[TomB]

Around the 1st of November I stopped taking metformin and started Lantus at 10 units at bedtime. The doc told me, actually, wrote instructions down that if fasting glucose went above 140 or if 2 hr after meals went over 160 to increase the Lantus by 2 units a week. Well, I'm kind of slow and I procrastinate rather well so instead of 1 week, I waited 3 weeks. Well. the numbers kept nudging up and now I'm at 14 units.
I take glipizide before meals, sometimes. It gives me a constant nagging head ache so if the meal is low carb, I skip the d--m thing. But, I now spread 10g of Androgel on me in the mornings and it does what it says it will do. It ups testosterone and lowers glucose. I can tell that by evening time it wears off; dinner numbers are hitting in the low 200's again.
What's next? Keep increasing Lantus?

[matingara]

i am sure that Bluesky will read this post.

i opted to start on insulin a month ago.

i decided to start with Lantus. I started at 8 units per day in the morning.

the thing is Lantus does nothing for your mealtime spikes. it is a long acting basal insulin.

I was convinced by the knowledgeable people here that it would have been far more advantageous to me to start on fast acting insulin (e.g. novorapid) to counter the mealtime spikes.

so, a week later, i went back to the Doc and asked for a prescription for Novorapid.

That was one of the best things i have ever done.

i am now doing novorapid at meals based on the carb content of what i am going to eat. 1u of NR for about 7g of carbs. i am still low carb - so at most i have like 3u at mealtimes.

my current regimen is:

low carb diet
8u lantus in the morning
12u lantus in the evening
novorapid before meals dependent on what i plan to eat.



-- Joel.

[jillrapp]

Tom,

Why did you stop taking Metformin? It helps you become more sensative to insulin? Are you having trouble with it? Glipizide can actually be more dangerous and has much more side effects. Let us know what's up!

[TomB]

Jillrapp -
. Primary reason I had to stop using metformin was that I have frequent, usually unscheduled, procedures where contrast dye is used: angiograms, stents, CTA, and MRA. Metformin and that dye can do major damage to kidneys. Normally you stop taking metformin 48 hours before and after one of those procedures but for me, sometimes I can't wait that long.
. Secondary reason: about every other day I had to stay real close to a rest room for most of the day and night. Not fun. As for glipizide, you're right. That's a nasty pill that has provided me with some not so interesting 40mg lows along with headaches. Maybe Matingara has the answer - call my doc and go on a quick acting insulin. Last night I went to bed with a 230mg level. A little shot of insulin might fix that in the future. Humm, I seem to recall getting those type of numbers even when I was taking metformin. This glucose intolerance stuff is interesting.
Tally Ho,
Tom