[alexg]

PM shot is around 6 yes. I mostly eat maybe a snack around 9 or 10, go to sleep around 12 - 1 AM. I have never had my glucose go low and wouldn't be able to recognize the symptoms as of yet. Any advice of what I would feel first? I will most definitely now check my glucose more often if I feel bad during the day or night though, bad meaning anything, though I would be going in blind in know what to expect.

Alexg

[ladytaz]

The most common symptoms of a hypo is, shaking, that feels like it's coming from the core/pit of your body, sweating, feeling flushed with heat all of a sudden, and sometimes that turns into cold sweats feeling cold (that's how it goes for me) lack of being able to concentrate, can't seem to form thoughts properly or get your thoughts straight and blurred vision and insatiable hunger, you feel like you just want to eat yourself out of house and home. Tho do NOT do that! LOL Things differ for everyone, but those seem to be the most common ones. If you go low (60 or below) treat it!! If you don't have any go and get you some glucose tablets. You can get them at any pharmacy. At the very least, get you some of those sunny delight bottles of OJ drink, the one that comes in the 6 pack, the smallest ones. I think they might be 8oz sized ones. Treat with about 15 or so carbs, and wait about 15 to 20 minutes and test again to see that your BG is on the rise. If it isn't, then do the same again ... just remember 15 and 15 ... 15 carbs and 15 minutes One of those little sunny delight drinks is about 26 carbs, so I drink about 1/2 of one (save the rest for a snack later!), unless I,m down around 40, then I'll just drink the whole thing right away. REAL jam or jelly is also good when in a pinch! About a tablespoonful, if you can tolerate eating it that way!

[Mich]

Hi again Alex. Did your doc give you any info on a target blood sugar reading? I would think 100-110 would be a good starter target if he didn't. If you are in that general area, you probably don't need to eat a snack.

If you go below 100 or so, and it is another three hours until dinner, test every hour and see if you are dropping. You needn't worry until you are maybe 75 or so, then evaluate when you will eat again and take into account any exercise you may be planning. Exercise will make your sugar drop faster, the stress of trying to figure this stuff out is probably causing it to rise a bit.

The four things you need to know are your sugar level, insulin injection amount and time, meal times and expected exercise. Those four things will determine when you need to eat a snack to stay at the right level until your next meal. You will learn to balance all of them sooner than you think.

Insulin comparison chart here http://www.musc.edu/pharmacyservices...risonChart.pdf

Drugstores carry GLUCOSE TABLETS, with four grams of carb each. They come in an easily carried plastic tube. Fast acting for treating lows or as a substitute for a snack.

Believe it or not, some day sticking yourself will feel like less of a big deal than brushing your teeth.

Mich

[alexg]

Thanks!

I have always been in the 160 - 200 area before meals. Thats why my AIC is around 10 in last visit. Started insulin because of that. Now since I haven't gotten a good shot of insulin in. Today in the morning before breakfast, I was at 155. Before lunch I was at 185. This clearly shows that I have not had a good insulin shot or maybe the low dose they started me at is having no effect. After lunch today, 3 hours or later, I was at 255. I am not getting good readings yet. So I will attempt to give my insulin shot again right now and post later.

Alex

[ladytaz]

As I'm unsure how insulin pens work, you said you set it to 6. Does this mean you are taking 6u of the mix? If so, with the numbers you just stated you've been having BEFORE the insulin, I'd say that's probably not enough! My numbers were right about the same when I was put on insulin, my doc put me on 20u of the mix 2x daily, which worked amazingly perfect for me. But, as everything else, each of us is different. So based on MY experience, if you are actually getting the insulin into your system, then it may not be (probably isn't) enough, BUT on the other hand, if you aren't getting it into your system, well that needs to be done first to determine if you are taking enough or not. Please do let us keep us updated, and let us know how tonights dose went Alex!

[alexg]

Well took the next shot at around 7:45 PM then got some dinner (mainly some grilled chicken and veggies) then at around 12:15 AM, got home after seeing a movie and my glucose level is 160. So there you go, maybe not enough insulin intake. I think I did do it right this time, click the thing, waited 6 seconds or so, removed and release. I felt the liquid in there this time, felt different than the other times. Did feel a bit odd at times also while at the movies at around 10 PM.

Alexg

[ladytaz]

Give it another day or so Alex. You were already high, so that most definitley wasn't enough to bring you down to normal levels. But it DID bring you down! The odd feeling may be because, altho you didn't drop low, you may have been dropping quickly. Let us know how tomorrow goes!

[kgm0612]

Alex.........when I was on 70/30, I did not refrigerate my pen once I took it out and used it for the first time. I used the pen for about 12 days before discarding. I also found it helpful to date the pen with a magic marker.

Karen

[alexg]

Its around 9ish and I ate breakfast. My reading before breakfast was 144 coming from 160 last night. Took my insulin before breakfast as well. Lets see if this thing is working at lunch time. I do notice now that the syringe is actually wasting insulin, so it must be going into me. Finally I think I am getting it right. HOPEFULLY!

Hey kgm0612, they say it lasts around 30 days, so around what day is good to discard, do you do it on that day, or a bit before? Is it really obvious when its frosty coated instead of a cloudy milky color to know its bad? Mine stays cloudy, I mix it like it says in the instructions every time though. I don't have 20'20 vision so how do you tell its bad? What would happen if its bad and I accidentally use it?

Alexg

[ladytaz]

144 is still an improvement!! By George .... I think you've got it!!! Like I said, if after a couple days you don't see that you're down to normal ranges, then it'd be pretty clear that the dose isn't quite enough for ya, and I'd bump the dose up a notch or two ... try again for a couple days, etc. Until you do come down to normal ranges.

As to the refridgeration question, I myself couldn't tell ya, since my vials of mix were gone in about 3 weeks time. Now Novolin R I can tell ya about, since I'm workin on 4-1/2 months with the same vial (my first initial one at that!) But your doc hasn't put you on that just yet.

Hope your numbers continue to come down today, and that you have a superiffic day Alex!

[alexg]

Well about 3 hours later after breakfast, my glucose level is 173. Now that ain't good at all since the normal after two hours of eating is around 140, but it is an improvement for me because I used to be in the 250's - 300's 2 - 3 hours after eating.

Alexg

[ladytaz]

a real good improvement I'd say!! Keep a watch on it!

[alexg]

Do any of you know whats the best way to transport the Novomix 70 30 (or any other insulin) when going an a trip that require it being in the car for the driving distance. I mean it can't be in the heat and has to be in the 33 - 80 F range. Do you put it in an ice chest or what do you use?

Alexg

[ladytaz]

an icechest would work fine, just make sure it doens't get frozen. also, you can buy some of those icepacks, and slip it into a zippered type of case to keep it cool. There are places on the net you can buy special cases for carrying insulin pens, cartridges and vials too.

Here's the place I bought my case at Alex:
Diabetic Supplies-The Insulin Case Shop-Diabetes Supplies for the Diabetic at Great Prices .

[Mich]

Yay Alex!

It sounds like you are definitely getting the hang of it. When I travel, I use a Frio bag which cools by evaporation. You can google the name and check them out.

Before I new about Frios, I would take a small soft-sided cooler with me and a frozen milk carton of water wrapped in a small towel. In a pinch, if traveling and it was hotter than I expected, I would stop at the market for a bag of frozen peas!

Keep up the good work! Mich