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06/10/09 04:26 PM

"If I am "insulin resistant" why is insulin prescribed for me? How do I know if there is too much insulin in my blood? Will it hurt me if there is?"

Asked By: susank505

Category: Insulin

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Type 2 for 7 years. Just now put on Lantus and taking 20 units a day.

Expert Answers (1)

06/10/09 07:49 PM

Dear susank505, Please enter the term "insulin resistance" into the dLife information search and you will find more information about it. Insulin resistance is almost universal in people with type 2 diabetes. It is greater in people who have more fat stored in their mid-section. Some of this fat is also deposited in the liver. This effects how well your body can handle sugar and fat. The impaired process leaves you with available insulin but your body doesn't use it appropriately. You need insulin to bind to your cells to let in sugar. If the binding process is impaired, it is referred to as "insulin resistance.' How you would know that there is too much insulin in your blood is that you would have low blood sugars (below 70 or 80). You feel faint, dizzy, sweaty, etc. Low blood sugars are treated by eating a small amount of carbohydrate (about 15-30 grams) then retesting your blood sugars. If you record your blood sugars and share your results with your physician, your insulin and oral medication doses can be adjusted so you have the optimal amount of insulin. Work with your health care team.

Answered By: Janice Fisher

Accreditations: RD, LD, PHD, CDE, BC-ADM

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Community Answers (9)

07/10/09 09:48 AM

Hello Susan K There is a test called a C-Peptide that when properly interpreted will let you know if you have sufficient insulin production but the insulin is not being used properly - thus the term insulin resistance. Insulin sensitizers such as metformin are normally prescribed first. Hopefully, you're still taking one of those to help use the insulin you have and you are taking. Yes, you did need to keep the volume of insulin down. there is much evidence to support the dangers of hyperinsulinemia - too much insulin. However, after insulin resistance sets in and the stress is too much, you'll start to lose insulin production, it will show up first in what's called phase 1 insulin. if you do not have enough phase 1 insulin, when you eat a carby meal or snack but your blood sugar is high shortly after. In that case, you may still make enough phase 2 insulin so you'll self-correct later. But you'll start to require insulin as time progresses (unless you fix the source of the problems and keep insulin production levels high enough). Lantus replaces phase 2 insulin. However, because of the fear of hypoglycemia many doctors are using it in the instance I describe above. They also treat with Lantus because patients don't want to take 1 shot a day much less insulin with each meal. I suggest reading the book The Insulin Resistance Diet. Try this link to read about the book. http://www.diabetes1.org/Resources/Book_Reviews/The_Insulin_Resistance_Diet It's one of my favorite reference materials to recommend to people - especially Type 2s. I know this is a confusing topic. Sorry about that but hopefully I've helped at least a little. Doris J. Dickson

Answered By: dorisjdickson

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07/09/09 11:03 PM

I see many people that still don't understand what insulin resistance is. Think of it this way. If it's very cold out and you only put on a light jacket, it doesn't keep you as warm as a heavy coat. Your body is the "cell" and the light jacket is your produced insulin. If you put on the heavy coat it will keep you warm longer. Being insulin resistant doesn't mean your cells cant use the insulin. It means they kick off some of it. So to compensate, we take insulin injections to make up for the cast off insulin. I hope this helps everyone to under the term "insulin resistant"

Answered By: rtorbett

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06/20/09 01:04 PM

asloman are you on insulin at all. I have been for 24 yrs and by taking insulin it is the only way I can control my bs. Even though the body might make insulin it isnt enough to overcome the insulin resistance. Weight loss can help that but my mom was 100 lbs and a type 2 and yes still needed insulin. It may not make sense but that is the way it is for many we need that insulin I have been on each and every med produced and I keep coming back to using insulin becuase nothing else works not even oral insuln resistant meds.

Answered By: furball64801

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06/16/09 08:46 PM

If your to old or to far out of shape to exercise, Try taking Vitamine D it help with Insulin Resistance Ronbo

Answered By: ronbo49

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06/16/09 08:44 PM

If your to old or to far out of shape to exercise, Try taking Vitamine D it help with Insulin Resistance Ronbo

Answered By: ronbo49

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06/16/09 02:51 PM

I'd like to expand on susank505's question. I've been a type 1 diabetic for 34 years, since age 4. I also have extreme insulin resistance. My endo tried putting me on U-500, but that did not work very well, so I'm stuck using about 160 (yes 160) total units of Humalog via my insulin pump daily. My sugars are under reasonable control, but I feel anxious and nervous. Could it be that I have too much insulin in my system? even though it's working, is it possible there's too much of a good thing here?

Answered By: lijenn

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06/16/09 11:40 AM

furball64801 what you and she are saying really makes no logical sense. If the glue will not stick to plastic using more glue still won’t get it to stick to the plastic. Oil will not dissolve into water. Increasing the ratio of oil to water still does not get any more oil into the water. If the cells are resisting the insulin why does more insulin over come the resistance? I would venture a guess that osmoarity comes into play her but I’m just guessing.

Answered By: aslosman

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