Should I be on U500?

[Type I Tester]

Ok

Since I am having trouble regulating my diabetes, How then should I accomodate Insulin Usage?

The current way I take my insulin isn't helping at all

My sliding scale starts at 4 now

150 - 200 4 IU

200 - 250 5 IU



and so on and so forth until 500 is reached.

Today I went blind temporarily. I was blind for an hour or so *it happened when I was driving, luckily I had just parked.* and my sight came back.

I think I am thoroughly scared now. I won't be able to see my wife or my son grow up if I go blind.

What does U500 insulin do? Does it work more effectively than U100?

Could I possibly be prescribed this insulin to see how it works? Seriously....I am freaking out....

Blindness and the possibility of being that way for the rest of my life scares me.

Who do I go see about my temporary blindness episode?

[Type I Tester]

or would a pump be easier before I make the step to U500?

[fgummett]

Seek medical advice from a qualified source.
If you really went blind and are freaking out then what the heck are you doing asking advice from a bunch of strangers on an internet forum

[Scrabblechick]

Ditto what Frank said. Like, right now. Call your doc. Tell the receptionist what happened and that you need to talk to someone NOW!

This is not something to mess around with. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but your doctor needs to know about it, ASAP.

[Subby]

Ok

Since I am having trouble regulating my diabetes, How then should I accomodate Insulin Usage?



We've been over a lot of this territory haven't we?

Get a new doctor who will educate, explain and guide you in proper intensive insulin therapy. Currently there is little rhyme or reason to the decisions being made about your control, and/or you are not sticking to basic requirements such as taking insulin before meals, as born out by your postings of Bg and dosaging.

If you are not confident or not capable of interacting positively with your diabetes to much degree, find a new doctor who will make better decisions for you than your current one, and who might slowly help you become more involved.

If you have questions and want further ideas here there is a deep well of knowledge, but like me I think many people are wondering if it is a worthwhile or indeed safe thing to do as you either ignore or completely contradict suggestions, ideas, or knowledge offered.


My sliding scale starts at 4 now

150 - 200 4 IU

200 - 250 5 IU

and so on and so forth until 500 is reached.

Today I went blind temporarily. I was blind for an hour or so *it happened when I was driving, luckily I had just parked.* and my sight came back.


My goodness. What was your BG level. Get to the doctor and explain what happened. It is not normal. Demand better help now.


I think I am thoroughly scared now. I won't be able to see my wife or my son grow up if I go blind.


Then start listening to the good ideas offered about improving your lot, rather than chase things that are frankly irrelevant, dangerous, or misleading, such as fasting without insulin or U500 insulin.


What does U500 insulin do? Does it work more effectively than U100?

Could I possibly be prescribed this insulin to see how it works? Seriously....I am freaking out....


Forget U500. Completely and utterly. It is simply insulin that is 5 times more potent that U100. All it would mean is that you are working in tiny measurements compared to your current dosages. Forget it.


Blindness and the possibility of being that way for the rest of my life scares me.


See above about focusing on ways to improve things rather than single mindedly sticking on things that won't.


Who do I go see about my temporary blindness episode?

Your GP, your endocrinologist and anyone they recommend.

[JediSkipdogg]

Subby hit it dead on. U500 has nothing to do with action. It's actually alot slower than the modern synthetic insulins (Novolog, Apidra, Humalog.) Basically, U500 is only for people that have high insulin resistance and may be taking 300+ units in a day. That helps then to get them on 60 units a day (1/5 due to it being 5 times as potent.)

If you are having problems then you need to analyze where the problems are first. Firstly, I'll say using a sliding scale can be one. You should be using an exact number. For me, 1 unit drops me 35 mg/dl. If I'm extremely high, I'll test at 1 hour later and give more if the drop isn't far enough (generally 2/3 of the amount above 100.)

Good luck and get a new doc. Possibly an endocrinologist if you aren't seeing one now.

[fgummett]

I have to say that this, and all his others threads, just feel like a game... throw something controversial out there and watch the good-hearted well-meaning folks at DF rush around trying to be helpful.
I mean, seriously "I went blind today for an hour or so... hmmm... do you guys think I need to change my insulin or maybe go on a pump or something?" WTF! If you go blind you go straight to the ER or at least your Doctor :confused:

To be honest I only responded in the case that someone genuine is reading this thread but I don't feel that my suggestions (or anyone else's) are making any headway here so I'll just bow out and leave it in the hands of Darwin.

[Type I Tester]

I have to say that this, and all his others threads, just feel like a game... throw something controversial out there and watch the good-hearted well-meaning folks at DF rush around trying to be helpful.



What?

What the **** ever.

Just go to **** man.

If I wanted attention I would say something like...um gee I dunno...I found the cure to aids!

Or that I was an overnight millionaire LET ME TELL YOU HOW I DID IT.

Don't like what I have to say?

Whatever.

I don't care.

There are better things that you can freakin do than insult and I suggest you try some of them out.

How bout being constructive?

Or maybe

Just ignoring if you aint got a **** thing to say that is constructive or appropriate.

In other words, keep silent if you don't have anything worth while to say.

[gettingby]

Ok, everyone take a deep breath and retreat to your neutral corners. Please??

Type1 Tester, I want to ask you a couple of questions, if I may?

Do you see an endocrinologist or a regular MD?

What type of training have you had with basal and bolus?

Are you accurate in your carb counting? Have you had instruction on carb counting?

I'm not trying to be an a$$. You seem like you really are having trouble. The thing is, we have all been taken in by several members lately and we all feel a little cautious. So, that's why others are questioning things.

[Type I Tester]

Ok, everyone take a deep breath and retreat to your neutral corners. Please??

Type1 Tester, I want to ask you a couple of questions, if I may?

Do you see an endocrinologist or a regular MD?

What type of training have you had with basal and bolus?

Are you accurate in your carb counting? Have you had instruction on carb counting?

I'm not trying to be an a$$. You seem like you really are having trouble. The thing is, we have all been taken in by several members lately and we all feel a little cautious. So, that's why others are questioning things.

I see an endo and an internal med doc.

Have no idea what I am doing really. I was told take this and take that without any training except on how to give myself an injection.

I don't know what carb counting is If you are talking insulin/carb ratios I wouldn't know the first thing about it nor was I informed by any doctor about doing it.

And just because a few members have been misled doesn't mean that I am doing it. I hate being on the back burner of prejudice. No one has the right. I am only seeking advice and it seems to turn the other way where hey I am just an attention seeking prostitute hanging out on guilt corner...everyone pity me please....

Not like that. I don't care about attention I just want answers. Because I am really lost.

[Subby]

Quite honestly, I believe one single piece of advice fits your scenario. Nothing else will help.

Get sufficient training in your disease so that you understand the basic ins and outs well, by a good endo and a good Diabetes Educator. This probably involves as mentioned a number of times, finding a new medical team as your current doctor/s have failed you miserably in this regard.

Until that point nothing else applies to you. Any other ideas or "advanced" knowledge is like building a tower of bricks on top of a house of cards. It won't work and you may get hurt. Instead, concentrate on the basics. Get the help face to face. You can't get that here, you need a good doctor/educator and you need to work with them over some months.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I've stayed out of your threads til now, but I'm going to jump in here.

Unfortunatley, you do come across as a troll, and your strongly worded posts to Frank and others have not helped. You have been given some great advice on other threads and been asked for more information but seem to just ignore the advice and dodge requests for more info. This does not help your cause.

I'm going to make a suggestion that might help you fit in better in this community:

You will find that most forums are about give and take. So far except for one case I have not seen you participate in a thread you have not started. It is expected on a forum that you will not just start threads but participate in others. You can share your own experience, ask questions, whatever. If we can get to know you better as a poster I think you'll find peopl will be more likely to help you. You may also find a lot of the answers you are looking for just by reading the different threads.

Head over to the dieting or carb forums to learn more about what a carb is. I can't help you on the insulin to carb ratios as I do not use insulin, but that is something you need ot talk to your doctor about anyway.

The other thing you can do to help your case is start taking some of the advice and quit responding with vulgarities just because you don't like what somebody has to say.

As for your current situation here is what I would recommend:
-Make an appointment with your endo and explain what is going on. Tell him what you have told us- that you feel that you do not know what you are doing.

-Ask for an appointment with a Certified Diabetes Educator who can teach you about counting carbs and how to correctly bolus for them. To my understanding, such a person can also tell you how to figure out your basal requirements so that you will not have to resort to dangerous and ineffective experimens like what you did the other day.

-If your doctor is not amenable to a CDE referal or does not educate you about your diabetes, it is time to find another endo.

As others have mentioend, we are not doctors. We do not know your body or your history and are not qualified to tell you how much insulin or what type your body needs. All we can tell you is what works for us. All bodies are different and what works for one does not work for another.

[ant hill]

Seek medical advice from a qualified source.
So in the mean time whare is he going to get some advise? OK we are not doctors but we have experience since endos and doctors are few and far between visits so this forum is his next stop.
If you really went blind and are freaking out then what the heck are you doing asking advice from a bunch of strangers on an internet forum
And where do you think that he will get that? A week, A month or maybe 3 months. He just cannot wait to get an answer.

Forget U500. Completely and utterly. It is simply insulin that is 5 times more potent that U100. All it would mean is that you are working in tiny measurements compared to your current dosages. Forget it.


If you get to use the U500 as what Subby has said will most certainly get you in real trouble and possibly in a coma. If it was me then I will happily will do the higher doses on the U100 insulin.

Get sufficient training in your disease so that you understand the basic ins and outs well, by a good endo and a good Diabetes Educator. This probably involves as mentioned a number of times, finding a new medical team as your current doctor/s have failed you miserably in this regard.


I agree Subby, Good information is power to your well being as I see that you have this disease for just 2 years. You want answers then look at books and read the threads here and there is a lot to catch up on many issues.

All bodies are different and what works for one does not work for another.

Indeed Eeyore, See an Diabetes Educator at least as they can help you on the right track. Listen and understand. ;)

[fgummett]

So in the mean time [where] is he going to get some [advice]?Peter if you suddenly went blind for an hour today what would you do? Would you go on-line to consult DF and ask about maybe changing insulins or going on a pump... or would you go ASAP (today... right now!) to your Doctor or the local Emergency Room ?

In another thread - http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/type-1-diabetes/33894-my-fasting-bg-levels-2.html - this person is claiming* DKA, serious Hypos and multiple Heart Attacks (at age 23) - and yet recently undertook a self-imposed 12 hour fast without insulin. This person clearly needs some kind of professional help but not what we have to offer here.

*I use the term "claiming" not to shed doubt on the truth but because there have been other inconsistencies between this person's posts... in other words, the facts are not being clearly communicated to the experts here at DF - yet another good reason to SEE A DOCTOR!

[Funnygrl]

Peter, there's a difference between seaking advice on day to day situations that aren't urgent, you'd just like to be able to fine-tune better and seeking advice on emergency situations.

Forums are good for asking questions like where to take a CPR class, not asking how to do CPR while some dude is laying on the floor dead. There's a difference.

Tye 1 Tester- diabetes is an overwhelming disease. There's a wealth of knowledge, experience, and kind, helpful people here. However, you need to use the information. We can't hold your hand.

You have a long way to go before you're in the right spot with your diabetes. Sliding scale insulin is not appropriate for long term management of type 1 diabetes in this day and age. You really need to be seeing an endocrinologist and working out an intensive insulin management program. I recommend Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Schiener if you want a fairly inclusive resource on what exactly this involves.

In the mean time, a sudden, extreme change in vision does constitue and emergency and necessitate urgent medical care.

[genie86333]

In the mean time, a sudden, extreme change in vision does constitue and emergency and necessitate urgent medical care.

Agreed. Back in June, I had a sudden, extreme, change in vision...I didn't even go blind, just from near-perfect vision to legally blind in one eye...and know what I did? I went to the ER that same day!

Type I Tester, I'd advise you to do the same...unless you liked being blind, that is. Both my parents were blind, one from diabetes...and they did pretty well for themselves, so go ahead & play around & you can see how well you can do because next time, it could be permanant.