Methadone and Insulin Usage

[Gary]

What side effects will an individual show if he/she takes insulin three times a day and using a methadone drug treatment program?

[Gary]

TO:  RS, EdD, HVMA
Thank You for answering my question on methadone and insulin usage!  As a followup:  I have a 41 year old brother-in-law who is diabetic and currently on a methadone treatment program.  My in-laws are concerned about his mood swings from that of a very nice person to a very hateful person.  He has also had episodes of not knowing where he is and does not respond to conversation.  His standard comment is that it is due to the methadone and low sugar. Is it the methadone and low sugar or due to substance abuse?

[RS, EdD, HVMA]

His symptoms could be from the methadone (or any other drugs he may be taking), poorly controlled blood sugar or both.  The two are not physiologically connected.  But people who are high on drugs are not likely to pay good attention to their diabetes; and people with diabetes could use drugs to help them cope with the symptoms of diabetes as well as the emotional concerns for their health.

[genix]

I am a type 1 diabetic of 30 years  and have used methadone for 14 months, i am just went cold turkey 16 days ago, i found the whole time that my insulin needed reducing while on methadone, other wise i would have hypos all the time, but if i was late on a dose the adrenalin would kick in and my insulin would hardly work, so then when i did get the dose and have insuling again the oposite would happen , ie my sugar would drop VERY quickly, since going cold turkey my insulin dosage had almost trippled, if you want to talk further just message me