Insulin and Fluid Retention?

[CynthiaJ]

After spending way too much time at that river in Egypt, I'm trying to get back on track. With a A1C of 14.5 (!!), I asked for a combo of insulin (levemir and humalog) and metformin to get my sugar down. The Humalog doesn't seem to be working well in the bolus department; I'm wondering if a different insulin might be better. I am having a devil of a time with fastings being high; one morning I was 140 at 5 am and, still fasting, 230 at 6:30 am!!! Worse, in 2 weeks, I've gained 6 pounds and I'm sure it's fluid because my face is puffy (also my feet and fingers) and my BP is up. I'm trying to lose 30 more pounds, so this is not happy news. I'd like to minimize the insulin, although I know I can get tight control and wouldn't mind using it forever if I could get the right balance and get the weight off. I'd also like to know what my pancreas is really doing. My experience with allopathic docs is that they only want to do a fasting BG or an A1C and look at me sideways when I ask for something more indepth. What should I ask for in terms of additional testing? And, if anyone has had a similar experience and has some suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Thanks in advance!

[CynthiaJ]

I was hoping I would get some responses to my question. I'm off to another forum. Thanks anyway!

[gossie]

I'd love to get some information as well. I've gained 7 lbs since starting insulin, and my ankles, feet and legs are way too swollen.

[Emm]

Might be better off asking about insulin related questions in an area with more insulin users... perhaps just the base diabetes area, or the type 1 area...

but anyway, I don't know about insulin causing puffiness, I do know that female hormones are famous for it! Can't say that insulin doesn't cause puffiness either... it might.

Could it just be that insulin has worked, and you can now put on weight because your body is working properly - digesting properly and absorbing the glucose that it was starved of before?

As for morning numbers - that's pretty typical. Once you're awake, or for some people, hours before they wake, the liver encourages a burst of glucose to give you energy to face the day. That's why I test and inject a big dose as soon as I wake up. I keep going up until I eat breakfast :(

[Penny]

After spending way too much time at that river in Egypt, I'm trying to get back on track. With a A1C of 14.5 (!!), I asked for a combo of insulin (levemir and humalog) and metformin to get my sugar down. The Humalog doesn't seem to be working well in the bolus department; I'm wondering if a different insulin might be better. I am having a devil of a time with fastings being high; one morning I was 140 at 5 am and, still fasting, 230 at 6:30 am!!! Worse, in 2 weeks, I've gained 6 pounds and I'm sure it's fluid because my face is puffy (also my feet and fingers) and my BP is up. I'm trying to lose 30 more pounds, so this is not happy news. I'd like to minimize the insulin, although I know I can get tight control and wouldn't mind using it forever if I could get the right balance and get the weight off. I'd also like to know what my pancreas is really doing. My experience with allopathic docs is that they only want to do a fasting BG or an A1C and look at me sideways when I ask for something more indepth. What should I ask for in terms of additional testing? And, if anyone has had a similar experience and has some suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Thanks in advance!

It'd not that you are being ignored, just that the people who might answer your question have not been on or have not got to your post yest. Sometimes there are so many, it takes awhile to get through all of them. I use Novolog and Lantus and notice weight gain when I increase my dosage. I do get the puffiness from time to time, but usually my water pill takes care of it.