New to insulin

[JueB]

I’m a week now into injecting insulin. Previously I was on metformin and linoglipton . Was diagnosed type 2 over 2 years ago but now saying I’m Lada type 1
3 days in I noticed a vast improvement, morning levels decreased to 7.5 from 15 . I am on 10 units of Toujeo once a day and continuing with 4 metformin daily . These levels were only this low for 2 days and are now increasing . Morning levels back up to 12 /13 . After 2 pieces of wholemeal toast it increased to 15 and continues to increase to around 18/20 throughout the day .
Feel like I’m getting nowhere or is too soon to see a difference?
Also when injecting do I press the button slowly or do it a quick push ?

 

[Inka]

@JueB Press the button slowly and steadily. Not ridiculously slowly, just slow and definite. Also, keep the needle in you for approx 10 seconds before removing it.

The probable reason for your high sugar is that you need a fast/bolus/meal insulin. Type 1s should have a slow/basal insulin (like your Toujeo) and a fast/bolus insulin to deal with food.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Also when injecting do I press the button slowly or do it a quick push ?

Slowly, as @Inka said.

By coincidence this general topic came up on twitter over the past couple of days. The DSN forum has a friendly guide, https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...0dc02c/1678053098807/Injection-technique-.pdf

which you can get to from https://www.diabetesspecialistnurseforumuk.co.uk/educational-resources (it's the "Giving Insulin Safely & Site Care" link).

(Doesn't seem to mention pressing the button gently vs quickly. Perhaps that's a question that doesn't come up very often.)

 

[rebrascora]

I think it may depend on the pen to a certain extent as regards pressing it fast or slow. I am currently having to use disposable pens for my Fiasp and when you press the button, it seems to individually click through the units, whereas my NovoPen Echo reuseable pens just seem to dispense it all when you press the button, certainly not clunky like these horrid disposable pens.
I didn't fully think it through when the pharmacy offered them because they couldn't get the cartridges. I didn't think about how often I use the previous dose function and that I have been using half units for the last 4 years so each click is normally half a unit and now each click is a whole unit.... and I almost always just count the clicks when I dial up my doses rather than look at the display. That said, it was better getting them and having plenty in stock, rather than risk running out, if it took too long to source some cartridges, but I will be very happy to have them used up and go back onto my lovely NovoPen Echo and the new cartridges I just got last week.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

whereas my NovoPen Echo reuseable pens just seem to dispense it all when you press the button

You can still inject faster or slower (or try to) depending on how much pressure you use, though.

 

[Inka]

I prefer the pens that click. I too count the clicks @rebrascora I find it a useful way to check. My pen is a half unit one and I’ve just got used to, say, counting 3 clicks when I have 1.5 units.

@JueB You really need to speak to your team and ask about getting a fast/bolus insulin. It really annoys me when they think it’s ‘better’ to start adult Type 1s without bolus insulin. It’s not, it’s just stressful. When you do, ask for a reuseable pen that does half units.