Insulin intake doubled since stopping smoking.

[ypauly]

I used to take 14 units of levimir every 24 hours now 28 units.
Aswell as 10 - 18 units of novarapid depending on the meal now averaging 22 units. All this was done under the guidence of my DSN who I rang in panic due to alot of big double figure readings.

This didn't happen immediately it happened when my course of Champix finished(after 12 weeks), I have put it down to the hunger increase and the occasional treat😉
But and it's a big but, my main diet is not very different I am not eating a massive amount more.
At the moment I am testing up to 10 times daily due to the paranoia that comes with taking so much extra insulin but not a massive amount extra food.
Anybode else had a similar experience?


On the good side I am still not smoking.

On an even better side I got my dafne course set up for september.


So all is looking up.

 

[Northerner]

How interesting! I would have expected your insulin requirements to decrease slightly as smoking can have an adverse effect on blood sugars. Well done on staying stopped - the best thing you can do for your health! I stopped smoking many years before my diagnosis so can't offer and comparison. My insulin requirements have gone the other way since I was diagnosed - I'm now on about half of what I was originally. Can't think why yours should have increased unless it's just a coincidental ending of your honeymoon period.

 

[trophywench]

I stopped in Feb 2010, and can honestly say I didn't notice a difference before or after. No Smoking nurse said I was weird in that respect - din't surprise me LOL

Unfortunately I have fallen off the bandwagon and still no difference insulin-wise ..... (please don't shout at me, I have a date in my diary to start stopping again, and it's soon .....)

 

[ypauly]

I know it's weird, it has taken me three weeks to establish some form of control. My last hb1ac before quitting was 7.7 and since diagnosis everyone was better than the last.
When checked after 2 and a half months after quitting it had risen to 9.3
That was early july and since the middle of july it would have risen again MASSIVELY nearly every test was in high double figures, I was waking up to 17's and 18's and generally feel c**p. My appetite is better now but like I said I may have expected a little rise but the huge ones have taken me by supprise.

I wouldn't rule out something else happening and it being co-incidental though I just wish I can establish some form of normality again.

 

[Andy HB]

I have a date in my diary to start stopping again, and it's soon .....)

That's today then? 😛

Andy 🙂

 

[Catwoman76]

I used to take 14 units of levimir every 24 hours now 28 units.
Aswell as 10 - 18 units of novarapid depending on the meal now averaging 22 units. All this was done under the guidence of my DSN who I rang in panic due to alot of big double figure readings.

This didn't happen immediately it happened when my course of Champix finished(after 12 weeks), I have put it down to the hunger increase and the occasional treat😉
But and it's a big but, my main diet is not very different I am not eating a massive amount more.
At the moment I am testing up to 10 times daily due to the paranoia that comes with taking so much extra insulin but not a massive amount extra food.
Anybode else had a similar experience?


On the good side I am still not smoking.

On an even better side I got my dafne course set up for september.


So all is looking up.

Dear ypauly. Well done on not smoking, I gave up in January last year. My Insulin intake was a lot higher when I smoked, 5 breakfast, 10/12 lunch, 16 dinner, 16 ( Insulatard) before bed. Now its, 2/3 breakfast, about 8/10 lunch, only 3/4's of the total amount of Insulin dinner, and 16 Levemir before bed. smoker 47 units, non smoker 37.
Good luck with the course in September. Sheena

 

[RSVP]

A couple of things spring to mind ~ but hey not diabetic so might & no doubt will be wrong 🙂

Stress factors......... I was a nightmare apparently when I gave up (Can't see that as i am normally so angelic LOL)

Also food intake. YOu say your appetite is better does this mean different foods going in ? Eating more ? Put on a couple of pounds ? Did you used to go outside for a smoke ? Maybe exercising less with no need to go outside ???

All just stabs in the dark really.

Also is it worth talking with your dsn about splitting the levimir ? Might help with those morning highs ? Although I know an extra injection is a pain in the butt ~ literally depending where you do it !

Well done for quitting though 🙂

Sarah

 

[robert@fm]

Reminds me of a quote attributed to Mark Twain: "Quitting smoking is easy -- I've done it a hundred times".

Fortunately I've never been remotely tempted to start, hence have no need to stop...

 

[Caroline]

Well done at stopping smoking and staying stopped. When my uncle gave up smoking he strted eating extra stron mints, which in turn made him gain wieght and do odd things to his heart.

Best suggestion I can make is make use of your DSN for advice.

 

[FM001]

Strange why your insulin requirements have increased so much in such a short space of time, can't see it being related to stopping smoking unless your body is still in a state of stress due to withdrawal symptoms, it may well be that your levemir isn't working as well as it did and a change of basal insulin could be the solution here. The dafne course is a good oppertunity to ask questions related to background insulin's and control.