Diabetic with no pancreas

Posted by crickard70 @crickard70, Jan 2 11:47am

I have pancreatic cancer and have had my pancreas removed which has made me type 1 and brittle. I am having a difficult time getting my numbers regulated. I have too many readings over 300 and too many 58. If anyone takes the long lasting lantus, do you split or take at one dose? Open to any suggestions thank you. Getting the dexcomg7 and hoping I can use the pump.. thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Diabetes & Endocrine System Support Group.

Before I got a pump--close to 10 years ago--I took a split dose of lantus/NPH and multiple shots of regular as needed--with meals etc. Are you seeing an endo? Lantus alone seems a little archaic. Are they concentrating on your cancer and recovery and putting diabetes treatment on hold? I suspect that with the dexcom, some attention paid to the timing of your insulin, and perhaps multiple shots, you will achieve much more stability. A pump is also incredibly helpful--especially one that has some closed loop technology. I find that a very low carb diet is also extremely helpful in regularizing blood sugars. Is that possible given your other issues? I have gastroparesis --which makes predicting when the carb will hit my blood very difficult. I used to be all over the place like you (>300, < 50) but with the dexcom, pump, and low carb diet, my time in range is in the high 90s.

REPLY

You make it sounds so encouraging! I am waiting for the Dexcom. I also do take insulin with each meal. I think is going to take some time! Thank you❤️

REPLY

I’m going on 50+ years diabetic (Type 1, pancreas transplant, Type 2 plus related complications like gastroparesis). I’m currently using a Dexcom G6 continual glucose monitor (CGM) and an Omnipod 5 insulin pump. I just had a follow up visit with my endocrinologist 2 days ago. We fine tuned a bunch of the settings and I’m hopeful of achieving a greater percentage of time in range with less spikes and lows. I too have experienced what I call a blood sugar rollercoaster (blood sugar 19 - 600+). It is terrible! The CGM graph looks like a mountain range! It is possible to flatten it out. Before all the high tech devices I have now. I had Lantus for long term basal coverage. I found that a split dose of 12 hours and 12 hours did work best for me. I had multiple daily injections using Humalog or Lispro with an insulin : carbohydrate ratio for mealtime bolus. There was also a “sliding scale” for correction of blood sugar that was above range. These things helped me. Can you inquire of your provider about these treatment methods? Do you have a different provider treating your cancer? Can they collaborate for your care?

REPLY
@cehunt57

I’m going on 50+ years diabetic (Type 1, pancreas transplant, Type 2 plus related complications like gastroparesis). I’m currently using a Dexcom G6 continual glucose monitor (CGM) and an Omnipod 5 insulin pump. I just had a follow up visit with my endocrinologist 2 days ago. We fine tuned a bunch of the settings and I’m hopeful of achieving a greater percentage of time in range with less spikes and lows. I too have experienced what I call a blood sugar rollercoaster (blood sugar 19 - 600+). It is terrible! The CGM graph looks like a mountain range! It is possible to flatten it out. Before all the high tech devices I have now. I had Lantus for long term basal coverage. I found that a split dose of 12 hours and 12 hours did work best for me. I had multiple daily injections using Humalog or Lispro with an insulin : carbohydrate ratio for mealtime bolus. There was also a “sliding scale” for correction of blood sugar that was above range. These things helped me. Can you inquire of your provider about these treatment methods? Do you have a different provider treating your cancer? Can they collaborate for your care?

Jump to this post

Oh my, my levels never went over 400. But the roller coaster as you say is horrible I haven’t had a normal day. They keep changing my Lantau to 5 and I drop to 50 at night so back to 3.
Question, how close together can I take my regular insulin and Lantas? My endocrinologist has patients with no pancreas but she has been out. See her next month and I am going to ask about the carbohydrate ratio. I am on a sliding scale of 3 plus.
I am open to any suggestions, all I want to do is lay down!
I am in the process of getting the Dexcom and hopefully go on the pump. Do you feel better on the pump. What a horrible disease hugs

REPLY
@crickard70

Oh my, my levels never went over 400. But the roller coaster as you say is horrible I haven’t had a normal day. They keep changing my Lantau to 5 and I drop to 50 at night so back to 3.
Question, how close together can I take my regular insulin and Lantas? My endocrinologist has patients with no pancreas but she has been out. See her next month and I am going to ask about the carbohydrate ratio. I am on a sliding scale of 3 plus.
I am open to any suggestions, all I want to do is lay down!
I am in the process of getting the Dexcom and hopefully go on the pump. Do you feel better on the pump. What a horrible disease hugs

Jump to this post

@crickard70 Lantus is a long lasting insulin that is supposed to provide 24 hour coverage (basal insulin). When I was using it my provider and I found out it worked better for me to take a fraction of it in the morning and the other fraction of it 12 hours later in the evening. I used a quicker acting insulin (Lispro or Humalog) for mealtime injections. It was also used for the sliding scale correction. That might be what you refer to as “regular insulin”. What type is your “regular insulin”?
The Dexcom G6 has its challenges but has been helpful. I’ve had it about 2 years I think. You still need a glucometer for better accuracy. I have had the pump for nearly a year. Honestly it has been very hard for me to learn how to deal with it and I’m still learning. It is so high tech and has so many “bells and whistles” it is kind of overwhelming. I can’t say that I actually feel any better but my HbA1C has really improved so I guess it is worth it.

REPLY

I take homologous and lantas . I want to go on the pump, but haven’t heard many good things about it. I am calling my dr today, just cannot get regulated.
Thanks for support and advice.

REPLY

You apparently are listening to just the naysayers. I have been on pump therapy for over 23 years and I would not do diabetes treatment any other way. Much better control and so easy to do meal bolus’s and corrections. Able to dose without the song and dance involving carrying syringe’s alcohol swabs, or pens, and insulin.
And that is possible even if you want to continue with finger sticks and not a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Using the pump with a CGM brings it up to a whole new level of control. CGM on it’s own can alert you to high’s and really importantly, in my opinion and experience, low’s especially low’s when sleeping.
Granted it takes learning the mechanics of inserting infusion sets, filling the insulin reservoir (every three days), and inserting CGM sensors every ten days. Those things become second nature in a few weeks. There can be some issues but they can be addressed quite easily with experience. There is a lot of information out there on YouTube on how to deal with whatever issues you may come across as well as your health team.
I’m currently 74 years old and pump therapy makes dealing with diabetes a whole lot easier. Plus with better control the complications are greatly reduced. There are people that this treatment style doesn’t work for but give it it a try and find out for yourself. Good luck.

REPLY

Thank you was so good to hear such positive feedback. I won’t be on one until I can get regulated can’t wait!

REPLY
@crickard70

I take homologous and lantas . I want to go on the pump, but haven’t heard many good things about it. I am calling my dr today, just cannot get regulated.
Thanks for support and advice.

Jump to this post

@crickard70 do you mean Humalog and Lantus? Did spell checker hijack your comment?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.