[cheryl]

Hey,

I think the only thing everyone is really saying is that insulin really sucks.....and really last year when I didn't carb count and I didn't really know how to use my insulin in the proper way I was on like 50 units a day, and I suffered from low's to major high's like 40's too 400, now I am down to 33 units a day in just four months.......that is all I think most are saying, if the sugars are wacky it could very well mean too much insulin......but I do agree that it is not always the case, but you only know for sure if the sugars are actually stabilized.

Cheryl

[LancetChick]

Originally Posted by BriOnH

Weight doesn't always dictate insulin requirements. I have a 6'4 230 pound friend that takes less insulin then me and a 5'6 150 lb freind that takes more then me. I am 5'8 and 160 lbs. We all are in very good shape. Weight to insulin is a rule of thumb in type 1 diabetes which is usually considered when starting insulin, it is by no means a law.

Gobbly could be experiencing insulin resistance as well. I don't believe there is a need to alarm anyone here.

While it's true that a weight-to-insulin estimation is not written in stone, it is a good general indicator, allowing for gender, age, activity and various other things. Insulin resistance is a possibility, but is unlikely in this case. Overdosing on insulin is actually very common, and I believe it does warrant a wake-up call. I would suggest that the original poster find a good endo who specializes in diabetes to set her (or him) on a better path, and in the meantime, here is a link to an insulin wizard that estimates TDD, basals and other things based on a variety of information (it overestimates my basal dose, but it gives a good ballpark figure). Diabetes Mall Tools Section

[Doug]

Originally Posted by BriOnH

Weight doesn't always dictate insulin requirements. I have a 6'4 230 pound friend that takes less insulin then me and a 5'6 150 lb freind that takes more then me. I am 5'8 and 160 lbs. We all are in very good shape. Weight to insulin is a rule of thumb in type 1 diabetes which is usually considered when starting insulin, it is by no means a law.

Gobbly could be experiencing insulin resistance as well. I don't believe there is a need to alarm anyone here.

As you said its a place to start

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by LancetChick

While it's true that a weight-to-insulin estimation is not written in stone, it is a good general indicator, allowing for gender, age, activity and various other things. Insulin resistance is a possibility, but is unlikely in this case. Overdosing on insulin is actually very common, and I believe it does warrant a wake-up call. I would suggest that the original poster find a good endo who specializes in diabetes to set her (or him) on a better path, and in the meantime, here is a link to an insulin wizard that estimates TDD, basals and other things based on a variety of information (it overestimates my basal dose, but it gives a good ballpark figure). Diabetes Mall Tools Section

Why is it unlikely? A type 1 male diabetic is having problems with high blood sugars all day long despite being on 90 units per day. If he were OD'ing he would be complaining of hypoglycemia, not hyperglycemia. Either way I do agree he should get medical help.

[LancetChick]

Originally Posted by BriOnH

Why is it unlikely? A type 1 male diabetic is having problems with high blood sugars all day long despite being on 90 units per day. If he were OD'ing he would be complaining of hypoglycemia, not hyperglycemia. Either way I do agree he should get medical help.

I don't believe that's true, for the most part. It would be true for me, because I don't rebound from lows, but many (if not most) do rebound, and their livers and pancreases release hormones and glucose in response, which often goes way overboard, causing wildly fluctuating blood sugars. I've heard of situations where endos didn't catch on, and in the end, an overdose of insulin proved to be the culprit. Rebounds disguise insulin overdose very well if you aren't looking for it, and I think it's important for this poster to at least rule it out.

[gobbly2100]

Well all this support is fantastic and I really appreciate it, the only thing is I have problems with alot and it is really getting me down now

The idea of a pump is not great for me as I have a lifestyle that it would get knocked about like mad and it would generaly get in the way I think.

The idea of the insulin you take 4 times a day well, that would just be too much as I struggle as it is.

This talk about insulin ressistance sounds interesting if someone could explain a little about that, I am gonna check this link you gave me so thanks for that.

I actualy got so furustrated tonight I jacked my insulin up again to no effect, am really not gonna bother with more insulin, I just find myself making myself starve for such little results.

At the moment life is beginning to get a little tough and part of me wants to give in and throw in the towel but that would be stupid I know.

I have raised about £3,000 for research into diabetes and unless they cure it I don't know if there is anything out there for me.

[LancetChick]

Originally Posted by gobbly2100

I actualy got so furustrated tonight I jacked my insulin up again to no effect, am really not gonna bother with more insulin, I just find myself making myself starve for such little results.

At the moment life is beginning to get a little tough and part of me wants to give in and throw in the towel but that would be stupid I know.

I have raised about £3,000 for research into diabetes and unless they cure it I don't know if there is anything out there for me.

I don't accept that, because your quality of life is at stake (yes, I know it isn't any of my business). I think you need to educate yourself about insulin management...... Using Insulin by John Walsh is my dog-eared reference book, and even though John Walsh is American, he gets mm as well as mg/dL, and his logic rises above both. If you are injecting, here is a link to insulin port info: Auto Control Medical - Insuflon Catheter

For the record, education and frequent testing have made me live the life I lived before diagnosis (minus 1/2 hour every day), and provide me with stable A1c's in the non-diabetic range. You need to make your own decisions, of course, and I hope you'll choose what's best for you.

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by LancetChick

I don't believe that's true, for the most part. It would be true for me, because I don't rebound from lows, but many (if not most) do rebound, and their livers and pancreases release hormones and glucose in response, which often goes way overboard, causing wildly fluctuating blood sugars. I've heard of situations where endos didn't catch on, and in the end, an overdose of insulin proved to be the culprit. Rebounds disguise insulin overdose very well if you aren't looking for it, and I think it's important for this poster to at least rule it out.

If this were true he would show some signs of hypoglycemia in the day, in which he does not. This would absolutely present itself as an issue if overdose was an issue.

Gobbly here is a breif memo that mentions insulin resistance in type 1 diabetics:
Normal Insulin Sensitivity During the Late Preclinical Stage of Type 1 Diabetes -- Larger et al. 27 (7): 1842 -- Diabetes Care

Many type 1's start to get insulin resistance. The number 1 cause of this is running so high.

You really should listen to Lancet Chicks advice on learning the proper methods to control your diabetes. Whether if be MDI or a pump. You really need to do one or the other brother. If you dont you are asking for a ton of problems. I also promise it wont be as bad as you think. Either way get to a diabetes specialist right away. You really need to get your levels in check. The complications that come from high blood sugars are just awful. They literally pale in comparison to mdi and pumping.

You are still so young, only 18. You need to get this under control! Please!

[gobbly2100]

If I read that correctly, insulin resistance is basicaly when your body does not actualy use the insulin very well atall, if this is the case then what would be the answer because I have never heard anything like this before.

One other question is if I do have this then why did I get it, is it something I have done to make it not work very well?

Thanks for that link, I saved it for future reference also.

[Funnygrl]

If you are not willing to take more than 2 shots a day, you aren't going to achieve control. It's that simple.

[BriOnH]

Originally Posted by gobbly2100

If I read that correctly, insulin resistance is basicaly when your body does not actualy use the insulin very well atall, if this is the case then what would be the answer because I have never heard anything like this before.

One other question is if I do have this then why did I get it, is it something I have done to make it not work very well?

Thanks for that link, I saved it for future reference also.

That is correct about insulin resistance.

It used to be that type 1's would require more and more insulin the longer they had the disease even while maintaining the same body weight. These days that doesn't happen as much, and to be honest I dont know why for sure it happened more back then, but I believe it's because back then (1970 and 80's) a good HGA1c was 10. Today insulin resistance is most common in type 2 diabetes, but for completely different reasons. Though type 1's that gain a lot of weight often experience the insulin resistance that type 2's do.

You have a lot to learn brother, and you have come to the right place, and I have no doubt you are going to catch on really quick. As you noticed a consitent theme of recommendations so far has been that you really need to use Multiple Daily Injections or a pump (in your case a pump really would be your best bet, you would notice such a huge improvement it would be like the difference between night and day also the pump handles a lot of calculations for you to make your life easier) in combination of carb counting. Talk to your endo, talk with us, use the net and get your diabetes under control. You can't run that high. If you do you are going to ruin your organs.

[HollyB]

If I understand it right, being high in itself increases insulin resistance. So once your numbers come down to normal range, you will probably see your total daily insulin needs come down some as well.

[cheryl]

Hi again Gobly,

I really do feel your pain, it is so fustrating when the books say so and so and so do the dr's but your not going down that same path.....do keep in mind seriously that the insulin you are on now is not working for you, I know the whole concept of shooting four times a day or more is a little off, and maybe it makes one feel at first oh does this mean I am worse, because the way we were taught so long ago.

Honestly though, you really should start paying attention to what you eat, I hope i don't get anyone mad here, but the more I follow a type 2 diet the less insulin I am requiring, so I get fustrated with carbs too, because they all don't think alike.....lol.........what I believe is the more bad foods you eat regardless if it is low cal or less carbs, they aren't necessarily good for you......and if your trying to get on lower doses of insulin or just trying to get less insulin resistance, why don't you eat wheat instead of white, stay away from high fatty foods......and watch what you snack on certain oils cause insulin resistance or insulin requirements to be higher , for example hydrogenated oils and msg, I cut all this out of my diet and wow, what a difference in insulin dosages for me......it could help you out too.....to get a little more controlled and get your body not used to resisting insulin....it did me and now I can eat white occasionally or something with the bad oils and I can count for them perfectly, just a thought for you too

cheryl

[DeusXM]

If I read that correctly, insulin resistance is basicaly when your body does not actualy use the insulin very well atall, if this is the case then what would be the answer because I have never heard anything like this before.

One other question is if I do have this then why did I get it, is it something I have done to make it not work very well?

The answer? Well, there's several solutions. Firstly, the insulin that you're taking simply isn't doing the job. If you're only on two injections a day then you're probably on a mix insulin. Mix insulins aren't very good for control and taking large amounts of them won't really decrease your BGs in the way you'd like - you get an initial blip and then a very long, drawn-out drop.

If you want to get your diabetes under control then I'm afraid you are going to have seriously consider moving over to multiple daily injections.

Otherwise, things you can do to assist would be to exercise more and reduce your carb intake. These will reduce your insulin resistance but because you are only on two injections a day you are still going to have erratic blood sugars.

As for whether you've done something to cause this - I don't know enough about your lifestyle to cause this. If you eat a lot of carbs and don't exercise much then you're certainly not helping. However, the problem you've described is the same problem that EVERYONE on two injections a day has. So no, you haven't really done anything to cause this.

[mzizgayle]

Gobbly, I really don't have much more to add since you have excellent advice from above posters, but once you get the hang of counting carbs it becomes a natural part of your day, since most people tend to eat the same foods, you will know how many carbs are in that food item and not even blink when eating it. Get yourself a good book on carbs etc and do talk to your medical team...you will be able to do this and come thru it very well