How much is a lot of insulin and what are you doing if your are insulin resistant

johnzoomer · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:38 PM

OK I don't want to hear that we are all individuals and each of us have our own requirements. I know that I have reached a 5.6 A1C but share your experiences with me. I don't know anyone that has to take as much insulin as I am taking.

I used to take 136 units of aspart each day (with a basel of 3.5 u per hour x 24). I am 250 lbs and 6'3" tall. So my BMG says I am over weight. (working on that) I had to go off the pump because VA would not pay for the supplies. I am now taking 80 units of lantus twice a day (160) total and 50 units of Aspart to knock off the peaks. It is not working as well as the pump was because I feel I have too much background insulin in me. Evening to morning tests are stable. Taking metformin to see if that helps. (But crashes come more frequently even through I count accurate carbs). So 210 units injecting vs 136 units on the pump. Seems like some difference. Yes I do exercise at 60 years old however difficult to break a sweat. I found that I did not have crashes on the pump but do have them more frequently injecting. What has been your experiences if you use large quantities of insulin and is there some programs that your doctors have you on? Remember the difference between the boy scouts and the army is that the boy scouts had adult supervision. It is possible that the VA doctors are not the sharpest instruments in the drawer.....

Alice · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:49 PM

I had asked my doctor (endo) about insulin resistance. She said most type 2's have mild if any. She also said there is an entirely separate group, much more rare, that is severely insulin resistant. I'm assuming you are in that group.

So, you don't want to hear that we are all different, but that would be part of my response. The other part is that I really empathize with your VA problem on getting a pump.

Are you seeing an endo? I would ask around for an endo that specializes in severe insulin resistance, if there is such a thing.

I think my doctor said some need to be on "drips" which I understood to be different than the pump.

I also know enough to be dangerous here, so please see an endo. Sounds like you are doing the best you can...and that's half the battle.

jeggeman31 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 04:57 PM

Pre pump I was on 65 units x2 a day on Lantus and 150 to 200 units a day of fast acting. Now my basel is 2.0 24/7 and I pump a total of 80 to 180 units a day, all depends on what I eat.

BlueSky · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:03 PM

Insulin requirements normally drop when switching from MDI to the pump (and vice versa). When doing the conversion a pump, a 25% reduction in the number of units is expected. The more insulin you use the bigger the difference is.

You mention that you use 50 units of Aspart to "knock off the peaks". What do you do at mealtimes?

Penny · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:41 PM

I take 80 units of Lantus at bedtime, and between 15 and 30 units of Novolog between 3 and 5 times a day. I thought that was too much. I also use Metformin and Glyburide. It seems like my insulin resistance is getting worse. I have more crashes lately, but my A1C is better than ever.

KAnderson · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:54 PM

One other thought regarding getting back to pumping: the VA may be just following their guidelines regarding the pump and T2 folks. Talk to your contacts and find out if you have your doctor write a letter detailing how the use of the pump is the best for you (fewer lows, better control, long term outcome, etc) and see if an exception can be made to at least get supplies covered (I'm assuming you still have your pump). If you have John Walsh's lastest edition of Pumping Insulin, it has a chapter on T2 and the benefits of pumping which may also give some ammo for you doctor (also assuming they are willing to go to bat for you).
Hope this helps...
Good luck.

Ken

Lloyd · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:06 AM

Give the Metformin some time, likely weeks, and your insulin requirements will likely go down significantly.

-Lloyd

xMenace · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:21 AM

I think Bill is still the king of the hill!
The all inclusive pump data thread

Jill-O · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:22 AM

I keep asking my doctor "is this a lot?" but kind of getting vaque answers.

For my insulin, I take 22u & 28u of Novolog 70/30 before breakfast and before dinner -- so 50u a day. I also take Metformin.

w5wjp · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 06:56 AM

I am still pumping around 400 u a day. My doc says "If that's what it takes...."

Requirements have gone down a bit since I started taking cinnamon. Still testing it but it seems that when I consistently take it, the TDD does go down a some.

palefacegirl03 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 07:36 AM

I thought the 70-80 u I was taking was alot,lol

It is about the same right now as on MDI, but I have only been on the pump a month so there is still alot of tweaking to do.

ladytaz · #12 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 11:10 AM

It sounds like you've got some serious insulin resistance there! If you've just started the Metformin, do remember it takes a few weeks for it to fully kick in. Also, WHEN are you taking your shot of aspart? Before you eat or after? It does make a difference!

dgrilli · #13 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w5wjp

I am still pumping around 400 u a day. My doc says "If that's what it takes...."

Requirements have gone down a bit since I started taking cinnamon. Still testing it but it seems that when I consistently take it, the TDD does go down a some.

I too take cinnamon at first to try to see if it would lower BG's or use less insulin. Not real sure if it works but I sure like the smell when I riff ha ha, no but it does smell good.

I have in the past while at a picnic grazing constantly drinking regular soda and eating white bread in rolls have had a TDD of 146.

But as I read above that's a savings of 50 units per day. That is awesome and the numbers you post are worthy of envy from some.

I have noticed that when I take aspirin my TDD goes down quite a bit and I must have some inflamation going on. I was trying to pin the inflamation down and I think I found finally what I was looking for. My Tonsils are constantly inflamed and I am waiting for an appointment to evaluate getting rid of them. I just can't keep taking aspirin as it thins my blood out quite abit.

I have suffered with inflamed Tonsils just about all my life.

Do you have any cause to believe that you have some inflamation somewheres going on?

jeggeman31 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w5wjp

I am still pumping around 400 u a day.

**** that is a **** load of insulin.

beleive · #15 (**permalink**) 10-27-2007, 11:09 PM

I take around 100 total on pump,Im went down about 10 percent with pump,but this week start using symlin this stuff works, cut my boluses less than half,that will put me some where around65-70 total.Cant believe how much symlin works,just 3 units for me.