I have heard about the 1500 rule and wondered if it really works as a good guide. It is where you take 1500 and divide it by the total amount of insulin you inject into yourself. This gives you a number that tells you the amount of carbohydrates that one unit of Humalog® will counteract. Is this true?
Can you please explain the concept of "brittle" diabetes vs. the theory it is just not controlled? Also, does the length of the disease make a difference in one's ability to control it?
I am a Type 2 insulin dependant diabetic. I inject twice a day and have been doing so for about a year. I generally inject either in my abdomen or thighs. My problem is my injection sites stay bruised and painful. Is there anything I can do to lessen bruising and to make injecting less painful?
I have been taking insulin (Lantus® 24) since Jan 2002. I used 20 units for 3 months and am now on 30 units, which seems to be working better. I also take Actos® 45mg and Amaryl®. I am now exercising 3-5 days per week but haven't lost any weight. Does insulin interfere with weight loss or make you gain?
I am a diabetic taking one morning dose of Lantus® in the A.M. along with three individual doses of NovoLog® before each meal. I take my blood sugar each morning before giving myself the insulin. My question is: if my blood sugar is low...let's say 60 or below...and I eat some crackers with juice which raises it to above 150, should I go ahead and give myself the morning doses of insulin since my blood sugar is now at an acceptable level, or should I skip them? And why?
What should I do if I forget my bedtime dose of Lantus®, and don’t realize it until the next morning? I take Humalog® with each meal and Lantus at bedtime. I was so embarrassed to call my doctor and admit I forgot my shot—so I just took the full dose in the morning, but then I got low during the day!
What is your opinion on going off insulin? I have been on insulin for over ten years, but knew in the beginning that my body was still producing its own. Now that I lost weight, I hardly need any insulin, but I am a little leery to try other meds. Some of the new meds that I have heard about cause weight gain, which I really don't need.
My son, age 20, has been diagnosed as having Type 1 diabetes. Soon after beginning to take insulin shots, he reported that his blood sugar dropped dramatically—in the 40s & 50s every morning after taking the shots. He then stopped taking insulin, but continued monitoring his blood sugar. It remained in normal ranges for a week. He even drank a non-diet soda with seemingly no reaction. Is it possible his diabetes was temporary and that he no longer has diabetes?
What does insulin do and why does the pancreas make extra insulin when a person eats?
When giving an insulin injection is it necessary to pull back slightly to check for blood before injecting the insulin?
