Need help

[Oradev]

I have been experiencing some problems lately and wondered if anyone could help. Since being on Lantus, whenever I would go out on the weekends and eat out, or drink a few beers my blood sugar would shoot up (250 range). This saturday, I ate a chicken sandwich and fries, which had around about 90 total carbs. I bolus 11 units (1:10 insulin to carb ratio) and felt fine until like 5 hours after the meal. That is when I began to feel tired, depressed, etc. and knew my blood sugar was high. And I only had about 3 beers total which were miller lite (3.2 carbs). When I got back, my sugar was 263. I don't get it, it seems with Lantus my blood sugar goes down after the meal but then bounces back up later. This even happens after lunch sometimes. So I am back on NPH. It seems with NPH I have a little more lows, but I feel 1000 times better, and would rather feel better. Could someone give me some advice. I'm at my wits end!!

[Lorna]

If you are eating foods that or high in starch or fat, and are absorbed slowly into your blood stream, it could be that teh insulin is working before the glucose from the food reaches your blood. you may want to delay your injection of fast acting insulin. Also has anyone else found that on Lantus, the effect that alcohol has on blood glucose is far less?

[rzrbks]

two guesses:

1. you're one of those people for which Lantus just isn't going to work

2. the alkyhol:rolleyes: , I'm not much of a drinker(two-thre times a year)--nothing against it, just don't like anything which alters my mental control--but with the glass of wine or cocktail my B/G is off--

[lumplump]

I've actually had my bg drop afetr a couple beers. Even went off the deep end because I was down to about 60. I ate less before, because I assumed it would go up.

I think part of your problem is the flat curve Lantus has. My sugar intake and subsequent bg levels are never a flat curve. Maybe some day they'll figure out a way to make it respond to your present state.

I still get occasional readings the opposite of what I expect.

As for feeling better, I noticed if my bg stays at a high level for an extended period I'll feel most comfortable at that level and very uncomfortable at the levels I should be at. If I maintain the lower levels anyway I will slowly get accustomed and will start feeling better. I noticed this when I switched from metformin to actos. I was pretty shaky for a couple of weeks. I dropped from an average of 250-300 to between 100-150.

[Oradev]

lumplump,

are you a type 1? I am asking this because I though only type 2's can take actos.

[Jon]

Is it possible that you are dropping too low then rebounding? I have heard that some people don't feel lows with lantus the way they do with other insulins.

[Oradev]

bump

[Oradev]

So do you guys think that I should delay my insulin to 10 - 15 minutes after I eat? My sugar is fine one hour after my meal, but shoots up after that.

[rzrbks]

Oradev

So do you guys think that I should delay my insulin to 10 - 15 minutes after I eat? My sugar is fine one hour after my meal, but shoots up after that.

You might want to try that--

you could also see to what effect adjusting the # of beers you have has on B/G 2 hrs. out, 3 hrs. out etc.

But whatever you do just make one change at a time, otherwise you'll not know what causes what

such as, don't change inject time and # of beers, you'll be just as lost as ever


BTW, is the (3.2 carbs). , total or net. That would make a Big difference too.

[Oradev]

3.2 carbs per beer. But I think it is actually the food that is causing my bs to rise, not the beer

[Harold]

I am asking this because I though only type 2's can take actos.

Evidently they are now using it in conjunction with insulin.
ACTOS (http://www.actos.com/)

When you drink alcohol the liver starts processing right away and keeps it occupied. Alcohol also seems to slow down digestion for many and this maybe what you are seeing.

[Oradev]

Originally posted by Harold
Evidently they are now using it in conjunction with insulin.
ACTOS (http://www.actos.com/)



I think only people with Type 2 can take Actos. That is what the site says.

I will try a couple of tests and see what is happening. I will let you guys know.

Adam

[Harold]

From the page at the bottom above the blue line and "terms and conditions."

Management of type 2 diabetes requires nutritional counseling, weight reduction as needed, and exercise. When diet and exercise are not enough, ACTOS may be used alone or in combination with sulfonylureas, metformin, or insulin to improve blood sugar control.

I'm taking Avandia and when I started taking it they said not to take it with insulin. Now I see they have changed that as well.

[rzrbks]

Harold

I'm taking Avandia and when I started taking it they said not to take it with insulin. Now I see they have changed that as well.

yep, I was on Avandia, Lantus and Novolog all at once from day one of Dx.

[Shalyndria]

Oradev,
Alcohol can inhibit or cause your liver to produce glycogen (stored sugars) unnecessarily as the alcohol is digested. This may be the reason you are seeing postprandial highs, in which case you may have to give a correction injection at the time you see a rise in your BG's.

Shy

[Oradev]

Ok, I will try to take the injection 15 minutes after my meal and see if that helps out at all. Tomorrow will be my trial day. And I will also try the thing with alcohol too one day this week. That should be fun!!!! Ok, i'll give some updates tomorrow.