Hello,

Sorry if this thread is a repeat but I couldn't find one like this when I did a search. I've had type 1 diabetes for 22 years (I am 36 now). About 2 and half years ago my doctor switched me to Lantus and Novolog. We had it figured out that every 3 carbs was about a unit of novolog and if I was high I should take a unit for every 15 points I was high. This worked very well for the first couple of years.

Recently though I seem to be needing more and more insulin. For example, this morning I was pretty high (256). I took 56 units of Novolog figuring I could feed the insulin later by having a snack. When I checked my blood sugar 2 hours later I was 330. I took 28 units to compensate for that and two hours later I was 180. I've taken nearly 90 units of insulin today and all I've eaten was a bowl of cornflakes (probably in the neighborhood of 70 carbs with the milk). It also isn't consistant. Days at work are worse than days at home where things work pretty close to the way I expect most ot the time.

The only thing that's changed in my routine is I changed jobs and now work a 4 day a week schedule (10 hrs a day) but it is the same type of work. I can't imagine the new stresses involved with the new job could cause this much in the way of problems, but I also don't think I could be that resistent that fast with the level of inconsitancy I seem to have.

Anyone seen this type of issue before?

Thanks in advance :D

Hi Jon,
That is really weird. Although it is possible for T1's to become insulin resistant as they age (thus adding insult to injury ;) ) as you pointed out, that amount of insulin would indicate major resistance and it's happened too quickly.

My best guess? Perhaps you've gotten a bad batch of insulin...either the Lantus or the Novolog (probably the novolog, from your description of events.) If it isn't properly refrigerated in transit, or if it's delivered to the pharmacy on a hot day and they don't refrigerate it right away, an entire batch could go bad.

I'm curious, though...why the heck would you take 56 units of insulin to treat a high of only 256? Was it right before a meal and you were planning to eat that much anyway?

Oh, I did just think of one other thing...could your Lantus dose be wrong? Either your needs increased or it's no longer lasting the full 24 hours and you need to split the dose? Just another thought...for whatever it's worth!

Ruth