Insulin resistance...any tips??

[blackforestmama]

Hi all..

I posted in another post about this but not sure if anyone read it.

I am concerned and need someone to bounce it off. perhaps any tips what is happening...

I am now at 8 weeks, 2 months low carbing. (last week alone I lost 5pds I think it was a bit too fast for one week... not sure if that is normal at 2 months due to body switching from carb to fat burning mode? As I read kicks in around 2 to 4 months? (or due to have a tummy bug I had earlier in the week?).

Meanwhile since Thurs or Friday I been struggling with my nbrs again. I cannot place what it is that is going wrong. I have eliminated all possibilities. Used new insulin, use new needles (set as am pump user), eat the lowest of all carb meals that I dont even need to take insulin with and still getting a high reading.

Its not too high but high for the past 2 months. Its around 10 to 15 prior to meals. (180 to 230).

I cant seem to figure it out. I dont think I am fighting anything. Hubby thinks its stress? (visitors coming, lots of events happening etc).

I thought also with a weight loss of 15pds in 2 months that I would perhaps have to reduce my insulin basal rate but havent done that yet and already the insulin resistance showing that I need to increase my basal rate.

Perhaps its related to losing weight too fast and my body kicking in hormones or something?

Any tips here??

Thanks so much!!

Really dont want to increase the insulin and been happy with taking minimal insulin the last 2 months... down 45 to 50% from the pre low carbing amount.

Steph

[tuatara]

Here's my thoughts...

a) Let me preface with: Diabetes is very individual. So what works for me will work differently for anyone else. I'm a T1.5 using Bernstein's system.
b) 10-15 pre-meal is very very high. Personally I target 4 - 5.5. I think you may need to look at your basel. Or perhaps you are still high from the previous meal and need to raise your bolus. Whats your 2 hour post eating numbers like?
c) There are occasional days when I am just high. Dunno why. Like you I've tried switching insulin, fasting, whatever. I've wondered whether my body is fighting an infection that i haven't noticed as that can raise your BG.
d) Exercise is a big help. After a reasonable workout, I usually have excellent numbers for the next day or so, and can even eat a little berries+cream without the usual BG spike.
e) It took me a long time to settle and feel right with low carb, many months. Others say it took them just a few weeks.
f) So called "Beginners Luck" means that the first time you low carb, you can lose a lot of weight relatively quickly. But yours does seem extraordinarily fast.

Cheers.
Paul.

[blackforestmama]

Thanks...today it was finally a bit better premeal. I will see how it is all day.


I think I might be fighting something after all... tongue is a bit white and swollen.

Will up my vit C and see how that goes.


Now got new stress...will see how my nbrs responds this week. (hubby been administered to hospital for few days).

Luckily my good friend visiting me from oversea is here to help me out.

[hanadr]

BFM
what exercise do you do?
I find that if I've done an hour or so, I can get away with a few more carbs. eg
Yesterday, I was very sick, even though I'd eaten very little, so having emptied my system, when I felt a bit better, I ate half a toasted potato farl[about 10g carb] After 2 hours, I had a bg of 6.3, which is high for me, but this morning, I was back down to 4.7.
I felt I needed something gentle on my stomach.
Today I've done an easy 2 mile walk and admired the waterfowl on the Thames. There were Egyptian Geese among the Canadas.
Hana

[katharine]

Metformin from your doctor may help. It can be used for:

overweight people
those who are insulin resistant eg polycystic ovaries or on depo provera or anti psychotic medication
impaired glucose tolerance
type two diabetes
overweight type one diabetics

[blackforestmama]

hi all..

back online for few days

last week was so stressful...didnt help with high nbrs the week prior and continued.

Lots of visitors, hubby in hospital (hes doing better now and guess what managed to do low carbing in the hospital...hes not even diabetes but started low carbing 3 weeks after I did he didnt want to go off the band wagon in hospital so I kept bringing him greek salads, nuts and fruits for his stay at the hospital). (Dr was so impressed how fast he healed...hes still on bed rest this week).

I started my menses so figured that was the reason I had insulin resistance for a week. But usually its just a day or two not a whole week. Then I had a flare up infection Fri to Sun and I think I am fighting strep throat again. (drat it keeps flaring up when I am stressed even if good stress, bday party for kids, visitors etc). (I was just on a course of antibiotic for it in Jan...). I was gone for the weekend to the Alps hiking as well (hoping the good mtn air will help...blood sugar dropped immensely from all the hiking and the high altitude).

I hate giving myself more insulin this past 2 weeks but body was so resistance. Yesterday much better. Will see how it is today. Also going to dr to get swap test before I head off for my family summer holiday.

Kat I am 15 pds overweight, type 1 Diabetes. I dont really like the idea more meds insulin enough as it is and reducing that.

Just frustrating as all I was eating was eggs, cottage cheese, cheese sticks, cucumber all weekend. (our hiking food) and still nbrs hovered at 290 and wouldnt go up or down. Sunday was really high! Monday much better.

I just figured I had to bolus for proteins now. But now realized body really is fighting an infection.

Hopefully goes away soon. Got to figure out how to stop myself from getting reoccurance of it.

[Gettingthere]

Steph
I'm sure you'll get it sorted. You've come a long way already.
Can't add anything as a T2 haven't a clue on bolus, insulin etc. All Greek to me.
Marie xx

[katharine]

Have you considered vit D 3 supplements? I have been taking them for almost two years and have not had a cold or flu in this time. It helps your immune system.

You will certainly be more insulin resistant if you are fighting an infection and at certain times of the month.

[Dillinger]

Hi,

I'm Type 1 too. I don't know if this applies to you, but a while ago I was quite obsessed with getting my insulin dose as low as possible (and this was pre low carbing). I was reluctant to ever increase my dose as I guess I felt the less insulin I took the 'less' diabetic I was. It was a form of denial I suppose.

I am now pretty insulin resistant and even on less than 30 carbs a day still have to take lots of the stuff. But that's the thing; we are Type 1's we will always 'have' to take insulin and more importantly take enough insulin to match our metabolic rates. Not increasing your dosage will only undo the great work you are doing with the low-carbing. It would seem you need to increase your basal rate and keep testing to follow the results.

I'm hoping to go on Metformin, as Katherine suggests, to lower my insulin dose; perhaps you could try that as well?

Best

Dillinger

[blackforestmama]

Thanks Kat for the suggestion of the Vit D 3. I will look into it. I have a few things my naturopath gives me and I usually go for routinely acupuncture to boost my immune system as well esp prior to flu season. I havent found anyone to do acupuncture yet since I moved here over a year ago (or rather one that I would like to go to). Next on my list to do. (usually one of the first on the list but hasnt been that easy for some reason).

Today bgl much much better! I think I have combatted the worse! I hope so! (It was indeed a combo of the menses and the infection).

I havent eaten more than 10 grams of carbs a day for last 2 weeks to make sure its nothing to do with the carb. I still made sure to eat and just had lots of green veggies, and protein, drank tons of water etc.

Dillinger, thanks for your point of view. I do hestitate to take more insulin since I saw how it helped reduce the weight hee. Meanwhile am glad I managed to reduce drastically 75% of what I was using per day and maintaining that. The past 2 weeks had to increase due to insulin resistance and to correct my highs despite eating very low carbs.

I did worry if my fast sudden weight loss in the first 8 weeks was in play and playing havoc but now it looks like its related to other factors.

Thanks all for your tips and feedback.

Steph