Question 1:

[Diastard]

Hi,
I've a few questions in my head that follow on from what I've learned since being diagnosed with type 2. I would be very grateful for any education.

The first question is about type 1 and stems from confusion regarding contradictions I've read:

I've read that a type 1 pancreas doesn't produce insulin.
I also understand that exercise reduces insulin resistance in cells. That mechanism I understand.

But I also understand that type 1s need to watch that their blood glucose doesn't go too low when they exercise. So there must be another mechanism to deplete the BG other than insulin->cells, if it is not insulin then the process cannot be less resistance to insulin. Unless we are talking about residual injected insulin?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Unless we are talking about residual injected insulin?

There's always insulin in the body. When it's not the rapid insulin used mainly for food, it's the long acting one (intended to cover the glucose continuously released by the liver). So there's always something for exercise to mess us up with.

And since the rapid insulin tends to last for 4 hours or so, most of the time there's some of that still in the blood.

 

[Diastard]

There's always insulin in the body. When it's not the rapid insulin used mainly for food, it's the long acting one (intended to cover the glucose continuously released by the liver). So there's always something for exercise to mess us up with.

And since the rapid insulin tends to last for 4 hours or so, most of the time there's some of that still in the blood.

Thank you. Are you saying that a type 1 injects two different types of insulin? I mean is the source for the long acting insulin external?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Are you saying that a type 1 uses two types of insulin?

Those using a pump use only one quick acting one, which can be delivered continuously. Those of us injecting must use two kinds, yes (basal and bolus for the long and short acting ones, respectively).

 

[Diastard]

Those using a pump use only one quick acting one, which can be delivered continuously. Those of us injecting must use two kinds, yes (basal and bolus for the long and short acting ones, respectively).

OK, understood. Thank you so much.

 

[leonS]

Yes there is another way to reduce BG, the krebs cycle. Come into play when you exercise. It is very complex and I do not pretend to understand it, let alone explain it.

Exercise can also make the BG go up. It depends on how vigorous the exercise is.

We often inject two different type of insulin. The insulin molecule is changed slightly to change the length over which they act and are referred to as "human analogue"

We need insulin all the time, as glucose can not enter the most of the body cells (for use as fuel) without it. If the cells can not get the glucose then will attempt to use fat (lipids) They can not do this either with out insulin. When they are forced to use fat without insulin toxic ketones are produced - a serious situation.