At this mornings doctor appt I asked my Dr. what my insulin levels were and he said 9 months ago it was 2.6 and since my numbers have become progressively worse and harder to control it is probably even lower than that and that I AM LADA. I broke down...I am FREAKING OUT!! My biggest fear since diagnosis is the thought of ever going on insulin it is just a huge fear of mine. Looks like all of you were correct. I will get my new insulin levels back along with my islet results in 2-3 weeks but my Endo said the sooner we start insulin the better and when I asked about a pump he pointed to my blood sugar log and said "Well we are not there yet" so I am assuming I will have a little more time before being forced into insulin which is a blessing because I want to know everything that there is to know before I start. I can't imagine going on insulin right now though, I already have low blood sugar without insulin! Wondering how much longer I have... do some LADAs go on meds first?
BSC, I didn’t mean that clueless people should be given pumps so even though you disagree with me, I agree with you on that statement! I just meant that some people think that is a qualifier for pumps.
I also think that people could do better on MDI if they actually had the proper training and were taught how to basal testing. Unfortunately, most people aren’t taught that. Regardless of which method they use, they should get training. A pump is not some magic cure-all that you just hit a button and everything is fine. It takes works and if someone is not going to put that work into MDI, they won’t be any more successful with a pump than they were on MDI. I just don’t feel that someone needs to learn MDI first before being able to master a pump.
I do agree it's important to be determined to use the pump as more than a fancy way to inject.
The one thing I always like to mention to women with diabetes who are considering the pump: the ability to set temporary basal rates or other basal rates is EXTREMELY useful in dealing with monthly changes in hormones, which can cause highs and lows. Also, in dealing with overnight hormonal shifts that contribute to dawn phenomenon (this affects males and females). With enough basal rate testing and experience, it's much easier to precisely target those areas with a pump than with MDI.
I dunno though, if you are nervous re hypos, a pump would seem to make a lot more sense? I have never used Lantus nor Levimir as I went straight to a pump from R/N (!!). My doctor indicated that N had only a 53% chance of peaking when it's supposed to. I understand that Lantus/Levimir are not supposed to have peaks but, largely from what I've read on message boards, it seems that there are still peaks and that they can vary? A lot of people manage to work around this successfully and it's certainly not impossible however I have found hypos to be much more easily managed on a pump because I am very certain about the IOB and the basal rate and, in certain situations, can turn the basal down or off if, for some reason, there's too much insulin in the mix? I also understand that the goal is not to have any 'situations' ever but well, stuff happens? To me, the 'logic' of pumped insulin makes a lot more sense than a 'curve' on a graph and trying to balance things around long term insulin peaks that are not guaranteed to hit when they are supposed to? Even when I stupidify myself (BAC > .2 maybe?), I find it easier to keep track of what's going on with my pump than to remember, "oh yeah, I took a shot 12 hours ago, ran high because for some reason it didn't peak when it was supposed to but NOW ITS PEAKING"? I'm trying to be lighthearted about it and I think there's a general consensus that N pretty much sucks so perhaps it's absurd to try to generalize that a pump will be smoother but I think that would be the case for anyone?
usually the "were not there yet" means that the doctors (and most insurance companies) would like to see you manage your T1 with insulin (shots) for at least 6-12 months before starting you on a pump, just from my experience.
Insulin is not that bad, if you stay active and check often, its very managable
the pump makes life soo much better
With running low all the time how do you keep from getting hypos? Do you just eat protein every few hours or what? Are you a low carber? How often do you get hypos with running low and do you always know when you are having one?
What is a DexCom?
woaaa... first of all lil mama, take a deep breathe
EVERY things will be ok. You sound like you know your stuff, so i think you'll do just fine on insulin.
You can probably get a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) System which will give you your BS every 15 minutes, if you like wearing electronics! Shots first are the best, you quickly learn how insulin affects you personally and on the flip side how to adjust for a low, or candy time! you will soon be placed on a basal (Lantus) and a Fast acting (HumaLog or NovaLog)
The rates at which your insulin is given will dictate your blood suga, and if you stick to this prescription, which will change alot in the first few months as you learn your body, you will be ok. Dont be afraid to try different things, you will soon learn how to adjust you lifestyle so that T1 is not a hindrance, but just something you do everyday.
I understand your fear of low blood sugar....it is real and it scares me too. The continuous glucose monitor works great for that.So does testing a lot. It is not unusual for T1's to test 10x/day. And I am a agood little girlscout, always prepared with sugar nearby. I mean everyhere...car, bedroom, office, coats. I am never more than arm's reach from my trusted glucose tabs..
Overall, insulin is not as bad as I thought it would be, and if you are LADA it is really ultimately going to be your only choice. Although it seems impossible right now, you will adjust. They seem to have caught yours much earlier than mine, or your is slower moving and I went right to insulin because my bs was through the roof.
Don't worry about getting the pump yet...I did shots for the first 5 years and it was fine, really, the pump has helped me a lot but early on I don't think I needed it. There is less of a learning curve with shots,. and every T1 should know how to do them because pumps do fail and then injections are necessary temporarily.
We are here for you. This will not be as bad as it seems to you right now.
My CGM gives me readings every 5 minutes.....
What are MDIs?
Thanks..and yes I will be one of those who tests 10x a day or 20...haha. Isn't the continuous glucose monitor just for like a 24 hour test?? I wouldn't be scared of insulin if I could know what my blood sugar was every minute of the day lol
multiple daily injections (intensive insulin therapy via injection)
MDI= multiple daily injections. My AIC was 14 at diagnosis, so my experience is different from yours. I did start on basal only...the dreaded NPH which gladly you will never have to deal with, as better ones as available. In T1's insulin dosage is based on weight and activity level...the smaller and more active you are, the less you need. But you can never be small enough or active enough to need none, if you are T1 or LADA.
You will likely start on one shot a day, of a very small dose. Test often and take sugar with you wherever you go. Low's get worse with the higher percentage of used insulin you take.....if you inject 100% of your insulin, you will likely have worse lows than if you take 50% of your insulin from injections and 50% is produced by your body. This has to do with the body's ability to compensate for BS levels and adjust as needed.
Oh my goodness are you serious!!!! You wear it around and it tells you your blood sugar every 5 minutes of everday! SHUT UP! lol thats awesome!! You've gotta be kiddin me, why have I never heard of this! How do you get one of these, how much are they, how do they work!?
I wear mine (CGM) almost all the time recently. The senors are good for several days, and you put a new one in when you are done I get a total of 288 readings per day from it. I love knowing what is going on every second!!
You are doing it old school...no insulin pens for you?
Yep, it's great. My insurance covered mine although not everyone is so lucky. I think they run about $1000 for the transmitters. Sensors are extra. I have had mine more than 2.5 years. There are several different companies who make them. They take some getting used to but are pretty valuable in my opnion. It does not elminate the need to check with finger pricks but does reduce how often I do them....
You may not need one at first, because the amount of insulin you will likely inject will be very small, but it is nice to know it is out there in the future.
So if I'm injecting a small amount of insulin then hypos shouldn't be a big worry?? I want one!! Thats awesome! How much are the sensors? If it tells you your blood sugar then why do you need to prick your finger, is it not accurate all the time?? Where do you wear it at?
My sensors are about $30 and last for 7 days. My insurance covers them.
The CGM's have to be calibrated at least twice a day. I usually do that 3x/day, after "fasting" periods. It is not ALWAYS accurate in numbers, there is some variation, but the trend (direction it is goimng) is always right for me. Plus, it has alarms for lows, etc.
I believe that you will have fewer probelms with hypos if you are injecting small percentage amounts of insulin. For example, if your total daily insulin needs are 30 units, and you only inject 3 units, that means you are making about 27 units, allowing for a lot of room for your body to "adjust" the amount of insulin you produce. Injecting 3 units of exogenous insulin, or 10% or the insulin needs is very different that injecting 30 units, or 100%of the total daily insulin needs.
But still, you will probably have some hypos and should be prepared for them, as soon as you do start on insulin.