How much insulin?

[Lisa65]

I'm curious as to how much insulin people use, I just started Basaglar a month ago (started on 4u and now on 14 which seems to be the sweet spot for now)
So does that mean I'm not very insulin resistant? Is 14u a low or a high dose? Is it weight dependant? I now weigh just under 70kg, I was 72kg before I started the insulin.

 

[gail2]

Morning @Lisa65 im on 50 units a day. 14 is not to high or to low its what works for you

 

[Satan’s little helper]

I'm curious as to how much insulin people use, I just started Basaglar a month ago (started on 4u and now on 14 which seems to be the sweet spot for now)
So does that mean I'm not very insulin resistant? Is 14u a low or a high dose? Is it weight dependant? I now weigh just under 70kg, I was 72kg before I started the insulin.

Hello. As @gail2 says, it’s what works for you. If the dose is managing your BGs well? Then you’ve found your personal requirements. Basal dosage for me can change from time to time like a slight increase for illness or lowering for hotter weather?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

This conference slide aims to help HCPs estimate starting doses, based on weight



But of course, in reality it’s a lot more nuanced and complicated than that, and involved lots of other factors like whether or not insulin resistance is part of the picture for an individual.

As the forum often says, “You need what you need” 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

I would say your dose is more in line with what a Type 1 would use than a Type 2 where doses are generally larger to overcome insulin resistance. I need about 23 units of basal insulin a day. I can get it down to 18 if I do a lot of daily exercise/activity on a very regular basis. There will be Type 1s who need a lot less than that and some who need a bit more, but people with Type 2 diabetes who need insulin will often need 2 or 3 times those sorts of doses to overcome insulin resistance, so 50 or even 100units of basal insulin for a Type 2 is not unheard of.
By comparison, your 14 units is very low for a Type 2 and might be another indicator that you could be a very slow onset LADA, as was mentioned on another thread.

 

[Lisa65]

I would say your dose is more in line with what a Type 1 would use than a Type 2 where doses are generally larger to overcome insulin resistance. I need about 23 units of basal insulin a day. I can get it down to 18 if I do a lot of daily exercise/activity on a very regular basis. There will be Type 1s who need a lot less than that and some who need a bit more, but people with Type 2 diabetes who need insulin will often need 2 or 3 times those sorts of doses to overcome insulin resistance, so 50 or even 100units of basal insulin for a Type 2 is not unheard of.
By comparison, your 14 units is very low for a Type 2 and might be another indicator that you could be a very slow onset LADA, as was mentioned on another thread.

That's why I was asking Barbara, thanks. I know it's not a competition but I always thought type 2s tended to need quite a lot of insulin to overcome IR, and because I only seem to need 14 units at the moment to achieve basal levels of 5-6mmol/l it must mean that I don't have much IR and could maybe be LADA. Either way now I've got the insulin I was after, I can titrate it myself as needed and hopefully get them to add a rapid acting should I need it later on 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

I had a feeling that was why you were asking which is why I replied as I did.

I think @Eternal422 was unofficially re-diagnosed by his DSNs because his insulin doses were akin to Type 1 rather than Type 2, but is now having to go through a C-peptide test as a new consultant is challenging that situation. It can be very frustrating when people don't get a clear cut diagnosis straight away and are just "assumed" to be Type 2 because they are a mature adult and perhaps a bit overweight (as most middle aged people are, even if it is just a few lbs), but Type 1 can happen at any age and any size.

 

[PattiEvans]

Hiya Lisa

FWIW when I was on injections I was taking around 28u total Levemir per day. At the time I weighed around 72kg. On a pump it is very different as you don't have basal, just fast acting. I've now dropped to 63kg and only take between 18 and 22u total insulin per day, which includes bolus for meals.

 

[helli]

it must mean that I don't have much IR and could maybe be LADA

If this is what you suspect, it may be worth getting it confirmed. If you are living in England (sorry, I do not know about the other nations), it will make it much easier to get access to diabetes tech like Libre and, if you want it later, a pump.

 

[Lisa65]

If this is what you suspect, it may be worth getting it confirmed. If you are living in England (sorry, I do not know about the other nations), it will make it much easier to get access to diabetes tech like Libre and, if you want it later, a pump.

Yes I'll mention it when I have my next check up, it's a phone appointment but it's with the practice nurse and the DSN who visits once a month. So I guess she'll be the person to ask.

 

[Eternal422]

I think @Eternal422 was unofficially re-diagnosed by his DSNs because his insulin doses were akin to Type 1 rather than Type 2, but is now having to go through a C-peptide test as a new consultant is challenging that situation.

Yep, still waiting for the C-peptide results and then the follow up consultant appointment.

I’m currently on 28U Levemir and use Novorapid at 1U:10g CHO, current weight is 87kg. As Barbara says, my hospital DSNs reckoned this level of insulin dosing was typical of a T1, presumably indicating not much in the way of insulin resistance.

 

[mashedupmatt]

Just shows how everyone is different - I'm only on 6u of Levemir - usually split 3:3 morning & evening but sometimes 4:2 or 2:4 depending on what I'm up to and my bolus dose (Fiasp) differs for every meal - generally 1:10g Carbs but sometimes 1:7.5g and occasionally 1:5g depending on the time of day and what it is I'm eating