Who needs a Honeymoon

[corwin]

Things were going so well untill 4 days ago, I finally started to understand how things effect me and how to keep my levels normal. For 5 days my levels were perfect, I was really happy about it, finally living my life without worrying about my new condition 24/7. Then I was hit by what I think must be the honeymoon I keep hearing about. I started getting constant lows, non were really bad, it was all 73-90, but I felt it strongly, shaking, sweating, out of breath. I have 3-5 a day and I keep eating all the time just to stop from being low. I called my endo today and he told me to lower my lantus from 20 to 18 which I think is a bit conservative but I'll do what he said. He also said to lower my dose before meals, right now I'm calculating about 20gram/unit (it's a bit of a guess but it seems to generally work).

Thanks for letting me vent, now for the real questions.

1. Is this really honeymoon? I had a time when I tested 129, ate only about10 grams of carbs and tested 102 2 hours later. Another time I had about 20 grams of carbs, no insulin and 2 hours later my bg was exactly the same. Sounds like honeymoon to me.

2. Why do everyone say honeymoon is so great? all it does is mess up my count, cause me tons of lows and some highs from over correcting. Throw everything I learned out the window. Isn't it easier to just inject insulin and know what will happen?

3. Any advice on how to deal with it better?

Thanks in advance.

[Cinnabon]

I know its tough, but your body is still getting used to all this. Even now, 23 years later, I go through changes at times. Your 73-90 readings are not too low, but You should lower your insulin. The worst that can happen is you might run a bit high, then you simply correct.

The reason Some say the "Honeymoon" is so great is due to that your pancreas still works a bit and doesnt need as much insulin.

[Cyborg]

There is current research taking place, and a recent thread in the forum on it, that may indicate a type 1's pancreas is continually trying to create new beta cells but the immune system keeps destroying them. I think the current research was able to somehow reverse type 1 diabetes in mice.

If the research is correct, then the honeymooning may never end. This is a very complicated disease. I know how much grief you must be going thru right now.

My suggestion would be to test every 2 hours. I find a 2 hour window very good for catching lows. I was also taught how to take my Lantus and my Humalog on a sliding scale, perhaps you could ask your endo about this. You may also want to enquire about breaking your Lantus up into 2 doses as many people have noticed it does not last 24 hours. If the Lantus does not last 24 hours, you will find different insulin to carb requirements at different parts of the day based on when your Lantus was taken.

[psilocybin]

uhm. first of all honeymoon is great because its so easy to keep control. and your ratios should be like between 1:20 and 1:30 therefor u dont need much insulin at all. to deal with it better all u can do is learn new ratios. and basel rates. im still honeymooning and i can keep control of my bs perfect it makes being diabetic look easy

[corwin]

Sin and Psil, you guys are right, it just feels so annoying to lose control like that after finally having it pretty decent. Complaining about needing less insulin is silly, I just want to read normal numbers again and stop testing 15 times a day knowing I might be low.

Interesting research Cyborg, I hope it means they can find a way to stop our immune system from destroying our beta cells, sounds nice if we really have nothing ruined in our bodies, only few crazy white blood cells. T1 diabetic mouse, sounds funny, I wonder how they inject insulin.

[am1977]

I think the Honeymoon period can be both a good thing and a bit of a pain. Yes, it might mean that you don't need as much insulin :nurse:, but predicting how your blood sugar will react can be difficult. I agree that you should continue to test frequently and keep log and contact your doctor about your log on a consistent basis.

Good luck :ciao: