My friend is 86 years old and has had type 1 for over 70 years. Although she keeps to a rigid dietary and exercise regime (and gives herself consistent doses of insulin) her blood sugar tests are all over the place. A nurse has suggested it might be on account of ‘scarring’ from injecting numerous times over the years. Either the insulin has little or no effect or she gets the full effect of the insulin. Any ideas about this? Does having type 1 for 70 years alter the body’s response to insulin?
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Does long-term type 1 affect how the body reacts to insulin?
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trophywench
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
Immunity - no, not with modern synthetic insulins though I used to be perfectly possible when we all had to use Bovine or Porcine insulins - which your friend would definitely have done cos I did for 25 years and I haven't had diabetes 50 years yet!
'Scarring' from many years of over-use can and does happen. I lost a huge amount of fat on my outer thighs after approx. 30 years which I suddenly noticed in the full length wardrobe mirror one day after donning my very skinny black thermal leggings prior to my motorbike leathers - real hollows, which must have been 'brewing' for absolutely ages - but it's rare any of use actually see ourselves in such stark contrast to our surroundings (and aged 50, working in a professional office I didn't normally wear anything that skin tight!) and hence had to stop using outer thighs - and anyway by then, jabs really hurt there and weren't absorbing anyway.
More use of tummy - but 10 years later yep - scar tissue so quite a few places where absorption was bad and in fact still is 20 years later. Where else can I go? Well 10 years ago I went onto an insulin pump and because I only have one 'jab' every 2 or 3 days (when I insert a new cannula) my husband can insert em in my bum for me cos I can't reach - but I wouldn't be able to use there if I was on my own. Also, having rested the tum for a good while there are several places that absorb quite well again now.
However - recently and thinking about 'what if' (as you do as you get older) I decided to try my front thighs but not very comfy there so I now, very occasionally, go slightly to the inside of the tops of my legs which is comfy and absorbs well. I've never even tried my arms so can't comment about there.
There very first thing your friend needs to do is actually record which bits of here don't absorb well - and then - avoid them whilst trying to identify some less over-used areas which still do absorb well. It's a slow process - but there again, most things worth having in life are too, aren't they?
Wishing her all the best with this.
'Scarring' from many years of over-use can and does happen. I lost a huge amount of fat on my outer thighs after approx. 30 years which I suddenly noticed in the full length wardrobe mirror one day after donning my very skinny black thermal leggings prior to my motorbike leathers - real hollows, which must have been 'brewing' for absolutely ages - but it's rare any of use actually see ourselves in such stark contrast to our surroundings (and aged 50, working in a professional office I didn't normally wear anything that skin tight!) and hence had to stop using outer thighs - and anyway by then, jabs really hurt there and weren't absorbing anyway.
More use of tummy - but 10 years later yep - scar tissue so quite a few places where absorption was bad and in fact still is 20 years later. Where else can I go? Well 10 years ago I went onto an insulin pump and because I only have one 'jab' every 2 or 3 days (when I insert a new cannula) my husband can insert em in my bum for me cos I can't reach - but I wouldn't be able to use there if I was on my own. Also, having rested the tum for a good while there are several places that absorb quite well again now.
However - recently and thinking about 'what if' (as you do as you get older) I decided to try my front thighs but not very comfy there so I now, very occasionally, go slightly to the inside of the tops of my legs which is comfy and absorbs well. I've never even tried my arms so can't comment about there.
There very first thing your friend needs to do is actually record which bits of here don't absorb well - and then - avoid them whilst trying to identify some less over-used areas which still do absorb well. It's a slow process - but there again, most things worth having in life are too, aren't they?
Wishing her all the best with this.
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- Type 1
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Sorry to hear about your friend’s difficulties @BrianVPC
Yes scarring can occur where injection sites have been used many times, and can provide a location where insulin can be injected that is then inaccessible to the body.
Or may suddenly be released later. Which can be problematic.
Avoiding these problematic areas completely is a good strategy. It might be worth your friend asking their diabetes nurse or clinic for alternative injection locations or different length needles to try to put new injections into fresh areas.
Yes scarring can occur where injection sites have been used many times, and can provide a location where insulin can be injected that is then inaccessible to the body.
Or may suddenly be released later. Which can be problematic.
Avoiding these problematic areas completely is a good strategy. It might be worth your friend asking their diabetes nurse or clinic for alternative injection locations or different length needles to try to put new injections into fresh areas.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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- He/Him
It is also worth saying that while eating carefully controlled amounts of food can help, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the insulin injections should stay exactly consistent throughout the year, because insulin sensitivity can vary with many other factors including ambient temperature, stress, levels of activity and the ebb and flow of hormones. Food and insulin are only two parts of a very complex balancing act.
Insulin requirements are likely to change from season to season and month to month.
Insulin requirements are likely to change from season to season and month to month.
Schrodinger
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Scaring can certainly cause issues with absorption as for body reacting with insulin well that is certainly possible I found that Lantus and Novarapid after some 20+ years of using them just did not work for me, this only became apparent when I got some new kit. Have changed insulins since then and things are a lot more predictable.
Hope your friend gets sorted.
Hope your friend gets sorted.
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