Anyone using insulin for diabetes?

[Clay45]

Hi Gary,

I've been on oral meds since 1987 and supplement them with Lantus Solostar at bedtime every night. Started with 10 units and increased in 5 unit increments until rising glucose was <130. Am taking 45 units now after a couple of years.

Before adding the Lantus I found control to be nearly impossible. Other than the cost its been a positve addition for me.

Regards,

Clay

 

[Mysfyt]

I got the 70 number from internet info and it may or may not be right. I can say that when my number hit 87 one day, I started shaking and was extremely weak which is why I tested before eating. A while after eating 2 ham sandwiches, I returned to normal. That night it was 120. My morning readings don't seem to correspond to any activity or eating event. I can eat a salad only at night and next morning have a 170 reading or a couple of times I ate 2 hamburgers and had a morning
reading of 120. Vigorous activity does have an effect for sure AND small amounts of sugar like a couple scoops of ice cream seems to make the reading lower also which is contrary to most medical advice.

For what it's worth, I'm the same way. No correlation between evening meals and morning numbers. I've tried everything the Internet and my doctor has suggested, but the morning numbers seem to have a mind of their own. Frustrating!

And like you, a couple scoops of ice cream seems to help some. Also stock the peanut butter crackers like cord wood.

 

[2458n]

The only bad thing about the Lantus is the fact that once you start your stuck. I also started at 5 and have progressed to 60. It has to be profitable because your hooked for life. Only thing effective is the surgery for weight loss that removes 10 inches of intestine. When you come out of hospital your sugar is normal. Drastic but wish I had done it 10 years ago.

 

[DT86]

As for the numbers, I was really surprised how they have inflated the "normal" readings as of late. For most of my 26 years of diabetes they required a reading of 60 to 90 as desired and anything over 100 was bad. Now they say 90 to 120 is desired and anything over 130 is bad. If a reading of 70 would put you in a comma, then how did we make it all those earlier years? I think they raised the numbers because not everyone checks their sugar as often or as close as they should so they inflated them to protect those people.

Also they use to want us to keep the A1C under 6.0 but now it is fine under 7.5? Go figure?

This is exactly opposite of what I have experienced.

Used to be 130 (to... I want to say 80) was ok, now they want 100 - 70. And I can assure you I got a stern talk last visit and my a1c was bellow 7.

 

[Jim Shooz]

I've known about my diabetes for the last 30 or so years. Moved onto insulin about 6 or 8 years ago. I'm using Humulin 30/70. Eighteen units in the morning and sixteen at night. This level was set by my local GP as a result of the HBa1c test every 3 months. I think the numbers come out on the high side of normal.
Testing each morning gives me an idea of what I had the night before being something I could, or shouldn't have again. I try to get to the acceptable BS level by adjusting the food rather than the insulin. I cycle or walk 4 days a week plus the chainsawing and logsplitting etc. 181 pounds, 5'10", 78 and planning on living forever. (doing all right so far)

 

[ae_ted]

I use a Lot of insulin.
went from a regular MD to a endocrinologist to deal with the diabetes. The endocrinologist took me from trying to count carbs(apparently i sucked at it) to a pattern. I also use the typical pills. My pattern is that at night i need quite a bit more insulin to keep the blood sugar down(most people have higher sugar at night) I take 2 types os insulin Novolog that is a fast acting to take at meals as needed and a long acting insulin. I was on lantus but have since moved to toujeo for my long acting insulin. i generally take 10 to 40 units of Novolog at breakfast and lunch and the 70 to 80 units of Novolog at supper. I am now taking 54 units of long acting Toujeo morning and bed time( the is down from 65 units. this pattern is giving me a average blood sugar reading since the first of the year of 111 at morning and 117 at lunch and 149 at bed time. i measure and Record in a excel spreadsheet blood pressure morning and night for my heart doctor to see how my blood pressure medicine is working and blood sugar and units taken at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed time. This information over the years has enabled my doctors to really keep me under control.The A1c is not always a good indicator of diabetes. my doctor said that about 30% of people are like me for many yrs my a1c was around 4.5 to 5 which most people would love to have but it did not reflect my diabetes, now it is running 5 to 5.4 which now my doctor says i am now normal. I have pricked all my fingers so much over the past few yrs, I doubt that i have any fingerprints left. good luck to you.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Hi Gary,

I've been on oral meds since 1987 and supplement them with Lantus Solostar at bedtime every night. Started with 10 units and increased in 5 unit increments until rising glucose was <130. Am taking 45 units now after a couple of years.

Before adding the Lantus I found control to be nearly impossible. Other than the cost its been a positve addition for me.

Regards,

Clay

Taken at bedtime might be the way I need to lower my morning high levels. My doctor nor the literature with the Lantus pen didn't specify when best to take it, only that it is to be taken at the same time each day. I take mine in the morning which keeps me pretty steady to low all day. I wonder how many other folks use the Lantus pen at night. This might be best for those who eat a heavy meal for dinner. I usually go light at night but do occasionally "eat out" and most of those meals are quite heavy.

I did see my doctor yesterday and she was proud of my readings going from nearly 300 in the morning while on the pill only to about a 150 average is much better. I have to go back in a couple weeks for further evaluation. She wants me to stay at 62 units for right now which is fine by me. I actually cleaned out my pen yesterday and took the final 65 units. I was at 150 this morning with only a large salad for dinner last night.

I will for sure ask her about taking it at night rather than in the morning. Boy this blood sugar is really hard to figure out.

 

[Gary Fowler]

IS Any one taking the insulin in any form still taking the pills. My doctor kept me on the 1000 mg of Metformin twice a day and just added the insulin on top. She did take me off the Glipizide tab at night though for some reason. I read on MD website that Glipizide can be used with Insulin so I was wondering why she took that away but kept the Metformin.

 

[ae_ted]

i am also on metformin

 

[Jim Shooz]

I was on Glipizide only before changing to insulin and am now on only insulin.