Advice for Harry

September 1, 2003

Hi Pat.

yup, see my one post on it... a little won't hurt you though but key is

little.

advice for Harry

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Fasting gbs this morning was 92.

> > > > > > > > So I tried that experiment and for breakfast had only

> scrambled

> > > eggs

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > > some Canadian bacon and two hours later my gbs was 120.

> > > > > > > > Then I celebrated by going to lunch with my cousin at a

> chinese

> > > > > > restaurant

> > > > > > > > and I just had a bowl of hot and sour soup and two egg rolls

> > > dipped

> > > > in

> > > > > > > duck

> > > > > > > > sauce and mustard. Two hours later my gbs is 272 and I am

so

> > > sleepy

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > > drowsy I can hardly write this message.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

September 1, 2003

I really like salads, but only if I put lots of dressing on them. There is

a fat free Italian dressing from Kraft, and it doesn't taste like it has

any sugar in it, wonder how bad it is! I don't really want to use vinegar

and oil because I don't like all that oil. Plain vegies are boring, and

although I have no problem with cooked vegies, most of them anyway, I

usually cook them a little more than crisp tender. LaWanda At 09:59 PM

8/31/03 -0400, you wrote:

>Hi Harry.

>

>One thing I'd like to encourage you to do is eat much more veggies. Have 1

>or 2 cups of slow acting carb veggies per meal, that is about 6 grams of

>carbs per cup, and those won't effect your bgs to badly since they are slow

>acting carbs. The reason you need to eat slow acting carb veggies like

>lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, green beans, etc. is those veggies

>will give you the nutrients and minerals you are not getting from fruits.

>Again, the veggies I listed a few posts back, have you a helping of them

>each meal and eat a variety of them. I keep frozen veggies, frozen are the

>best you can eat since all nutrients are in them, in the freezer and pop

>open the bag and measure me out 1 to 2 cups and put it in the microwave for

>about 3 mins and pull out and ready to eat. I toss some cheese on them and

>down they go smiles.

>

>My fingers are not sore at all, are you alternating like I explained a while

>back? Recall you use your fingers like this:

>

>left hand

>

>monday pointer

>tuesday middle

>wednesday ring

>thursday pinky

>

>now you switch to right hand

>

>Friday middle finger

>saturday ring finger

>Sunday pinky

>

>And the pattern is like this on each finger... 3 pricks down the left side

>of the finger spread out, 3 pricks down the right side of the finger spread

>out, and 2 across the center but not on the tip a little below the tip. If

>you follow this pricking day/pattern, your fingers will not be sore at all.

>If they are, then you might be pricking your fingers to hard. They should

>not bruise etc. and if they are, you are pricking to hard. Let me know if

>you have been *strictly* following this pricking pattern.

>

> advice for Harry

> > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Fasting gbs this morning was 92.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > So I tried that experiment and for breakfast had

>only

> > > > > > scrambled

> > > > > > > > eggs

> > > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > > some Canadian bacon and two hours later my gbs was

> > 120.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Then I celebrated by going to lunch with my cousin

>at

> > a

> > > > > > chinese

> > > > > > > > > > > restaurant

> > > > > > > > > > > > > and I just had a bowl of hot and sour soup and two

>egg

> > > > rolls

> > > > > > > > dipped

> > > > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > > > > duck

> > > > > > > > > > > > > sauce and mustard. Two hours later my gbs is 272

>and

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > so

> > > > > > > > sleepy

> > > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > > drowsy I can hardly write this message.

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > >

September 1, 2003

Uh oh!, Four hours after that lunch I ate a handful of walnuts, which was

only 2 carbs, then I just waited to see what happened and six or seven hours

after lunch I was feeling bad, so I did another gbs reading which was 66.

My glucose level was in the cellar and I was, too. So For dinner (supper

down here) I ate an apple, two large pieces of baked chicken, a tomato, a

large hunk of pepper cheese and one small graham cracker for a total of

around 28 or 29 carbs consumed at one meal. Two hours later just before

bedtime my gbs was 116. I took the 7 units of Lantus and went to sleep.

This morning my gbs was 103.

I think less than 30 carbs per day is too low for me or else I am on too

much insulin. I will talk with my doctor about what he would recommend.

advice for Harry

> > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > Fasting gbs this morning was 92.

> > > > > > > > > > > > So I tried that experiment and for breakfast had

only

> > > > > scrambled

> > > > > > > eggs

> > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > some Canadian bacon and two hours later my gbs was

> 120.

> > > > > > > > > > > > Then I celebrated by going to lunch with my cousin

at

> a

> > > > > chinese

> > > > > > > > > > restaurant

> > > > > > > > > > > > and I just had a bowl of hot and sour soup and two

egg

> > > rolls

> > > > > > > dipped

> > > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > > > duck

> > > > > > > > > > > > sauce and mustard. Two hours later my gbs is 272

and

> I

> > am

> > > > so

> > > > > > > sleepy

> > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > drowsy I can hardly write this message.

> > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > >

September 1, 2003

Hi.

Your best off eating the real thing instead of fat free. Reason? They

replace the fat with something and that something is normally carbohydrates.

You don't have to taste sugar, they replace it with carbs that break down to

sugar and spike bgs. So, perhaps hop on over to www.calorieking.com and do a

search for kraft fat free dressing and see what you get compared to the

real/non-fat one concerning carbs. BTW since you'd be using the real thing

that has fat in it, you may have to cut back some on the dressing but *only*

if it effects your lipid panel/LDL colesterol.

advice for Harry

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Fasting gbs this morning was 92.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > So I tried that experiment and for breakfast had

> >only

> > > > > > > scrambled

> > > > > > > > > eggs

> > > > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > some Canadian bacon and two hours later my gbs

was

> > > 120.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Then I celebrated by going to lunch with my

cousin

> >at

> > > a

> > > > > > > chinese

> > > > > > > > > > > > restaurant

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > and I just had a bowl of hot and sour soup and

two

> >egg

> > > > > rolls

> > > > > > > > > dipped

> > > > > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > > > > > duck

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > sauce and mustard. Two hours later my gbs is

272

> >and

> > > I

> > > > am

> > > > > > so

> > > > > > > > > sleepy

> > > > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > drowsy I can hardly write this message.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

September 1, 2003

BTW one thing I forgot to mention is that Dr. Bernstein's type 1 patients

run bgs of 90 prior to meals and 90 with their 2 hour post meal tests. His

type 2 diabetics run bgs of 85 prior to meals and their 2 hour post test

they are 85. They have a1c of 4.2 to 4.8 and this is as about as aggressive

as you can get with regards to low carbing... Bernstein recommending 30

grams of carbs a day and all being from slow carbs from veggies... 6 for

breakfast, 12 for lunch, 12 for dinner, etc. Moderate carbers say to have

bgs of 120 or less 2 hours past eating a meal and are ok with 80 to 120

prior to meals. Heck, that is better than running bgs of 140 to 300, right?

I personally am not satisfied with 30 grams of carbs so eat between 40 to 45

a day about 15 per meal YMMV. I was eating 30 grams per meal, 90 grams total

per day, and my bgs were fine but from eating so many quick acting carbs, I

was physically dragging and lower energy. So, I began to replace the quick

acting carbs with veggie slow acting carbs and noticed a tremendous

difference in my energy levels. I then bumped my total daily carb grams down

from 90 to 45 but may eventually get back up to 60 and fill in some of those

additional carb grams with low levels of quick acting carbs. The ADA

recommends 150 grams of carbs per day, minimum saying it is fine to have

much more than that, and I, and many other aggressive bgs watchers, laugh at

that seeing it as a ridiculous amount and leading to very poor bgs control

YMMV. Main thing is, once again, to understand how to keep your bgs in range

then finding your limit of carbs to eat per meal that makes you feel happy

and based on your pre and post bgs tests.

Right now Harry, we've determined that you can't eat many quick acting carbs

at all on simply lantus. I'd say to talk it over with your doc about using

Humalog insulin to cover quick acting carbs so you can eat more quick acting

carbs. However, I caution you to not get real extreme with carbs and to try

to enjoy yourself while maintaining very tight bgs control since high bgs is

the killer of diabetes, not fat/meat.

Those type 2 diabetics who are backing off carbs and getting good control,

if you aren't happy and want more carb grams, talk it over with your doc

about using humalog to cover carbs. Your doc will say 1 of 2 things... " you

don't need insulin " or " sure, lets discuss this possibility " If it is the

later, good, if it is the first saying you don't need it, in my opinion,

find another doc that will work with you on this. Ask your doc flat out are

you willing to help me and work with me on this possibility. If he/she says

no, then tell them you will find a doc who will work with you on this

possibility. The doc who says you don't need humalog to cover carbs as a

type 2 diabetic is old school and not aggressive thinking forcing you to

rely on oral meds and heavily working your pancreas and beta cells and over

time, will kill your remaining beta cells. By using humalog insulin, you

will ease the pancreas from doing all the very hard pumping to cover quick

acting carbs and lesson that burden and let the humalog insulin take care of

some of that load. I know many many type 2 diabetics that are using humalog

insulin to cover carbs to keep their pancreas from burning out so to speak.

However, many docs will say your nuts but you have to find one that will be

aggressive and say... lets do it partner! The stereotype that insulin is

only for type 1 diabetics is slowly losing it's hold and many docs are

starting to see the advantage of putting type 2 diabetics on humalog to

cover carbs and preserve pancreas functionality.

all this folks is just food for thought.

advice for Harry

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Fasting gbs this morning was 92.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > So I tried that experiment and for breakfast had

> > only

> > > > > > > scrambled

> > > > > > > > > eggs

> > > > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > some Canadian bacon and two hours later my gbs

was

> > > 120.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Then I celebrated by going to lunch with my

cousin

> > at

> > > a

> > > > > > > chinese

> > > > > > > > > > > > restaurant

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > and I just had a bowl of hot and sour soup and

two

> > egg

> > > > > rolls

> > > > > > > > > dipped

> > > > > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > > > > > duck

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > sauce and mustard. Two hours later my gbs is

272

> > and

> > > I

> > > > am

> > > > > > so

> > > > > > > > > sleepy

> > > > > > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > drowsy I can hardly write this message.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

September 2, 2003

good job Harry. talk it over with your doc. Main thing is, you now know how

to carb count and how carbs effect your bgs so you can talk things over with

your doc and get into more aggressive treatment. I think your good to go. I

think you got the drill down... good job!

Monkey wrench in the works?Fw: advice for Harry

>

> > Fasting blood sugar or gbs this morning was 103.

> > For breakfast I consumed two scrambled eggs or equivalent egg beaters,

two

> > pieces of Canadian bacon and a glass of tomato juice (6 grams of carbs)

> and

> > a hunk of pepper cheese for a grand total of about 9 or 10 grams of

carbs.

> > Two hours later my gbs was 149.

> > So I went for a 35 minute walk on the treadmill, and after that, which

was

> 3

> > hours after lunch I had a gbs of 116.

> > So what is the monkey wrench?, you ask.

> > Before I started this carb counting I got the new glucose monitor and

the

> > booklet that came with it said that Vitamin C can cause higher readings.

> > Well, after abstaining for the past two weeks from my usual Vitamin C

> intake

> > of 8 grams per day, this morning I resumed my Vitamin C and I took 3

grams

> > of C.

> > I plan to continue taking Vitamin C in large doses of 8 grams per day in

> > divided doses. Have others experienced this phenomena?

> > Does Dr. Bernstein have any thing to say about diabetes and Vitamin C?

> > I did not eat any lunch, since I did not feel hungry. In fact I have

> > noticed that I do not crave food at all today.

>

September 4, 2003

arrowroots are a small baby cookie made my mccormicks. they have been on

the market for years. they are a plain small cookie, three of these make one

bread exchange. karen

September 5, 2003

an arrowroot is a small baby cookie. three ofthese make one bread exchange.

karen

September 8, 2003

yup, the 10 mg of glyburide is essential to keep your bgs under control. I

know your experimenting but I really think you got it down a week ago and

should stick with that regimen IMO. The benefit to using humalog is that it

could give you much more strict control and more flexibility with eating

carbs. The main benefit would be easing the work load on your remaining

pancreas function. For example, if you take 10 mg of glyburide, that is all

you got to work with for breakfast and your pancreas has to do the rest,

with lantus helping, and am assuming your lunch is covered by your oral

meds some as well. If you used humalog insulin for each meal, you could have

a lot of flexibility. For example, for breakfast, 6 to 10 grams of carbs is

about all you can eat on 10 mg of glyburide. With humalog, 1 unit covers 15

grams of carbs. So for breakfast, you'd have to eat 15 grams of carbs.

However, the insulin to carb ratio is a YMMV for each person. You start with

the book/standard of 1 unit per 15 grams of carbs. To explain, you eat 15

grams of carbs for breakfast and dose 1 unit of humalog, then test 2 hours

later and if high, then next morning for breakfast it would be 1 unit per 14

grams of carbs. You test 2 hours later and are high, then the next morning

for breakfast would be 1 unit per 13 grams of carbs. You test 2 hours later

and are 120 or less. Then you know, for breakfast, it is 1 unit of humalog

per 13 grams of carbs in your body. For lunch it may be 1 unit per 8 grams

of carbs and for dinner it could be 1 unit per 15 grams of carbs. The

insulin to carb ratios for each meal is a 100% YMMV issue. Some folks luck

out and have 1 unit per 15 grams for every meal and are fine with that and

run great 2 hour post tests but most have different insulin to carb ratios

per meal. Even on humalog though, you would use it to have tighter control

but not to abuse it. For example, I've found that to maintain a 2 hour post

meal test of 120 or less, I can eat no more than 20 grams of carbs per meal

so my total carb grams per day is 60. The reason for this is that more carbs

than that per meal will yield immeasurable/unpredictable results. I started

at 100 grams a day, couldn't get a 2 hour post test 120 or less and sugars

were unpredictable. Then bumped it to 90 grams per day and that was better

but still was yielding unpredictable 2 hour post test results. I then went

to 60 a day and bam! Can get a 2 hour post test of 120 or less and all

pre-meals 80 to 90. This is a YMMV issue but am certain that most diabetics

really aggressively maintaining 2 hour post tests 120 or less don't eat more

than 60 carbs a day but that's IMO.

Monkey wrench in the works?Fw: advice

for

> > > Harry

> > > > >

> > > > > > Fasting blood sugar or gbs this morning was 103.

> > > > > > For breakfast I consumed two scrambled eggs or equivalent egg

> > beaters,

> > > > two

> > > > > > pieces of Canadian bacon and a glass of tomato juice (6 grams of

> > > carbs)

> > > > > and

> > > > > > a hunk of pepper cheese for a grand total of about 9 or 10 grams

> of

> > > > carbs.

> > > > > > Two hours later my gbs was 149.

> > > > > > So I went for a 35 minute walk on the treadmill, and after that,

> > which

> > > > was

> > > > > 3

> > > > > > hours after lunch I had a gbs of 116.

> > > > > > So what is the monkey wrench?, you ask.

> > > > > > Before I started this carb counting I got the new glucose

monitor

> > and

> > > > the

> > > > > > booklet that came with it said that Vitamin C can cause higher

> > > readings.

> > > > > > Well, after abstaining for the past two weeks from my usual

> Vitamin

> > C

> > > > > intake

> > > > > > of 8 grams per day, this morning I resumed my Vitamin C and I

took

> 3

> > > > grams

> > > > > > of C.

> > > > > > I plan to continue taking Vitamin C in large doses of 8 grams

per

> > day

> > > in

> > > > > > divided doses. Have others experienced this phenomena?

> > > > > > Does Dr. Bernstein have any thing to say about diabetes and

> Vitamin

> > C?

> > > > > > I did not eat any lunch, since I did not feel hungry. In fact I

> > have

> > > > > > noticed that I do not crave food at all today.

> > > > >

> > > >

September 8, 2003

It makes sense so far. I remind you that I am taking two oral medications,

since I also have insulin resistance, and for this condition I am taking

Actos 45mg in the morning. Do you think I would have to remain on Actos if

I were able to dose with Humalog?

I would imagine that if I were just on two meds like Lantus insulin and

Humalog, that it might be easier to regulate my carb intake with my

medication regimen.

What I am doing now is just waiting until my gbs falls near the 120 level or

below before consuming any carbs. For instance for breakfast I consumed

around 6 carbs and the gbs shot up to 183, and of course it is important to

remember that I forgot to take the glyburide with my breakfast. However the

pre-lunch gbs was still156, which was four hours after breakfast, and after

I took both my oral meds two hours earlier.

So I am skipping lunch and waiting until my gbs is near or below the 120

mark before consuming any carbs.

Monkey wrench in the works?Fw: advice

> for

> > > > Harry

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Fasting blood sugar or gbs this morning was 103.

> > > > > > > For breakfast I consumed two scrambled eggs or equivalent egg

> > > beaters,

> > > > > two

> > > > > > > pieces of Canadian bacon and a glass of tomato juice (6 grams

of

> > > > carbs)

> > > > > > and

> > > > > > > a hunk of pepper cheese for a grand total of about 9 or 10

grams

> > of

> > > > > carbs.

> > > > > > > Two hours later my gbs was 149.

> > > > > > > So I went for a 35 minute walk on the treadmill, and after

that,

> > > which

> > > > > was

> > > > > > 3

> > > > > > > hours after lunch I had a gbs of 116.

> > > > > > > So what is the monkey wrench?, you ask.

> > > > > > > Before I started this carb counting I got the new glucose

> monitor

> > > and

> > > > > the

> > > > > > > booklet that came with it said that Vitamin C can cause higher

> > > > readings.

> > > > > > > Well, after abstaining for the past two weeks from my usual

> > Vitamin

> > > C

> > > > > > intake

> > > > > > > of 8 grams per day, this morning I resumed my Vitamin C and I

> took

> > 3

> > > > > grams

> > > > > > > of C.

> > > > > > > I plan to continue taking Vitamin C in large doses of 8 grams

> per

> > > day

> > > > in

> > > > > > > divided doses. Have others experienced this phenomena?

> > > > > > > Does Dr. Bernstein have any thing to say about diabetes and

> > Vitamin

> > > C?

> > > > > > > I did not eat any lunch, since I did not feel hungry. In fact

I

> > > have

> > > > > > > noticed that I do not crave food at all today.

> > > > > >

> > > > >

September 8, 2003

drink lots of water as well since it will help you keep your blood thin so

your cells can consume the oral meds and lantus better.

Monkey wrench in the works?Fw:

advice

> > for

> > > > > Harry

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Fasting blood sugar or gbs this morning was 103.

> > > > > > > > For breakfast I consumed two scrambled eggs or equivalent

egg

> > > > beaters,

> > > > > > two

> > > > > > > > pieces of Canadian bacon and a glass of tomato juice (6

grams

> of

> > > > > carbs)

> > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > a hunk of pepper cheese for a grand total of about 9 or 10

> grams

> > > of

> > > > > > carbs.

> > > > > > > > Two hours later my gbs was 149.

> > > > > > > > So I went for a 35 minute walk on the treadmill, and after

> that,

> > > > which

> > > > > > was

> > > > > > > 3

> > > > > > > > hours after lunch I had a gbs of 116.

> > > > > > > > So what is the monkey wrench?, you ask.

> > > > > > > > Before I started this carb counting I got the new glucose

> > monitor

> > > > and

> > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > booklet that came with it said that Vitamin C can cause

higher

> > > > > readings.

> > > > > > > > Well, after abstaining for the past two weeks from my usual

> > > Vitamin

> > > > C

> > > > > > > intake

> > > > > > > > of 8 grams per day, this morning I resumed my Vitamin C and

I

> > took

> > > 3

> > > > > > grams

> > > > > > > > of C.

> > > > > > > > I plan to continue taking Vitamin C in large doses of 8

grams

> > per

> > > > day

> > > > > in

> > > > > > > > divided doses. Have others experienced this phenomena?

> > > > > > > > Does Dr. Bernstein have any thing to say about diabetes and

> > > Vitamin

> > > > C?

> > > > > > > > I did not eat any lunch, since I did not feel hungry. In

fact

> I

> > > > have

> > > > > > > > noticed that I do not crave food at all today.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

September 8, 2003

I'm not certain about the insulin resistance, that is something you'd have

to take up with an endo or your doc. I know some diabetics who have insulin

resistance and by low carbing and using insulin like lantus/humalog they do

ok but not certain if they are on medication for the insulin resistance.

Monkey wrench in the works?Fw:

advice

> > for

> > > > > Harry

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Fasting blood sugar or gbs this morning was 103.

> > > > > > > > For breakfast I consumed two scrambled eggs or equivalent

egg

> > > > beaters,

> > > > > > two

> > > > > > > > pieces of Canadian bacon and a glass of tomato juice (6

grams

> of

> > > > > carbs)

> > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > a hunk of pepper cheese for a grand total of about 9 or 10

> grams

> > > of

> > > > > > carbs.

> > > > > > > > Two hours later my gbs was 149.

> > > > > > > > So I went for a 35 minute walk on the treadmill, and after

> that,

> > > > which

> > > > > > was

> > > > > > > 3

> > > > > > > > hours after lunch I had a gbs of 116.

> > > > > > > > So what is the monkey wrench?, you ask.

> > > > > > > > Before I started this carb counting I got the new glucose

> > monitor

> > > > and

> > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > booklet that came with it said that Vitamin C can cause

higher

> > > > > readings.

> > > > > > > > Well, after abstaining for the past two weeks from my usual

> > > Vitamin

> > > > C

> > > > > > > intake

> > > > > > > > of 8 grams per day, this morning I resumed my Vitamin C and

I

> > took

> > > 3

> > > > > > grams

> > > > > > > > of C.

> > > > > > > > I plan to continue taking Vitamin C in large doses of 8

grams

> > per

> > > > day

> > > > > in

> > > > > > > > divided doses. Have others experienced this phenomena?

> > > > > > > > Does Dr. Bernstein have any thing to say about diabetes and

> > > Vitamin

> > > > C?

> > > > > > > > I did not eat any lunch, since I did not feel hungry. In

fact

> I

> > > > have

> > > > > > > > noticed that I do not crave food at all today.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

September 10, 2003

You just need to keep in mind that I am chicken.

The thought of stabbing myself with a needle several times per day is

definitely not apealing.

<grin>

Re: advice for Harry

>

> > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he recommended

I

> > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the Actos

> which

> > deals with insulin resistance?

> > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> >

>

September 10, 2003

BTW Bernstein gives a painless insulin shot tip in his book. I've been

shooting for 25 years and never knew about this trick. It seriously Harry,

all kidding aside, is not painful at all using this technique. You hold the

insulin shot like a dart you are going to throw at a dart board. You hold it

like that about 4 inches from your target such as your gut. You snap it at

your gut but never let it go at all. In other words, hold it gently between

your fingers not the death grip but having an actual light grip so you don't

drop it. flick it at your target by flicking your wrist... not holding it

up to the sealing and whipping it at your target LOL. Just simply flick your

wrist and lightly hold the shot and I swear you'll ask your wife " did it go

in? " And she'll say, yes it is in all the way. Then just plunge the insulin

in and pull it out and your done.

Re: advice for Harry

> >

> > > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he

recommended

> I

> > > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the Actos

> > which

> > > deals with insulin resistance?

> > > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> > >

> >

September 10, 2003

I am conducting a personal experiment.

This morning my gbs was 78, which is great. Yesterday I only took both my

oral medications as prescribed along with 7 units of Lantus at bedtime and

awoke this morning with this good gbs.

So I am experimenting for at least one day and possibly two days without

taking oral medications for diabetes type 2. Today I have consumed only 6

carbs for breakfast and before lunch and my gbs had risen to 158, and for

lunch I consumed 2 carbs. Now we will see if it continues to rise just

before dinner/supper.

Re: advice for Harry

>

> > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he recommended

I

> > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the Actos

> which

> > deals with insulin resistance?

> > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> >

>

September 11, 2003

chicken! cluck cluck chicken! LOL LOL I'm 100% kidding Harry but take the

humalog boy before you grow chicken wings and fly away!

smiles

Re: advice for Harry

> >

> > > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he

recommended

> I

> > > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the Actos

> > which

> > > deals with insulin resistance?

> > > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> > >

> >

September 11, 2003

Hello Harry,

Be glad, the needles could be like the old ones they used back in the late

50'S. you had to sharpen them yourself, boil them befor useing them, And I

would sware they were square. As a we small boy they let me practice on an

orange, sure it's the same thing, big smile thing have gotten better.

At 12:13 PM 9/10/03 -0400, you wrote:

>You just need to keep in mind that I am chicken.

>The thought of stabbing myself with a needle several times per day is

>definitely not apealing.

><grin>

> Re: advice for Harry

>>

>> > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he recommended

>I

>> > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

>> > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

>> > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the Actos

>> which

>> > deals with insulin resistance?

>> > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

>> >

>>

September 11, 2003

The experiment continues:

No oral medications were taken for diabetes yesterday. Yes, my gbs

continued to rise to a high of 178 before bedtime, and I had a snack of

around6 carbs, making a total carb consumption yesterday of no more than 50

grams. I took the prescribed dose of Lantus 7 units at 9:30P last night and

this morning my fasting gbs was 148. So, I continued the experiment by

consuming 4 carbs, a glucose tablet, and one hour later my gbs was 171 and

two hours later it was 166.

Today I am taking no oral medications for diabetes and counting carbs. I am

trying to establish a basil level of Lantus dosage at night. Presently, I

am on Lantus 7 units at bedtime. What would you recommend? A higher dosage

of Lantus? If so, how much? What is your rationale for this suggestion?

Re: advice for Harry

> >

> > > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he

recommended

> I

> > > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the Actos

> > which

> > > deals with insulin resistance?

> > > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> > >

> >

September 11, 2003

I believe it is important to establish a basil dose of Lantus before I can

start dosing with fast acting Humalog for the amount of carbs I consume at

meals and snacks. Does this make sense to you?

I feel a basil level of Lantus can better be established by not taking these

oral medications eveery day for how long, I have no idea. I figure at least

dtwo days is a start. Maybe it would take three or four days. What is your

best guestimate?

Re: advice for Harry

> The experiment continues:

> No oral medications were taken for diabetes yesterday. Yes, my gbs

> continued to rise to a high of 178 before bedtime, and I had a snack of

> around6 carbs, making a total carb consumption yesterday of no more than

50

> grams. I took the prescribed dose of Lantus 7 units at 9:30P last night

and

> this morning my fasting gbs was 148. So, I continued the experiment by

> consuming 4 carbs, a glucose tablet, and one hour later my gbs was 171 and

> two hours later it was 166.

> Today I am taking no oral medications for diabetes and counting carbs. I

am

> trying to establish a basil level of Lantus dosage at night. Presently, I

> am on Lantus 7 units at bedtime. What would you recommend? A higher

dosage

> of Lantus? If so, how much? What is your rationale?

September 11, 2003

Based on your initial bgs readings being fine prior to your experimenting,

I'd say your lantus is pretty much close. It may need adjusted slightly but

I'd say it is pretty close to what it needs to be. Recall, your bgs were

running pretty good prior to experimenting. How you can tell if your lantus

will need increased is after the humalog wears off and if you begin to raise

in bgs rather than stay level, your lantus may need increased. So, you use

humalog to help you determine this by watching your bgs prior to meals since

that is where the lantus plays in. I.E you eat breakfast 8 am and dose

humalog... 2 hours later you get checked and are 135, which is good, but

then at 12 noon your bgs is up to 200 then you know that lantus isn't

working. Same thing for lunch... your pre lunch is 90, you eat lunch at

noon/dose humalog... 2 hour test your 125. All is good now. Prior to dinner

your 232 then you know the lantus is not keeping your bgs between meals down

so you may need to increase it. You would never conclude this in 1 day of

testing... you would have to repeat the pre-meal highs for at least 5 days

since you will also be calculating your insulin to carb ratios for meals as

well. I.E just because your high prior to a meal doesn't mean it is the

lantus needing in creased, it could be that your insulin to carb ratio for

the previous meal needs bumped down such as 1 unit per 12 grams of carbs

etc. how you know if yoru insulin to carb ratio is good is your two hour

post test. Most on humalog say a 2 hour post test of 130 or less is good

since you'll find a three our test drop you to about 100 or so. If you run a

90 bgs 2 hours past eating on humalog, you'll drop to 60 or less 3 hours

later. This is a YMMV issue but it is something to be aware of. So, if your

2 hour post meal tests are 120 to 130, consider it good and your done with

it since your 3 hour test will show you coming back down under 100 or close

to 100.

I guess what I am saying is to just jump in and go for it man. You juggle

your lantus/humalog by using both together and balancing out your bgs... you

don't keep humalog out of the equation trying to balance lantus, that just

doesn't make sense IMO.

Re: advice for Harry

>

> > The experiment continues:

> > No oral medications were taken for diabetes yesterday. Yes, my gbs

> > continued to rise to a high of 178 before bedtime, and I had a snack of

> > around6 carbs, making a total carb consumption yesterday of no more than

> 50

> > grams. I took the prescribed dose of Lantus 7 units at 9:30P last night

> and

> > this morning my fasting gbs was 148. So, I continued the experiment by

> > consuming 4 carbs, a glucose tablet, and one hour later my gbs was 171

and

> > two hours later it was 166.

> > Today I am taking no oral medications for diabetes and counting carbs.

I

> am

> > trying to establish a basil level of Lantus dosage at night. Presently,

I

> > am on Lantus 7 units at bedtime. What would you recommend? A higher

> dosage

> > of Lantus? If so, how much? What is your rationale?

>

September 11, 2003

your going about this incorrectly. First, lantus is a basal insulin and is

not designed to deal with eating in general. Your trying to get lantus to

cover small carb meals and it won't do it. That is what the humalog is for.

I.E if you ate 20 carbs for breakfast and shot 1 unit of humalog, 1 unit per

15 grams to start with, and 2 hours later were 130 then prior to lunch were

90, you are seeing the humalog take care of the initial impact of the

breakfast then the lantus keeping your bgs down between meals. Without

taking humalog to deal with the carbs, your going to run high all the time.

Even if you shot 30 units of lantus and ate 20 carbs per meal, you'd be

high. Reason? Lantus is a basal insulin meaningn it works between meals to

help *gently* keep bgs down. It has no aggressive attributes to it to handle

foods. That is what humalog is used for. I say for dinner shoot the humalog

to cover your carbs and do a 2 hour post test to see your results.

Lets use an example here for a minute. If you are 160 for dinner, shoot 1

unit of humalog to cover the high bgs, recall 1 unit of humalog will drop

you 60 points bringing you to 100, then count your carbs and dose humalog

accordingly. For keeping things neat, I'd say eat an even 30 grams of carbs

for each meal then shoot 2 units of humalog for covering it. I.E 1 unit of

humalog per 15 grams of carbs. So, in this example, you'd take 3 units of

humalog for your dinner: 1 unit to cover the high bgs of 160 then 2 units to

cover the 30 grams of carbs you eat.

Of course, in the next 5 days, you'll have to adjust your humalog insulin to

carb ratios so you better get started and quit experimenting with lantus or

you may wind up in the hospital with keytones from being high sugared so

long IMO.

Re: advice for Harry

> > >

> > > > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he

> recommended

> > I

> > > > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > > > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > > > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the

Actos

> > > which

> > > > deals with insulin resistance?

> > > > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> > > >

> > >

September 11, 2003

That is good to know:

1 unit of Humalog drops the gbs 60 points without any carbs consumed.

Hey!, that's scarey!

So, one must not only know their gbs before meal, but also calculate the

number of carbs consumed in order to estimate the proper dosage. One

doesn't want to go too low!

Re: advice for Harry

> > > >

> > > > > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he

> > recommended

> > > I

> > > > > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > > > > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > > > > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the

> Actos

> > > > which

> > > > > deals with insulin resistance?

> > > > > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> > > > >

> > > >

September 11, 2003

keep in mind these are standard numbers and YMMV. I.E 1 unit of humalog may

only drop you 30 points instead of 60 but the text book starting point is 60

points since 80 to 90 percent of people that fits. Same with insulin to carb

ratios... it is a YMMV issue as well. The text book starting point is 1 unit

of humalog per 15 grams of carbs but each meal may be different, each meal

may be 1:15, or 1:8, or each different such as breakfast 1:12, lunch 1:10,

dinner 1:13 etc.

This is why I suggest to get in on dosing the humalog so you can begin to

get your insulin to carb ratios down for each meal.

Re: advice for Harry

> > > > >

> > > > > > Today the doctor gave me a prescription for Humalog, and he

> > > recommended

> > > > I

> > > > > > stop taking both my oral medications glyburide and Actos.

> > > > > > He just wants me to be on Lantus and Humalog for carb dosing.

> > > > > > In a type 2 diabetic is it advisable for one to stop taking the

> > Actos

> > > > > which

> > > > > > deals with insulin resistance?

> > > > > > Is all this insulin going to make things worse or better?

> > > > > >

> > > > >

September 12, 2003

Harry, You need to cover your BS with humalog with the amount of Lantis you

are taking on a daily basis. If your dosabe of Lantis changes, then the

amount of humalog will probably change too. The first day you stip taking

the medication will probably change what the basal dosage is. But you still

cover yourself with the humalog. For instance, if your basal dosage is 9

units and you have stopped taking the meds and your fasting blood sugar is

160 in the morning, then you figure out how many grams of carbs of carb you

are eating for breakfast and take the amount of humnalog that will lower

your BS to 90 or so. If you eat 30 grams of carbs with your BS at 160, you

would probably take 2 to 3 units of humalog to lower your BS. Starting with

the lower number of units is safer at first to prevent hypoglycemia. If 2

units does not lower it to around 90, then the next day, under similar

circumstances, you would try 3 units.

Re: advice for Harry

I believe it is important to establish a basil dose of Lantus before I can

start dosing with fast acting Humalog for the amount of carbs I consume at

meals and snacks. Does this make sense to you?

I feel a basil level of Lantus can better be established by not taking these

oral medications eveery day for how long, I have no idea. I figure at least

dtwo days is a start. Maybe it would take three or four days. What is your

best guestimate?

Re: advice for Harry

> The experiment continues:

> No oral medications were taken for diabetes yesterday. Yes, my gbs

> continued to rise to a high of 178 before bedtime, and I had a snack of

> around6 carbs, making a total carb consumption yesterday of no more than

50

> grams. I took the prescribed dose of Lantus 7 units at 9:30P last night

and

> this morning my fasting gbs was 148. So, I continued the experiment by

> consuming 4 carbs, a glucose tablet, and one hour later my gbs was 171 and

> two hours later it was 166.

> Today I am taking no oral medications for diabetes and counting carbs. I

am

> trying to establish a basil level of Lantus dosage at night. Presently, I

> am on Lantus 7 units at bedtime. What would you recommend? A higher

dosage

> of Lantus? If so, how much? What is your rationale?

September 12, 2003

That is exactly how I used to give myself insulin and never had pain with

the injection. When I was a working RN, I gave all injections that way and

I used to have patients beg for me to give them whatever kind of injectin

they needed because I never hurt them.