Re: Re: Can I Make a Suggestion?/andrew

[Guest guest]

What are the urine strips for??

sharon

[alldiabeticinternational] Re: Can I Make a Suggestion?

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