What's going on? After flu I'm healed?

[viranth]

Ok, so maybe I'm not healed, but it would be nice.

So to my story, I had the right after new years, was really sick and was up to a total of 50+ units of insulin for a few days, most I've ever taken. And I still had wacky numbers...

But after the flu went away I'm down to about 10-15 units a day, and I keep getting hypo after hypo. My BG is usually down at 4-5mmol all the time.

It seems that if I just take basal, I don't need any bolus. I've experience some, at dinner I would always require the most insulin (most carbs at that meal). But now, if I take more than 2 units, I'll end up with a hypo an hour later.

And all this is happening even though I'm not working out as hard, and experiencing stress at work (trying my best not to).

I was DX'ed in late desember 2007, so could this be honeymooning, am I type 2?

[Subby]

I would see no reason, myself, to suspect type 2 at all here, over a likely honeymoon. Enjoy it and watch the hypos!

[viranth]

I would see no reason, myself, to suspect type 2 at all here, over a likely honeymoon. Enjoy it and watch the hypos!

Yeah, but I've experienced periods with low insulin intake before, but nothing like this. And honeymoon one year and two months after diagnosis? Thought it came pretty quick after you started insulin treatment...

[Subby]

Well, honeymoons can last beyond that, but I agree that if you are finding a definite oscillation in your insulin needs as you describe, that is more unusual. I am not entirely sure how unusual :)

How old are you Viranth? How were you diagnosed? (What tests). It almost sounds like the kind of pancreatic fluctuations which can occur in type 1.5 diabetes.

[viranth]

I was 27 at the time of diagnosis (december 2007). Have no diabetes in my family and I'm fit. So the doctors didn't know why I got it.

I was born in 1980, so this year I'll be 29.

At work now, have papers from my tests back home. But the doctors said I definately had diabetes when I was in the hospital. Was there a week in january 2008. Dehydrated and 10.8% hba1c.

[Scratch]

You're probably 1.5 which has much slower onset and progression than type 1. Some 1.5s get treated for some years using type 2 meds but it's really probably better that you're already on insulin.

[Mich]

I had "honeymoons" a few times after the first year or two. Usually short and I couldn't at the time see any reasons. Insulin requirement went way down for a few days. One was at the end of my first pregnancy--a full 15 years after diagnosis. Then back to same ol' same ol'.

Like Subby says, enjoy & keep an eye on it.

Mich

[jillrapp]

I agree with those above that you're probably a 1.5 and the fluctutations you are seeing, in scientific terms is "a wonky pancreas". :) By next week it will probably be totally different again, just keep testing!! :)

[viranth]

Well, honeymoons can last beyond that, but I agree that if you are finding a definite oscillation in your insulin needs as you describe, that is more unusual. I am not entirely sure how unusual :)

How old are you Viranth? How were you diagnosed? (What tests). It almost sounds like the kind of pancreatic fluctuations which can occur in type 1.5 diabetes.

Ok, I have the C-pept results infront of me now.

14.1.2008 it was 0.3 pmol/ml, then 9.8.2008 it was 0.2 pmol/ml.

First time I had 10.8% hba1c, the second time I had 4.9% hba1c.

[Subby]

I basically understand these figures indicate low but still present c-peptide. Happy to be corrected.

So, another reason you can scratch type 2 (usually normal or high from what I can gather).

Considering both these numbers are not that far below "normal" and it seems like a slide, I assume they may support the possibility of a honeymoon all that time, but I really am not sure of that direct connection in a practical sense.

Nice a1c improvement there, but that's just letting us know how well you are rising to the challenge of managing your condition, and how well your body is responding to your approaches/ insulin therapy. Good work.

[lorilei]

wow...a whole 1.5 thread i missed....those c peptide levels are def lower than normal..so no way a type 2 as said above...it would be interesting to know what they are right at this moment...maybe your pancreas is giving one last push..or maybe you've some reilef from the use of insulin...how long have you been on...

as I keep being reminded (even though i'm not keen on the idea of being/becoming dependent)..really 1 and 1.5 are pretty much the same these days for us "older" folks who are often diagnosed early in the process, but later than our teenage years...but that's always up for debate...

[BlueSky]

What may have happened, viranth, is that your immune system was so pre-occupied with fighting off the flu that regenerating beta cells survived for longer than they do when you are healthy. The net effect is that you are producing more of your own insulin than were before you got sick. It probably won't last for long ... :o .

[lorilei]

wow...a vote for the flu!

[sable_032592]

well, i have no idea what's going on, because honeymooning a year after dx'd is rather odd... still honeymooning a year after isn't abnormal, but starting the honeymooning a year later? weird...

however, i used to be on 30-20-30 of humalog (at every meal) until the past few months, i'm down to 4u sometimes, and sometimes, i don't take any... i'm using the 1:4 insulin:carb ratio... and of course a correction bolus (every 0.8mmol over 6.5mmol/L i take 1u of humalog - about 1u for every 14mg/dL over 117)

maybe you should get some tests done... as for how you became diabetic, maybe it's the same as me, i got it because of an undiagnosed pneumonia for 10 months... the virus touched my pancreas and destroyed it... though the total destruction took over 3 years I was dx'd 4 years after first getting pneumonia)...

i would go see the doctor... as for not bolusing (is that a word LOL), i would give myself some insulin with my meals that have lots of carbs, maybe not for meals that have some or minimal carbs... if you're worried about having more hypos, then check your BS an hour or so after you eat, then see if you need some insulin...