Category: Symlin

Close Concerns

Not only have see better A1C’s since starting insulin, I’ve done something I haven’t been able to do without it.

Lose weight. I’ve lost around 25 pounds since starting Symlin in June. I had previously lost around 15 pounds over a year time period, and it was a horrible struggle.

Losing weight on Symlin is extremely easy.

I’ve reduced my daily insulin usage from over 120 units per day to recently around 33 units. My A1C went from 6.9 to 6.0

I have not gone completely without problems. With the weight lose comes constant diligence to insure that I don’t go low. In fact, I had two hypoglymic events last week. It’s taken some time to figure it out, but I’ve determined that I can no longer dose prior to the meal, but have to dose immediately. I had been dosing 30 minutes before the meal to avoid a high blood sugar reading post prandial. We’re figuring with the weight lose, I’ve also gotten a reduction in insulin resistance.

I’ve gotten very good at tweaking bolus rates.

Made it through the school day without having a weird hypoglemic reaction. I really think that taking the Symlin right as I ate and not doing insulin is helping. Besides, I didn’t really need it.

My blood sugar was 158 2 hours after the meal.

I have dosed Symlin at lunch and dinner both days (Sunday and Saturday), and haven’t experienced another weird hypoglymic event.

My blood sugar seems to be under good control too. I had a blood sugar of 155 after lunch, and one of 208 after dinner today, corrected both. As a result, my insulin usage is hitting new lows. I’m creeping down from an average of 38 units, to 35, and on my way down to around 30.

I’m going to keep it up. Basically I’m dosing right at the meal, not giving myself insulin, and checking two hours after the meal and then doing a correction.

I had been taking Symlin 30 minutes before meals, to try to match the curve better. That might be what caused the two crashes this week, so I ‘m going back to taking Symlin right before I eat.

That will also make life a bit easier.

FYI: The crash messages might show up again as new as I changed their category to Symlin, since I really think Symlin caused them.

I had another Sylmin related blood sugar crash today. However, I forgot I didn’t take insulin during the last one.

I did however, take insulin today. It seemed worse than the other one, but then I didn’t treat this one as quickly.

Here’s what happened.

I injected Symlin 30 minutes prior to eating. Ate lunch and bolused. Went back to my classroom, got ready for class, and started to teach, but like the other day, started feeling odd. Picked up the phone and asked my CDE what to do, and she said suck on hard candy all day. Then she said drink coke. Hung up from her, ate a life saver, waited a few minutes and asked one of the students to get one of the ROTC teachers. He didn’t understand me — I don’t know if it is because he doesn’t speak English yet, or if I wasn’t speaking English.

So I picked up the phone and called the office, told them I didn’t know what I needed, but my blood sugar was low and I at least needed an English speaking adult to help me. The office manger called the nurse and sent her out. In the meantime, I was still crunching lifesavers.

Got my blood sugar up to 155, nurse and I went back to the main building while a security guard watched my class.

Ran into several administrators, we confessed to what was going on, though I kept saying — but I did everything the way I am supposed to.

Anyway, I’m fine now, went back and taught the class, and stopped chewing lifesavers. Blood sugar stayed pretty even the rest of the day.

Also talked to the CDE again, and we agree Symlin without insulin for a while — correct after meals when needed. Still doesn’t solve Tuesday’s issue, but at least maybe helps today.

I don’t want to give up the symlin. It really makes losing weight easier.

Weird day. Had breakfast (did Symlin), and two hours laters was at 200. Corrected.

Did not check blood sugar pre-meal. Did Symlin, ate lunch and forgot my basal.

30 minutes later was feeling very hypoglymic, and even though I was at 90 — remember I just ate, I did some glucose jel.

1/2 hour later, I was at 116.

Two hours after my meal, I was at 78. Whoops.

Ate a package of Peanut M&Ms.

Got home, did Symlin, ate dinner and did not bolus as I was still lowest (110), and I needed to walk for 30 minutes.

Two hours after that meal was 120.

I ate some more with bolusing and at 9:00 pm was about 155. Corrected that, and now I am leaving everything alone.

The good news is that I’m seeing the CDE tomorrow.

Right now, my only thought is that something just happened weird with my insulin resistance (and symlin resistance). I had stronger side effects than I have had in quite a while — really had a hard time finishing each meal.

One small clue — I weigh over one pound less than yesterday.

Weird day. Had breakfast (did Symlin), and two hours laters was at 200. Corrected.

Did not check blood sugar pre-meal. Did Symlin, ate lunch and forgot my basal.

30 minutes later was feeling very hypoglymic, and even though I was at 90 — remember I just ate, I did some glucose jel.

1/2 hour later, I was at 116.

Two hours after my meal, I was at 78. Whoops.

Ate a package of Peanut M&Ms.

Got home, did Symlin, ate dinner and did not bolus as I was still lowest (110), and I needed to walk for 30 minutes.

Two hours after that meal was 120.

I ate some more with bolusing and at 9:00 pm was about 155. Corrected that, and now I am leaving everything alone.

The good news is that I’m seeing the CDE tomorrow.

Right now, my only thought is that something just happened weird with my insulin resistance (and symlin resistance). I had stronger side effects than I have had in quite a while — really had a hard time finishing each meal.

One small clue — I weigh over one pound less than yesterday.

A commenter who is just starting on Symlin was asking about skipping doses for certain meals.

One thing to remember, is that you don’t dose if you are eating less than 240 calories or less than 30 carbs.

I have skipped symlin other meals, I just don’t reduce my insulin usage.

The patient information at http://www.symlin.com explains everything in detail.

A commenter who is just starting on Symlin was asking about skipping doses for certain meals.

One thing to remember, is that you don’t dose if you are eating less than 240 calories or less than 30 carbs.

I have skipped symlin other meals, I just don’t reduce my insulin usage.

The patient information at http://www.symlin.com explains everything in detail.

One of the things the CDE and I decided to give as a try with the Symlin, is to start taking it about 30 minutes before meals. I’m already finding that my post prandial bloodsugars are better. I was hitting 180 2 hours after a meal and am now down to around 130 which is much better. I was finding I was correcting about as much insulin as I was saving from the meal, which wasn’t helping.

I’m still focusing on my papers which is why I am not blogging much. I’m taking two classes, and I have the annotated bibliography done for the one class. It’s ready to turn in. I have the research paper and the summary written for the other class, I just keep picking a different section of the paper and making sure it meets the appropriate critiria.

I got a letter today from UNT about graduation, and I’m glad I’m taking a pass on it. You aren’t allowed to bring anything like a handbag with you so I can’t take emergency supplies. Yeah, I can find a dress with pockets and make Rich carry the bag, but that’s a pain. So it’s a good excuse.