I am beside myself

[Jonathan_R]

Right now, I am fuming. The novolog I am using is not working. I am not able to get control of my blood sugar. I call the pharmacy to get a refill, but they have not had a script from my new PCP, so they want a fax. My PCP says the pharmacy has to call them. I don't have an appointment with them till the 24th, and that is to get staples out of my head. My blood sugar this morning was 324 and I took 19 units, and 4 hours later my sugar was 448 and I took 15 units.My morning dose I ate breakfast, 2 pancakes and an omlet, and the dose of insulin is almost twice the amount I would normally take. For the second dose, I haven't eaten anything yet.

I called my insurance to file a complaint, and they try and call the doctors office. Their results were no different. The doctors office, upon hearing my blood sugar levels they actually told my insurance to have me go to the E.R. That's right, they still didn't budge. My insurance has said I can switch if I want. Believe me, I will.

[DanG]

My insurance has said I can switch if I want. Believe me, I will.

Don't depend on the insco nor the doctor.
Just do it yourself. You are able to do that - just take the novolog and don't eat - you are in a phase of insulin resistance. I get fuming like you do when the insulin doesn't work - but it passes. I get that about twice a year - it passes. Live thru it. I think it is the rDna insulins these days. I don't remember ever having periods of insulin resistance when we took insulin derived from pork or beef animals. Perhaps I did have insulin resistance back then, but I don't remember it. Of course, back then, it was not multiple insulin injections - it was one shot of lente per day. I think I could do lente again - but, USA does not sell it. I gotta be registered with Homeland Security to import lente beef or pork insulin. I must be a terrorist.:eek:

[Subby]

I have had that happen two or three times over the years, straight from the pharmacy. On getting a new batch, my BG has returned instantly to normal predictability.

I do not know if that is what is happening for you, but yes, it does seem to happen now and then.

I'm not sure on the details of what is going on for you with the pharmacy, docs, etc. I don't know how the medical situation works there. If I needed a script here, I would go to any doctor, prove I am diabetic and they would write a script. Or I would call my doc and they would write a script I could pick up without an appointment.

It sounds frustrating, but the important thing here is ... is there something more you can do? You mention the pharmacy should call the doctor. Did that happen? Can you make a sooner appointment with your doctor? Have you actually gone to your doctor's reception in person? This will often lend a lot of weight if you can (calmly) explain the situation in person and ask for proper help.

If you are really, truly stuck without effective insulin, for a number of days, can you go and buy a cheap insulin I hear is available over the counter in the US?

While you are stuck with dodgy insulin, you should immediately stop eating carbs like pancakes and the like. Fill up on proteins and fats, veggies, skip all refined sugars and carbs. Concentrate on being calm. Stress and carbs are the enemy of control in your current situation.

[Delphinus]

If you are really, truly stuck without effective insulin, for a number of days, can you go and buy a cheap insulin I hear is available over the counter in the US?



In Canada you don't need a scrip for your insulin either.

It is sold over the counter.

One less worry or step is always good for peace of mind.

[sarahspins]

If you absolutely have to get something to tide you over, you can get Regular insulin (R) with no Rx.. it's $24 at walmart, or about $45 at a regular pharmacy. You just ask for it. Obviously insurance won't pay without an Rx, but odds are good it's cheaper than an ER co-pay.

That said though.. you said you have staples in your head? What happened? Any chance you're taking steroids or were given some after whatever required staples? That would seriously impact your BG.

[Jonathan_R]

It might be insulin resistance, but I doubt it for this case. The reason I doubt it is because the vial of novolog is expired.

[Delphinus]

It might be insulin resistance, but I doubt it for this case. The reason I doubt it is because the vial of novolog is expired.

Why didn't you mention that in your original post? :T

I mean why were you asking what everyone thought it may be, when that's probably the answer? :eek:

You were upset at your numbers, and seemingly perplexed, but you had that information?

Seems the mystery may have been solved and may not have been a mystery after-all. :D

Keep us posted.

[Cluck]

It might be insulin resistance, but I doubt it for this case. The reason I doubt it is because the vial of novolog is expired.

If this is the case, take the vial to the pharmacy that gave it to you and get them to replace it.

[Jonathan_R]

If you absolutely have to get something to tide you over, you can get Regular insulin (R) with no Rx.. it's $24 at walmart, or about $45 at a regular pharmacy. You just ask for it. Obviously insurance won't pay without an Rx, but odds are good it's cheaper than an ER co-pay.

That said though.. you said you have staples in your head? What happened? Any chance you're taking steroids or were given some after whatever required staples? That would seriously impact your BG.

The only steroids I take are prescribed. That would be prednisone. I'm asthmatic. On top of everything, I have had the occasional seizure since I was 12.

So here's how I got the staples in my head.

I was at Barnes & Nobles just perusing book with my wife and daughter. I was heading back to where the computer books are, which is close to where the children's books are. My daughter, who is eleven, was with me. I started to feel light headed, and was starting to sit down. That's all I remember.

For the rest of the story, I have to tell you what I gleaned from my daughter and my wife and the little bits of conscious memory.

I wake up, vaguely aware of my surroundings and just feeling like I want to hurl. I can remember hugging one of them big grey trash cans, but not accomplishing anything. The next thing I remember, I'm at the hospital. I also notice my hands are covered in blood, as is the left back of my shirt.

My daughter said she thought about catching me. Picture a five foot something eleven year old, weighing about eighty pounds, trying to catch a six foot, one hundred and eighty pounds of dead weight. Yeah. I was glad she didn't catch me.

It was my daughter who called for help. The store paged my wife and the paramedics were called. My blood sugar was eighty six, when the paramedics checked it.

[Jonathan_R]

Why didn't you mention that in your original post? :T

I mean why were you asking what everyone thought it may be, when that's probably the answer? :eek:

You were upset at your numbers, and seemingly perplexed, but you had that information?

Seems the mystery may have been solved and may not have been a mystery after-all. :D

Keep us posted.

Please be patient with me. Ever since Saturday, when I had that seizure, and literally split my head open, I'm not at my peak performance. So I am prone to leave out details I ordinarily might not.

[Delphinus]

Please be patient with me. Ever since Saturday, when I had that seizure, and literally split my head open, I'm not at my peak performance. So I am prone to leave out details I ordinarily might not.


Just razzing ya.

I have those moments and days myself.

Hang in there... ;)

[xMenace]

The only steroids I take are prescribed. That would be prednisone.

Pred typically makes one very insulin resistant. You should know that by now though. But, was this experience shortly after taking some?

[sarahspins]

The only steroids I take are prescribed. That would be prednisone. I'm asthmatic.

Totally understandable.. I really wasn't suggesting anything bad - I was just asking because like others suggested, prednisone (and other steriods) make you really insulin resistant... and it's different for everyone how much of a difference that makes in insulin needs, and depending on the exact mix of hormones going through your system on any given day, is subject to changing unexpectedly (for better or worse).

Even just switching pill lots is subject to some variance.. so if you refilled your prednisone recently, even if your dosage didn't change, the effective amount in your pills may be off a little due to allowed tolerances. You may not notice a difference in the effect of taking the steroids as far as your asthma goes, but your BG can certainly take a big hit.

If your insulin is expired and you had recently filled that Rx, the pharmacy should replace it for you, no questions asked. If it wasn't from a recent refill, I'd just get some regular until you get in to see the doc for a new Rx.

[Jonathan_R]

I went to urgent care and got a script for more. The one that expired is over a year old, so I can't fault the pharmacy.

I have been dealing with this diabetes on my own for the past couple years. It's nice to have discovered this community. I don't feel as a lone.

[sarahspins]

Good news! And don't be afraid to ask for help - you're likely to get better advice from other diabetics than from nearly all doctors :)