Hello there,
I'm a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic, 17 years old. I don't take any rapid-acting insulin, but I do take 24 units of Lantus every night (went to the doctor a few days ago, and they pushed insulin doses back). However, this is the second day in a row that I've forgotten to take my Lantus. What concerns me is my blood sugars. Since yesterday around lunch, my blood sugars have not been over 115. In fact, it's always oddly close to 100, either 101 or 99. I'm nopt sure if a reading like that is appropiate for days without insulin. I even had a low (55!)yesterday afternoon. I've been told that since I haven't taken any insulin in 2 days that my blood sugar should be showing a pattern of highs, but I'm not getting that at all. Is there anything that might explain this?
Are you a LADA type 1 (1.5)? You may still have some of your own insulin left which may explain not going high sans insulin. However, I would not keep skipping your lantus doses. If you are type 1 your Beta cells are currently being devastated by your immune system. The Lantus insulin is there to help prolong your own insulin production (that way you can "honeymoon" a lot longer). Don't skip your insulin.
Also, make sure you are testing an hour and two hours after you eat, just to make sure no major spiking is going on. I used to go low when I was taking nothing but Lantus as well.
No sir, I'm type 1 :)
And that explains why I'm still having lows despite no insulin doses, I completely forgot about the honeymoon phase.
How long did yours last? And thank you for the guidance sir. As a new diabetic, I'm still confused about a lot of the small things ^_^"
Hoshikuzu:
My honeymoon lasted about 2 years. I could be ok some days and seriously high another. I am guessing the issue you are experiencing is a resurgence of your regular insulin production. Now I doubt this will last and yes you must take your lantus.
You might ask to back your insulin down a bit. But dont be surprised if the doctor says no. The honeymoon is like that, one day you feel fin, the next you can be 800. so follow the doctors advice.
Since you were only diagnosed three months ago, you are still honeymooning and producing some of your own insulin. It's still important to take insulin, though, otherwise you risk burning your beta cells out sooner and/or DKA.
I was diagnosed as a kid, and my honeymoon lasted about three months, although I was never able to stop taking insulin completely (and I still had some highs even while honeymooning). That was with R and NPH insulin. I think these days, with MDI and pumps, honeymoons even for kids tend to last upwards of a year or more.
I’ll just add that when I was taking Lantus, I could tell it stuck around in my system for awhile. I would say it’s possible that after only two days of missed insulin, maybe for you Lantus has a really long tail, and it’s still slowly wearing off.
Glad to be of assistance. :0)
Definitely, keep taking your lantus every night. Keep the honeymoon going as long as you can because it becomes a bit more tedious when you are totally insulin dependent like many of us are.
Question: Are you checking your blood sugar when you wake up every morning (the fasting)? If not you should definitely check that. Lantus is a basal insulin that keeps your blood sugar from swinging while you are asleep.
Test, test, and test. I cannot advise that enough. Know what is going on at all times because you could be high in the middle of the night and not even know it.
Anyway...
My honeymoon stage ended shortly after I was diagnosed (I was diagnosed two years ago. I'm a little older than you, 24). It was easy to control, initially, with just lantus. But six months later I noticed my numbers going higher and higher, despite eating low carb and taking a basal insulin. Lo and Behold my pancreas had completely konked out and now I am basaling and bolusing.
So it took me less than a year to lose my pancreas.
Take care of yourself! :0)
Phewww :33 Ok, thank you! That's a relief, it's nice to not have to stress about bolusing for now. I'm grateful to be so lucky. I'll definitely make sure to take my insulin every night. Do you recommend using alarms?
Is there anything I can do to counteract that? I feel like my body is starting to get used to the lows. Yesterday I had a low in the 50's and I didn't even know.
Yes sir! Thank you for the advice :) I didn't even realize my pancreas might still be making insulin >_<
Make sure you test yourself regularly. Myself I actually function NORMALLY when my blood sugar is in the toilet (I am talking low 40's)and I don't become aware of it until my meter tells me so. Definitely make it a habit to test me and then treat the lows before they get out of hand.
Having a low that low and not being aware of it is really scary. Usually, I only test before meals and, of course, when I feel high or low. I should probably test more often, just to be sure what my sugar is. Thank you :D
I know it's only early days for you, Jay, and your numbers are still in range. But, as a Type 1 you should probably get into the habit of more regular testing. In the early days testing can give you good information such as how certain foods affect your blood sugar (2 hours after meals) and how your basal is functioning to control your blood sugar (fasting, between meals and bedtime). Once you start on bolus you will need to test to see if a correction is needed. When you have a low you want to test after treating to make sure it's come up. And it's always important for safety to test before sleeping or driving. Yeah, I know: It's a PITA!
I'd definitely set myself an alarm if I was forgetting. Either that or add it to whatever ritual you have for bedtime. ::Check twitter - take basal - brush teeth - check blood sugar::
Good luck! :)
Lol yes, sometimes it definitely is! How often a day would you say I should test?
Hi Jay, I am also fairly new to this being Dx on 11/1/12. I usually test about 8 times per day. First thing in the morning, before/after each meal, and before bed. I am taking Lantus and Humalog both currently though, as I need to bolus for my meals. I have found that i can get a better picture of what my BG is doing testing this many times per day, and also how various foods are effecting my BG.
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis-never a happy thing. I use (or would use) the same combination, Lantus and Humalog. And I was going to try to analyze the effects of certain foods on my blood sugar, but I wasn't sure it would be accurate since my body won't react the same once my honeymoon phase is over. How, I have found that white sugar seems to skyrocket my BG. For example, I usually eat a mouthful (Yes LOL pure sugar) before I go jogging, because that'll keep my BG steady and up the whole time. But too much obviously, is bad. One morning I was really, really hungry so I had 3 bowls of cereal, with like 3/4 of a cup of sugar >< My BG was 417 by the middle of 1st period @_@
I didn't use an alarm, but I did take my Lantus at the same time every night. When I bolus, I also always bolus before I eat. If I don't do these things, it's easier to forget. An alarm might be a good idea if that's something that works for you (I do use an alarm for other things, like watering my plants, etc.).
When I started on the pump, the nurse told me that Lantus can hang around somewhat for up to a week. About a week after starting my blood sugars suddenly shot up to around 250 and wouldn't come down until we upped my basal rate. She said that was probably the last of the Lantus wearing off!
It may not be the sugar alone ... cereal is an arch enemy of many diabetics.