At the end of my tether

[MeganN]

Hi, beware this may end up being a long rant I'm just really sick of EVERYTHING!

I'm on levemir once and day and novorapid at meal times. I suffer with dawn phenomenon and have to take a fair old whack of levemir to counter this.

Everytime I alter my long acting insulin to bring my morning levels into line it always works for a week or so and then it's as if my liver gets wise to it and cranks out more glucose to bring it back up again. Once it starts doing this I also start to get bad pre lunch and evening meal levels. Like my liver is on kick out mode all day everyday.

I can dose my fast acting quite well and within the ranges that the hospital wants.

Also I'm putting on a LOT of weight. I'm not tiny to begin with but not fat either but the weight has started piling on the more insulin I take.

I don't have an unhealthy diet, I dont snack and all my carbs are whole meal apart from potato which I only eat boiled.

The hospital seems to think that getting fat is just one of those things that cant be helped when on insulin. I'm healthy and fit, when not at work I run a small farm and so I'm active for most of the day.

The weight issue is upsetting me massivley but without cutting out all carbs I can't see how I can counter it.

I feel tired and my limbs are an effort to move and I just feel like crying all of the time.

seriously getting to the point where i want to scream 'I HAVE HAD ENOUGH NOW!!!!'

 

[ypauly]

Know how that feels I have been putting on weight myself and seem to be in a similar rut. Other speaking to your DSN about splittin your levimir dose to twice dailly I'm afraid I can't offer any contructive advice only an internet hug {{{{{megan}}}}}


Hope you get sorted soon so yuo can start feeling better about yourself.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you are going through this Megan.

Seems like you are putting in ALL the effort, but not getting the rewards you deserve.

I'm not sure where the reputation of weight gain and insulin comes from - I've not really seen much conclusing RCT evidence that shows it as being inevitable with injected insulin. But anecdotally it does seem to affect some people

Have you been checked for hypothyroid? I know little/nothing about it, but I do see it mentioned on forums where people seem to be struggling with some of the same things that seem to be plaguing you (tiredness, weight management etc)

 

[MeganN]

Thanks ypauly, nice to know I'm not in this boat alone

I've rung the hospital and they are trying to set up a meeting with a specialist nurse to split my dose. I'm willing to try but skeptical as to how it will work

 

[Dory]

oh so sorry to hear this. a big 'screw you D' coming your way!

it sounds as though you are becoming insulin resistant - which I am. I kept upping the dose, it'd work for a short while then stop working as well, so would have to give more, which would work for a short while, then stope working as well...cue groundhog day!

I was put on metformin (initially tablets twice a day, now on glucophage once at dinner - this is a slow release version of metformin) which has helped wonders.

Not sure what else you're on (ie whether you're already on this) but might be worth mentioning this to your healthcare team when you next see them?

big hug coming your way. I know all too well how frustrating and plain annoying it is when D interferes with your weight

 

[MeganN]

Sorry to hear you are going through this Megan.

Seems like you are putting in ALL the effort, but not getting the rewards you deserve.

I'm not sure where the reputation of weight gain and insulin comes from - I've not really seen much conclusing RCT evidence that shows it as being inevitable with injected insulin. But anecdotally it does seem to affect some people

Have you been checked for hypothyroid? I know little/nothing about it, but I do see it mentioned on forums where people seem to be struggling with some of the same things that seem to be plaguing you (tiredness, weight management etc)

Dont thyroid problems tend to run in families?
I don't think we have a history of it but it's worth asking the nurse, thanks

 

[MeganN]

I was put on metformin (initially tablets twice a day, now on glucophage once at dinner - this is a slow release version of metformin) which has helped wonders.

Not sure what else you're on (ie whether you're already on this) but might be worth mentioning this to your healthcare team when you next see them?

big hug coming your way. I know all too well how frustrating and plain annoying it is when D interferes with your weight

Hi Dory, I was on glucophage before the insulin but I still had horrid side effects on it so I would be loathed to suggest to them that I would try it again

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Dont thyroid problems tend to run in families?
I don't think we have a history of it but it's worth asking the nurse, thanks

I think there can be an autoimmune link - which might be why it seems to accompany T1 sometimes?

 

[MeganN]

Ahh okay, thanks EDUAD I will mention it to them next time I'm there

 

[Dory]

i was Dx with hypothyroidism last year - it can be more common in those with D but from the sounds of things I don't think you have that Megan?

I certainly haven't seen anything to suggest that increasing insulin resistance is a symptom.

I suspect it may be insulin resitance - but if you've tried glucophage before perhaps ask them if there's any alternatives out there?

 

[MeganN]

Thanks dory, I will definitely ask them

 

[Cleo]

sorry to hear you're having all these troubles megan. The D can be extremely frustrating...
I've split my lantus and its worked wonders for me. Was it you who mentioned that you'd like to go on a pump ? maybe you can bring this up at your next appointment and use the 'i am going through pre conception' trump card?...

good luck and sending you lots of {{{{hugs}}}}
x

 

[Redkite]

Hi Megan,

Sorry to hear you're feeling so fed up. Do get your thyroid checked (it should be part of your routine annual blood tests). Many cases of hypothyroidism are autoimmune in origin (including mine, which is how my son got the autoimmune gene which led to his type 1

Underactive thyroid affects all the other endocrine systems, so you can have insulin resistance, irregular cycles, weight gain, tiredness, feeling cold, etc.

 

[MeganN]

Redkite thanks I will deff ask as I have all of those symptoms!

And yes I was after asking about a pump for preconception so I will try and puh for that too