Question for Diabetics on Insulin.

[Guest TankerHC]

So I have been diabetic for about 10 years, the original Doctor who diagnosed it said probably a lot longer but just didnt know it. Wasnt a weight issue (At the time) because I had just left the service not too long prior and was in pretty decent shape. Always had a problem keeping A1C down, rarely did I test lower than a 9. Doctors have been telling me for 2 years I should go on Insulin because I would feel a whole lot better and it would prolong my life, so couple of weeks ago I did.

 

Started taking one shot a day of Lantus. Prior to that it was not unusual to get glucose readings above 200. Sometimes after a meal I would even hit 400, then drink a lot of water to get it down. My Doctor told me that I would be needing to eat "all the time", where before I couldnt eat anything that didnt cause my glucose levels to skyrocket, now I am having the exact opposite issue. Of course I am going to take the Doctors advice, and will be seeing her tomorrow. But have a couple of questions for people when they first started on this stuff.

 

These little bottles came with 7 pages of instructions and warnings. one was keep a close eye on glucose levels because your glucose could drop to life threatening levels. One positive is I havent seen a 200 since taking this Lantus. I could eat 6 cupcakes in a row and it still doesnt go that high (I havent actually eaten 6 cupcakes), but the problem is if I am not eating "ALL THE TIME" my glucose levels drop significantly. First day they dropped to 61, called the telephone hotline nurse, told to eat a peanut butter sandwich and drink a glass of ornage juice and wait an hour, did and it went back to normal. Last night dropped to 59, today dropped to 64.

 

I take Metformin and glipizide along with the shot. Doc says after a few weeks she will be able to look at the Insulin as a baseline and adjust the other two from there, and keep adjusting until everything is leveled out. But that doesnt prevent me from feeling like crap, getting the shakes, and sweating (I am sure some know what I am talking about), when the glucose starts dropping. WebMD Docs say 59 and 61 is not life threatening, but it needs to be brought back up ASAP (They claim they have seen people at 40).

 

I am constantly eating. Cheese Crackers, peanut butter sandwiches, etc. I can be driving down the road and it drops, so I have to carry boxes of Cheese Cracker and peanut butter crackers with me or something else to eat with carbs.

 

Questions:

 

When you first started on insulin, were your experiences similar? Dropping glucose levels (Find I now also have to check glucose levels 8 and 9 times a day rather than the normal 2 or 3)

 

What do you eat to regulate with insulin? I know there is no such thing as a diabetic diet, there is just a "proper diet", but my Doc was right when she said I am going to find myself eating all the time. If I dont, I start dropping fast.

[Guest The Itis]

My dad is diabetic and he used to keep snacks like you do. Then I told him that all of his snacks aren't that great because they are fast carbs (processed and simple sugars and whatnot) which causes insulin spikes and swings. Try out nuts and fruits instead of crackers if you can, the regulating effects last much longer and those foods are better for you at the very least.

My dad loves peanuts so it was easy to get him to give up the fast carb snacks, and it has significantly mellowed out his insulin swings.

[Guest nra37922]

The old celery with peanut butter and raisin toppings work VERY well for keeping glucose levels level between meals. 

[MadMarx]

How much Lantus are you using? I have used Lantus for quite awhile and I have not had that problem.

[Guest TankerHC]

10cc every 24 hours

 

but I also take Metforman (500 morning and evening) and glipizide with it.

Edited August 28, 2013 by TankerHC

[EMTRN]

Tanker, do you mean "units" instead of "cc"? If you are taking 10 cc's, we might have found the problem!

[Guest TankerHC]

Yes, units. My mistake.

[EMTRN]

That is what I figured.  lol

[Jonnin]

If your medications are properly set up for YOUR specific needs, you should be able to eat more or less like a normal person unless your diabetes is extremely bad.  That is the point of the medication --- to get you back to close to normal.   If you have been on something for more than a month and you find you need to "balance the medicine with snacks"  then the medicine is possibly wrong, the dose or the type or something.   I would badger my doctor and get a second opinion as well, see if maybe the dose can be tweaked or something.   Maybe, maybe not, but be proactive about it and get a straight answer from your caregiver on the subject.  

[Defender]

I took Lantus at one time but now on a novolog 70/30 mix of Fast acting and slow acting insulin in a prefilled syringe at about 85 units twice a day, and also Metformin in the largest dosage twice a day.  Dr took me off of Glpiizide  when I started the Novolog...I think your diosage of insulin might be highj, or something...I have to eat to make sure mine dont bottom out, but usually that just means a snack or two between meals...not constantly eating.  Exercise and water are key to comtrolling it.

[jcj]

Exercise and water are key to comtrolling it.

This. Probably more important than any medication. I was on diabetes meds until I decided to "fix it". Now medication free and an HBa1c of 5.2 (normal).

Can anyone do that? Maybe. Probably not. I'd wager in some cases beta cell function is too far gone to completely eliminate meds. However, I do know it makes a huge difference.



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