How long does insulin take to take effect?

[Annette]

None of us knows all the answers!! Why the heck do you think we joined here in the first place?

And as soon as we think we know an answer...it all changes anyway.

 

[Bloden]

And as soon as we think we know an answer...it all changes anyway.

You're so right, Annette! I'll think I've got the answers, then BAM! the goalposts move. Ho hum...🙄

 

[Cofito]

Question. Having just had my son diagnosed and sitting in parents room typing 🙂. At the moment we are injecting then eating.

Then taking a level 2 hours after eating.

Should we be doing this differently is there a risk or spiking like this as the insulin isn't taking effect straight away or the reverse depending on what he is eating.

I have these kinds of questions for the doctors before we leave but thought I would ask here.

 

[Northerner]

Question. Having just had my son diagnosed and sitting in parents room typing 🙂. At the moment we are injecting then eating.

Then taking a level 2 hours after eating.

Should we be doing this differently is there a risk or spiking like this as the insulin isn't taking effect straight away or the reverse depending on what he is eating.

I have these kinds of questions for the doctors before we leave but thought I would ask here.

This is something that can depend on the individual, as to how fast the insulin takes to start working in the system. For some people it can take a while, hence this conversation, and this can lead to the digestion of the food peaking before the insulin, leading to a glucose spike. However, for some people (and especially children, I think) this may not be the case, and the insulin may start working almost immediately - some children need to inject immediately prior to eating, or sometimes even after. I'm afraid it's one of those 'individual' things that is learned through experience. For the time being, I wouldn't worry about this aspect too much until you are more settled. The best thing to do is to try gradually increasing the time prior to eating, and then testing an hour after to ensure that levels are not too high or too low, then adjusting timing the next time - eventually you will arrive at a 'best' time, although this will still outfox you at times! 🙄 It sounds complicated, and it can be at first, but eventually you build up experience, so you do need patience.

 

[KookyCat]

Hi Cofito
Sorry to hear about your son, hope he's doing OK and you're managing to get some sleep. As Northerner has said I wouldn't worry too much at the moment. It all depends on how sensitive he is to insulin. I'm constantly told I react to insulin like a child (I'm 42!), because I have a similar level of sensitivity, I'm classed as extremely sensitive for an adult and often have to bolus after food otherwise I'd be hypo before I finished chewing. You'll get a feel for how sensitive he is when everything settles down. The amount of insulin I needed when just diagnosed was nearly three times as much as I need now so things change over the first 12 weeks or so. Let us know how you're getting on, there are some great people here if you need support 🙂

 

[Cofito]

Thanks northerner and kookycat

That all makes sense. Having lots of time on my hands at the moment in amongst playing the play station with my son 🙂. I'm just reading and googling so all info is a help as I can then ask the doctors or file it away for a later date to explore.

Kind of what I thought and why important to have the data so can understand how things effect him.

Anyway breakfast time 🙂

 

[AN9]

I have Humulin I injections, and I have to inject about an hour (or I'm supposed to) before my meal. Of course, sometimes I forget and have to inject afterwards. In my job, it's easy to get side-tracked...

 

[trophywench]

Humuin I is not a fast-acting insulin of the kind that Type 1s have with meals, or all the while when using an insulin pump, as pottersusan does. AN9.

The 'I' stands for 'intermediate' in your case - it works up to a peak after approx. 4 - 5 hours, then declines gradually over the next 18 or 19 hours.