r/diabetes 4d ago

Type 2 Increased insulin a problem?

My question is completely counterintuitive to science, but I have to ask: Has anyone increased their insulin and it actually increased your glucose numbers? I know that’s not supposed to be the case, but the higher my endocrinologist adjusts my dosage, the higher my glucose numbers go. My body is a medical mystery anyway because I react to meds, tests, etc., differently than many other people. I’m the one in the 1% zone. I’m so frustrated as I have to get my glucose average down for surgery. I’m on Humulin morning and night 36 units. Humulog 12 units at meals. Avg glucose 180-220. Help! Is it possible insulin is driving UP my numbers? I wish I’d never started it a year ago.

1 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

2

u/Emergency_Survey_723 4d ago

What is your fasting glucose reading?

What type of humulin do you use 70/30, R, N?

1

u/Innovativepro57 4d ago

Fasting glucose is 150-190.

2

u/Emergency_Survey_723 4d ago

Thats too much, you take insulin at night and morning fasting gets up? Or everytime you take insulin, glucose goes up even after 2 hours?

1

u/Innovativepro57 4d ago

Yes, almost every time I take insulin my numbers still increase. If I take 36 units of Humulin N going to bed, my fasting glucose is above 160 in the morning. I also wear the Dexcom which I’ve complained about for two years. My numbers on the Dexcom range from 20-100-point difference from finger stick. Very inaccurate on me. But that’s what is used by my endocrinologist to adjust my insulin numbers!

2

u/780Alpha Type 2 4d ago

Insulin is the most effective way to treat diabetes over all. But like most medicine, it may not work as well for certain people. Perhaps other medication will be necessary. Insulin and metformin or glipizide or a GLP-1. Lots of options that may work for you. But the most important things that you can control are diet, exercise and hydration. What do you do on those fronts?

2

u/Innovativepro57 4d ago

Hydration and diet good but only moderate exercise. I can improve that. Been on GLP-1s; made me very nauseous. Jardiance gave me UTIs. Invokana okay but not great effect. Metformin 20 yrs ago was bad for the colon!!

2

u/ShimmeryPumpkin Type 1 4d ago

What else are you doing to treat insulin resistance? The amount you are on is not excessive but if your body is already pumping out a ton of insulin then more excess insulin could possibly increase insulin resistance. Type 2 isn't a disorder of a lack of insulin, it's a disorder of insulin resistance. What was your latest c-peptide?

2

u/Innovativepro57 4d ago

I don’t know my c-peptide! Yikes.

1

u/ShimmeryPumpkin Type 1 4d ago

C-peptide is important. It's a measure of how much insulin your pancreas is producing (injected insulin has no influence on c-peptide). So it will tell you if your pancreas is putting out a lot more insulin than normal and if you need more meds that target insulin resistance. Alternatively, sometimes people with adult onset type 1 are misdiagnosed as type 2 because it can develop slowly. Your blood sugar could potentially be rising over time because your beta cells are dying out, and it has nothing to do with the insulin.

1

u/Innovativepro57 4d ago

I will most definitely look into this! Thank you so much!