(I really don’t like phrases like that, but it seemed appropriate. Don’t get me started on “thinking outside the box”! I’m warning you!!)
Hello everyone, thought I’d throw out a quick update
Symlin: me likey
I have a problem where my 2hr PP sugars are always way high (250-300 range is not uncommon) and my 4hr PP numbers tend to be way low (70 and below is not uncommon if I don’t watch it). So we had been taking big boluses to cover the 2hr numbers and the Novalog was still way active and, working with my basal rate, driving my 4hr numbers down. Real catch-22. I can’t even do any of the fine-tuning protocols from Medtronic because my 2hr PP numbers are always so high. They want me to be with in 50 points of my pre-meal numbers and that never happens. My boluses often approach the 25u max that my pump will allow.
Here is what my hourly blood sugars have looked like for the last month(via Carelink). I get the same pattern pretty much everyday
Enter Symlin. My CDE thought I was also insulin resistant and recommended that I try Symlin or metformin. She had a Symlin sample pack, so I tried it. 60 mcg with meals. I do get some nausea with it at times and it really makes me feel full, so I eat less than I was expecting, which can throw my carb count off sometimes. It comes in a pen, which is pretty convenient. The thing I don’t like about the pen is that there is always a drop or two that comes out after the injection. They say this is perfectly normal and not to worry about it, but I can smell it for quite a while so am I smelling the Symlin or is my site leaking?
The first meal I took it with, I went low within an hour. That never happens and it stayed low all evening! too low actually, but like everything else, it takes some tuning. We doubled my carb ratios so I’m only taking half the bolus I was before and that seems to have helped alot.
After being on the Symlin for a couple of days, it was time to change my reservoir. I just happened to have some Apidra waiting to be tested in the fridge. I was using Novalog which just seemed to be taking too long to get out of my system. I had taken Humalog for years before starting pumping, but once I started pumping it, I would develop knots around the sites and the insulin would not get absorbed, instead coming back up and out. Jury still out on Apidra, well have to see how it goes this weekend
I probably rushed putting the Apidra in the mix, but am just getting a little overly frustrated with the up and downs every day. I handle frustration better if I actually am doing something to fix the problem. Luckily, my new CDE is really great and we get along pretty well. That is making things much easier. I emailed her the pre-approval form for Symlin yesterday and she had it faxed over in less than an hour. Basically, it just seems that she really gives a damn
Anyway, thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Scott
Today’s snarky comment: Seriously, I love ya to death man, but if we’re being chased by zombies, I’m gonna trip you