[Annieliese]

After being Type 2 on diet then later tablets for nearly twenty years, I am now on Lantus 30 units once a day (before bed) and 4 units of NovoRapid before meals.

I am having all sorts of problems getting the dosages worked out! I am either too high or too low! Aaaarrrggghhh!!! My poor body and brain never feel good - I thought I would feel better on insulin (very tired, anxious and depressed before when BSLs always way too high) but I actually think I feel worse now. I have seen the diabetes educator twice and my doctor twice. I have been instructed to increase the Lantus from the original 10 units, until my morning and pre-meal BSLs are in the good range. I need 30 units of Lantus to get the correct fasting morning BSLs. However I get a hypo during the night most nights.

But just on Lantus, my BSLs two to three hours after meals was always >10, even 15 sometimes. So the doctor put me onto NovoRapid 4 units before meals. But that does not seem to be enough as I can barely eat any carbs, even 15 grams exchanges, without the BSL's after meals still going to over 10. So I think I need to increase the NR to eg 5 or 6 units before meals.

Can I increase the dose of NR eg to 5 or more units per meal? I think that is what my educator and doctor want me to do. How high do others go with your rapid insulin dosages?

 

[Shanny]

Hello, Annieliese . . . welcome to our forum. Your question is far beyond my experience since I haven't been on insulin yet, but most of our members are, so I'll just greet you and let them answer your questions. It must be really hard when you still feel crummy all the time.

Take care and stay in touch . . . we're here to support you & help if we can.

 

[Shanny]

Good to see you again, Liton . . . let us know how things go with you and your doctor. I know it must be worrisome not knowing a diagnosis.

take care,

 

[onaughmae]

After being Type 2 on diet then later tablets for nearly twenty years, I am now on Lantus 30 units once a day (before bed) and 4 units of NovoRapid before meals.
*snip*
However I get a hypo during the night most nights.
*snip*
Can I increase the dose of NR eg to 5 or more units per meal? I think that is what my educator and doctor want me to do. How high do others go with your rapid insulin dosages?

Hi there and welcome! There are people here that give such great advice, you came to the right place!

I would suggest if you are getting hypo during the night, before bed have a small snack. Something with protein and just a few carbs...like maybe a couple of crackers with peanut butter. It might help. Of course I am sure you know as with all other food choices you make testing testing testing will tell you what is good for your body as we are all different.
When I was first placed on insulin, my doctor gave me a measured dose of the premeal rapid acting insulin (I use Humalog) to take plus a sliding scale depending on what my blood sugar was before I ate. It took probably about 6 weeks to get my numbers after meals where they should be. I would suggest talking to them and asking about a sliding scale or increasing your rapid acting dose.

As always, testing before and after meals can give your docs the info they need to make decisions. Let us know how you are doing!

Cheers
Pam

 

[diabetes86]

Hi Annieliese
The problem you are having I also had when I first went on insulin. The problem is. Each food affects your BS different. So all ways using the same amount of insulin for each meal didn't work well for me. I was ether to high or to low. Its not only the amount of carbs but also how much fat and fiber are in the meal. The type of carb also matters was the carb potato, or whole grain pasta?

I got a piece of paper and made a chart, BS before a meal, what and how much i ate, how much insulin, BS 1 hour after, BS 2 hours after.

test, test, test Each person is different each food is different.

 

[Annieliese]

Thank you people for your answers-they are very helpful !

I have some more questions on my fast-acting insulin before meals -The doctor said that if I only plan to eat a small amount then I need not take the NovoRapid. However what about -

-if I change my mind and then eat far more carbs than I had originally planned? Can I take NR after the meal?

-if I have a quite carby snack between meals -can I take NR then if I have not had any for hours?

-if I do not take NR before a meal and then my BSL is really high after the meal, can i take NovoRapid then, to reduce the level?