[Ricros]

Ok, I found out why she has to use two hands for the pen. It was the way they told her to hold it. They, they education center, told her to hold right at the base of the pen and on the side of her belly so there is some fatty tissue. Her thumb can not reach to push the button to inject the insulin.

[June91]

I have had 16 years of pen experience and don't see why she has to hold the base of the pen, it is very awkward that way. You get the fatty tissue by pinching with the other hand if you're skinny, that is the whole point... Tell her to practise with the needle cap on - she should try to hold the pen anywhere it feels comfortable and allows her to press the top with the same hand. Or get her online and I'll chat her through it.

[Ricros]

Thank you June I will tell her. She is stubborn though but I will do my best.

[Keezheekoni]

Originally Posted by Ricros

Thank you June I will tell her. She is stubborn though but I will do my best.

Gee, 8 months pregnant and being told to use insulin... You think she has *any* reason to be stubborn?!? Nah, now *that's* just unreasonable!

[June91]

Rikki, you're being a tad too hard on him. He is but a man - he can't help it.

P. S. Ricros, you are in fact a very supportive husband and we're just being nasty old hags who think we know it all just because we've given birth once or twice (or multiple times in Rikki's case)

[Keezheekoni]

Originally Posted by June91

Rikki, you're being a tad too hard on him. He is but a man - he can't help it.

You're right, of course. He is but a man...

Ricros, go wash the dishes for your wife and then give her a nice foot massage. If you do this, you'll be forgiven for the misfortune of being born male!

[Ricros]

This I already have done Rikki.(backrubs mainly) Except the dishes after five years of doing them, (she works second shift and I work third) the children are old enough to do them now. Since we finally got a dishwasher last year.
When I said stubborn I meant in she will do it the way she was told by the nurse and keep it that way because she has never done this before. But she was stubborn before she was pregnant. But, I will go with unreasonable that sounds much nicer.
June,
I told her about the way you said to practice and she said she would try that.

[Ricros]

Well it started last night. The doctors office called and said she needed to take 4 Units of Humulin N. When I talked to her she said it hurt worse than the injection itself. The only thing I worry about is that I work 3rd shift and she takes the shot at bedtime so if aything happends noone will be here except for the kids. Time will tell and it only lasts for the next 4-6 weeks hopefully.

[Ricros]

This is the wife in question . I have a new question, will it take my body a few days to adjust to the insulin? My numbers have been higer then usual all day today. The nurse told me the insulin would work for 12 hours with a peak at 6 hours so I had milk at breakfast and was over 200 for the first time ever. I had a normal lunch and usually am between 120-140 (1 hour) and was at almost 160. I'm not sure if this is normal or if things should be the same during the day as they were before.

Thanks for all your help.

Our #3 son after delivery had some problems with his blood sugar, he wasn't latching and sucking and I asked the nurse to check him and his bs was 41. That's the only problem he had, but I'm hoping that doing this right will help #4 to do better.

[Keezheekoni]

Hello, wife!

Insulin usually doesn't take very long to take effect. Your numbers could be higher because you're stressed out having to take insulin now. The biggest problem is that you're on a mixed insulin which doesn't provide a stable, clock-able stream of insulin in your system. For some people it sticks around quite awhile, some it goes away quickly. It could also be because you are later in the pregnancy and the baby is making you want higher carb foods than you normally would eat.

Milk, for me, is a big no-no. The lactose will spike me for HOURS... it's insane.

Try and stick to as low carb as you can. Honestly, with the little amount of insulin you're taking, I'm not sure that it's really going to help all that much at all. Gestational diabetes is a lot like Type 2, which means that your body is going to resist the extra insulin you're giving it. Problem with that is, it means you'll end up needing more and more insulin, rather than the little amount that you're taking now.

I hope that everything goes well with this baby and that you're happily nursing him soon!

[June91]

I don't know about adjusting, but have you gone off your oral meds completely? If you had decent control, I would not have recommended it. By decent control I mean no highs that last more than a few hours and no lows that require someone else's help. I most certainly, as a Type 1, had bgs nowhwere near 100 fasting and 140 post ever during my pregnancy. Again, that's just me. And why so late? There is no time for adjustment of any kind here.

But having said that, and seeing as you only have a couple of weeks until the baby is born, please talk to your doctor as soon as possible and see if he doesn't feel your bgs were better on orals. Maybe there is some other reason you're on insulin that we don't know about?

what Rikki said on trying to low carb. It's only for a short while. I do feel for you, as this final sprint is the time when you just want to get it over with, especially with a big baby (mine was 4.5kg, and I am 164cm tall).

((Hugs)) Keep us posted!

[Ricros]

Thanks ladies. They never had me on orals. I was passing most of my tests and just started being over 100 fasting in the last 2 weeks. I have to test after every meal and was failing about 4 times a week. None of my tests were ever over 180 before. I'll call the dr Monday morning and see what they say. I was hoping that maybe it was just a normal beginning reaction.

Part of the reason they wanted me to start insulin was because I had cut milk out of my diet to make my numbers and they want me to drink it. Now I just have to figure out when I can. I've been following/monitoring for the whole pregnancy so I know I can do it, it's just a question of HOW? I was diet controled the last 3 pregnancies so insulin is a whole new stress to me.

Thanks again.

[amyjo29]

My morning fast was under 95 and my 2hr was under 120