Can insulin stop working after so many years of depending on it?!
Question: Can insulin stop working after so many years of depending on it?
this worked for a couple days, they were the best #s he has had in a while but about 4 days into the new medication his #s have spiked again. before bed he was at 410.
i am wondering if after so many years of being dependent if his body is just saying enough is enough, or if his body is beginning to shut down all together, he is in hospice care because he has cancer and Alzheimer's.
are there any suggestions anyone has that i can suggest to his dr?
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Not normally.
In this case, what usually happens is that the patient WAS a Type 2 Diabetic who failed to control the problem with diet and exercise. These patients still have some pancreatic function, but it is not enough, so insulin injections are required.
but now, after many years, the pancreas finally quits all by itself. now, the patient has NO insulin of his own, and increased dosages of injected insulin are necessary.
Some simple blood tests can tell if this is true or not.
No: Pancreas will stop producing insulin all together, then your body will rely on
(larger) injections.
Someone who has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus has developed a condition known as insulin resistance, which leads to a high concentration of blood glucose.
Insulin injections are only effective when the body doesn't produce enough on its own. When resistance is involved, body cells do not recognize insulin signaling anymore. According to the National Institutes of Health, certain genes, as well as obesity and lack of exercise, can increase the likelihood of developing resistance.
Extra blood glucose is filtered by the kidneys, but the sugar molecules increase the amount of water in the urine, which can lead to dehydration. Also, since the body cannot use glucose for energy, fats are heavily utilized, which can lead to a serious complication called ketoacidosis, a drop in blood pH which can be fatal.
If you have Type 2 diabetes, you must strictly control your diet and constantly monitor blood glucose levels. You must also know how to check urine for the presence of ketones if you suddenly become ill, because a high level points to ketoacidosis.
Check with his doctor but it seems that his medications, poor appetite, sedentary lifestyle, due to his health could be adding to his resistance. There is something that is causing these spikes and the doctor needs to find it before you have to deal with ketoacidosis. The doctor needs to evaluate the situation and make the necessary changes as soon as possible as you want to avoid these numbers spiking into the danger zone.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
It sounds like he needs more insulin - there could be lots of reasons for his increased blood sugars like being less active or an effect of the cancer on his hormones or metabolism. The high blood sugar could be making the symptoms of both alzheimers and cancer worse so getting them back under control is important. Now is not the time to be coming off insulin - ask for him to see a diabetes specialist nurse or dr asap because they will know best what to do - if it was me I would increase his insulin by a couple of units / day until his blood sugars stabilize and keep testing his blood sugar regularly to avoid hypos. I really hope that helps - I know it's not easy caring for someone in this situation - just take each day as it comes and try to give him as many happy times as you can xxx