carb counting and DAFNE by type 1s is interesting. I get the impression it is fairly variable for them too. My regular anaethetists daugher is 11 yo. They carb count extremely accurately and change the carb/insulin ratio depending on timeof day, exercise etc etc. The glucose profile in Type 2 is different in response to food due to an abnormal raise in Glucagon after meals and a higher rate of liver gluconeogenesis cdmpared to type 1. Mayne thaty is what puts them off.

My diabetologist belongs to the lifestyle choice brigsade of the cause for Type 2 but is very understanding of the fact that type 2 progresses in severity. He doesn't see the need for insulin in type as a lifestyle failure but as the natural progression of the disease,

Marty B
 

Fugs

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Messages
72
Marty thank you so much for the two names. I've been googling (is that a real word:?:) and writing as fast as my grubby little mits would let me. I shall take it with me the next time I take my monthly jaunt to clinic and see what his lordship says.
Until then I suppose it's probably not the wisest move to stop taking insulin though it would be interesting in a way to see what my bm would be without it

>^..^<
 

Pattidevans

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Messages
128
Fugs

Are you on <b>anything</b>at all other than insulin to control your diabetes? It would strike me that you have a <b>lot</b> of insulin resistance to overcome. As Martin says, there are a number of drugs which may help. Not to mention Byetta (exenatide) which has just become prescribable here, though whether you can get it may well depend on where you live.

Martin, I thought Sitaglyptin (sp) aka Januvia had just been withdrawn?

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
 

Pattidevans

Well-Known Member
Messages
128
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by martinbuchan</i>
<br />Patti- Carb counting and DAFNE by type 1s is interesting. I get the impression it is fairly variable for them too. My regular anaethetists daugher is 11 yo. They carb count extremely accurately and change the carb/insulin ratio depending on timeof day, exercise etc etc. The glucose profile in Type 2 is different in response to food due to an abnormal raise in Glucagon after meals and a higher rate of liver gluconeogenesis cdmpared to type 1. Mayne thaty is what puts them off.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Exactly, she's ll years old and female! Lots of things can skew her results. Hormones being one of the main problems. She is entering (or has already entered) puberty and everyone knows that's a hormonal nightmare. Plus it's well known that BGs will rise just prior to menstruation (if she has got there, many 11 year olds have these days). So it's hardly surprising that it's fairly difficult to compute.

Re: T2s that's what I've been saying, in different words! LOL!

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My diabetologist belongs to the lifestyle choice brigsade of the cause for Type 2 but is very understanding of the fact that type 2 progresses in severity. He doesn't see the need for insulin in type as a lifestyle failure but as the natural progression of the disease,


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He needs a slapped wrist! OK OK being overweight may well be partly responsible, but you have to be genetically pre-disposed in the first place! Of course it is a progressive disease, which many fail to recognise... hence it's wrong for GPs to threaten their patients "with insulin" if they don't control themselves... which then makes them feel like failures if they have to go on insulin. When in fact, it's simply a progressive disease and not a failure in the patient's control. Fine, with good control you may put it off longer....but not necessarily!

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
 

martinbuchan

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354
I had not heard abouyt Sitaglyptin being withdrawn- will have to look it up. There is another one called Vidaglyptin i think as well.

Marty B
 

Fugs

Well-Known Member
Messages
72
Hi Patti, I'm on the following meds each day:-
Actrapid 450u
Lantus 150u
Metformin 3g
Simvistatin 40mg
Ramipril 10mg
Dispirin 75mg
Tramadol 800mg
Indomethacin 150mg
Thyroxine 125mcg
MST 180mg
Aminophyline 900mg
Prednisolone 5mg.

I have tried both rosi & pioglicazone with no luck. I also don't produce any cortisol of my own hence the prednisolone. I'm ashmatic and also have a prolapsed disc which has compressed the sciatic nerve which is why I take painkillers. Have just got leg ulcer healed after 2 years!:)

>^..^<
 

Fugs

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Messages
72
I don't rattle when I walk honest.
I'm just grateful I don't have to pay for my prescriptions

>^..^<
 

Fugs

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72
I'm in East Anglia and have no idea if they will prescribe but I'll ask anyway.
Oh and I forgot I also have to take aldreonic(sp) acid 70mg once a week

>^..^<
 

Dennis

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,506
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Dislikes
People who join web forums to be agressive and cause trouble
Sarah,

The only contra report on Byetta is that in extremely rare cases it can cause pancreatitis. It has side effects in some people (nausea in particular) but not in all cases. I've been on Byetta now for 5 months and have had no problems with it whatsoever (other than that my PCT will not let my GP prescribe it on cost grounds). As ever, its not what is best for you, its whatever is cheapest, whether that works or not.
 

Dennis

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,506
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Dislikes
People who join web forums to be agressive and cause trouble
Hi Patti,

Are you sure about sitagliptin (Januvia/Janumet) being withdrawn? There's no mention of it on NICE, FDA or Merck websites. I have just done a trawl through Google and no mention of withdrawal there either.
 

Pattidevans

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128
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Dennis</i>
<br />Hi Patti,

Are you sure about sitagliptin (Januvia/Janumet) being withdrawn? There's no mention of it on NICE, FDA or Merck websites. I have just done a trawl through Google and no mention of withdrawal there either.


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I am sure I saw a news item and followed it up to the manufacturer's site yesterday whilst I was researching alternative treatments. Plus IIRC it was a link from a newsgroup. I was a bit shocked frankly. But I am sure I saw it. If I am wrong then I apologise.. but heck I looked at so many sites yesterday. I will try to find out for you definitely!

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
 

Pattidevans

Well-Known Member
Messages
128
Well spent ages tonight searching and I agree I may be wrong, perhaps it was Exubera! However, I still think somewhere I found it, but I am prepared to apologise! Hope I was wrong actually... we need all the armory we can get don't we?

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3
 

Pattidevans

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Messages
128
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Fugs</i>
<br />
I'm in East Anglia and have no idea if they will prescribe but I'll ask anyway.
Oh and I forgot I also have to take aldreonic(sp) acid 70mg once a week

>^..^<

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Fugs

I was thinking, the only other diabetic I know of who was on similar dosages of insulin was also on very high doses of steroids for (apparently life-threatening) asthma. I notice you're on Prednisolone which is a cortico-steroid, but have no idea if 5mg is a high dose. I tried googling some of your other meds that I didn't recognise but met with no success, do you know if any of them are steroids as well?

Might be worth having a long chat with your Dr as to whether the drugs you are on are pushing up your BGs and rendering the metformin and Insulin inadequate?

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3