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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Insulin
- Thread starter Julesa
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rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi Julesa and welcome
I am Type 1 so it may be slightly different but I am still trying to figure it out and I have been on it since April and I've had a week long intensive DAFNE course, so yes it can take time to get it right.
Which insulin(s) are you on?
I am Type 1 so it may be slightly different but I am still trying to figure it out and I have been on it since April and I've had a week long intensive DAFNE course, so yes it can take time to get it right.
Which insulin(s) are you on?
Hi Barbara thank you for your reply. Please don't be offended but it's good to know I'm not alone. Truth be told I've never really understood diabetes and it now seems that I haven't been given great guidance by my GP. I've been put onto Humulin about 2 weeks ago and take 10 units in the evening. I'm recording everything and I'm booked to see the dietician. Just feeling like it's going to be a long uphill struggle. On a positive I'm told that I will start feeling better.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Not offended at all. I know how helpful it is to discuss things with people who have been there and understand or are also going through it at the same time. I am not familiar with Humulin but it looks to be an intermediate acting insulin. Great that you are recording everything. I assume you have a Blood Glucose Meter and your readings are forming part of your records. What sort of readings are you seeing? Are you having any problems with hypos?
I hope they have made you aware of the rules as regards driving... if you are a driver?
Personally I prefer to eat low carb and keep the amount of insulin I use to a minimum so that the risk of hypos is reduced but if you are on fixed doses then you would need to reduce your carbs and insulin slowly to prevent you going hypo. Eating a low carb diet helps you lose weight as well as taking the pressure off your pancreas. Increasing exercise levels is also important even if it is just a brisk 10 min walk each day.
What sort of advice did your GP give you?
Unfortunately I don't feel significantly better on insulin, although I do feel better for losing weight and eating a healthier diet and getting fitter.
I hope they have made you aware of the rules as regards driving... if you are a driver?
Personally I prefer to eat low carb and keep the amount of insulin I use to a minimum so that the risk of hypos is reduced but if you are on fixed doses then you would need to reduce your carbs and insulin slowly to prevent you going hypo. Eating a low carb diet helps you lose weight as well as taking the pressure off your pancreas. Increasing exercise levels is also important even if it is just a brisk 10 min walk each day.
What sort of advice did your GP give you?
Unfortunately I don't feel significantly better on insulin, although I do feel better for losing weight and eating a healthier diet and getting fitter.
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hello @Julesa welcome to the forum. Are you on any other diabetes medications as it’s strange just to be on a background (Basal) insulin by itself.
Basal (background ) insulins which Humalin is, basically deals with the glucose our liver continually puts out to fuel our organs including our brain.
When I first went into insulin it was Insulatard which like your Humalin is a Basal Insulin , I was also on Gliclazide, which makes the pancreas squeeze out more insulin. I am now off the Gliclazide and now also on a rapid insulin for mealtimes
With insulin whatever type it is though they have a formula to go by , they really don’t know how much we actually need as we’re are really individual in this respect, so much tweaking needs to be done by your nurse/ team, so yes it will take time . TBH I had very little advise from the medics/ nurse when I went into insulin especially the rapid one, these guys here helped me loads.
If you don’t mind telling us what blood glucose levels are you getting and what was your last Hb1ac.
Basal (background ) insulins which Humalin is, basically deals with the glucose our liver continually puts out to fuel our organs including our brain.
When I first went into insulin it was Insulatard which like your Humalin is a Basal Insulin , I was also on Gliclazide, which makes the pancreas squeeze out more insulin. I am now off the Gliclazide and now also on a rapid insulin for mealtimes
With insulin whatever type it is though they have a formula to go by , they really don’t know how much we actually need as we’re are really individual in this respect, so much tweaking needs to be done by your nurse/ team, so yes it will take time . TBH I had very little advise from the medics/ nurse when I went into insulin especially the rapid one, these guys here helped me loads.
If you don’t mind telling us what blood glucose levels are you getting and what was your last Hb1ac.
Last edited:
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
There are several types of Humulin though - some longer acting than others. Which variety is it? (from memory there's I, S and M)
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