Anyone using insulin for diabetes?

[Clay45]

Still on metformin.

 

[Mysfyt]

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.

I'm just guessing here Gary, but she is playing it conservative so you don't have a low BG during the night while sleeping. Metformin, which I've been on for 15 years, helps us use the insulin we produce vs the Glipizide, which will stimulate the pancreas to excrete insulin.

I remember reading some stories that dogs could sense that their master was experiencing an extreme low and would attempt to wake them up. I don't get the magazine anymore, (Diabetes Interview was what it originally was called) but they were following reports of people who made this claim. A guy I talk to occasionally claimed it happened to him when he first started taking insulin. Thought it was pretty cool. Unfortunatley, we have a cat and it could care less.

 

[arkydog]

I'm no expert but have been type one for 36 years. that right 36 years. i was on 1 shot a day, then 2 shots a day, then the pens, then mixing the insulins, then 3 times a day, 4 times a day, now on the insulin pump. i volunteer at the hospital diabetic learning center. the ultimate goal is not to see how few or how many shot you take a day, but for better glucose control.

when i started taking insulin a lot of people were using pork insulin, both regular and long acting. some insulins are very short acting, some longer acting, and some 24hrs acting. since everyone is different, stick with what your health care professional tell you but also make sure they are up to date on their knowledge. ask them when their recent training was beside a pharmacitucal salesman. makes a difference.

diabetes has come a long ways in a short period of time. if you have to have your doctor refer you to a nurse educator cause they are pretty up to date. if you can't take the time off, TAKE THE TIME OFF. THIS IS YOUR LIFE, not your bosses or you doctors. most of these classes are covered by insurance. even if you have to go to a big city and stay in a hotel. it will be the best dicision of your life.

the main thing is don't be afraid to ask or question what you are told. another good sours is the AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOC. they help write the books.

good luck and just be glad yo weren't told instead of diabetes you had cancer. diabetes is treatable and controllable!!!

 

[mddorange]

Still on metformin.

I was on Metformin for years until I lost 24 pounds in 3 months since I couldn't get off the toilet. But then how can I complain since diabetes, cancer, AS and a few other surprises were a gift I received from my vacation from 1969-1970.

 

[ArlyA]

Gary, I was on some type of pills but taken off them around 1978. No idea what that was back then. Its not been recommended to take something in the class since.

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.

 

[arkydog]

i forgot to add that anyone that is diabetic should carry some form of something to raise your blood sugar in the form of orange juce, glucose tablets, cake decorating icing. i personally carry glucose tablets for when my sugars drop too low, usually below 70. has saved me many times from going into insulin shock. keep it on the night table for at night also.

you can buy these at most grocery stores that have pharmacies. i hate wally world but where i live they have a much better flavor selection. the cake decorating icing works good if you pass out and can't swallow, have your spouse put the icing between your cheek and gums. it gets absorbed into your system that way.

 

[coltbean]

I'm a type 1 diabetic and have been since 5 years old. I was on Lantus but now have a pump with cgm, these are wonderful by the way. Lantus is a slow acting insulin. It seems that it is not making it the full 24 hours and that a larger dose is causing lows. I would take 2 doses 12 hours apart. Probably around 20 - 25 units each to start.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Update: I went to the doctor yesterday and asked about the glipizide and just as Mysfyt stated, she didn't want my glucose level to fall at night which the Glipizide might do. I have been doing pretty well with the Lantus pen but still a bit high each morning (145 avg) so my doctor said to increase to 65 units and see how that works then come back in 6 weeks for follow up. My fasting sugar depends mostly on how much I exercise during the day. If I am busy for the full 5 hours between breakfast and lunch, it will be down below 100, but if it is a rainy day and I just play on the computer, it will be much higher. So I suppose I just need to get a weight bench and work out, nah, too lazy to work my muscles without something constructive to show for it.

 

[Mysfyt]

Thanks for the update!

 

[AMP762]

But then how can I complain since diabetes, cancer, AS and a few other surprises were a gift I received from my vacation from 1969-1970.

That wasn't a gift,that was issued to a lot of use.