question about insulin resistance..

johnnylol · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 11:45 AM

i read somewhere dunno if it was accurate or not that type 1 diabetics.. who eat all they wan't because they think that insulin will compensate for them..can develop insulin resistance..does anyone know if that is true or not???

Batty · #2 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 02:50 PM

I've never heard anything about insulin resistance..
I looked it up..but it only talks about Type 2's having insulin resistance which is why they take meds??

Shalyndria · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 02:54 PM

Yep. Increase in adipose tissue (fat) around the middle is a known cause for insulin resistance in anyone, including Type 1's. Also high BG's over a long period of time can cause resistance, as can meals that are high in fat. I've heard of several cases in which Type 1's had to be put on oral antidiabetics to aide in the use of their injected insulin. If you search the forum, I think there's a past discussion of this.

Shy

Biagia · #4 (**permalink**) 09-28-2004, 02:01 PM

Hi everyone!

My fiance is Type 1 and is having problems with highs in the mornings. He has been on the pump for about 2 years now and eats ALOT! For instance...last night he went to bed high...about 400...took enough insulin...woke up in high 300s. What could this be...not enough insulin? There are days he's perfect and other days like this. Please help!

rzrbks · #5 (**permalink**) 09-28-2004, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Biagia Hi everyone!

My fiance is Type 1 and is having problems with highs in the mornings. He has been on the pump for about 2 years now and eats ALOT! For instance...last night he went to bed high...about 400...took enough insulin...woke up in high 300s. What could this be...not enough insulin? There are days he's perfect and other days like this. Please help!

This would be something aimed more at the Pumpers. I'm on Multiple Daily Injections when eating with a 24 hour to cover the normal part of life. My guess would be Bolus dosage changes due to the types of foods eaten. This is something he might have to work on with Dietician , CDE and Dr.

Biagia · #6 (**permalink**) 09-29-2004, 07:41 AM

Hey Rzrbks...thanks for the reply.

I was just curious if he could have resistance to insulin since he's always eating and mostly high in carbs...which in turn he's always putting high amounts of insulin into his system. He needs to go on a regular diet...hopefully soon he'll realize that himself.

Thanks again!

)

Shalyndria · #7 (**permalink**) 09-29-2004, 12:26 PM

Hi Biagia

Your b/f's hyper's could be the result of so many different things. My first suspect would be Dawn Phenomenon in which case he needs to test his overnights (which he should do regardless). Is he correcting for his high BG's before going to bed? On the flip side, if he's over-correcting for a high before going to bed (often it's recommended that one halve a bolus dose before bedtime to prevent hypo's) he might be rebounding. Or it could be that his CHO ratio needs to be reset. Increased and extended hyperglycemic events as well as meals/snacks high in fat can cause temporary resistance, and make correcting for high's very difficult. If there's a pattern here, he may want to start by testing his overnight basal.

Shy

eevee · #8 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 03:09 AM

He may well get Dawn Phenom, but eating high carb and 'covering' with insulin will never work out. Of course he is building up insulin resistance.
No diabetic should be deliberatly going to bed with a bG of 400. I hope your b/f is looking forward to complications down the line a bit--maybe closer than he thinks..!!
Sorry to sound so tough, but that's how diabetes is if we are not trying (sometimes trying very hard with limited success) to control our bGs.
......Eve

MarkMunday · #9 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 03:47 AM

That consistently high blood sugars lead to insulin resistance in the long term is well recognised. But you also find that, in the short term, the higher your blood sugar is, the more resistant to insulin you become. Which is why it can be really hard to bring a high blood sugar down to an acceptable level. Repeated boluses just don't seem to have the expected effect.

The answer is to have a well defined "acceptable range". And to do whatever it takes to ensure that blood sugars stay within that range. Doing this ensures that blood sugars are at all times responsive to corrective action and are always in control.

Cheers,

Mark

Biagia · #10 (**permalink**) 09-30-2004, 10:57 AM

Thank you everyone for replying and you can never be sorry for being harsh Eve...this is serious so need to be straight!

)

I agree he's going to have problems later in life...if not soon due to his eating habits and high blood sugar. He's basically eating like me...a non diabetic... which scares me especially since I even changed my eating habbits to be healthier! He said he has been eating alot of carbs and has been going to bed high alot. So if he cuts down on the carbs and snacks...he should improve? Maybe I'll tell him this and if not...change his overnight basal. He also has gained 30 lbs or so within this year....was underweight before...I know the doctor had changed basal when he gain about 15lbs so maybe time for another. I'm going to send him everyone's response so maybe he'll make a change.

Thank you soooo much!!!

Wish you all the best of luck

)

eevee · #11 (**permalink**) 10-01-2004, 01:50 AM

Generally speaking, if one puts on weight while using insulin it can mean that the dose is a bit too high for how much the body actually needs..walking, talking, blinking,digesting etc etc etc. Insulin's other name is the 'fat-forming hormone'. Whatever glucose is left over after satisfying the body's wants, is converted to glucogon and stored (usually around the middle--Syndrome-X). Trying to cover excess carbs with more and more insulin is a fast track to I/R. High bGs usually results in our 'brain' saying "..I'm starving...give me more carbs.." but if the meter says bGs are above say max of 180(10.0)---like 106(6.0) is even better, it is best to resist. Quite often when bGs get used to running more in the order of 90-180 (5.0-10.0) the craving for more carbs decreases...maybe tough going for a week or so, but well worth the struggle.
Your b/f is very lucky to have you concerned enough to post here...I wish you both lots of luck--and determination..!!........Eve

Biagia · #12 (**permalink**) 10-05-2004, 11:28 AM

Hi again!

My fiance was talking about the messages this weekend that I forwarded to him and he said he thinks he's brittle diabetic. For two weeks he was high (lost couple lbs) and this weekend he kept dropping. Friday night we had pasta (carbs!) and he went low after dinner. Saturday went low twice...and then Sunday went low (gave him orange juice) and still didn't bring up his blood sugar...and had to give him another glass 5 minutes later. I talked with him this morning and now he's high again. Anyone know what this could mean and if he is brittle diabetic??

Thanks for everyone's response

and

Thank you eve for comment on the bottom of response.

dpav · #13 (**permalink**) 10-11-2004, 09:12 AM

Your BF being on a pump can have a common problem we have and that is a possible resistance location of the infusion set he is using. Some locations on the body will be more resistant to absorption of insulin. This happens to a lot of us. But his very high levels are not healthy and even with resistance we normally bolus with the pump or pen to get our levels down to normal. I have had years of bad control. I lived through many complications. He will not enjoy keeping himself out of control. It is quite easy to stay in better control than he may think. It is worth not getting the complications. I have been blind, I have severe painful neuropathy and I have had nephropathy. Try to encourage him to avoid this. It is all avoidable with good control. At least it can be lessened.
Don