Pancreas kicking in?

[zoelula]

Hi all
I'm LADA/Type 1.5 and have adjusted to my insulin regimen and my I:C ratio for a bit over a month and it's been fairly consistent, though I'm experimenting with foods still.

Then...the last few days I was at the beach which at first I thought was the reason...different location..less stress...a bit more exercise. But it held for several days and I just returned home so we'll see what happens now. I can eat MUCH higher amounts of carbs with little or NO bolus. In fact, when I bolus I tend to go low! Then one day I went out for lunch and ordered myself a luxurious plate of homemade ravioli that I normally can NOT eat. I went to do my bolus and the needle bent as I attached it to the pen. I had only taken one needle from my room. Since I've been so low I figured I'd just see what happens. I went DOWN from 87 to 76...after a plate of ravioli! I tried later to see if it was just slow due to fat in the sauce, but nope, by dinner time five hours later I was at 86! Wow!!

I'm thinking this is the famous LADA kick in of my pancreas I've heard about. What do you guys think? And if anyone else had a similar experience, how long did it last? Did you cut down or eliminate bolus/cut down basal as well?
Thanks! What a gas!
Zoe

[foxl]

Keep it up!!! Fingers crosed for you!

[Subby]

Hey Zoe, may you be having a "remission cycle" for want of a better word, that lasts long and strong! I guess it's play it by ear all the way!

[lorilei]

i never had a swing that dramatic...i was never really able to fluctuate that much in carbs, especially after adding the bolus to the routine...this could be very interesting....i think i would test like a maniac...hmmm

[zoelula]

Yep, testing like even more than a maniac than usual! If it goes back to "normal" and ends up being something odd about my beach stay, I just may have to move to the beach!

[mazea]

I hope it keeps happening for you.

I have a similar thing, but for me it was the Levemir, I was taking 5-6 units last year in my first year of diabetes. Now I am taking 2 units of Levemir once a day. Lets hope your pancreas keeps up the good news.

[zoelula]

Wow, 2 units of Levemir, that's really low, mazea! What about your bolus, did that change to? It sounds like you have been able to maintain the lower basal rate for quite awhile? Interesting!

[Subby]

I just may have to move to the beach!

It may not be so silly. You know, I remember my uncle moved up the coast, to the beach, when I was younger. The Australian version of this is going up the coast to the state of Queensland, where the balmy weather is.

He cited health reasons, not sure exactly what, and the rest of the family seemed to have a lot of scorn for that. Thinking about it more recently, and considering I can really get knocked around a lot with weather changes, I can see his point of view a lot clearer. I've seriously considered moving away from Melbourne, which is the butt of all jokes in Australia when it comes to crazy, variable weather, and freezing winter, and a sometimes scorching summer. Maybe I'll go join all the chilled out folk up in Queensland.

[zoelula]

Even aside from the issues of diabetes (and I'm not at all sure that the weather was the contributing factor in my low numbers), I definitely think weather affects us: stress, health, mood and attitude. Actually I prefer cooler weather as heat (and especially humidity) make me cranky and I sleep much better when it's cool. I also find heat enervating. But for a vacation lying on the beach dazed with heat sipping a cool drink is a great state of mind! It's just getting up and doing anything I don't like!

[rak1978]

That's awesome! Hopefully for you it will last a while! Within my first year of diagnosis, I had a few bouts of "remission". I could go off of insulin for a while and then I would need it again. Maybe it is a 1.5 or lada thing? Also, for some reason, I go way low at the beach also! Maybe it's the lack of stress or the heat of the sun? I don't know, but I'll take it. We should all have to work the beach in to our treatment plans! :)

[zoelula]

Wow, you totally went off insulin! Cool! Yes, my understanding is that is how LADA works, but I am really interested to hear people's actual experiences!

[rak1978]

Well, I should mention that this was in the few months after having a baby. I think my body was in shock a little bit. I was on insulin the whole time I was pregnant, then went off for a while after I delivered. My endo recommended that I take humalog as needed with meals, but I was super resistant to the idea for some reason (denial!)...so I just wouldn't eat any carbs. When this no longer worked anymore, I went back on the insulin. I was only in an "insulin, optional" state for the first year though. Since then, my pancreas has kicked the bucket.
I hope yours will still put out for a while longer! Maybe you can prolong this phase by eating super low carb?
Good luck!

[zoelula]

No pregnancies in this girl's future! I'm actually coming to the end of my second year since diagnosis. I was mis-diagnosed as Type II and my pancreas allowed me to maintain my blood sugar for a bit over a year on just oral meds before my numbers started going up, I started insulin and the rest is history! For various reasons, I don't do super low carb. I'm not so sure it would really have an effect on the beta cells at any rate, though someone may correct me on that idea.
If this pattern continues, I think I'll get another c-peptide just out of curiosity. They're super cheap here and I don't need a doctor's order.

[soso]

I have bouts when my insulin needs go down (and sometimes up!) but never to the point of a plate of ravioli! Generally I do better when I am on holiday though.. have always put it down to less stress more exercise.. I do recall my first 2 yrs I was way better than I am now though..
Long may it last for you!

[KA8ASX]

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[KA8ASX]

I'm having about the same problem. Was on Lantis and Novolog. Had knee surgery in May, and after surgery, pan crease started working again and was able to come off insulin for two months. Went back on two weeks ago as numbers had crept up where bolus was needed. The pancrease seems to be taking care of the basal. Still off the insulin, but numbers are all over the place. High some days and good other days. I'm just waiting it out and keeping close tabs. I'm still classed as a T2, however, not insulin resistant. Oral meds did nothing for me and finall started on insulin and was doing great until surgery. Had 4 blood transfusions, don't know if that had any effect or not. GAD65 still is negative and C-peptide was.8. It's like being on a roller coaster.

Don