Humalog Dose Confusion

[Puppypants]

My doctor put me on Humalog while I am taking Prednisone for a severe allergic reaction to Enalapril. He has me doing a sliding scale based in what my numbers are before meals.

I use the appropriate dose according to my pre-numbers, but my blood sugar continues to be over 200 throughout the day. I generally eat very low carb (30 g or less per meal). Should I be taking more throughout the day to try and get my numbers stabilized? I worry when I am over 140 because I already have foot, kidney, and eye issues. Previous to all this allergy business, I had very tight control through my diet, exercise and meds . I am very confused!!

[Jan B]

If I were you, I would take more. We are all different -- I know that any kind of cortisone seems to make my insulin almost ineffective. It might feel a little strange to keep taking more, but it sounds like you need to! The Humalog lasts about 3-4 hours tops for me.

[owlyn]

Nice try on your doctor's part, but when you are on a steroid, taking more insulin causes the liver to dump more glucose. You can't catch up. The more insulin you take, the more you'll need. This is one of the reasons people gain weight while on steroids. Additionally, the steroid can also cause the body to not be able to absorb the glucose as well, so you are hit twice. I suppose that eventually you can take so much that the liver won't have any more glucose to dump, but do you want to wind up looking like Jerry Lewis? If you are only on prednisone for a few days, I would just accept that your BG will be high for a few days and not worry about it. My BG was so high when I was on prednisone that I checked with the doctor and stopped taking it after two days.

[Puppypants]

LOL, Owlyn - I surely don't want to look loke Jerry Lewis! I have to be on the prednisone for 10 days because the allergic reaction was so severe. My throat closed so quickly and completely that I couldn't even speak.

My concern with being high for any time at all it probably paranoia on my part - I had ignored my diabetic symptoms for so long that I ended up damaging my eyes, kidneys, and feet, so anytime I am higher that my 140 limit, I kind of panic.

Jan, I may just try a bit more insulin to see if it at least curbs some of the highs. It sure is worth a shot!

[notme]

Be careful about stacking insulin or trying to take more to catch up with your blood sugar. Predisone is mean. I would stay on your dose and accept the 140's. Actually, for being on prednisone, that isn't half bad. Come off steriods as soon as possible and things will return to normal in a few days.

[Puppypants]

Nancy, I've been over 200 while on both the recommended dose of insulin and the prednisone. My usual high number while not on the prednisone is never over 140. I surely do feel yucky when I'm over 200.

I'm not sure what stacking insulin means - can I take too much? Sorry to have so many questions, but insulin is a whole new ball game to me!