Re: [IP] Symlin questions
> 1. Why do people need less insulin while using Symlin - does it increase
> insulin sensitivity (I don't mean using less insulin at first to reduce
> potential lows, but once you've stabilized why do you need less insulin per
> grams of carbs)?
According to their website (caregiver side) While insulin works to
regulate glucose disappearance from the bloodstream, amylin works to
help regulate glucose appearance in the bloodstream from the stomach
and liver.
> 2. They say to only take Symlin if you're eating at least 250 calories or 30
> grams of carbs, but what happens if you take your dose and then are too full
to
> eat that much? Are there adverse effects?
It's called hypoglycia and I've been there done that. I've finally
learned to make sure I never use Symlin for more than 3 meals a day.
> 3. What if you have a low while Symlin is in your system - will the glucose
> taken to treat the low be absorbed fast enough or will it be delayed too?
It will be fast enough -- been there, done that. Had a two
hypoglycemic episodes within 20 minutes of eating and dosing symlin.
> 4. The literature says a maintenance dose is between 5 and 10 units per meal.
> Are there criteria for determining if your dose should be 5 units or 10?
If you are getting good results with 5 units, there is no need to go
to 10. Insulin usage is halved etc, feeling of hungry all the time is
gone.
> 5. How do you stack boluses while the Symlin is in your system? I am
currently
> doing an extended mealtime bolus for 2 hours, but what if I want to eat
> something more during that period? Do I just do a normal bolus for the
> additional food, or do I do another extended bolus? (I realize that my pump
> won't let me do another extended bolus while the first one is working, so I'd
> have to cancel the first one and recalculate it).
I do a normal bolus for the additional food. At Christmas I made the
mistake of doing both Symlin and insulin with my "extra" holiday food,
and ended up feeling like I had the flu.
I now do a normal bolus anytime I "stack" -- eat less than 2 hours apart.
> 6. How long is the delay in carb release into your bloodstream, i.e., what
> does the new curve look like - when does it peak and when does it end (I know
> this differs for different foods, but what is it in general)?
>
I haven't figured that one out myself and I've been on Symlin since June.
.
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