Insulin sensitivity

[MarcLister]

In a way, it would be nice to think my pancreas (or at least, my beta cells) hasn't totally expired, but if it's just spluttering it would be far more manageable if it just stopped trying!

Hear hear! 😎

 

[sofaraway]

In a way, it would be nice to think my pancreas (or at least, my beta cells) hasn't totally expired, but if it's just spluttering it would be far more manageable if it just stopped trying!

I will try to find it but I recently read about a study which I seem to remember showed that people with type 1 who had residual beta cell function and measurable c-peptide had less complications.

Hope that you manage to reduce your insulin enough to get on top of these hypos.

 

[Northerner]

I will try to find it but I recently read about a study which I seem to remember showed that people with type 1 who had residual beta cell function and measurable c-peptide had less complications.

Hope that you manage to reduce your insulin enough to get on top of these hypos.

Thanks Nikki, sounds encouraging. I was 5.4 on waking and 3.9 just before lunch, so ok so far today. It did make me grateful that I have the knowledge and confidence to adjust my insulin - if I'd been on a fixed dose I would have been stuffing my face constantly to try and keep up!😱

 

[HelenM]

In a way, it would be nice to think my pancreas (or at least, my beta cells) hasn't totally expired, but if it's just spluttering it would be far more manageable if it just stopped trying!

With luck you might have to wait a long time !
see http://www.joslin.org/1083_3480.asp

It also seems to be the case that at least in some cases of later onset, beta cell loss is a much more gradual process than with childhood onset.
The graph (fig 1) in this paper about LADA describes a model of beta cells being destroyed very rapidly in childhood but for some people, those who develop it later, a series of autoimmune attacks each diminishing the beta cell mass followed by a partial regeneration. I think that I'm lucky and am one of those who took a long, long time to develop it and sometimes I am convinced that I still have some function of my own left.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/24/8/1460

 

[tracey w]

i was initially told that the honeymoon period can happen anytime up to a year? I never had one, least i dont think i did. 🙄

 

[Northerner]

With luck you might have to wait a long time !
see http://www.joslin.org/1083_3480.asp

It also seems to be the case that at least in some cases of later onset, beta cell loss is a much more gradual process than with childhood onset.
The graph (fig 1) in this paper about LADA describes a model of beta cells being destroyed very rapidly in childhood but for some people, those who develop it later, a series of autoimmune attacks each diminishing the beta cell mass followed by a partial regeneration. I think that I'm lucky and am one of those who took a long, long time to develop it and sometimes I am convinced that I still have some function of my own left.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/24/8/1460

This is what I love about this place! I ramble on about how things are with me at the moment, and someone takes the time to give me a possible explanation for what is happening! Thank you Helen!

I think I had a hypo last night as I have a shocking head today I tested myself at around 2 am and was 5.2 so thought I would be OK, but woke this morning to 3.3, unable to focus and with a thumping headache, grrrr! Feeling slightly more human now, but my eyes are very tired. Hey ho!

 

[Lula]

With luck you might have to wait a long time !
see http://www.joslin.org/1083_3480.asp

It also seems to be the case that at least in some cases of later onset, beta cell loss is a much more gradual process than with childhood onset.
The graph (fig 1) in this paper about LADA describes a model of beta cells being destroyed very rapidly in childhood but for some people, those who develop it later, a series of autoimmune attacks each diminishing the beta cell mass followed by a partial regeneration. I think that I'm lucky and am one of those who took a long, long time to develop it and sometimes I am convinced that I still have some function of my own left.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/24/8/1460

I think this is really interesting Helen. I was diagnosed age 23 (nine months ago) when my high sugars happened to be picked up during a pre-employment medical. I had none of the classic sypmtpoms of thirst, weight-loss etc, to the point where the doctors could not believe that I could be diabetic.
After tests proved that I had the antibodies which destroy the beta cells, they concluded that I was in the developmental stages of type 1, and still had high beta-cell function. In spite of this they started me on insulin straight away, in the hope that early intervention would prolong my pancreatic function, and enable a slower rate of depletion of the beta cells.
So I am sort of in a 'honeymoon', but its a honeymoon in the sense that my insulin production is slowing gradually, rather than the usual interpretation of the honeymoon period.
I have no idea how long it will take for me to stop producing insulin entirely, but the doctors have said that it could take years. For this reason my dosgaes seem ridiculously low when compared to other peoples' on this site - eg. my basal dosage is 2 units!!! and I take between 2-6 with meals depending in what I eat.

Northerner I hope you are having an easier time with your ratios at the moment and getting fewer hypos. I too sometimes have seemingly illogical reactions to my insulin and appreciate just how frustrating it is!!

 

[Northerner]

...Northerner I hope you are having an easier time with your ratios at the moment and getting fewer hypos. I too sometimes have seemingly illogical reactions to my insulin and appreciate just how frustrating it is!!

Thanks Lula. I just had a reading of 2.5 before lunch, although I didn't feel particularly low. I guess with all these low readings I'm getting used to it and not getting the warning symptoms. So, I reduced my insulin yet again for lunch!

I'm pretty sure they would have found something similar with me had I been tested over the last three years. I started developing thirst symptoms in Spring 2006, during a very stressful period at work. I also started losing weight, but slowly at 1-2 pounds a month. Certainly from reading the sites Helen posted there is nothing clear cut about this condition - perhaps I'm currently Type 1.25!🙄

 

[rossi_mac]

Wow, Sorry I'm so late been away, but this is very interesting. I recently have been experiencing a few lows and have found that I am halfing my insulin intake, so I suppose my ratio is now 0.5 not 1.0. I never thought it could be a seasonal thing! I always considered it could be honeymooning, I was diagnosed nearly 6 months ago and nurse thought I had been in and out of diabetes for easily 3 months prior, so not sure if honeymooning could be it. Also is honeymooning a set shift in your bodies needs, or is it an iregular thing?

 

[Northerner]

Well, I seem to have sorted things for the moment - most pre-meal readings are now 4.5 - 5.5 with no hypos for a couple of days. I'm currently on about 15% less insulin than I was a couple of weeks ago when all this seemed to start, which is up from the 40% reduction last week. Rather pleased with myself at the way I've managed to adjust the insulin (sorry, I know that might sound smug, but I still feel very new to this!😱)

 

[tracey w]

Well, I seem to have sorted things for the moment - most pre-meal readings are now 4.5 - 5.5 with no hypos for a couple of days. I'm currently on about 15% less insulin than I was a couple of weeks ago when all this seemed to start, which is up from the 40% reduction last week. Rather pleased with myself at the way I've managed to adjust the insulin (sorry, I know that might sound smug, but I still feel very new to this!😱)

No, you are doing great. wish i could work things out like you do. Still not getting it right, have couple of good days and think, yep, right basal, ratios etc and then........ all goes pear shaped again, and back to the drawing board.