Suddenly, everything has just stopped working

[Dante's Prayer]

I'm just so tired of this, I don't know...

For a few months I had things fairly under control, but now it seems the insulin has just stopped working. No matter how much I inject, as long as I eat carbs my measurements are very bad. Especially at lunch and dinner. I can only bring things down if I only eat meat and vegetables.

I can't understand how suddenly, in the space of 1-2 days I have developed such an incredible insulin-resistance. At first I though it might be the bottle, because it did turn slightly brown, but I replaced it with a new one and its still the same thing. I'm using fast-acting Novolog by the way.

So basically it seems like I'm screwed. I already take in around 42 units a day +25 night-time Levemir, and since I have to pay for all my test strips and insulin I really can't afford to increase it by much.

But the last thing I'm gonna do is search for a doctor again (long story), so please if anyone has any similar experiences/advice to share I'd be very grateful, cause things are looking very bleak and I have a ton of other problems on my head already.

Thanks

edit: and I have no illness, diseases, infections, etc. Nothing has changed at all.

[Twistedtexan]

No change in medication or possibly fat intake ? Some medications and fat intake can definetly play a part in higher insulin resistance.

[Dante's Prayer]

No change in medication or possibly fat intake ? Some medications and fat intake can definetly play a part in higher insulin resistance.

I'm not always sure what falls under fat...admittedly I've been eating a lot of butter, but it says 0 carbs so I thought I was safe...

[Twistedtexan]

I've found that as my fat intake increses so do my Blood Glucose numbers.

[xMenace]

Are you rotating injection sites? Overuse can definately affect things. Make sure the lantus goes in a good site as it's the full day one.

[Twistedtexan]

Are you rotating injection sites? Overuse can definately affect things. Make sure the lantus goes in a good site as it's the full day one.

Good point xMenace.Also,when I was on Lantus my doctor told me to keep the Lantus and Novolog injection sites apart from each other.Like one in the stomach and one in the thigh.

[Emm]

Sorry if you're male... but if female, are hormones playing with you? A lot of women experience a time of high insulin resistance around that time of the month. If this is the case you may be in for a fairly sudden drop when things calm down.

Failing that, it could be some illness you're not yet aware of, or as mentioned earlier, that you need to rotate your sites a bit more. Or, or or... lots of other explanations I'm afraid. Just keep a close eye on things and don't let it get you down :)

Are you getting exercise? That can make such a huge positive difference to insulin absorbtion - a handy tool for anyone wanting to save money on insulin too, I guess!

[Dante's Prayer]

I'm male

I inject the levemir in my thighs and the Novorapid in my stomach, trying to rotate sites as much as I can...though admittedly I have been getting a few rashes/red spots around those areas. But what can you do when you have to inject yourself with a needle so many times a day. I didn't think it can make that big of a difference though. I'll keep rotating, but I don't know...

I've been drinking water like a cow too, so at least no Acetone so far...but the numbers are still bad.

[lisa821]

Emm has a good point--you might be developing an infection that hasn't made itself obvious yet. The last time I had a urinary tract infection, the only symptoms I had at first were unexplained high blood sugars. It seemed like no matter what I did, I was getting readings over 200. After a week of that, I developed the usual urinary tract infection symptoms (I'd had them before and knew immediately when one was starting). My endo suggested that the next time I had two or three days of unexplained high blood sugars, I should come in and have them do some bloodwork that might help track an infection. Maybe you could try that?

~Lisa

[Dante's Prayer]

well, I hope its not an infection. Physically I feel fine, I haven't gotten sick or injured in a long time...but yeah, I guess you never know. I'll see.

and btw thanks for the help everyone.

[mortis505]

How long ago were you diagnosed??? Were you previously honeymooning???
Whats your typical diet consist of???

Many factors can play a part in increasing BG numbers. The trick is finding what it may be.

[TenderVittleS]

The only thing I would try is a new brand of insulin. Try Humalog or Apidra for fast acting and Lantus or NPH for long acting. Hope you feel better soon!

[tulkas]

Hi,
Maybe a silly question as you prob. would have mentioned it, but have you taken any new medicine lately. I got a cortisone shot a few months back and it caused me to increase my insulin doses by almost 300% (lasted about 4 weeks). Just a thought.
Tim

[SueM]

I see you changed your bolus insulin just in case there was a problem. Have you changed your Levemir too?
How about splitting the Levemir into 2 doses you will prob find you will have a lot better coverage with it.

[xMenace]

I've had these episodes over the years too. I hated them.

I know food is a big variable. Have you tried cutting way back to very friendly stuff? You mentioned lots of butter; maybe cut that out too.

[Dante's Prayer]

I see you changed your bolus insulin just in case there was a problem. Have you changed your Levemir too?
How about splitting the Levemir into 2 doses you will prob find you will have a lot better coverage with it.

Hmm...so maybe one at night and one at around lunch time? I suppose I could try that...but heh I don't even want to count how many injections a day this is getting up to.

[Emm]

Hehe I remember having that thought myself...

Now I take up to 10 injections a day. Geez, sometimes more! I just don't care - because it feels so good to have good tight control, and I'm so used to the needles I don't feel a thing. I'd take more if I had to.

How about you - do you care about an extra jab if you offers you better control? If it's a problem, don't split your basal - but if you don't mind, split away! It works for pretty much everyone who tries it (as far as I've seen so far anyway) and I would totally suggest it to anyone.

[lilituc]

Did your insulin go bad? How long have you been using each vial? How do you store them?

[caswellhb]

Fats, such as butter tend to carry the carbs longer. Try "dialing back" on that and see what happens.

Heather.