[DeusXM]

The test, so to speak, was to evaluate how my body would handle itself in the absence of insulin. The fasting was to ensure that no other glucose sources entered my body and screwed around with that test.

The answer is 'not very well'. If your body was functioning correctly, you'd have a constant FBG of under 90. Instead, you've got miniscule glucose reduction in your BG - presumably because you'd have Lantus left in your system, and also because your kidneys filter out excess glucose through your urine.

I wanted to see the severity of my diabetes at this time really I suspect that my endo would be able to tell me better what it means.

I'll tell you what it means. You've got T1 diabetes. There's no such thing as 'mild' diabetes or 'severe' diabetes. You either have it or you don't. You may have some residual insulin production but the fact that your BG doesn't even get the right side of 115 while fasting says you need insulin injections if you want to live.

You were, of course, checking your urine for glucose and ketones, weren't you? Otherwise this test simply proves your body can't regulate your BG on its own. If you'd done a ketone check you'd also be able to see how not taking your insulin was making your blood turn to acid.

Fasting with diabetes is fine but you still need to take your insulin. Otherwise the glucose cannot be used as fuel. And when your body doesn't have fuel, it eats the muscles. And then you die.

[Subby]

I'm concerned about this post and especially the poll. The poll in it's lack of detail looks like a generic question on fasting. People are taking it at face value - and fair enough - but when combined with the subject of the post I think something a bit unfortunate and dangerous is happening here.

The subject of the post is a TYPE 1 fasting for 12 hours WITHOUT ANY INTENDED BASAL INSULIN. That he/she got through it ok is obviously a matter of relief but it's probably for random, unknown causes and I can only hope it doesn't encourage more similar fasting. The concept of a type one fasting for long lengths of time without any insulin (or intended insulin) in the system is potentially a very dangerous one.

I think the poll is perhaps looking for validation of this, I am not sure. But I do know it's just too important a topic to be "fuzzy" about. The poll and the post do not match up and I'm not sure the end result creates a safe message at all.

Type 1s, DO NOT fast without having insulin in the system, it is playing with fire. You may be lucky for a time like Type 1 tester was here on this single occasion, or you might find yourself in all sorts of strife. If you are a type one curious about remnant insulin production in your pancreas, talk to your doctor about a test to determine that.

[fgummett]

+1 to both the last posts

[Lizzie G]

i've just read this thread in amazement. to hear that someone fasted for 12 hours without it being of any benefit whatsoever to their diabetes treatment; IMO total waste of time. fasting for 12 hours is a fantastic thing to do if you have a good idea of your overall basal requirement, the movements can show you times where if you are a pumper, to set your basals higher or lower, or if an MDI-er when you might need to tweak your carb ratios/have small snacks to overcome the inconsistencies of your underlying basal need. fasting for spurious reasons under unsafe conditions and letting your blood sugar run at a high level (i echo others, a blood sugar of 153 is NOT normal its a 2 hour post prandial for a high carb meal!!!) isnt what i would call a scientifically sound or worthwhile pursuit.

[rzrbks]

the movements can show you times where if you are a pumper, to set your basals higher or lower, or if an MDI-er when you might need to tweak your carb ratios/have small snacks to overcome the inconsistencies of your underlying basal need.

EXACTLY...............

I go 12-18 hours without eating every 6 to 8 weeks to check to see how my basal dosage is---otherwise this sounds like a

"I'll be cured if I wish hard enough" fantasy.

[Type I Tester]

Originally Posted by rzrbks

EXACTLY...............

I go 12-18 hours without eating every 6 to 8 weeks to check to see how my basal dosage is---otherwise this sounds like a

"I'll be cured if I wish hard enough" fantasy.

Um ok

give me some credit here, I am NOT a retard. I know that diabetes is incurable so I don't wish hard for it.

Assuming sucks so don't do it. It makes an *** out of you and in this case...me

No one likes to take insulin shots or pills so sure to some degree we all wish that diabetes was curable.

So that puts you in this category too.

[fairyblood]

I voted before I understood what you meant. You are crazy.

[DeusXM]

No one likes to take insulin shots or pills so sure to some degree we all wish that diabetes was curable.

So that puts you in this category too.

Yes, but the difference is that most of us aren't in denial as to the reality of situation. All of us here wish for a cure - some of us for different reasons. I'm not bothered by the injections at all; it's the constant having to worry about my BG that I'd like to get past. For others, injections are the most catastrophically terrifying thing in the universe.

What we all have in common though is that we need to look after ourselves and treat our diabetes so that when a cure is finally developed, we can then receive that while our bodies are still in relatively good condition. There is going to be no point in curing a personal case of diabetes when that person is already blind, legless and suffering from every other complication under the sun.

I'm going to be quite blunt here about this test. You were playing with fire. People with T1 simply cannot go without insulin. For any length of time. Some people can last a week before they slip into a coma. For some people it's 24 hours. For most of us, it's somewhere in between.

By carrying out this 'test', you were voluntarily putting yourself in a potential fatal situation - and for what? Why on earth would you be even remotely interested in your residual insulin production? That fact that your BG is never in the normal range (under 100) means you do not produce enough insulin for your body's needs. No ifs, no buts. Your residual insulin production won't help you calculate how much insulin you need either.

Honestly, this test had absolutely no point whatsoever - from it you were trying to find out information that couldn't be measured, that couldn't help you in any meaningful way, and could have killed you. I'm sorry but you're in denial.

We all understand that. None of us want to have diabetes. But proving that your BG stays reasonably static when you starve yourself isn't going to change the fact that you have diabetes and you need to treat it.

Despite what people have said on here, you are neither a retard nor crazy. You're simply human and in a situation you don't want to be in. But you do need to face up to the reality of your situation for the sake of your health, otherwise when that day comes when we can all get off the jabs and the pills, you aren't going to benefit from it.

[Lizzie G]

I'll have to second Deus Xm's eloquently put words above. No want wants to have diabetes but the point is about accepting the things you cant control and working on those you can (isnt that the AA mantra?!). ie you have diabetes, you do not have a pancreas but you can work hard to use whatever regime you choose to mimic the action of a functioning panceas as closely as you can and thus keep yourself healthy. i dont think anyone is trying to say you are stupid and personally i can understand some of the questions you have (but an endo can run certain tests that can ascertain these things if you are that keen to know, beleieve me this need will pass), but diabetes management takes a LOT of energy, i think people are just trying to suggest that you use this energy to work on something that can make a difference to your long term health and happiness.

[hodgsonsurvivor]

Originally Posted by DeusXM

I'm going to be quite blunt here about this test. You were playing with fire. People with T1 simply cannot go without insulin. For any length of time. Some people can last a week before they slip into a coma. For some people it's 24 hours. For most of us, it's somewhere in between.

I think I was rather lucky. I went about 2 years without taking my insulin. And I wasn't fasting. It scares me to think of the damage my body has suffered though.

[Type I Tester]

Originally Posted by hodgsonsurvivor

I think I was rather lucky. I went about 2 years without taking my insulin. And I wasn't fasting. It scares me to think of the damage my body has suffered though.

I did the same when b4 I was diagnosed. I went 8 months but my diabetes onset rapidly.

I had Diabetic Ketoacidosis

A Urinary Tract Infection

I had Hypomagnesmia, Hypokalemia, My heart wasn't operating correctly due to an absence of necessary electrolytes, and my muscle mass had decreased by nearly 50%.

Upon review of my case, the ER doctor said that I might as well have been in a coma. They said that essentially I was awake but my body was in a state that resembled REM sleep. He didn't know why I was awake.

My BP was in the range of 70/50. Give or take 20 on either side. Not sure but it was somewhere in there.

To date I have had 3 heart attacks. *I know there are no minor heart attacks but they weren't severe either*

I had a very built sculpted body, 220 with about 6% body fat.

Now I am 195 with no muscle tone to speak of.

So my body got hit and it was hit hard.

[Type I Tester]

Originally Posted by Lizzie G

I'll have to second Deus Xm's eloquently put words above. No want wants to have diabetes but the point is about accepting the things you cant control and working on those you can (isnt that the AA mantra?!). ie you have diabetes, you do not have a pancreas but you can work hard to use whatever regime you choose to mimic the action of a functioning panceas as closely as you can and thus keep yourself healthy. i dont think anyone is trying to say you are stupid and personally i can understand some of the questions you have (but an endo can run certain tests that can ascertain these things if you are that keen to know, beleieve me this need will pass), but diabetes management takes a LOT of energy, i think people are just trying to suggest that you use this energy to work on something that can make a difference to your long term health and happiness.

Thanks lizzie, I appreciate that.

I didn't really know that I was putting myself in danger. I did this for five days once. I did some sort of religious fast. Five days no food, five days I was praying, and five days my bg was plummeting.

I started this fast at 243

I ended at 14

So yeah I understood the long term ramifications, I just didn't think it would be so short term as 12 hour fast cuz every doctor I have ever been to asked me to do a 12 hour fast for them before I came to visit.

But I fast once or twice a month for obvious reasons. I have to give my body a fighting chance to return to normal.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by Type I Tester

I started this fast at 243

I ended at 14

14? - really?
14 is absolutely incoherent for anybody I know.
I mean 14 is flat out zero awareness of anything or anyone around you.
Has anyone else ever recorded a 14? - I think I have seen 20, but not ever 14. 14 means the paramedics are there feeding you glucagon.
I think you are not telling the truth.

[Type I Tester]

Originally Posted by ****

14? - really?
14 is absolutely incoherent for anybody I know.
I mean 14 is flat out zero awareness of anything or anyone around you.
Has anyone else ever recorded a 14? - I think I have seen 20, but not ever 14. 14 means the paramedics are there feeding you glucagon.
I think you are not telling the truth.

the lowest I have ever been is 10 and still conscious and fully aware.

If you don't trust me how bout I send you my meter for your review?

Or is that what its going to take for you to trust that I am telling the truth.

Oh wait, I shouldn't do that, cuz...

I

Don't

Have

Any

Reason

To

Lie.

[Type I Tester]

And for your information, I was in the hospital, after eating a **** load of peanut butter and jelly and oreos and drinking almost a full carton of whole milk.

because I ended up passing out while trying to bring myself back up.