[tao1776]

I self diagnosed my diabetes in 1996. My doctor felt that I was mistaken but blood tests confirmed my instincts. I was 195 @ 5'11". Knowing what I know now, I strongly suspect that I had diabetes as early as 1980 and then I was 175lbs. We did the usual oral meds for several years and my blood sugars numbers were always on the high side. The only time that they were consistently good was when I did strict Atkins.
Now, I'm 210 and take humulin 70/30 2xday @ 35-40 units. For me and many other people, insurance etc... is an issue. My GP doctor is limited in her diabetic talents. I am still trying to recover from losing a great paying job due to downsize and money is scarce. My diet is too high in carbs because it's cheap. Toast in the a.m. Tuna 6" from Subway at lunch and whatever one can scrounge up for dinner. Not a good way to control blood sugars!
Well...that's me in a nutshell.
I need to get healthy.
I want to learn from others that use insulin.
I have many questions and feel quite isolated. The lonely diabetic! Ugh!!!! No one would ever suspect that I was a diabetic to look at me. But it is slowly killing me.
And I don't like it.

[xMenace]

Welcome.

Have you explored other insulin options? Mixes are my last choice. Their flexibility is very limited and their ability to fit basic needs is pretty much impossible.

[tao1776]

What are the other insulin choices?

[xMenace]

MDI or multiple daily injections is the most common. Insulin pumps are the best, but they are pricey without insurance ($7k).

You have two sources of blood sugar: that consumed and that released constantly by your liver. Basal insulin covers the liver and bolus insulin covers food, primarily carbs. We try as best we can to match each insulin to our needs. The mix is a set ratio, but everyone here has a different ratio. Some are 70/30 and some are 50/50 and some are 40/60. Then there's corrections. To correct with a mix means you are adding more of both types, long and short acting.

Basals: Lantus, Levemir, NPH (older)
Bolus: Novalog (Novarapid), Humalog, Regular/Toronto (older), Apidra

The cheapest is probably a combo of NPH and regular. The problem is regular is too slow and NPH spikes. Some here do them. Many of us have done them before the other ones were developed. Lantus and Lev are 24hr durations with no spiking. H & N are rapid with a 4-6 hour duration. Apidra is even quicker.

Pumpers use rapid acting only, except for a few that use regular.

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to the forum, tao1776.

Karen