Is it possible that insulin just doesn't work for me?

swood9 · Mar 27th, 2012, 20:06 PM

I have been on long acting insulin for a few weeks now due to gd, and it has not helped. No matter how I raise my insulin dosage, the numbers slowly climb. Today I was prescribed mealtime insulin, and I have taken it with lunch and dinner.

I'm prescribed 1 unit every 15 carbs, and I count my carbs as meticulously as possible. After each meal, I got the two highest readings I've ever had! It seems to have confirmed my suspicion with the long acting, that it doesn't help or possibly even has my numbers rising??
Now I've tried to research this, and I know that I'm no miracle who is defying the laws of medical science...but WHAT ON EARTH! I can't find anything that would cause me to react to the insulin this way.

I just want to get my numbers down and keep LO safe. Has anyone heard of or experienced this? Perhaps I missed something while I was searching for a possible explanation? Either way I am calling my Endo's office asap tomorrow. Don't know what else to do...

vintage67 · Mar 28th, 2012, 00:09 AM

1:15 is quite a ratio. They will probably lower it. Mine got so bad that by the 8th month, I was on a 1:3 ratio. It generally gets progressively harder to control (no matter what you eat) as the pregnancy nears the end.

rory83coyotes · Mar 28th, 2012, 00:44 AM

What kind of long acting insulin. And not everyone responds to the insulin in the same way. May work for others but not for you. There are a couple of different kinds. Have you called your dr. And like the other lady said- it gets harder to control the farther you get.

Tanikit · Mar 29th, 2012, 10:34 AM

Sugar levels do rise during pregnancy no matter what you do so you should expect your insulin levels to rise. The type of food you eat will also affect your levels greatly.

I do not think the insulin is not working - I just think the dose you are on is too low - you need more insulin and they are possibly not raising it fast enough for fear of causing hypoglycaemia which can be very dangerous especially when you do not know what you should be looking out for.

Give it time - insulin must be titrated to work. Keep measuring and keep speaking to the doctors so they can adjust it more rapidly than they have been.

HellBunny · Mar 29th, 2012, 11:27 AM

Which fast acting insulin are you on for meals hun? i've no experience in long acting as i'm not on it yet though with breakfast i inject 16 units of fast acting for 25g of carbs or there abouts, so it could just be you need alot more than prescribed? Also lunch and dinner i'm on 10 units for 20-40g of carbs x

Mar 27th, 2012, 20:06 PM	#1
swood9 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: TC, Minnesota Posts: 884	Is it possible that insulin just doesn't work for me? I have been on long acting insulin for a few weeks now due to gd, and it has not helped. No matter how I raise my insulin dosage, the numbers slowly climb. Today I was prescribed mealtime insulin, and I have taken it with lunch and dinner. I'm prescribed 1 unit every 15 carbs, and I count my carbs as meticulously as possible. After each meal, I got the two highest readings I've ever had! It seems to have confirmed my suspicion with the long acting, that it doesn't help or possibly even has my numbers rising?? Now I've tried to research this, and I know that I'm no miracle who is defying the laws of medical science...but WHAT ON EARTH! I can't find anything that would cause me to react to the insulin this way. I just want to get my numbers down and keep LO safe. Has anyone heard of or experienced this? Perhaps I missed something while I was searching for a possible explanation? Either way I am calling my Endo's office asap tomorrow. Don't know what else to do...

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 00:09 AM	#2
vintage67 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,400	1:15 is quite a ratio. They will probably lower it. Mine got so bad that by the 8th month, I was on a 1:3 ratio. It generally gets progressively harder to control (no matter what you eat) as the pregnancy nears the end.

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 00:44 AM	#3
rory83coyotes Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: texas Posts: 1,019	What kind of long acting insulin. And not everyone responds to the insulin in the same way. May work for others but not for you. There are a couple of different kinds. Have you called your dr. And like the other lady said- it gets harder to control the farther you get.

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:34 AM	#4
Tanikit Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,132	Sugar levels do rise during pregnancy no matter what you do so you should expect your insulin levels to rise. The type of food you eat will also affect your levels greatly. I do not think the insulin is not working - I just think the dose you are on is too low - you need more insulin and they are possibly not raising it fast enough for fear of causing hypoglycaemia which can be very dangerous especially when you do not know what you should be looking out for. Give it time - insulin must be titrated to work. Keep measuring and keep speaking to the doctors so they can adjust it more rapidly than they have been.

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 11:27 AM	#5
HellBunny Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: North West UK Posts: 4,216	Which fast acting insulin are you on for meals hun? i've no experience in long acting as i'm not on it yet though with breakfast i inject 16 units of fast acting for 25g of carbs or there abouts, so it could just be you need alot more than prescribed? Also lunch and dinner i'm on 10 units for 20-40g of carbs x

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password