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My Mother Is 93 Years Doctor Raised Her Insulin Still Sugar Too High Is There Anyway You Can Help Me Understand What Is Happening?
Question: Good morning, I am asking a question about my mothers health:
She is 93 years of age she has type two diabetes, is on insulin at this time I believe she is taking 26 units a day
Currently her sugar is high high 200’s into the 300’s her doctor raised her insulin still too high. From what I have read and understand how having diabetes the only way to control is to give patient more insulin....I do realize that you do not have her medical chart, is there anyway you can help me understand what is happening? I must say she does have a sweat tooth,
She is 93 years of age she has type two diabetes, is on insulin at this time I believe she is taking 26 units a day
Currently her sugar is high high 200’s into the 300’s her doctor raised her insulin still too high. From what I have read and understand how having diabetes the only way to control is to give patient more insulin....I do realize that you do not have her medical chart, is there anyway you can help me understand what is happening? I must say she does have a sweat tooth,
Brief Answer:
may need insulin adjustment
Detailed Answer:
HI,
As you stated, increasing the insulin would help to control the blood sugar but the type of insulin may also need to be adjusted.
There are some insulins that act for 18 to 24 hours and others that are short acting and given before meals to control the spike that would occur with eating.
If she only taking insulin once daily, it may not be enough to control her blood sugar particularly if she has a sweet tooth ( i know the feeling).
The once daily insulin may be one of the 18 to 24 hour acting insulins which would give back ground control but may not be helping the meal time spikes
Treatment- (1) the once daily insulin can be further increased to help with control
(2)may consider speaking to her doctor about meal time control, at her age he or she may not be aiming for very tight control because we also do not want her to go too low
(3)look at her diet, it is possible that by modifying the diet somewhat may be enough to control the readings.
A visit to a dietician may be helpful to get ideas how to allow for the sweet tooth somewhat and control the blood sugars better
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Thanks.
may need insulin adjustment
Detailed Answer:
HI,
As you stated, increasing the insulin would help to control the blood sugar but the type of insulin may also need to be adjusted.
There are some insulins that act for 18 to 24 hours and others that are short acting and given before meals to control the spike that would occur with eating.
If she only taking insulin once daily, it may not be enough to control her blood sugar particularly if she has a sweet tooth ( i know the feeling).
The once daily insulin may be one of the 18 to 24 hour acting insulins which would give back ground control but may not be helping the meal time spikes
Treatment- (1) the once daily insulin can be further increased to help with control
(2)may consider speaking to her doctor about meal time control, at her age he or she may not be aiming for very tight control because we also do not want her to go too low
(3)look at her diet, it is possible that by modifying the diet somewhat may be enough to control the readings.
A visit to a dietician may be helpful to get ideas how to allow for the sweet tooth somewhat and control the blood sugars better
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Thanks.
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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