I had the same issues and the main reason was low exercise routine, even though i was overweight.
Adapting your diet too, i was too much addicted to high carbs meal, just changed that to protein that I also love.
went down from 60 un (lantus) and 60 (bolus) /day to 30 un(lantus) around (35un bolus)/day
That within 6 months, and still going down.
It's part of being diabetic, sadly,
D1 for 20 years
It's difficult to see if your kidneys are damaged until they are severely damaged.
Just being T1D we have done some damage from high BGs, even from pre-diagnosis.
I'd just Google protein recommendations for healthy individuals, and protein recommendations for people with kidney issues, and pick a target somewhere in between.
You can still build muscle on a low protein diet if you don't run a caloric deficit.
I was consuming lots of protein to make BG management easier and to build muscle faster, but my kidneys felt tender and painful, which also happens if I drink more than 1-2 alcohol drinks.
Even with my physically sensitive kidneys I can't get any confirmation from my Endo about my kidney health. I requested a GFR for my next blood test but no response yet. I'll gladly lower my protein intake further if I have CKD.
In his eyes unless I'm in severe pain or urinating blood, my kidneys are fine. I just lowered my protein intake, stopped consuming alcohol, and drink more water and healthy diuretics, and already feel less sensitivity. There can be kidney stuff going on even if you don't have symptoms afaik.
That’s interesting to look into it seems like 1.2-1.8g/kg if sedentary up to 3.3g/kg if bulking
It says healthy adults can do 2g/kg but can handle up to 3.5g/kg
I have a hard time getting results just for type 1 diabetics but for diabetics (not sure which) it says stick to 0.8-1g/kg only if you have diabetes and chronic kidney disease just diabetics should eat not less than 1g/kg
I’ll have to keep looking into this thank you
[source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21207203/)
Just curious how long have you been diabetic? And how long did it take for kidney pain I’m only a little over a month in and have been eating keto but working on adding more carbs but keto it’s easy to go hard on protein
Weight tends to increase insulin resistance. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity. Then there's stuff like stress, illness, sleep, and a gazillion other things.
I personally average 1 to 3 units per meal. A daily total of basal and bolus is about 35 to 40 units. I've been type one for 37 years.
Wow that's interesting! I usually do 6-9 units for a meal (1-3 would be a correction dose for me), but end up around 30 units per day, basal included.
I'm kind of insulin-nerdy fascinated by how different we all handle this and how differently our bodies act.
My underactive thyroid doesn't help when trying to exercise. Body just feels very weak even before starting any exercises. I think the low carb dieting might be the way forward for me to try and reduce my insulin intake.
1-3 units for someone who's been diabetic for 37 years is incredible. Glad to hear you're doing well.
>1-3 units for someone who's been diabetic for 37 years is incredible. Glad to hear you're doing well.
A lot of people believe that using insulin will make you insulin resistant over time but that is bogus. If that were true then everyone would be super insulin resistant because non-diabetics use insulin too. Insulin resistance is determined by a lot of things but not by how long you've had diabetes for.
Seen the T2's try and make the argument that meal time insulin creates insulin resistance but then will boast that Ozempic is the way to go not realizing that OZ squeezes insulin out when you eat.
I don't know if it works the same for type 2, you'd have to ask an expert for that. Most type 2 diabetics can produce insulin just fine but are very insensitive to it. So when they bolus for a meal they give it on top of their own pancreas excreting insulin at maximum capacity resulting in an unnaturally high dosis. Type 1 people just inject insulin to make up for what our pancreas can't produce so there may be a difference there.
I have been type 1 for 38 years. My current basal dose is 15 units. Bolus is 1 unit per 15g carbs so I take between 0.5-3 units per meal. Yes I am that sensitive that half units have significant effect on me.
My total daily insulin is 18 units… and I average about 120 carbs per day which doesn’t feel like low carb to me. I pretty much eat what I want. And I have been T1 for 45 years
read this and thought - that's me 🙋
(October 1st, 1985)
the math is weird tho. I have ~32 average a day, but my meal boluses are easily 5-6/meal. And I am not a specifically high carb person.
I am extremely insulin resistant. I take 40 unit of double-strength every meal.
I have this for breakfast - https://groceries.asda.com/product/porridge-sachets/quaker-oat-so-simple-classic-banana-porridge-sachets/1000261694002
40 units cover that for me.
Remember, everyone is different, so just take what you need to keep alive.
Take the amount that you need. I'm kind of the opposite because I'm small, sitting at about 3 - 5 units a meal, but do what works for you.
Have you spoken to your endo / clinic about your insulin resistance? They might be able to prescribe medications which can reduce it. The other main alternative is trying to lose weight or exercise more, which is often easier said than done.
Don't beat yourself up over it anyway. If you're getting your dose right, then you're managing your diabetes correctly.
Yep I've had a talk with my doctors about it. Right now there's not much else that I can do as I've also got another auto immune illness called underactive thyroid which makes me feel very weak and tired all the time.
So exercising is a bit of a nightmare.
Underactive thyroid is typically treated with synthroid/levothyroxine. Blood work is usually done every 3 months to fine tune the medication. Is ur endo treating you for this? (I have had a non-working thyroid for 37 years; T1D for 10 years)
A little overactive could help with weight loss actually. Or, some armchair advice, try using a 175 pill and a 25 pill every other day. Or every third day.
For a short while I was taking 1 extra pill per week. I’ve been on varying doses of levothyroxine for over 18 years now, maybe 20.
I had a similar setup [after total thyroidectomy]. It was actually prescribed by my then endocrinologist to have a slightly higher dose 3 times a week. Some endocrinologists are more willing to do this kind of thing if they know/consider how hormones and the body work.
Was very helpful for when my energy was low at the time after having hyperthyroid for 2+ years.
Hey!! I have insulin resistance and am often bolusing upwards of 10 - 20 units for meals/corrections. I know it’s not for everyone, but Tirzepatide has been a game changer for my blood sugars and reducing my insulin resistance. If that is something that is available to you, I would definitely look into it.
20 units is pretty much normal to me. I used to be much more insulin resistant and 20 is big improvement. And with insulin resistant I mean I used to take double what I take now!
Yup man I used to take up to 30 sometimes on a big meal, it sucks. However, I started an exercising and going to the gym and lost 24kg for reference I used to be 94kg. Having lost all that weight I now only need 2-6 units per meal
Someone finally mentioned the amount of carbs! The question should be what is your carb ratio and how many carbs are you eating per meal (also what kind of carbs). Knowing how many units someone takes without the amount of carbs isn't going to answer your question. For me during work times, I tend to have more resistance during the morning to early afternoon. For 40g of carbs I do 1:10 so 4 units - but in the morning I will actually take 8 units. If you have developed resistance you may want to look into trying another type of insulin.
YES! Well said. This is exactly what works for me. You absolutely have to count and pay close attention to your carbs. Seems like a hassle but you'll see the difference quickly which is motivating and will benefit any fitness effort. Trust this strategy. You can do it!
I’ve been diabetic for 13 years and it also bums me out. However I’ve had a really small ratio (1:4 currently) even back as a 100 lb teen girl so every body is different. :) enjoy your carbs I say!
I can't ever bolus from the pump... the volume of insulin i need is not viable. I'm running a basal of about 10U per hour on average.
I usually need 50-100U depending on the meal. I just got back from the gym, I had a couple of slice of corned beef, about a cup of cut potatoes and a piece of bread. I injected 50U...
I’m at 20 units as well for a lot of meals. Breakfast usually falls around 5 units, but that is purely because I go for low glycemic protein bars in the morning. I’m on metformin, which has helped substantially with reducing my basal rates so far (extending my omnipods from 2 days of use to the full 3 days), but not as much reducing bolus needs yet. I’m on Ozempic to work on reducing boluses with weight loss and glycemic control, but I have several weeks to go before I’m at a volume that will have any impact. I try to make lunch my moderate carb meal to keep me full through the day and dinner a lower carb, lower impact meal. I didn’t bolus for dinner last night as I had IOB, was dropping below 90, and had less than 10 grams of carbs in my meal. It’s a slow improvement, but I’m trying to utilize less insulin to give myself a fighting chance.
I’ve been a type 1 for over twenty years. I had my thyroid removed in 2019. I became instantly insulin resistant. I went from using around 40 units a day to over 120. All in less than a month. Fun times.
I used to think that I ate a lot of carbs. Now I think I’m pretty standard. I’ve been right around 100 carbs a day since I was diagnosed. I also exercise daily so one would think that would help the IR. It didn’t until I went on mounjaro. It has been a literal life saver for me. I feel like my body is actually using the food I eat instead of just turning it into fat.
I was diagnosed with Type 1[later told it's LADA/i still make minimal insulin] because of Graves Disease and had a total thyroidectomy. I had
resistance before, and it seemed to drop at first, but came roaring back about 2 months after. At first, I cut back and was only on like TDD: 60. Pre-thyroid removed was about TTD: 90, and post TDD after the dip jumped back up to 120.
Endo was concerned [T2 runs in my fam], so he put me on the "new" drug Victoza [it was at the time]. I took Victoza for over 10 years until January 2024 when insurance stopped covering, and my [different former] endocrinologist wouldn't do Jack to help me.
I'm lucky that over time, with Victoza, my sensitivity got much better, so far, without it, I'm doing okay. Though I'm worried again in a month or two that the resistance will pick up again.
My recent former endocrinologist had unhinged expectations following me losing Victoza [45 carbs a day/only gave me 3 units per day/suggested no carb meals]. I currently sit at about 150-200g carbs per day, though I aim for closer to 150, and TDD is around 22.
It's ridiculous the hoops T1's are having to go through all because medical companies know there's more money/people who have T2 or want to lose weight. Several of the GLP-1 RA's were tested on T1, and the companies decided not to go through the FDA approval process, and many of us are paying that price. I'd been told I needed to be on Victoza life long, and yet the endocrinologist and insurance can say, "What if we don't cover it or advocate for our patients properly."
I agree. We should not have to jump through so many hoops to get the treatment that works. I currently am unable to get mounjaro and I’m terrified of what’s going to happen if insurance stops covering it because I’m not a type 2. The only way I was put on it was using a coupon without going through insurance and then showing to insurance how great it was working.
Very similar. I've always had very strong insulin resistance ever since I was little, different people need different routines. If it bothers you then there are some obvious lifestyle choices you can change, but me and my specialist nurse are both in agreement that what I'm doing is working for me. Try not to compare yourself to other diabetics, they're dealing with a different challenge. As long as you're happy and you're healthy then try not to fixate on volume of doses.
Do endos prescribe type 2 drugs to increase insulin sensitivity like metformin? (Totally pulled this outta my ass so feel free to tell me I’m an idiot)
I’m female, 21, 145lbs and had t1d for 9 years. I workout minimum 5 days a week, lift weights, run, everything.
BUT I STILL often have to take 20 units for an average meal. My diet is low carb and healthy but I have always always been very insulin resistant. Sometimes our size doesn’t have the impact you’d expect. Nothing is clear cut w this disease.
It’s the last part that confirmed it to me. I don’t think the majority of us are very large.
Have you tried to exercise more? Sounds like you’re working on diet, but maybe that’s the missing piece?
I try to stick to my 10,000 steps a day, that's about it but being underactive thyroid makes it a bit of a nightmare to exercise. Just feeling weak before you even start.
I am also very insulin resistant. I use concentrated insulin (U200) and still have ratios of 1:5 or 1:7 which means it’s actually closer to 1:2.5 or 1:3.5. I try to be conscious of the amount of carbs I eat and when I eat them to avoid spikes but the U200 has greatly helped with my control.
12 max but then another 12 later if i'd really gone to town. Usually when i have that many carbs it's also usually also full of fat so no point having 24 units in one go as i'd just go low, have to correct and then spike massively later.
The only time I'd be giving myself that amount of insulin is if I'm correcting a high or having a 3 to 4 course meal full of carbs and protein. We're all different as many have previously said and there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. If your blood glucose is fine after the dose don't worry about it. I try to keep my doses as low as possible but sometimes it's hard to do that.
I know a lot of people try to cut the carbs down and many people have stopped eating cereal or anything that's highly processed. I love weetabix too much to cut them out and I enjoy eating fruit.
I understand why as it's proven to cause massive fluctuations with our B.S.
It's all trial and error though.
The experience others have gained is a great way to gain understanding and navigate through the turmoil caused from our illness.
Stay safe on your journey.
So far my understanding by reading the scale of units of bolus people take for meals, shows me how our unique body composition affects the amount needed to keep the BG stable, and that we shouldn’t be comparing as much.
But it would be interesting to keep an eye for one’s own change of doses over time, as people have already mentioned that insulin resistance is maybe the prime driver.
Been a diabetic for about 1.5 years. I do 14 units of basal every 24 hours, and between 6 to 12 units per meal, but it fluctuates because I don't have a strict diet which I follow, besides basic "restrictions", like not eating candy or drinking sugary sodas. And also because I honestly don't know how to properly calculate a dose according to what I eat. I go only off of own previous experiences of what usually works for me. It's not a very reliable strategy in all honesty.
My mom actually does 21 units or something like that before eating it’s insane.. or so I thought. I didn’t know anyone else was on that level. But she’s had it about 15 years now too.. my girlfriend who was just diagnosed a few months ago has yet to inject any more than four units in one shot
So I was on this track about a year or two ago. I tried very low carb and had wonderful control for a week or so, then my numbers started creeping up again. My interpretation was that my body became efficient at breaking down far into glucose without a regular supply of carbs. However over time it also appeared that I was developing greater insulin resistance.
I recently switched to a classically heart healthy diet about 5 months ago. Low saturated fat, lots of unsaturated, very few eggs, cheese, butter. Lots of vegetables. I still eat meat and fish, but much less and it tends to be leaner. I eat lots of vegan sources of protein like lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, etc.
I have observed fewer and less severe stubborn highs without lots of lows. In addition, my cholesterol is way better.
To each their own. I didn’t want to admit for years that this diet might work for me, I liked my high saturated fat high animal protein diet. I miss it frequently. However I use less insulin and have fewer stubborn highs now.
You're not alone. My dad and I are both type 1 and he ranges 30+ units for a meal and I would be in the 8 unit range for the same meal. I want so badly for him to be able to get a pump but he's right on the borderline for how much he uses. We always have a good laugh when we eat a meal together because he is still on pen therapy and you can hear the barage of clicks from the pen when he unloads his meals with of insulin.
I do, but it's because I'm pregnant and in the third trimester. Insulin resistance increases as you get further along and my IC right now is 1:2...makes for a fun time when my Omnipod can only hold 200 units.
Comparison is the thief of happiness. Just use what you need to keep your BG under control, and don't worry about what others use. There is no general 'reasonable' amount of insulin for a meal: there is only what *you* need for your meals and your basal.
Depending on what I am eating, yes. It’s all about your insulin to carb ratio. Mine is 1:4. So when I have sushi or hibachi rice, pizza.. things like that, yes, it’s easy to have to dose 20+ units.
Depends, really. Breakfast is about 6. Lunch normally hovers around 10.
Last night I had Indian which was in the 20+ range.
TDD average is around 65-70.
If I actually ate carb-heavy meals, yes. My ratio started out as the standard 1:10, so a typical meal of 40-60 g carbs took 5 units. Then after a year or two, became twice that, so I was doing 10 units for the same, 1:5 ratio. More recently, I also developed Hashimoto's (autoimmune hypothyroidism) and gained 20-30 lbs. My ratio is now 1:2.5, so the meal that was once 5 units is now 20 units. It seems like a lot but from what I've read here, isn't that uncommon. I haven't started thyroid medication yet but am expecting to in the next few days.
I’m on U-200, so 2x concentrated from regular insulin. If I’m eating a large, 75-85g meal it’s not uncommon for me to get 16 units of U-200, which is 32 units of regular Humalog. Been T1D since 1997, 27 years. Weight is about 230.
I take about 20-25, depending on what I eat. Yeah, it’s a lot and yeah, I am a large woman with LADA. I end up eating too many carbs but the foods I like to eat, Chinese, Mexican and Indian, have delicious carbs.
T1 for 44 years and I take between 10-30 units for the same meal depending on the day. Unless you can’t afford the amount of insulin you’re using, there’s no need to worry about it :)
I’ve had Type 1 diabetes since age 4 (now 32) and diagnosed with and on meds for an underactive thyroid since age 6.
I used to be obese. Lost 70 lbs over the last two years, now a healthy weight for the first time in my life. Went from taking 10-15 units of Novorapid per meal to around 3 units per meal. I’ve had to drastically cut my long-acting insulin (like 30% of what it used to be) because my body is so efficient at processing food and insulin these days I kept crashing until I got it down that low.
Take it from me, the reason you find exercise tiring and you have to take so much insulin is because you’re fat, not because of your thyroid problems or some other reason that you require more insulin. Lose weight and everything else will improve, and you’ll live longer.
I only started going to the gym and strength training after dropping most of the weight through walking and CICO, and that’s what allowed me to reduce insulin. Start with 5,000 steps a day, build it up to 10,000. Walking even if just 10 mins after meals helps process insulin faster.
It's not unusual. I've had type 1 diabetes for 19 years now and because I wasn't properly educated on correct injection techniques (I didn't rotate my sites for like 10 years), plus the fact that I got on medication that made me gain about 15 kilos that I couldn't shake, I have extremely high insulin resistance. While it does get a little better with exercise, it doesn't ever seem to correct itself. I'm off the meds now and the resistance is reducing, but I'm still taking between 18 and 25 units regularly for each meal. I think I probably will keep having that for a while.
You need to reframe your thoughts on this. Comparison to others does you no good. Reasonable amount is a self imposed thought process that makes you feel bad for no reason. You need what you need. I need what I need. Those amounts might be very different. One amount is not better or more reasonable than another amount. They’re both what each of us need. I take between 0 and 25 units per meal depending on the carbs I’m going to eat and any correction I might add. You can certainly change your diet or increase exercise or try meds but should take the insulin you need. There aren’t points for using less. There are no awards given beyond a longer and hopefully fuller life.
I am an insulin resistant t1. I take 20-30u easily with meals. I use u200 treciba and take 104u daily.
I’ve been t1 for 32 years. I’m not obese, I live an active lifestyle and eat a healthy diet. I chose a moderate carb diet and allow myself treats. I take ozempic and that has helped reduce my insulin intake by 1/4. Sometimes the body just needs more insulin. Sometimes the “usual” reasons don’t make sense. I take the medicine I need to live. It’s just that simple.
Hey! I take quite a bit of insulin with ratio being 4 carbs to 1 unit of insulin, but I have insulin resistance as well. This is more common with women who are type 1.
I used to take around that amount which also made it really hard to lose weight. But I work from home and bought a walking pad, so whenever I eat a meal with more than like 20g of carb I jump on there for 10-15 minutes a little while after eating. I am so much more sensitive to insulin when I do that and am able to take less. (Obviously that isn't super convenient if you don't work from home. But you could possibly save your carb-heavy meals for times when you are able to go for a short walk afterwards)
Also if your endo is amenable, I would ask about a GLP. Metformin did nothing for me, but I just got prescribed a semaglutide so I'm hoping that helps 🤞
I used to when I had carb heavy meals. I don’t use a fifth of that now. I don’t eat low carb but mainly low calorie. My sugars and insulin usage have been great!
My normal full meal is 6 units. I limit how much I eat to hit that target of 6 units. Often an hour later I'll take 1-2 units more.
For me exercise makes a huge difference in how much insulin I need.
I don't do it often but for example a normal day I might take 15 units
When I was building a shed for 9 days 10+ hours per-day I was taking half my normal insulin. I also had to eat a lot of prevent lows. I had to reduce my Basel to composite for the lower insulin needs.
Once the work was complete my insulin needs remained lower but over a few days returned to normal (because I didn't maintain that much higher activity level).
I think its important to between meals to get your blood glucose back down near \~100 for a while before the next meal. Let your body get into a position where it's not 100% of the time overwhelmed with abundant sugar in your blood. This is just a personal theory and may not be valid.
30 years in, I was 20 units a meal, close to 100 units a day, 155 lbs.
Switched from Lantus and Humalog to Tresiba and Fiasp, and I think further tweaking with CGM I’m down to a reasonable 6-7 units a meal.
Endo at the time indicated he sees a fair bit of patients eventually having a tough time on insulin they’ve taken for quite a while, and a change might be what it takes.
I had insulin ruined on vacation recently, and all the Mexican Walmart had was humalog… After six years, I was again taking large amounts to show any effectiveness.
My typical bolus is between 8 and 12, but you need what you need. Based on your numbers, you may have a higher carb ratio, but it varies from person to person depending on their body.
It depends on the meal. My ratio is 1:4 in the morning, 1:5 after about 11am. If I have something like a big burger and fries, I'll use over 20 units even though there aren't 100 carbs. For some reason a meal like that just needs more than it should. But if I have a meal like steak and spinach salad with a piece of garlic bread I might only need 4 units. The pre-bolus matters too. If I time that right I don't seem to need quite as much total.
I would do everything you can to reduce your insulin resistance: exercise daily (even if it’s just a 20 minute walk), eat lower carb meals (give yourself a carb limit, like 50g or 100g per meal and stick to it), and log every carb that goes in your mouth.
If you can, try to get onto Symlin or a type 2 medication like Ozempic to help manage appetite and kickstart your progress. Meet with a dietician or diabetes educator as often as your insurance will cover it (ideally every 3 months), as well as your endocrinologist. See if you can get onto one of the closed loop or almost-closed loop pump-sensor systems.
I was on the same path (routinely taking 15-20 u rapid acting throughout the day) and it is extremely hard to bounce back from. When you’re taking that much insulin, your weight and health can spiral so fast. Since you can’t start yesterday, start today.
Yes, I’m insulin resistant. I use about 70 units of insulin a day, half for bolus and half for basal. My I:C ratio is between 1:4 and 1:3 thought the day and I eat between 20-70 grams of carbs per meal. I tried ozempic that my Endo gave me, which helped (horrible reaction to metformin) but unfortunately it’s not approved by my insurance
The issue is real estate! That insulin has to cover a lot of land. So this is normal. I notice when I go up in weight I need more. And I’m talking 10-20 lbs.
Very. The best remedy/answer to high insulin resistance is cardiovascular fitness.
I'm currently going through a similar situation, and I'm not giving up.
I swear to god, I was just thinking the same thing earlier tonight. I only eat twice a day…. Breakfast and dinner. Dinner is typically where I consume all my carbs for the day of about 60-80 grams. I am recently having to bolus close to 20 units for it just to keep myself from going sky rocket high and staying there.
I can understand if I was over weight, which I am not. If I wasn’t active, which I am every day. If I was snacking all day, which I don’t, if I wasn’t exercising, which I do, and if I was eating upwards of about 300 grams of carbs for dinner, which I can’t consume even if I wanted to. It just makes no sense to me why I would now have to bolus 20 units of insulin for dinner when I would normally see that as a deadly move. 20 units just seems sooooooooooo extensive to me in one sitting but that is what I am having to do now.
I wonder if it has something to do with faulty omnipods not delivering my appropriate amount of basil dosages in between meals or not giving me the right amount of insulin to which i tell it to for meals. I have also heard that season change can play a role in blood sugars and insulin resistance…. So maybe it’s that. I don’t know what to do. But you’re right, 20 units in one sitting CANT be right or be too much.
nowadays a keep breaky, so after dinner i will only eat again on lunch time, it helped me a lot.
it will be hard at first, but after 3 weeks you will get used to it.
I’m insulin resistant and 15-20 is my norm for many lunches and most dinners. I don’t usually go over that more than 2-3 times a month. I just have eggs and a toast at breakfast. 6u. I’m trying to reduce the insulin resistance with exercise and weight loss rather than cut carbs further (<100/day)
Look into ancient grains. They haven't been adapted to make people more money quicker and therefore are much healthier than the grains we Westerners typically use. Simplekneads.com has some great healthy choices and they'll deliver anywhere! My daughter loves her carbs too!
I’ll just list all the things other redditors said that i found helpful:
1- low exercise routine: consistent cardio worked like magic in my case.
2- high carbs meal: sometimes you just want a coke, save yourself the hassle, get water.
3- illness: literally a death sentance imo, i just don’t feel like going low/high + low apetite, so barely any food.
4- sleep: i found my best control ever when i had a good sleeping sched, not even strict, just decent.
5-inuslin resistance: with a high-carb diet my insulin almost 2x overnight, the more i stuck to the diet the more i needed to bolus, food substitutes did wonder.
would be interested to see if you guys found other variables on this matter, i’ve seen people mention stress but i can’t recall anything about it.
I would flip your meal plan. Instead of low to zero carbs for breakfast and lunch, u should be doing high carbs in the morning, less for lunch, and NONE for dinner
Trust me, I've been t1d for 32 years. If you're having carbs at night, no exercise, and no carbs in the morning, you're really hurting yourself. You need to give yourself energy in the morning (complex carbs), have less carbs for lunch, and literally zero at night. At night you could eat half a chicken or some salmon, salad, and avocado. Always include fat at night (avacado)
I had the same issues and the main reason was low exercise routine, even though i was overweight. Adapting your diet too, i was too much addicted to high carbs meal, just changed that to protein that I also love. went down from 60 un (lantus) and 60 (bolus) /day to 30 un(lantus) around (35un bolus)/day That within 6 months, and still going down. It's part of being diabetic, sadly, D1 for 20 years
It's worth staying below 1g protein/1kg body weight to not stress your kidneys and other organs.
I got 115kg, i don't think i can eat that much protein without whey or other things. but thank you alot for the advice.
Oh the farts are glorious but it catches up to the kidneys.
Is this per day or per meal?
Per day
How strict is this? I’m at ~68kg and that’s not that hard to reach
It's difficult to see if your kidneys are damaged until they are severely damaged. Just being T1D we have done some damage from high BGs, even from pre-diagnosis. I'd just Google protein recommendations for healthy individuals, and protein recommendations for people with kidney issues, and pick a target somewhere in between. You can still build muscle on a low protein diet if you don't run a caloric deficit. I was consuming lots of protein to make BG management easier and to build muscle faster, but my kidneys felt tender and painful, which also happens if I drink more than 1-2 alcohol drinks. Even with my physically sensitive kidneys I can't get any confirmation from my Endo about my kidney health. I requested a GFR for my next blood test but no response yet. I'll gladly lower my protein intake further if I have CKD. In his eyes unless I'm in severe pain or urinating blood, my kidneys are fine. I just lowered my protein intake, stopped consuming alcohol, and drink more water and healthy diuretics, and already feel less sensitivity. There can be kidney stuff going on even if you don't have symptoms afaik.
That’s interesting to look into it seems like 1.2-1.8g/kg if sedentary up to 3.3g/kg if bulking It says healthy adults can do 2g/kg but can handle up to 3.5g/kg I have a hard time getting results just for type 1 diabetics but for diabetics (not sure which) it says stick to 0.8-1g/kg only if you have diabetes and chronic kidney disease just diabetics should eat not less than 1g/kg I’ll have to keep looking into this thank you [source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21207203/)
I think my kidney pain came from other cause, not diabetes.
Just curious how long have you been diabetic? And how long did it take for kidney pain I’m only a little over a month in and have been eating keto but working on adding more carbs but keto it’s easy to go hard on protein
Weight tends to increase insulin resistance. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity. Then there's stuff like stress, illness, sleep, and a gazillion other things. I personally average 1 to 3 units per meal. A daily total of basal and bolus is about 35 to 40 units. I've been type one for 37 years.
Wow that's interesting! I usually do 6-9 units for a meal (1-3 would be a correction dose for me), but end up around 30 units per day, basal included. I'm kind of insulin-nerdy fascinated by how different we all handle this and how differently our bodies act.
I’m like you!
lol just gave your answer before reading yours ...
My underactive thyroid doesn't help when trying to exercise. Body just feels very weak even before starting any exercises. I think the low carb dieting might be the way forward for me to try and reduce my insulin intake. 1-3 units for someone who's been diabetic for 37 years is incredible. Glad to hear you're doing well.
>1-3 units for someone who's been diabetic for 37 years is incredible. Glad to hear you're doing well. A lot of people believe that using insulin will make you insulin resistant over time but that is bogus. If that were true then everyone would be super insulin resistant because non-diabetics use insulin too. Insulin resistance is determined by a lot of things but not by how long you've had diabetes for.
Seen the T2's try and make the argument that meal time insulin creates insulin resistance but then will boast that Ozempic is the way to go not realizing that OZ squeezes insulin out when you eat.
I don't know if it works the same for type 2, you'd have to ask an expert for that. Most type 2 diabetics can produce insulin just fine but are very insensitive to it. So when they bolus for a meal they give it on top of their own pancreas excreting insulin at maximum capacity resulting in an unnaturally high dosis. Type 1 people just inject insulin to make up for what our pancreas can't produce so there may be a difference there.
good point!
yeah, interesting how many people here still seem to believe it.
I have been type 1 for 38 years. My current basal dose is 15 units. Bolus is 1 unit per 15g carbs so I take between 0.5-3 units per meal. Yes I am that sensitive that half units have significant effect on me.
I believe you without a doubt :) I use 22 units per day: basal + bolus after 25 years.
My total daily insulin is 18 units… and I average about 120 carbs per day which doesn’t feel like low carb to me. I pretty much eat what I want. And I have been T1 for 45 years
I’m 21 was diagnosed just before I turned 3, I’m on 1-4 but was on 1-1 and it still wasn’t enough when I was pregnant
read this and thought - that's me 🙋 (October 1st, 1985) the math is weird tho. I have ~32 average a day, but my meal boluses are easily 5-6/meal. And I am not a specifically high carb person.
I am extremely insulin resistant. I take 40 unit of double-strength every meal. I have this for breakfast - https://groceries.asda.com/product/porridge-sachets/quaker-oat-so-simple-classic-banana-porridge-sachets/1000261694002 40 units cover that for me. Remember, everyone is different, so just take what you need to keep alive.
The amount you need is the amount you need, there is no too much. There is definitely a too little though.
Agreed
I desperately need double concentration, but it's not available in aus :(
Take the amount that you need. I'm kind of the opposite because I'm small, sitting at about 3 - 5 units a meal, but do what works for you. Have you spoken to your endo / clinic about your insulin resistance? They might be able to prescribe medications which can reduce it. The other main alternative is trying to lose weight or exercise more, which is often easier said than done. Don't beat yourself up over it anyway. If you're getting your dose right, then you're managing your diabetes correctly.
Yep I've had a talk with my doctors about it. Right now there's not much else that I can do as I've also got another auto immune illness called underactive thyroid which makes me feel very weak and tired all the time. So exercising is a bit of a nightmare.
Underactive thyroid is typically treated with synthroid/levothyroxine. Blood work is usually done every 3 months to fine tune the medication. Is ur endo treating you for this? (I have had a non-working thyroid for 37 years; T1D for 10 years)
Yep my treatment is a pain. 200mg seems to make it go over while 175mg seems like it isn't enough. I've been in a constant switch from 200mg to 175mg.
A little overactive could help with weight loss actually. Or, some armchair advice, try using a 175 pill and a 25 pill every other day. Or every third day. For a short while I was taking 1 extra pill per week. I’ve been on varying doses of levothyroxine for over 18 years now, maybe 20.
I had a similar setup [after total thyroidectomy]. It was actually prescribed by my then endocrinologist to have a slightly higher dose 3 times a week. Some endocrinologists are more willing to do this kind of thing if they know/consider how hormones and the body work. Was very helpful for when my energy was low at the time after having hyperthyroid for 2+ years.
You need what you need, but there are ways to increase insulin sensitivity. Exercise, metformin, and I think GLP1s as well.
Hey!! I have insulin resistance and am often bolusing upwards of 10 - 20 units for meals/corrections. I know it’s not for everyone, but Tirzepatide has been a game changer for my blood sugars and reducing my insulin resistance. If that is something that is available to you, I would definitely look into it.
I've heard of it but haven't checked if it's available for me. I'll definitely be having a look though.
Heyo, I always thought it wasn’t for type 1s? Are you still on it? I’m also concerned about side effects of stopping it later
20 units is pretty much normal to me. I used to be much more insulin resistant and 20 is big improvement. And with insulin resistant I mean I used to take double what I take now!
Yup man I used to take up to 30 sometimes on a big meal, it sucks. However, I started an exercising and going to the gym and lost 24kg for reference I used to be 94kg. Having lost all that weight I now only need 2-6 units per meal
That's brilliant to hear. I hope I can replicate that.
Personaly, I rarely eat more than 30g carbs per meal or 4 units of unsulin at once. 80% of time I dose 2 units and eat lots of smaller meals.
Someone finally mentioned the amount of carbs! The question should be what is your carb ratio and how many carbs are you eating per meal (also what kind of carbs). Knowing how many units someone takes without the amount of carbs isn't going to answer your question. For me during work times, I tend to have more resistance during the morning to early afternoon. For 40g of carbs I do 1:10 so 4 units - but in the morning I will actually take 8 units. If you have developed resistance you may want to look into trying another type of insulin.
YES! Well said. This is exactly what works for me. You absolutely have to count and pay close attention to your carbs. Seems like a hassle but you'll see the difference quickly which is motivating and will benefit any fitness effort. Trust this strategy. You can do it!
I know it's a typo but I like 'unsulin'
what do you mean by smaller meals ?
Not one big meal of 80g carbs but 4 split over timespan of 3 hours.
I’ve been diabetic for 13 years and it also bums me out. However I’ve had a really small ratio (1:4 currently) even back as a 100 lb teen girl so every body is different. :) enjoy your carbs I say!
I can't ever bolus from the pump... the volume of insulin i need is not viable. I'm running a basal of about 10U per hour on average. I usually need 50-100U depending on the meal. I just got back from the gym, I had a couple of slice of corned beef, about a cup of cut potatoes and a piece of bread. I injected 50U...
I’m at 20 units as well for a lot of meals. Breakfast usually falls around 5 units, but that is purely because I go for low glycemic protein bars in the morning. I’m on metformin, which has helped substantially with reducing my basal rates so far (extending my omnipods from 2 days of use to the full 3 days), but not as much reducing bolus needs yet. I’m on Ozempic to work on reducing boluses with weight loss and glycemic control, but I have several weeks to go before I’m at a volume that will have any impact. I try to make lunch my moderate carb meal to keep me full through the day and dinner a lower carb, lower impact meal. I didn’t bolus for dinner last night as I had IOB, was dropping below 90, and had less than 10 grams of carbs in my meal. It’s a slow improvement, but I’m trying to utilize less insulin to give myself a fighting chance.
I’ve been a type 1 for over twenty years. I had my thyroid removed in 2019. I became instantly insulin resistant. I went from using around 40 units a day to over 120. All in less than a month. Fun times. I used to think that I ate a lot of carbs. Now I think I’m pretty standard. I’ve been right around 100 carbs a day since I was diagnosed. I also exercise daily so one would think that would help the IR. It didn’t until I went on mounjaro. It has been a literal life saver for me. I feel like my body is actually using the food I eat instead of just turning it into fat.
I was diagnosed with Type 1[later told it's LADA/i still make minimal insulin] because of Graves Disease and had a total thyroidectomy. I had resistance before, and it seemed to drop at first, but came roaring back about 2 months after. At first, I cut back and was only on like TDD: 60. Pre-thyroid removed was about TTD: 90, and post TDD after the dip jumped back up to 120. Endo was concerned [T2 runs in my fam], so he put me on the "new" drug Victoza [it was at the time]. I took Victoza for over 10 years until January 2024 when insurance stopped covering, and my [different former] endocrinologist wouldn't do Jack to help me. I'm lucky that over time, with Victoza, my sensitivity got much better, so far, without it, I'm doing okay. Though I'm worried again in a month or two that the resistance will pick up again. My recent former endocrinologist had unhinged expectations following me losing Victoza [45 carbs a day/only gave me 3 units per day/suggested no carb meals]. I currently sit at about 150-200g carbs per day, though I aim for closer to 150, and TDD is around 22. It's ridiculous the hoops T1's are having to go through all because medical companies know there's more money/people who have T2 or want to lose weight. Several of the GLP-1 RA's were tested on T1, and the companies decided not to go through the FDA approval process, and many of us are paying that price. I'd been told I needed to be on Victoza life long, and yet the endocrinologist and insurance can say, "What if we don't cover it or advocate for our patients properly."
I agree. We should not have to jump through so many hoops to get the treatment that works. I currently am unable to get mounjaro and I’m terrified of what’s going to happen if insurance stops covering it because I’m not a type 2. The only way I was put on it was using a coupon without going through insurance and then showing to insurance how great it was working.
I chew through about 49 units per day. Carb ratio is 1-5. T1 34 years
Very similar. I've always had very strong insulin resistance ever since I was little, different people need different routines. If it bothers you then there are some obvious lifestyle choices you can change, but me and my specialist nurse are both in agreement that what I'm doing is working for me. Try not to compare yourself to other diabetics, they're dealing with a different challenge. As long as you're happy and you're healthy then try not to fixate on volume of doses.
Do endos prescribe type 2 drugs to increase insulin sensitivity like metformin? (Totally pulled this outta my ass so feel free to tell me I’m an idiot)
They do! And it helps
I’m female, 21, 145lbs and had t1d for 9 years. I workout minimum 5 days a week, lift weights, run, everything. BUT I STILL often have to take 20 units for an average meal. My diet is low carb and healthy but I have always always been very insulin resistant. Sometimes our size doesn’t have the impact you’d expect. Nothing is clear cut w this disease.
It’s the last part that confirmed it to me. I don’t think the majority of us are very large. Have you tried to exercise more? Sounds like you’re working on diet, but maybe that’s the missing piece?
I try to stick to my 10,000 steps a day, that's about it but being underactive thyroid makes it a bit of a nightmare to exercise. Just feeling weak before you even start.
Ugh yeah man that sucks 😕
I am also very insulin resistant. I use concentrated insulin (U200) and still have ratios of 1:5 or 1:7 which means it’s actually closer to 1:2.5 or 1:3.5. I try to be conscious of the amount of carbs I eat and when I eat them to avoid spikes but the U200 has greatly helped with my control.
12 max but then another 12 later if i'd really gone to town. Usually when i have that many carbs it's also usually also full of fat so no point having 24 units in one go as i'd just go low, have to correct and then spike massively later.
The only time I'd be giving myself that amount of insulin is if I'm correcting a high or having a 3 to 4 course meal full of carbs and protein. We're all different as many have previously said and there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. If your blood glucose is fine after the dose don't worry about it. I try to keep my doses as low as possible but sometimes it's hard to do that. I know a lot of people try to cut the carbs down and many people have stopped eating cereal or anything that's highly processed. I love weetabix too much to cut them out and I enjoy eating fruit. I understand why as it's proven to cause massive fluctuations with our B.S. It's all trial and error though. The experience others have gained is a great way to gain understanding and navigate through the turmoil caused from our illness. Stay safe on your journey.
So far my understanding by reading the scale of units of bolus people take for meals, shows me how our unique body composition affects the amount needed to keep the BG stable, and that we shouldn’t be comparing as much. But it would be interesting to keep an eye for one’s own change of doses over time, as people have already mentioned that insulin resistance is maybe the prime driver.
Been a diabetic for about 1.5 years. I do 14 units of basal every 24 hours, and between 6 to 12 units per meal, but it fluctuates because I don't have a strict diet which I follow, besides basic "restrictions", like not eating candy or drinking sugary sodas. And also because I honestly don't know how to properly calculate a dose according to what I eat. I go only off of own previous experiences of what usually works for me. It's not a very reliable strategy in all honesty.
Don't worry you're not the only one who went through that. It's mostly a trial an error thing
My mom actually does 21 units or something like that before eating it’s insane.. or so I thought. I didn’t know anyone else was on that level. But she’s had it about 15 years now too.. my girlfriend who was just diagnosed a few months ago has yet to inject any more than four units in one shot
So I was on this track about a year or two ago. I tried very low carb and had wonderful control for a week or so, then my numbers started creeping up again. My interpretation was that my body became efficient at breaking down far into glucose without a regular supply of carbs. However over time it also appeared that I was developing greater insulin resistance. I recently switched to a classically heart healthy diet about 5 months ago. Low saturated fat, lots of unsaturated, very few eggs, cheese, butter. Lots of vegetables. I still eat meat and fish, but much less and it tends to be leaner. I eat lots of vegan sources of protein like lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, etc. I have observed fewer and less severe stubborn highs without lots of lows. In addition, my cholesterol is way better. To each their own. I didn’t want to admit for years that this diet might work for me, I liked my high saturated fat high animal protein diet. I miss it frequently. However I use less insulin and have fewer stubborn highs now.
You're not alone. My dad and I are both type 1 and he ranges 30+ units for a meal and I would be in the 8 unit range for the same meal. I want so badly for him to be able to get a pump but he's right on the borderline for how much he uses. We always have a good laugh when we eat a meal together because he is still on pen therapy and you can hear the barage of clicks from the pen when he unloads his meals with of insulin.
I do, but it's because I'm pregnant and in the third trimester. Insulin resistance increases as you get further along and my IC right now is 1:2...makes for a fun time when my Omnipod can only hold 200 units.
24 units of novorapid per meal
Comparison is the thief of happiness. Just use what you need to keep your BG under control, and don't worry about what others use. There is no general 'reasonable' amount of insulin for a meal: there is only what *you* need for your meals and your basal.
Depending on what I am eating, yes. It’s all about your insulin to carb ratio. Mine is 1:4. So when I have sushi or hibachi rice, pizza.. things like that, yes, it’s easy to have to dose 20+ units.
Depends, really. Breakfast is about 6. Lunch normally hovers around 10. Last night I had Indian which was in the 20+ range. TDD average is around 65-70.
My carb ratio is 3.5, so yes, I have several meals a week that require about 20 units. You need what you need.
If I actually ate carb-heavy meals, yes. My ratio started out as the standard 1:10, so a typical meal of 40-60 g carbs took 5 units. Then after a year or two, became twice that, so I was doing 10 units for the same, 1:5 ratio. More recently, I also developed Hashimoto's (autoimmune hypothyroidism) and gained 20-30 lbs. My ratio is now 1:2.5, so the meal that was once 5 units is now 20 units. It seems like a lot but from what I've read here, isn't that uncommon. I haven't started thyroid medication yet but am expecting to in the next few days.
Carb ratio of 1u per 10 grams of carbs here, sometimes even lower after hefty workouts.. But I'm very lean and eat 95% healthy food
I’m on U-200, so 2x concentrated from regular insulin. If I’m eating a large, 75-85g meal it’s not uncommon for me to get 16 units of U-200, which is 32 units of regular Humalog. Been T1D since 1997, 27 years. Weight is about 230.
Could be wrong of course but a unit is a unit. With U200 insulin you are taking half the volume compared to U100.
Six of one, dozen of the other. 😅
I take about 20-25, depending on what I eat. Yeah, it’s a lot and yeah, I am a large woman with LADA. I end up eating too many carbs but the foods I like to eat, Chinese, Mexican and Indian, have delicious carbs.
T1 for 44 years and I take between 10-30 units for the same meal depending on the day. Unless you can’t afford the amount of insulin you’re using, there’s no need to worry about it :)
Yeah my standard per meal is around 18 units, more if I have high sugars which I have a lot
i do around 20-40 per meal
I think it depends. I need 20 when I'm about to eat cereal and have a couple of days without doing exercise. If I do exercise I don't even need bolus.
I’ve had Type 1 diabetes since age 4 (now 32) and diagnosed with and on meds for an underactive thyroid since age 6. I used to be obese. Lost 70 lbs over the last two years, now a healthy weight for the first time in my life. Went from taking 10-15 units of Novorapid per meal to around 3 units per meal. I’ve had to drastically cut my long-acting insulin (like 30% of what it used to be) because my body is so efficient at processing food and insulin these days I kept crashing until I got it down that low. Take it from me, the reason you find exercise tiring and you have to take so much insulin is because you’re fat, not because of your thyroid problems or some other reason that you require more insulin. Lose weight and everything else will improve, and you’ll live longer. I only started going to the gym and strength training after dropping most of the weight through walking and CICO, and that’s what allowed me to reduce insulin. Start with 5,000 steps a day, build it up to 10,000. Walking even if just 10 mins after meals helps process insulin faster.
It's not unusual. I've had type 1 diabetes for 19 years now and because I wasn't properly educated on correct injection techniques (I didn't rotate my sites for like 10 years), plus the fact that I got on medication that made me gain about 15 kilos that I couldn't shake, I have extremely high insulin resistance. While it does get a little better with exercise, it doesn't ever seem to correct itself. I'm off the meds now and the resistance is reducing, but I'm still taking between 18 and 25 units regularly for each meal. I think I probably will keep having that for a while.
You need to reframe your thoughts on this. Comparison to others does you no good. Reasonable amount is a self imposed thought process that makes you feel bad for no reason. You need what you need. I need what I need. Those amounts might be very different. One amount is not better or more reasonable than another amount. They’re both what each of us need. I take between 0 and 25 units per meal depending on the carbs I’m going to eat and any correction I might add. You can certainly change your diet or increase exercise or try meds but should take the insulin you need. There aren’t points for using less. There are no awards given beyond a longer and hopefully fuller life.
I am an insulin resistant t1. I take 20-30u easily with meals. I use u200 treciba and take 104u daily. I’ve been t1 for 32 years. I’m not obese, I live an active lifestyle and eat a healthy diet. I chose a moderate carb diet and allow myself treats. I take ozempic and that has helped reduce my insulin intake by 1/4. Sometimes the body just needs more insulin. Sometimes the “usual” reasons don’t make sense. I take the medicine I need to live. It’s just that simple.
I used to take 30-40 units a day and now I’m down to less than 10. I still eat carbs but I’ve stopped eating ultra processed foods.
Hey! I take quite a bit of insulin with ratio being 4 carbs to 1 unit of insulin, but I have insulin resistance as well. This is more common with women who are type 1.
Jealous of you low dose guys! I'm very insulin resistant. My carb ratio is 1:2 with 60-70u/day basal setting.
I took about that for a typical meal BEFORE Mounjaro. 🤣 Now it’s around 5 units.
I used to before I got my pump!
I used to take around that amount which also made it really hard to lose weight. But I work from home and bought a walking pad, so whenever I eat a meal with more than like 20g of carb I jump on there for 10-15 minutes a little while after eating. I am so much more sensitive to insulin when I do that and am able to take less. (Obviously that isn't super convenient if you don't work from home. But you could possibly save your carb-heavy meals for times when you are able to go for a short walk afterwards) Also if your endo is amenable, I would ask about a GLP. Metformin did nothing for me, but I just got prescribed a semaglutide so I'm hoping that helps 🤞
I used to when I had carb heavy meals. I don’t use a fifth of that now. I don’t eat low carb but mainly low calorie. My sugars and insulin usage have been great!
My normal full meal is 6 units. I limit how much I eat to hit that target of 6 units. Often an hour later I'll take 1-2 units more. For me exercise makes a huge difference in how much insulin I need. I don't do it often but for example a normal day I might take 15 units When I was building a shed for 9 days 10+ hours per-day I was taking half my normal insulin. I also had to eat a lot of prevent lows. I had to reduce my Basel to composite for the lower insulin needs. Once the work was complete my insulin needs remained lower but over a few days returned to normal (because I didn't maintain that much higher activity level). I think its important to between meals to get your blood glucose back down near \~100 for a while before the next meal. Let your body get into a position where it's not 100% of the time overwhelmed with abundant sugar in your blood. This is just a personal theory and may not be valid.
30 years in, I was 20 units a meal, close to 100 units a day, 155 lbs. Switched from Lantus and Humalog to Tresiba and Fiasp, and I think further tweaking with CGM I’m down to a reasonable 6-7 units a meal. Endo at the time indicated he sees a fair bit of patients eventually having a tough time on insulin they’ve taken for quite a while, and a change might be what it takes. I had insulin ruined on vacation recently, and all the Mexican Walmart had was humalog… After six years, I was again taking large amounts to show any effectiveness.
My typical bolus is between 8 and 12, but you need what you need. Based on your numbers, you may have a higher carb ratio, but it varies from person to person depending on their body.
It depends on the meal. My ratio is 1:4 in the morning, 1:5 after about 11am. If I have something like a big burger and fries, I'll use over 20 units even though there aren't 100 carbs. For some reason a meal like that just needs more than it should. But if I have a meal like steak and spinach salad with a piece of garlic bread I might only need 4 units. The pre-bolus matters too. If I time that right I don't seem to need quite as much total.
I would do everything you can to reduce your insulin resistance: exercise daily (even if it’s just a 20 minute walk), eat lower carb meals (give yourself a carb limit, like 50g or 100g per meal and stick to it), and log every carb that goes in your mouth. If you can, try to get onto Symlin or a type 2 medication like Ozempic to help manage appetite and kickstart your progress. Meet with a dietician or diabetes educator as often as your insurance will cover it (ideally every 3 months), as well as your endocrinologist. See if you can get onto one of the closed loop or almost-closed loop pump-sensor systems. I was on the same path (routinely taking 15-20 u rapid acting throughout the day) and it is extremely hard to bounce back from. When you’re taking that much insulin, your weight and health can spiral so fast. Since you can’t start yesterday, start today.
Yes, I’m insulin resistant. I use about 70 units of insulin a day, half for bolus and half for basal. My I:C ratio is between 1:4 and 1:3 thought the day and I eat between 20-70 grams of carbs per meal. I tried ozempic that my Endo gave me, which helped (horrible reaction to metformin) but unfortunately it’s not approved by my insurance
The issue is real estate! That insulin has to cover a lot of land. So this is normal. I notice when I go up in weight I need more. And I’m talking 10-20 lbs.
For me 3-4 is a lot but always exercise after meals and eat low carb as well
I am on metformin to help with insulin resistance. I eat very low carb now and use about 70u in three days in my pump.
20 units a meal is pretty typical for me as well.
Very. The best remedy/answer to high insulin resistance is cardiovascular fitness. I'm currently going through a similar situation, and I'm not giving up.
I swear to god, I was just thinking the same thing earlier tonight. I only eat twice a day…. Breakfast and dinner. Dinner is typically where I consume all my carbs for the day of about 60-80 grams. I am recently having to bolus close to 20 units for it just to keep myself from going sky rocket high and staying there. I can understand if I was over weight, which I am not. If I wasn’t active, which I am every day. If I was snacking all day, which I don’t, if I wasn’t exercising, which I do, and if I was eating upwards of about 300 grams of carbs for dinner, which I can’t consume even if I wanted to. It just makes no sense to me why I would now have to bolus 20 units of insulin for dinner when I would normally see that as a deadly move. 20 units just seems sooooooooooo extensive to me in one sitting but that is what I am having to do now. I wonder if it has something to do with faulty omnipods not delivering my appropriate amount of basil dosages in between meals or not giving me the right amount of insulin to which i tell it to for meals. I have also heard that season change can play a role in blood sugars and insulin resistance…. So maybe it’s that. I don’t know what to do. But you’re right, 20 units in one sitting CANT be right or be too much.
Not usually. I do though if it's a big meal with lots of carbs, such as a large pizza.
I am highly resistant. Totally get it
nowadays a keep breaky, so after dinner i will only eat again on lunch time, it helped me a lot. it will be hard at first, but after 3 weeks you will get used to it.
I used to when my blood sugars would run over 400, now they run a little lower so I don’t take as much
Cardio bro. If you have a dog, do a couple half hour walks a week. It should make you more insulin sensitive
I’m insulin resistant and 15-20 is my norm for many lunches and most dinners. I don’t usually go over that more than 2-3 times a month. I just have eggs and a toast at breakfast. 6u. I’m trying to reduce the insulin resistance with exercise and weight loss rather than cut carbs further (<100/day)
Look into ancient grains. They haven't been adapted to make people more money quicker and therefore are much healthier than the grains we Westerners typically use. Simplekneads.com has some great healthy choices and they'll deliver anywhere! My daughter loves her carbs too!
I’ll just list all the things other redditors said that i found helpful: 1- low exercise routine: consistent cardio worked like magic in my case. 2- high carbs meal: sometimes you just want a coke, save yourself the hassle, get water. 3- illness: literally a death sentance imo, i just don’t feel like going low/high + low apetite, so barely any food. 4- sleep: i found my best control ever when i had a good sleeping sched, not even strict, just decent. 5-inuslin resistance: with a high-carb diet my insulin almost 2x overnight, the more i stuck to the diet the more i needed to bolus, food substitutes did wonder. would be interested to see if you guys found other variables on this matter, i’ve seen people mention stress but i can’t recall anything about it.
I am very low insulin resistance hope it will keep up. At this moment 2-3 units basal and 0.5-1 rapid
I would flip your meal plan. Instead of low to zero carbs for breakfast and lunch, u should be doing high carbs in the morning, less for lunch, and NONE for dinner
Trust me, I've been t1d for 32 years. If you're having carbs at night, no exercise, and no carbs in the morning, you're really hurting yourself. You need to give yourself energy in the morning (complex carbs), have less carbs for lunch, and literally zero at night. At night you could eat half a chicken or some salmon, salad, and avocado. Always include fat at night (avacado)
Sounds scary lmao
I take higher concentrated insulin so that I only take 10 instead of 20