Finally....some nice numbers

[lauraw1983]

Well after trying to mess about getting the right basal and bolus ratios, I seem to have found something that is working over the last fortnight....

13u Lantus at bedtime, then approx 1:10 for carbs at mealtimes (but I have been fairly low carb anyway recently), though in the morning I tend to need a little more than that.

I was doing really well losing weight too, but this has completely stalled grrrrrrrrr - how true is it that the insulin we inject makes it harder to lose weight because it is so efficient at lays down fat easier? I read it somewhere, but may have been an American website.

Oh and any exercise really reduces my BG and can make my hypo unless I leave it running a little high before exercise or drink juice during/after. Is this common?

Finally, I tried having a small carb snack before bed time (around 15g - slice of burgen and some peanut butter normally), and this seems to make me wake in the 5/6's, instead of the 8's and 9's I was seeing, what is that all about!?

I'm going to get myself some proper running trainers tomorrow, and am starting the Couch to 5K training programme....wish me luck!!! 😱

Hope everyone is enjoying this sunshine!!

 

[Northerner]

Glad to hear things are improving for you Laura 🙂 I think that you are doing the right thing by eating relatively low-carb, as this will keep your insulin requirements low also. I think the weight gain problems with insulin really come if you are having to inject large doses.

Good to hear that the burgen and PB are keeping you to good overnight and waking levels - I used to have exactly the same, but no longer need to snack before bed, probably because my basal is now so low. As for going low with exercise, many people do find this, although I'm an exception (again!). Have you read the Diabetic Athlete's Handbook? Lots of good stuff in it about exercise and how best to manage your blood sugar 🙂 Good luck with the running!

 

[lauraw1983]

Glad to hear things are improving for you Laura 🙂 I think that you are doing the right thing by eating relatively low-carb, as this will keep your insulin requirements low also. I think the weight gain problems with insulin really come if you are having to inject large doses.

Good to hear that the burgen and PB are keeping you to good overnight and waking levels - I used to have exactly the same, but no longer need to snack before bed, probably because my basal is now so low. As for going low with exercise, many people do find this, although I'm an exception (again!). Have you read the Diabetic Athlete's Handbook? Lots of good stuff in it about exercise and how best to manage your blood sugar 🙂 Good luck with the running!

What is your basal dose now? I shall take a look at that link later on - thank you! I'd love it if over time my basal requirements dropped too. I hope by losing weight this will be the case too!

I still find it hard, and have down moments about it all but finally starting to see more numbers in the right range makes me feel like something is going right for a change!!

 

[Northerner]

What is your basal dose now? I shall take a look at that link later on - thank you! I'd love it if over time my basal requirements dropped too. I hope by losing weight this will be the case too!

I still find it hard, and have down moments about it all but finally starting to see more numbers in the right range makes me feel like something is going right for a change!!

I'm on one unit of lantus currently - I was on 20 when I was diagnosed! 😱 I would say that it has taken me until quite recently to really get a good grip on my control. I've always had reasonably good levels, but used to get a lot more hypos and quite a few post-meal spikes, but now I have a much tighter range and hypos are relatively rare. Stick at it, you'll get there! 🙂

 

[lauraw1983]

I'm on one unit of lantus currently - I was on 20 when I was diagnosed! 😱 I would say that it has taken me until quite recently to really get a good grip on my control. I've always had reasonably good levels, but used to get a lot more hypos and quite a few post-meal spikes, but now I have a much tighter range and hypos are relatively rare. Stick at it, you'll get there! 🙂

Have you not been tempted to just try without the 1u?? I totally would be.

I wonder what is going on with your pancreas eh? I wish there were more tests they could run to check what is going on with people to try to explain things!

 

[Northerner]

Have you not been tempted to just try without the 1u?? I totally would be.

I wonder what is going on with your pancreas eh? I wish there were more tests they could run to check what is going on with people to try to explain things!

Yes, very tempted! 🙂 They could do a C-peptide test on me to see how much insulin my pancreas is producing, but my consultant said it would be hard to justify the cost as it wouldn't change anything about my treatment. My total daily dose is around 20 units, so my ratio of basal to bolus is very small at only 5% of my TDD - most people are around 40% of their daily dose as basal, I believe. When I was diagnosed I was on a TDD of around 60 units.