If I am posting in an incorrect place just let me know. I am new to the forum.
My doctor just put me on Novolog along with the Lantus I have been taking. I admit I am confused about when to take it all.
She said the Novolog had to be taken to cover two meals..I eat one meal a day and then just snacks the rest of the day. I took them both this morning and am going to see how this works and take the Novolog this afternoon when I eat dinner. Lantus at bed..
Could you guys tell me how you take yours..I admit my schedule is not the norm but my life right now is not the norm..My husband has dementia and im also caregiver for my elderly mother. Deb
The best thing to do would be to see if you can get diabetes education through a diabetes center, probably taught by a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). These classes will teach you about an intensive insulin regime using Lantus as a bolus and then how to count carbs and properly bolus with an insulin like Novolog for your meals. I'm sure there are centers in Knoxville. I would also recommend two books which were very helpful to me, "Using Insulin" by Walsh and "Think Like a Pancreas" by Scheiner.
Basically, to properly use Novolog you count the carbs when you eat and then inject an amount of insulin that proportionally fits what you eat. The exact insulin amounts you need to work out with your doctor and CDE. In general, you will discover that with insulin it is best if you eat a specific meals/snacks rather than just snacking all day.
My lifestyle is not conducive to making meals right now..I am caregiver for my mother and my husband...I don't feel like eating a meal until late afternoon..I don't have time to go to all these classes..I know you are trying to help and I do appreciate it..but I don't have time for all that
You don't have to make meals, you just have to have an identifiable meal/snack as opposed to just grazing all day.
I know that you feel like you need to put your mother and your husband's interests ahead of your own, but you must make yourself a priority. If you get really sick, who will take care of them. And think about it, would your mother and husband have wanted you to compromise your health in order to attend to them like this. In the end, only you can save yourself.
Here is a very basic primer on Lantus and Novolog.
Lantus is a basal insulin and its function is to keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day. You must take your Lantus even if you don't eat.
Your Novolog's function is to control the blood sugar spike that occurs when you eat and the amount that you take at any time corresponds roughly to the amount of carbohydrates that you are eating. If you take 4 units of Novolog (this is a purely hypothetical number) for a full dinner, you should not take that same amount for a small yogurt in the middle of the day.
If you snack on almonds, cheese or raw vegetables you might be able to get away with not taking any Novolog for your snacks. You have to play it by ear.
You should test your blood sugar before every meal and large snack and then 2 hours later. Eventually you'll be able to analyze the data yourself but right now I suggest faxing the results to your doctor every three days and asking your doctor for help in adjusting your doses.
