consistent high numbers

[mishj]

My daughter is 15, was on the pump but didn't like the way it felt and looked.  Since she was diagnosed at age 7 her numbers are always high.  It's affecting her social lfe as well as academically.  She's up to 68u of Lantus at bed and corrects as needed.  Even if she does have a few cookies, she takes coverage for it, but it never seems like it's ever enough.
Any help would be appreciated.

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hello.  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes.  I understand about the pump, it's not for everyone.  

High scores are a result of many factors, everything from the amount of exercise you get to the amount of times you use an injection site.  It could be that she doesn't count carbs accurately.  It could be that her carb ratio is off.  It could be that she's stressing over her high scores and social life (stress makes scores higher).  If you say that for every food consumed, the insulin dosed never seems like enough, you should look at increasing the fast acting insulin, as the carb ratios are likely too low.  Correcting that ratio would also likely lower the amount of Lantus taken as well.

[masinsulina]

At that age, her hormones are pushing her sugar levels up. My control was very bad at that age as well. Also, I (and many other diabetics) have found that Lantus really only lasts about 12 hours, not 24. Besides, It can be dangerous to take that much insulin all at once IMO. I'm not a doctor, though. You should bring it up with hers. Again, best of luck.

[KevinHarney]

I am not a professional but to me it sounds like 68u of Lantus is high.  And you indicated that she uses short term to counter food intake.  

From what you said it sounds like she is trying to up Lantus to cover the food intake and it is not working.  I think it should be the opposite.  She should be taking Lantus to keep the basal normal and the Fast acting to cover the food.

You need to work on getting her carb to insulin ratio corrected.  That should help solve the problem drastically.  This ratio can easily change with age activites and stress and other factors.  It will NOT remain the same your whole life.  Wise to reevaluate from time to time as needed.  An easy but not highly accurate way to do this is to take a reading and take a specific amount of Insulin and then about 3 hours later take a new reading.  Divide the count change by the number of units taken.  ie  reading of 200  and 2 units taken and new reading of 160.  Count difference of 40 divided by 2 units is 20 basis points per unit.  So if your reading was 200 you would need 5 units to bring it down to a target of 100.  The inverse can be done as well.  If your count is 100 and you eat a specific amount of carbs say 3 4g glucose tablets and test again in a half hour or so and you will know 12 gs of carbs raises sugar x points.  Putting the two together gives you carbs per unit.  So if 12g carbs raises sugar 20 basis points then 1 unit will cover that amount of food.  Of course this hinges on whether she is counting her carbs correctly.

Not a very scientific way but it really helps me.  Hope it helps you as well.

Kevin

[kraysmom]

My daughter is 16 and we have been through the same thing for 4 1/2 years.  Finally we found a Specialist that would do the "rare" testing only to find out that she has "Insulin Binding Antibodies".  This causing the insulin to bind to antibodies and not work but only to drop out of sight once it released.  She is on a new insulin, Apidra, that is a miracle insulin.  It has helped her tremendously.  This is a child that has been "homebound" from school on and off for some time now.  We were on Lantus and Humalog and nothing worked, no matter the dosages.  My advice to you would be to ask for antibody testing.  There are test that will show this in just a few simple tests.  I hope this helps~

[mishj]

thanks for your info.....we've had the exact same problem with our daughter had to be home from school and tutored in and out of school, misses an enormous amount of school, i think i'll take your advice - the doctors are constantly blaming it on the food she eats, and we know it's not so.
when she exercises her numbers go very high also.  we've broken up her Lantus into 40 in the a.m. and 40 in the p.m.  seems to be a little better - but still keeping my fingers crossed.  i'll look into that insulin.