Hi Gary
Yes, it's a daily injection. I was a bit depressed at first, I confess. I'd hoped it would never come to that, but having been on it now for over a year, I sure wish I'd been on it earlier. It has made the daily struggle to keep the sugars at a reasonable level just that much easier. I started on 10 units of Lantus at first and had to increase it by 5 units per day until my out-of-bed reading was better than 7 mmol/L.
A year ago the meds alone ceased to work sufficiently and I was getting readings of 15-plus. That's just dreadful, and the constant high sugar levels caused soft-tissue damage in my left foot that resulted in a permanent injury (known as Charcot's Arthropathy) whereby some of the bones no longer line up properly and lengthy walking risks further injury. A corrective operation involves 9 months of non-weight bearing convalesence and carries an 80% risk of failure anyway. The softer option was to get specially made shoes that properly support my foot but they are expensive, ugly and cumbersome. I look like Gumby when I wear them and exercise options are therefore limited for me and weight loss is a real struggle because I can't do any weight-bearing heavy exercise.
On the bright side, I guess I could live without a foot if the ultimate injury happened but I can't/won't live without a liver, kidneys or my eyesight which are the other big risks areas, so I can't complain at all if that's the effect it's had. And I did get the big consolation prize - a disabled parking permit - so it's not a total disaster.
I now take 60 'units' of insulin per day (which is only about 20 mls of fluid) at about 6pm.
The needles are very fine and less than 1cm long. I just gently grab some flesh on my tummy, shove the very fine needle in and press the syringe plunger. It all takes only seconds and doesn't hurt a bit. I found that taking it in the evening was best for me. I'm usually at home at that hour and it's just before the onset of the o/night fasting period where it will be of most benefit so it's a good time.
Hope I haven't bored you too much with all this rabbiting on, but I just don't want anyone to neglect their diabetes the way I did. Big, big mistake - and constant vigilance in keeping the sugars low is the key.
Regards
Adrian
Quote:
Originally Posted by wellsy
I suppose the basal insulin is being injected. How did you feel starting that?
Wellsy
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