Can insulin be the cause of my 'feeling not right'

[jax8008]

Hello everyone

Its been a while since I posted on here but have been doing some detective work on my own about myself, trying to get to the bottom of why I have never felt right since being diagnosed just over 3 years ago.

Does anyone know or have had experience of noticing when their insulin 'kicks in' as I was wondering if this could be a coincidence or not as it just so happens that I start to feel 'not right' around the 2 hours after injecting.

Any reply would be really helpful. I'm off to my GP tomorrow to put it to them too.

Thanks Jackie x

 

[Northerner]

Hi Jackie, it's not an experience I've had I must admit. What are your levels like when you get this sensation? I wonder if a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) would reveal anything - for example, if your levels start to drop at the point where you get this sensation?

Hope the doctor can help tomorrow 🙂

 

[jax8008]

Hi Jackie, it's not an experience I've had I must admit. What are your levels like when you get this sensation? I wonder if a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) would reveal anything - for example, if your levels start to drop at the point where you get this sensation?

Hope the doctor can help tomorrow 🙂

Hi Alan

Many thanks for your reply.

Last time I saw the consultant (well one of his understudies) I suggested having a CGM as I am constantly checking my blood sugar levels...........at least 10 times per day which is a pain (to be factual too!) and I then get confused as to whether its hypo/hyper symptoms.

Jackie x

 

[Northerner]

Hi Alan

Many thanks for your reply.

Last time I saw the consultant (well one of his understudies) I suggested having a CGM as I am constantly checking my blood sugar levels...........at least 10 times per day which is a pain (to be factual too!) and I then get confused as to whether its hypo/hyper symptoms.

Jackie x

Might be worth pushing a bit harder to borrow one then - perhaps approach your DSN if the doctor can't suggest anything? What is your control like generally? Is it anxiety that leads you to testing a lot do you think, which might be confusing your symptoms?

 

[Robster65]

I agree with Alan, that the only real sensation you're likely to notice is if the insulin has brought your BG down to near-hypo levels.

At 2 hours, it's likely to be peaking (assuming MDI).

Do you get any consistent readings at this time?

Rob

 

[randomange]

What do you mean by 'not feeling right'? My dsn says that lantus can cause problems for some people in that they can feel lethargic or depressed when on it, and no one really knows why. She says they usually swap people with these issues onto levemir and that solves the problem. Might be worth mentionjng to your doctor if you're on Lantus.

 

[jax8008]

What do you mean by 'not feeling right'? My dsn says that lantus can cause problems for some people in that they can feel lethargic or depressed when on it, and no one really knows why. She says they usually swap people with these issues onto levemir and that solves the problem. Might be worth mentionjng to your doctor if you're on Lantus.

Sorry for delay in replying, just been to fill up my car as it was on fumes!!

When I say 'not feeling right' the main thing is that I cannot concentrate, I then become anxious that its to do with my blood sugar levels so I test, sometimes the levels are within normal range and then sometimes I need to test again shortly after as I'm still feeling the same. I also feel very lethargic & so tired that I could just put my head down and sleep and then I get frustrated as it is having a huge impact on my life. When I first went to see the consultant last July (as I was with GP practice with nurses who didn't listen) he questioned whether I was doing too much and/or was I feeling depressed!! To which I answered that it did get me down when I'm experiencing these feelings and I'm unable to do anything!!.......but I thought that diabetes wasn't supposed to have such a negative effect on my life?

I'm on levemir (8 units at night) and novorapid 0.5 units to 1 cp.....I did suffer loads of hypos before I got hold of a pen that delivers 0.5 units, hasn't stopped them completely though.

Thanks again for your reply x

 

[jax8008]

Might be worth pushing a bit harder to borrow one then - perhaps approach your DSN if the doctor can't suggest anything? What is your control like generally? Is it anxiety that leads you to testing a lot do you think, which might be confusing your symptoms?

Yeah I think that you're probably right about pushing for CGM. My task for tomorrow is to contact the DSN at our local hospital. My control has been fantastic since diagnosis and I suppose that's why the 'professionals' cannot 'see' what the problem is as its what I'm experiencing within. I went through a period of anxiety due to work-related stress which I put down to D but realised that it wasn't and can also relate the symptoms to ones of anxiety which is even more confusing as I did wonder if when the insulin starts to kick in it is bringing my levels down and it is what I consider to be a sudden drop....from 9 to 6 in the space of 30-60 minutes, is that normal experience? I have tried to ignore once I've tested but sometimes the symptoms keep on and I'm then left feeling very lethargic and tired, which occurs about 3 times on a daily basis.

I shall keep you posted on what happens next 🙂 x

 

[Northerner]

Have you tried adjusting the timing of your insulin Jackie? It could be that you are particularly sensitive to the sensations of a falling level, but you might be able to reduce the size of the fall by injecting so that you get a closer match to the digestion of your food. I have always had good control, but I realised that I was actually spiking quite high then dropping quite quickly. By injecting 15-45 minutes before eating I have managed to match my insulin peak more closely to my food peak and thus reduced the spikes (some of the time, at least!). Might be worth trying, although you do need to be careful at first to ensure you don;t drop too low by getting the insulin peak well ahead of the food.

 

[jax8008]

I agree with Alan, that the only real sensation you're likely to notice is if the insulin has brought your BG down to near-hypo levels.

At 2 hours, it's likely to be peaking (assuming MDI).

Do you get any consistent readings at this time?

Rob

Thanks for your reply Rob and yes I'm MDI and an 'expert' or should I say obsessive carb counter. It is only within the last 2 weeks that I've thought about the 'coincidence' of me having these 'feelings' and it being 2 hours after injecting so wondered is it the insulin doing its job and that I'm just very sensitive to the rise and fall of my blood sugars....it is very rare that I get figures above 10. I am on a low ratio too.....8 units of levemir at night and 0.5 units to 1 cp of novorapid. I know its not an exact science with calculating the GI of foods and taking into account any exercise/hormonal changes/weather etc but I thought it wouldn't have such a negative impact on my life. I'm just so tired all the time

Thanks again x

 

[jax8008]

Have you tried adjusting the timing of your insulin Jackie? It could be that you are particularly sensitive to the sensations of a falling level, but you might be able to reduce the size of the fall by injecting so that you get a closer match to the digestion of your food. I have always had good control, but I realised that I was actually spiking quite high then dropping quite quickly. By injecting 15-45 minutes before eating I have managed to match my insulin peak more closely to my food peak and thus reduced the spikes (some of the time, at least!). Might be worth trying, although you do need to be careful at first to ensure you don;t drop too low by getting the insulin peak well ahead of the food.

Oooooh Alan I think that I know what you mean and it was something that had gone through my mind too but wasn't sure as I was afraid of having the insulin and then not eating enough after injecting. Is that to do with the GI of foods and if I remember correctly did you recommend a good book that is very informative about GI?

Its that 'not an exact science' but I want to feel as 'normal' as I did before D.

x

 

[Northerner]

Oooooh Alan I think that I know what you mean and it was something that had gone through my mind too but wasn't sure as I was afraid of having the insulin and then not eating enough after injecting. Is that to do with the GI of foods and if I remember correctly did you recommend a good book that is very informative about GI?

Its that 'not an exact science' but I want to feel as 'normal' as I did before D.

x

From what you have said you're quite sensitive to the insulin, so you do need to be careful. I find that I'm much more insulin-resistant in the mornings and can go for 45 minutes after injecting and before eating, but later in the day I'd aim to space the two no more than 30 minutes apart. I'm afraid it's really trial and error to find out what works for you. GI does play a part and it helps to be consistent with your food so you can establish how it affects you. I follow GL (Glycaemic Load) rather than GI - a good intro is The GL Diet for Dummies 🙂

 

[martindt1606]

Sorry for delay in replying, just been to fill up my car as it was on fumes!!

When I say 'not feeling right' the main thing is that I cannot concentrate, I then become anxious that its to do with my blood sugar levels so I test, sometimes the levels are within normal range and then sometimes I need to test again shortly after as I'm still feeling the same. I also feel very lethargic & so tired that I could just put my head down and sleep and then I get frustrated as it is having a huge impact on my life. When I first went to see the consultant last July (as I was with GP practice with nurses who didn't listen) he questioned whether I was doing too much and/or was I feeling depressed!! To which I answered that it did get me down when I'm experiencing these feelings and I'm unable to do anything!!.......but I thought that diabetes wasn't supposed to have such a negative effect on my life?

I'm on levemir (8 units at night) and novorapid 0.5 units to 1 cp.....I did suffer loads of hypos before I got hold of a pen that delivers 0.5 units, hasn't stopped them completely though.

Thanks again for your reply x

Jackie - just caught up with this post, and I'm with you on this one. I can feel fine until 2 hours after breakfast and then go off for up to an hour. The same again after around 90 minutes after lunch. For both of these meals my cp intake is around 4 to 4.5 with a ratio of 1:1 novorapid. Typically my evening meal is 9 -10 cp's with the same 1:1 insulin ratio - but I don't have the same post meal reaction. Unfortunately this means i am not tired when I go to bed - so its like a vicious circle. Unlike you I am on lantus not levermir.

 

[jax8008]

Jackie - just caught up with this post, and I'm with you on this one. I can feel fine until 2 hours after breakfast and then go off for up to an hour. The same again after around 90 minutes after lunch. For both of these meals my cp intake is around 4 to 4.5 with a ratio of 1:1 novorapid. Typically my evening meal is 9 -10 cp's with the same 1:1 insulin ratio - but I don't have the same post meal reaction. Unfortunately this means i am not tired when I go to bed - so its like a vicious circle. Unlike you I am on lantus not levermir.

Hi Martin

Sorry I've only just caught up with weekend!! I went to see my GP on Friday afternoon and he has 'suggested' that this is due to the rise and fall of my blood sugar levels and these 'feelings' are symptomatic of this. He went on to suggest that I take note of my CP intake and test every 30 minutes after to see what happens and to get more of an idea of the effects the food has.............but I don't eat the same thing day in day out!!

I can see this is going to be another long drawn out experiment which is proving already hard as I try to fit it in with an 8-year old wanting my attention and then work during the week.............grrrrr something's going to have to give.

Any suggestions out there on how best to conduct these 'experiments' so that I know and understand more..... I do want more control instead of feeling not right.

I'm still smiling x

 

[jax8008]

From what you have said you're quite sensitive to the insulin, so you do need to be careful. I find that I'm much more insulin-resistant in the mornings and can go for 45 minutes after injecting and before eating, but later in the day I'd aim to space the two no more than 30 minutes apart. I'm afraid it's really trial and error to find out what works for you. GI does play a part and it helps to be consistent with your food so you can establish how it affects you. I follow GL (Glycaemic Load) rather than GI - a good intro is The GL Diet for Dummies 🙂

Hi Alan

Having just re-read your reply and the information I got from my GP on Friday afternoon I'm now going to be looking more carefully at what I eat (& typically the foods I like) and the effects they have on me in relation to my blood sugar levels. I can see that this is going to be a little tough going but do realise that I need to make the time in order for me to have a better understanding and control over this. Positive thinking and getting my head out of the clouds will help, along with a good diary and notebook!!

Can I ask you....do you stick to similar foods, any particular foods. Just that on the DAFNE course I feel that it doesn't matter what you eat so long as you take the correct insulin to CP ratio, but in practice this is not as easy to control.

I'll be back!! x