need more insulin lately, why?

[airtas]

I have had to up my insulin doasge a little bit, is this common if so why?

[fgummett]

I will assume Type 1 D based on where this is posted.

Yes, I believe it is common for your body's insulin needs to vary, day by day, season by season, year by year etc...

Possibly an infection, or stress, or eating more than before, or exercising less than before, or put on a little weight and getting some insulin resistance..? I really don't mean to seem facetious but hard to say with so little info. :)

How old are you, how many years with D, how often do you test, what are your Fasting and Post-Prandial BGs like, what insulin(s) are you on, how much and how often?

[Subby]

How much is a little bit? How long is lately?

[UpNorth]

There are SO many things that can make you need more insulin. Activity level, stress, hormones in general, seasons and many other things can affect your insulin needs. If you're newly diagnosed then maybe the honeymoon is ending.


I'm currently hit really hard by summer temperatures, and constantly lowering my insulin doses at the moment, and fighting off hypos and general lows several times every day:eek: My pump basal is currently running on 80% of the usual basal, and STILL have had 2 hypos today :o

[Mich]

If diagnosed in the last few months, your pancreas might still be working a bit.

If you're pumping: First of all, is pump working correctly?

1. Try a new bottle of insulin. Insulin could be bad.
2. Less active than before?
3. Getting sick but don't realize it yet? Having more pain than usual? Both cause physical stress. Under emotional stress?
4. Change any meds recently? Using steroid cream for itching?


If none of the above, note it on the calendar. May turn out to be seasonal related to cold weather or allergens.

Those are my usual suspects ;) Mich

[rzrbks]

airtas
I have had to up my insulin doasge a little bit, is this common if so why?

Basal or bolus?

My basal rarely changes although I test it about every six weeks.

My bolus can change from day-to-day......meal to meal even.

[xMenace]

It could be poor absorption. Are you using multiple sites and rotating regularly?

[airtas]

i have been diabetic for 5 yrs and yes type 1.

now that I think of it usually the month of MAY I generally need more insulin

I have gained 4 pounds the past 2 months what is insulin resistance?

and I use lantus once daily

and humalog for meals

[airtas]

what is insulin resistance?

[n1000paul]

sounds just like me. I'm having to up my dosage's too but I'm still not seeing the results that I wish. I guess I'll just have to keep upping it. Or does anyone think differently?

[dbc]

i have been diabetic for 5 yrs and yes type 1.

now that I think of it usually the month of MAY I generally need more insulin

I have gained 4 pounds the past 2 months what is insulin resistance?

and I use lantus once daily

and humalog for meals

Insulin resistance is the "condition" whereby your body does not use the existing insulin in your system properly. Usually the dominant issue in T2 diabetes, but can affect long-term T1s sometimes.

You say you've gained a bit of weight lately - if you're significantly overweight insulin resistance could be coming into play - but I don't think 4 pounds is going to do it if you're not overweight to start with.

As other have said - the rate at which we use insulin is not fixed, we all have to adjust periodically. And the tighter your control, the more often you're likely to have to make adjustments, I think.

good luck!

[airtas]

lantus went from 23 units to 28, normal?

also does belly fat not absorb insulin as well?

[Alice]

I rarely need to change mine more than 1 or two units. I've just had an unusual need to lower 3-4 units (from 24-25 units down to 21)...which has been the biggest reduction for me in a while.

Several reasons that I can imagine...

1) I've lost a few pounds...not much...but I'm only 5'2" and a pound or two makes a big difference in how I "feel".

2) Summer temps...although I'm no longer in an extreme cold winter area...the last few weeks have been warmer than the mild winter.

3) I was probably taking one or two more units than I really needed...I've really cut my snacking down and am noticing my "bolus" much more than before.

I did a fasting bolus test the other morning...I woke to 89, took my one Lantus dose...rose to about 144 (prior Lantus completely gone then)...then dropped and stayed at around 90for the next 4 hours until I had lunch...

That was a pretty "on the mark" bolus considering I had dropped my units over the last week or so.

That is one reason I like to take my Lantus in the morning...convenient fasting time to watch the start up action and the leveling out...tough to do at night.

[shiftzor]

lantus went from 23 units to 28, normal?

also does belly fat not absorb insulin as well?

I would say yes, insulin requirements constantly change and can be due to any number of possibilities, such as exercise, illness, stress, weather etc. Belly fat is where you want to inject insulin into, muscles tend to accelerate the effect of insulin and veins/arteries cause bleeding or bruising.

[airtas]

what impact does weather have?

[Subby]

As to why weather can have an impact, I don't have a really good answer. But it does seems the case that people's metabolism can sometimes change in different temperatures.

For me, hot weather often increases my basal needs - at a guess, a hot summer day I can need maybe 20% more, and I need to be very careful with meals and bolusing too - as my BG loves to go high in the heat - and stubbornly stay there.