Spouse is a Diabetic 1.5

I am insulin dependent diabetic since 1968. Diabetes is difficult to manage and most important thing is to check blood sugars often. My endocrinologist was great. He had me keep a log of times I ate, amount of carbohydrates I ate, insulin dosage and exercise all listed. All times needed to be logged in. He could then tell how my system reacted to food and how insulin was responding. Takes time to get good handle on this. Important not to get excited when things don’t go right. Be patient and time will tell. Back then no computers or insulin pumps or sensors were available. So it was only way Dr could manage diabetes but I can tell you this, keeping a good record will show doctor what needs to be adjusted keep in mind they illness affects blood sugars and so does stress. Diabetics are struggling with maintaining good balance. Believe me I’ve had my struggles and thank God for my husband. He was able to tell if I needed to eat by how I acted:) I’m on insulin pump and love the fact I can manage my disease. Pump gives a steady amount of insulin throughout the day. I will take enough insulin to compensate carbs I eat . I use Libre 2 sensor that will wake me up or while awake when blood sugar drops. I the drink either orange juice or soda pop with sugar to correct lows. Now sensor will tell me what blood sugars are and I’ll correct insulin dose as needed to keep good control. Hope this helps. Sorry for length of explanation:)

@helena341
Length was fine.
Thank you for the information and how you handled it.
I don't think my spouse has been doing the food journal and will mentioned to her.

I do see her getting very frustated with why is so high put insulin in or can't get it to come back up, etc.
Thanks again

There are different types of insulin. Fast acting within 1/2 hour, reg insulin, long acting. I was on all three types. I am sensitive to insulin so needed small amounts of each type. 8-9 units of NPH and 2 units of Reg in morning. At dinner time I took Ultralente = long acting. Took me through the night. If sugars were to high, during illness, I would need to take 2-3 units of Reg. Balancing act!

@helena341
I did not know about the difference in types of insulin. I am sure my wife did not know about the different types of insulin. I know she has viles of insulin but she uses that to fill her automatic device.

You posted that the fast acting is within 1/2 hour. My wife thinks it is instant. She gets her insulin from an automatic pump. Do you know if the auto pump has the fast acting or reg insulin?

She can asked her endcotronologist about this and will but if you can provide information on this would appreciate it as both of us did not know about the different types. She talks about doing a BOLO when she eats to compensate for carbohydrates. And again if her number gets to high.

Insulin pumps use one type of insulin. My pump uses Novolog. Managing blood sugar is tough but using a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) is advisable as it will show Blood sugar every 5 minutes. Dexcom G7 is suppose to be best on market and my brother has it and loves how it works.

Also, Bolus is needed when sugars are to high. Ask Dr about using Humalog KwikPen insulin to correct highs. Hope this helps:)

I agree with Helen that pumps use fast acting insulin only, not to be confused with an ultra fast acting insulin which is another animal entirely.
CGM's, like the Libre or Dexcom, are good at showing trends: stable, rising or falling blood sugars, but sometimes don't hit the numbers correctly after being first inserted. Paramount you also have a glucose meter to do finger stick blood testing to verify the readings are reasonably accurate.
Not really necessary to freak out on occasional high readings that are not sustained over a long period of time. Dumping insulin will bring it down and I most always dose what the pump calculates. Pump will take into account the insulin that is in the body already so it doesn't overdose and cause a low glucose reading later on. But I find a 20 minute walk will reduce glucose readings faster then the insulin. When I see numbers going high I go for the walk.
I found when treating lows, I need to be on the somewhat conservative side. So very tempting to "eat the whole kitchen". Generally 15 carbs will raise glucose about 50 points. "Your results may vary". A glass of orange juice is more way than 15 carbs and then one will go high later on and get on the glucose roller-coaster.
This is not an easy job being a pancreas. And no one ever has an extended period of perfect blood sugars so don't feel bad.
The best to your wife and to you for be a good care giver.

@drlundeen
Trying to get her to join MCC with all this excellent information. I just forwarded your message about walking to reduce glucose readings. I am wondering why her endoctronologist does not recommend walking and just eat this or that.

What I see is same as you mentioned she tries to eat so much and more and more if does not come up. It seems if she eats takes a lot more time than if she drinks something. Just trying to get her to drink rather than eat.

The glucose roller-coaster is a good defnintion of what she and I experience (with her I am not a diabetic). I just I can help with the stress and anxiety she goes through with these disease.

@helena341
It sure does help. I really spend time with her when she comes back from her appointments. I have never heard her mention the insulin KwikPen.

I just wrote down your message and will bring to her attention to asked her endocrinologist about. I sure would help rather than Boloing and nothing happening.

I am not sure if all expereience the side affects of highs. Her side affects are bad headaches and body discomfort. With lows she can sweat, get clammy, and if I don't give her (this has happened 3 times in 3 years) the glucose shot she stays in a almost passed out state.

Terrifying for me as I have to give the shot. Really trying to monitor now to not let this happen. We are working together to find foods that work for her quickly and those for long term carbohydrate eating.

Orange juice works faster for sugar lows. Better than food since digestion takes longer. Test blood sugar 15 min after drinking 1/2 cup orange juice. If sugar still low drink another 1/2 cup. Don't drink too much or get high sugar again.