Can I Make a Suggestion?

[Guest guest]

My suggestion is that we NOT have this become a religous/political

group rather than the diabetic group it was ment to be (religion and

politics go hand in hand anymore). If it becomes a religous/political

group I can promise I will tick people off as I am very LEFT wing

politically and I will file a complaint with yahoo groups. I look to

this and other groups as a sense of inspiration. When I want religous

council I will go to someone much more qualified than those in this

group.

Now on to a much more relevent topic.

I need help/suggestions on how to deal with the lantus I am taking. I

am bottoming out about 2-3 times a day. I take 120 units along with

Actos and other meds. I am dieting and have lost 40+ pounds in 14

weeks. I plan to see an endocrinologist the first week in June. But

for now I get sick often.

Any suggestions?

THIS is why I turn to this group.

Thanks all.

Darrell

[Guest guest]

> I need help/suggestions on how to deal with the lantus I am taking.

I

> am bottoming out about 2-3 times a day. I take 120 units along with

> Actos and other meds. I am dieting and have lost 40+ pounds in 14

> weeks. I plan to see an endocrinologist the first week in June. But

> for now I get sick often.

> Any suggestions?

> THIS is why I turn to this group.

> Thanks all.

> Darrell

I am assuming when you say you bottom out 2-3 times a day you mean

low blood sugar. but if it doesnt i'll cover all bases anyway,if your

on lantus and your blood sugars are still high doctors will recommend

using fast acting insulin (clear) on a sliding scale. if your sugars

are normal but you still feel sick it could be your meds, you

mentioned you take " other meds " i know that glucophage can be pretty

rough for some people, USUALLY symptoms go away, sometimes they

linger. if your sugars go from high to low alot that can make you

feel sick, i think 120 units of lantus is alot, and lantus is meant

to cover you for 24 hours. if you are getting low readings alot you

may have to lower your dose and keep the clear insulin handy incase

it gets high. sometimes its very hard to keep bloodsugars at an even

keel.

[Guest guest]

Darrell,

First I'm just a very, very involved husband of a recently diag Type 1.

She would of been in ICU in a week her ketones were so high. She

was at 80 lbs with a normal of 115. After 1st week of testing they put

her on 10 units of lantus at bedtime and had her test before and 2hr

after eating and at bedtime. During first week she saw alot of 580+'

and lows in 180-200. On at least two occasions she got very dizzy and

weak or nausea. She would take test and she'd be in 120's. The problem

turned out her body sorta overreacted to the lower b/s.

Lantus, from I understand is more of slow release insulin - doesn't do

good with high spikes - do you check b/s often?

The next week confirmed Type 1 - her A1c 17. After studying her

readings, The Endo put her on Humalog at meals and Lantus at bedtime.

She is not at a point she can exercise. After seeing a dietitian, her

spikes are much lower and before meal readings are close to normal.

Now, on three occasions, she woke up with b/s 50, 53 and 57. The Endo

just lowered the Lantus ea time till hasn't had this problem again.

I'm not a doctor, but 120 units of Lantus seems like alot for it's

purpose. They explained to us -- The Pancreas is always releasing some

insulin, and kicks into gear after you eat. Lantus emulates that slow

constant stream of insulin - Humalog at meals emulates that spike of

insulin. probably does not produce insulin. She is 47.

I hope your fortunate to find a good endocrinologist - your doing great

on your diet.

& T1

[Guest guest]

Joe,

I was struck by your statement about glucophage making one feel ill. I

have a lot of nausea, have been on this and other meds for some time. Could

glucohpage cause my nausea.

Helen

[alldiabeticinternational] Re: Can I Make a Suggestion?

> I need help/suggestions on how to deal with the lantus I am taking.

I

> am bottoming out about 2-3 times a day. I take 120 units along with

> Actos and other meds. I am dieting and have lost 40+ pounds in 14

> weeks. I plan to see an endocrinologist the first week in June. But

> for now I get sick often.

> Any suggestions?

> THIS is why I turn to this group.

> Thanks all.

> Darrell

I am assuming when you say you bottom out 2-3 times a day you mean

low blood sugar. but if it doesnt i'll cover all bases anyway,if your

on lantus and your blood sugars are still high doctors will recommend

using fast acting insulin (clear) on a sliding scale. if your sugars

are normal but you still feel sick it could be your meds, you

mentioned you take " other meds " i know that glucophage can be pretty

rough for some people, USUALLY symptoms go away, sometimes they

linger. if your sugars go from high to low alot that can make you

feel sick, i think 120 units of lantus is alot, and lantus is meant

to cover you for 24 hours. if you are getting low readings alot you

may have to lower your dose and keep the clear insulin handy incase

it gets high. sometimes its very hard to keep bloodsugars at an even

keel.

[Guest guest]

Firstly, if you don't have a blood glucose meter..get one immediately.

These are a MUST for anybody on insulin - and also a backup (such as

some urine strips)...in case the meter breaks down.

As you are taking 120 units, this suggests that insulin sensitivity

is your main problem and Weight, Exercise, Diet and smoking have a

big effect. Having lost the weight (congratulations !!), your body is

becoming more sensitive to the insulin, and you need to drop back the

dose.

This is actually a good thing as it indicates a (partial) reversal of

type II diabetes.. any insulin produced by the body will be more

effective (although it still needs a bit of help). The less outside

help we need, the better as the body can adjust its insulin output

far better than we can.

I am a type 1, taking 11 units of slow acting at night, and fast

acting with meals (1 unit for every 25g carbohydrate). Total 17

units/day (at the moment).

You will find that your insulin requirements will change somewhat

from time to time (Great!!). My endo is OK with me making these

adjustments, you need to discuss this with him (BTW: I see my endo

every 3-6 months so I work prety closely with him, and my GP).

One important point: After our blood sugars 'drop out' it is normal

for it to 'bounce' up and down for quite a while afterwards. This may

make it quite hard to get back on track. It is usually easier to

adjust your insulin to bring sugars DOWN rather than bring them up...

Remembering that we are all different and that we should also work

closely with our medical team, what I do is the following:

1: ONE low blood sugar, depending how badly I usually don't do

anything but keep a closer tab on things.

2: If I get a second low sugar within 24-48 hours I will back off my

insulin to avoid a repeat. If the hypo is within 2 hours or so of a

meal, I will back off the short acting one from that meal, if it is

later than this (such as late at night or BEFORE a meal) I back off

the long acting one. I back the insulin off a reasonable amount -

what I am trying to do is stop the hypos (HYPOglycaemia - low blood

sugar).

3: Once I have regained STABILITY (even if the levels are high), I

can slowly increase the insulin again so that I have both Stability

and reasonable levels.

Hope this helps, whatever you do do it soon though. Contact me

directly if you want any more help.

,

Adelaide, Australia.

> Now on to a much more relevent topic.

> I need help/suggestions on how to deal with the lantus I am taking.

I

> am bottoming out about 2-3 times a day. I take 120 units along with

> Actos and other meds. I am dieting and have lost 40+ pounds in 14

> weeks. I plan to see an endocrinologist the first week in June. But

> for now I get sick often.

> Any suggestions?

> THIS is why I turn to this group.

> Thanks all.

> Darrell