[Ashingtonpark]

Hi Everyone

I have just found this site, I'm a veteran of Type 1 Diabetes for 29yrs! I was told many years ago that Diabetes would be the hardest thing to live with, and up until now, they were wrong! I was also diagnosed with Sarcoidosis 20 yrs ago. I have no diabetic complications - Thank goodness. I have been blessed with having a beautiful child - who does have medical issues, but my hubby has a strong line of Spina Bifida in is family. My AIC reading us usually between 7-8. I do this on purpose has a I Hypo at 5 mmols.

So here is my issue - all my doctors are now nagging me to get it lower. I believe if it's not broken why fix it? I feel great!! NO COMPLICATIONS at all. So they are talking about putting me on Metformin. I have had experience with this drug - I have seen my Mother (Type 2) take it and now has renal impairment. My Dad has Kidney Cancer, so I don't have the best family in the way of Kidneys! I really don't want to risk it. Up until yesterday I was taking Actrapid and Protophane mixed morning and evening and Actrapid at lunch - I'm an old fashion girl!! I still use syringes as well!!!

So they talked me into Novo rapid, started yesterday and bam had a hypo!!! So have reduced by 2 units this morning and I will see what happens. They would like to our to put me onto Levemir, but I would need to mix it I guess, or does anyone out there has a similar story with going from Actrapid/Protophane to Novo rapid and Levemir and not mixing??? I would be keen to hear your experiences.

Thanks all for listening.

Sarah-Jane Type 1 29yrs
Melbourne Australia

[notme]

Hi Sarah-Jane, Welcome to Diabetes Forums. I am glad you found us and decided to join.

I am wondering why your doctor is prescribing metformin to a type 1. Do you have some type of insulin resistance as well as type one diabetes?

Your A1c tells me that you are still running fairly high and those numbers do need to come down. It is wonderful that you have not suffered any complications and I am sure your doctor would like to keep it that way. An A1c of 7-8 means that your blood sugar is running somewhere between 9.55 to 11.53 mg/dL to mmol/L. You are feeling hypo at 5 mmols because your body is used to the higher numbers. As you get your fasting and postprandial numbers down, you won't feel hypo at such a high number.

I have had diabetes for 21 years and so far no complications. I started getting things in better control after about ten years. As we age, we stand a higher risk, even without diabetes, of health issues. Getting your numbers as close to normal blood sugar range can only help you in the future.

Welcome!!!

[adiantum]

G'day Sarah-Jane, I'm glad you found this site as it's the best support system that I know.
I too used to go hypo when my bg was at 5, but that's because I'd been high for so many years . Now that my A1C has come down & my av bg readings have been stable for the past 6 months, I dont get hypo's unless the bg drops to low 3's.
I hope you can get your A1C down.
Cheers, Lee

[mortis505]

Hello Sarah-Jane and welcome to DF! Many who have run high feel hypo at normal numbers and are often scared by it and tend to run higher to avoid that feeling. Its very common and nothing to be worried about.

As far as your Novorapid, Are you taking it based on the number of carbs that you eat? Or just a set dose per meal? Many are on a sliding scale dosing Insulin to the number of carbs they eat. ex. 1 unit per 15 grams of carbs or 1:15.

Levemir is a Basal insulin taken once or twice per day(some split the dose), and I dont believe I've heard of anyone mixing it, but I may be wrong.

[DCaplinger]

Originally Posted by Ashingtonpark

My AIC reading us usually between 7-8. I do this on purpose has a I Hypo at 5 mmols.

You aren't really having a hypo at 5 mmols. You're having what I like to call a false hypo. The reason is because your body is not used to having sugars below 5 mmols, so when it falls below that, you get a false hypo. If you were to stay at a more reasonable level, your body would adjust, and you would return to feeling normal at sugars below 5. I used to get hypo when I'd fall below 6 mmol. Now I don't go hypo until I fall below 4.4 mmol.

Good luck to you.

Regards,

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the forum, Sarah-Jane. Glad to have you with us!

Karen