Quick question.... Do I need insulin of my readings are all ok?

[Cressida]

Hi folks,

I am sure this is a stupid question but....

I am a newly diagnosed type 1 (Jan) and spent a week in hospital last week with emergency open abdo surgery (2013 is turning out to be a great year!) I was on a sliding scale in hospital and levels were low to hypo but they kept me on 0.5mmol continuos feed. I questioned the need for any insulin to avoid going to low as I had also lost my early warning signs - I'm sure this will come back as I recover - but it was kept on.

Now I'm back at home, I am doing next to nothing whilst I recuperate, I am eating healthily and without insulin all my readings over the last day and a half are normal. I usually take basal insulin only and I had reduced the dose by 50% to 10 units in the morning and 4 in the evening to account for reduced activity and food. I do have short acting in the fridge but hadn't quite reached the tweaking stage before my op.

Readings are;
This am - post 1xbrown toast and soft cheese 6.7
Before supper yesterday - 6.6
Yest am before breakfast - 4.7
Sun am before breakfast - 6.0 - last insulin dose
Sat post supper - 9.0
Sat pre lunch 5.7
Fri pre lunch 6.2

Has my abdo surgery jolted my pancreas back into action??!! Or is this my basal insulin still in my system?

Thank you.
Cressida

 

[Northerner]

Hi Cressida, it certainly appears that your pancreas is producing insulin for you still. Many people experience a 'honeymoon' period after diagnosis where their pancreas still functions to some extent, or it may be that you are a slow-onset Type 1 and are very gradually losing your beta cell function. Diabetes, it seems, is not an all-or-nothing condition - I have been diagnosed for 5 years, but a year ago I discovered I no longer needed my basal insulin, just quick acting with meals. I had gradually been reducing my basal from 20 units, so clearly recovered some pancreatic function.

If your levels are fine without the insulin then I would say that you don't need it, but it would be worth discussing it with your DSN.

 

[Copepod]

Hi Cressida

It certainly appears that you're in honeymoon phase, when your pancreas may go through phases of producing insulin, then stopping, then starting again, seemingly randomly. By the way, warning signs often feel different in different situations eg fast v slow fall in blood glucose levels, lying down v sitting / standing / doing things etc.

So, you're doing the right thing by recording your food, injections etc. Depending on which long acting insulin, there could well be some in your system for up to 48 hours or so after injection.

Do keep in touch with your DSN / diabetes clinic or whoever is helping you - and show them your diary. We're not qualified to give medical advice on these boards - that's what health care professsionals are for, while acknowledging they, like people with diabetes, have their faults as well as strengths 🙂

 

[DeusXM]

It also depends on what you eat - if your meal is particularly low carb, you may find you only need your basal to keep a lid on it.