Type2-VERY Insulin Resistance on Humalog

[Ron2nd]

Hello, I was diagnosed with type 2 about 7 years ago. I was finally able to control somewhat my diabetes when they switched me to Humalog. It will bring my sugars down but I need to take alot and of course it only last about 4 hours. I also take Glucophage. But the amount of insulin is crazy just to try and keep my numbers under 200 I take on average 50 units about 4 times a day, thus I go thru a whole vial of insulin in about 4-5 days. When I see the Dr's they are just amazed that I need that much insulin. Just wondering if anyone of you is this insulin resistant and need that much? I mean Humalog is one of the very powerful ones that act fast and bring it down fast from what I have seen. When Lantus came out that did not even make a dent and I was using even more Novalog in the beginning. The down side I will no longer have insurance soon and I have no idea how anyone could or can afford all the testing strips- 6 a day and then the insulin..May have to go untreated......Again thanks for any info or advice. :confused:

[sydneya]

Don't even think about going untreated. The consequences are too grave. There are places--state organizations, pharmacy programs, etc. --that may be able to help. Start now by checking with the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and state agencies to see what will be available for you. Hopefully someone from the forum will give you better advise than I have.
Leaving without limbs, eyesite, kidney and liver function would not be pleasant.
Yes, I am very insulin resistant. I take 60 Units of Lantus once a day and 30-40 units of Humalog three times a day. And lately I have very seldom gone below 200. I have made arrangements to change to a endocrinologist because I'm hoping that a pump will get me in control. My internist wouldn't hear of it.

Whatever you can do, do it. Where do you live? It might help for members of the forum to know this since finding help will depend on where you live.

Good luck finding a solution. My suggestion is to keep posting here. You will find many knowledgeable people. It is nice to have you!!

[seacomp]

thus I go thru a whole vial of insulin in about 4-5 days. As in the comment above, your condition is too serious NOT to treat.
There are "extra strength" insulins used for your situation. One excert from the web (just a search of U500 insulin)
# U500 insulin has 500 units of insulin in 1 mL. This type of insulin is rarely used, and mainly for people who are insulin-resistant. Insulin resistance is a condition where a person's body cannot respond to and use insulin as it should. You will use a U500 syringe for this type of insulin. Read the insulin bottle carefully to be sure you are taking the right kind of insulin.

# If you are taking both U100 and U500 insulin types, it is very important that you use the right syringe for each type of insulin. If the wrong syringe is used, you may be giving yourself too much or too little insulin. Store the U100 insulin with the U100 syringes. Store the U500 insulin with the U500 syringes. This may help you to use the right syringes to draw up your insulin dosage.

[KickStart101]

Hello Ron And Welcome. :hello: I hope that you stick around and post your
questions. I'm Type 1 and I think the 1st time I saw anyone taking
100 units of Insulin was about 1 yr. after I had joined this Forum. I
seriously couldn't believe anyone could take that much Insulin and
still have high sugars. I'm sorry to hear that you are in that state.
When I was taking 30 mgs. of Prednisone, I was taking about 55 to
60 units of Insulin(which I hated)and my sugars were usually between
18.3/330 to about 22.6/410. It was so frustrating. So I sort of know
what you are going through. I just hope that you can find a regimen
that works good for you. Good Luck to you. :thumbsup:

[Cyborg]

Are you sure you are type 2? Many type 1.5's get misdiagnosed as type 2....

[Simon]

Have you tried getting your insulin resistance down by exercising? It can make a huge difference.

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the forum. Lots of great people and information here.

Karen

[jeggeman31]

I use between 80 units and 150 units a day depending on what I eat.

[EdnaDeel]

hi and welcome to the forums
I use about 110 units aday also
so i know about where you are coming from
I hope all works out with your insurance situation
Good Luck

[Ron2nd]

Thanks for all the quick responses to my new post. I will look into the u500 had never heard of that and also never heard the term Type 1.5 either. I am a big heavy guy at 6'6" and about 350 pounds. As some of you also know how hard it is to try and loose weight when taking insulin and when you take as much as I do and from what I have read some of you also take alot on a daily basis it makes loosing weight even harder. Thanks again

[Brenda A]

My doc gave me Symlin because of my resistance. It slows the digestion so you don't get a surge of sugar rise from eating. Sometimes the more insulin you take the more you need a round robin thing! It is the way resistance works. I am on Humilin R and Symlin now and my sugars are mostly very good. This was not always the case!!! You might read the book Insulin Resistance Diet. It really has made a difference in my sugars. When you have this you have to look at carbs different. You still eat them but the amt and timing. Bal of protein and carb is vital for insulin Resistant. It makes life better and you feel better:dancing2: . It tells you why you don't lose the way others do, and why your body stores your carbs. Give it a try.:rock:

[shanda]

Hi Ron and welcome to the Forum :)

I'm sure you'll get lots of info and ideas here from the many people using insulin. I wish you the best of luck treating this and hope you get some help with it.

Take care,
shanda

[beveykin]

Hi Ron and welcome I use 60 units per day so not too bad. Sure you get some great advise from the guys

[Glycem]

I think I need to check into getting different insulin's. My bg's have gone through the roof lately and of course a1c is up, not as bad as I thought thou, believe it was 7.8. I know that's high but not nearly as much as I thought.

I've been taking humulin n 85u in am and 90u in pm and then shoot up around 150u of humalog a day and my bg seem to constantly get in 3-400's. Figured I've been insulin resistant for awhile.

Today was freaky thou, bg been around 400 all day and while I was driving today my eyes started jumping or something, it was weird it was like oncoming cars where coming at me head on.

This disease just pisses me off, growing up when out working I never had really "Good" control and was passing out all the time at work, driving, school whatever... A1C always around 3 or something, Ambulance would bring me into hospital and they would tell wife or parents that I'd be around 15bg and still falling.

Now, I have constant highs and have gotten all fat and I eat as cheap as possible, like ramen noodles and dollar menu's. There's no "Control" unless your rich and/or have excellent health insurance and can afford to eat healthier foods.

I'm so sorry to rant especially on someone Else's thread but I'm so tired of this nasty disease. Can't even seem to shoot up enough to OD. Fill up a syringe and shoot and I guarantee my bg would just go threw the roof again...

Man, you all probably think I'm an (_!_), I come around every once and while say something here or there and then be gone for another 6mo. I do apologize for anything offensive I've said or done (like when I first came and tried selling a pump). I'm just not the brightest person but I try to be friendly. All I know is I am unable to understand what to do to "Control" this disease, I've tried telling Dr's that but they just laugh it off like they really don't understand, I'm just absolutely clueless.

[jillrapp]

Ron,
You might want to talk to your dr's about a basal insulin - one that will work in the background to help your numbers overall. NHP, Levemir, Lantus, etc. I take that with metformin and I don't end up needing something to cover my meals. Good luck!

[xMenace]

Uhmmm, this is two+ years old. I doubt Ron is reading this.

[Jill-O]

Hi, and welcome here from Virginia.

Have you talked to your doctor about adding Byetta to your lineup? I use Byetta, Humalog, and Lantus. I've only been on the Byetta for about 3mos but from right at the start, it's felt like a miracle. It helps me a lot and I use a lot less insulin and have much better numbers.

Good luck,
Jill