Pump and Chromium

[flash]

I am on the pump and my sugars haven't been that good. I was wondering if I should take Chromium Polinate to help with my sugars ? Would I be better taking Metiformin or Actos or the Chromium to assist my insulin pump to control my glucose levels. Does anyone know how the Chromium Polinate
helps with the glucose levels ? My sugars have been high despite being on the insulin pump, I think due to resistance and gastoparies.

Flash

[notme]

Flash, no matter what the reason, your pump should be able to compensate for insulin resistance or gastroparesis. You may need fine tune your basal rate or up your carb to insulin ratio, but that should fix any resistance problems. As far as gastroparesis, you may need to take your insulin 15 minutes before a meal or more depending on how severe the problem is. Talk to your doctor. Chromium is not one of the minerals you should mess with, without a doctors advice. It can be toxic.

You may find that metformin helps if your are extremely insulin resistant.

[Cyborg]

So.... What's the problem? Did you do your basal testing? Are your carb ratios correct? Did you test your ISF? Here (http://www.insulin-pumpers.org/howto.shtml) is a great site to help you fine tune your pump. Good luck and best wishes. Don't give up, it can be done...

[flash]

Thanks for the web site it looks helpful. Does anyone know how Chromium works ?

Flash

[sbigelow]

Chromium doesn't work. I don't care what anyone says. The stuff is ****. I know its a bad word but exercise is your best weapon against resistance. (my opinion). :trytofly:

[melissata]

Have you looked into Symlin? A number of type 1's are having good results using it to lose weight and use less insulin across the board.

[Just_Plain_John]

Thanks for the web site it looks helpful. Does anyone know how Chromium works ? Flash

Here is a brief summary from Northwestern University's medical school's website: Nutrition Fact Sheet: Chromium , Nutrition, Feinberg School of Medicine (http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/nutrition/factsheets/chromium.html)

At the bottom is a list of food sources for chromium. Note in mid-page it mentions that supplements are not very effective at providing chromium, but food sources are (I think this is due to the way enzymes pass digestion products along to other processes).

I agree with sbigelow - exercise is a hugely effective way to knock down a sugar high. Many times I will make time for a walk or a few minutes of a strenuous exercise to bring an unexpected high down.

[Mitochondria]

Many times I will make time for a walk or a few minutes of a strenuous exercise to bring an unexpected high down.

Exercise always helps me to control my sugar. I exercise regularly though, not in response to a high blood sugar. You should be carefull exercising if your BG is greater than 250mg/dl. In that case you should probably take a bolus to bring your sugars down to a somewhat normal range before doing any strenous exercise.

[mark-TN]

As far as gastroparesis, you may need to take your insulin 15 minutes before a meal or more depending on how severe the problem is. I believe you meant to say take your insulin at or after your meal. Gastroparesis slows the digestion of food and if insulin is taken too soon relative to the digestion of the food the insulin can easily out pace the food at cause a low. Depending on how severe it is you may need to take your insulin with your meal or after you eat. Get some advise from your doctor.

Mark

[Cyborg]

Gastroparesis can easily handled with extended boluses while on the pump.

[flash]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Flash