Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. It promotes absorption of glucose from the blood into the liver, fat, and muscles, which is used as a fuel by the cells to perform various activities. In the absence or lack of insulin, the blood sugar is not regulated, which might lead to diabetes.
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Please suggest ways to improve the sugar level.
Query: Hi doctor, My diabetes started as gestational diabetes around seven years back. I am taking NovoRapid 24 units three times a day and Lantus 30 units at night daily. But, my blood sugar levels are not at all coming down. Previously, I took tablet Zoryl MV 1 and 2. I am using these Insulin for the pas... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Uncontrolled sugar can be due to inadequate dose of Insulin, not following proper diet and less physical activity or exercise. I need to know whether you take NovoRapid 24 units three times a day which is equal to 72 units per day or it is 24 units per day. Also, let me ... Read Full »
My cholesterol and insulin levels are high. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, I seem to have high cholesterol for the first time and high insulin levels. Please go through my reports and advise. Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through all your reports (attachments removed to protect patient identity). Only few abnormalities noted. 1. Raised insulin levels indicate that your body is becoming resistant to insulin. It means that you are at risk of becoming diabetic in near future. The so... Read Full »
Can liver problem be caused by reducing the dose of Dexamethasone?
Query: Hi doctor, Almost 5 years back, my father had an operation for a brain tumor in the left tempero-parietal region. He had Dexamethasone injections 12 mg and radiation on a linear accelerator 51 and 45. After two years, he had a CT and everything was fine. He even walked. But, when we started lowering... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I would like to know a few things very clear here. From your history, I gather that he had surgery on the brain and was on steroids post-op. And also he received radiotherapy. For what condition the brain surgery was done? He might be having what is called as steroid-i... Read Full »
My sugar levels are under control after using Insulin and Metformin. Should I still continue them?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a diabetic male smoker aged 50. I take insulin 12 IU/mL at night and 24 IU/mL in the morning. I also take Metformin 850 mg twice a day. My sugar level has always been above 150 mg/dL but now it is under 90 mg/dL. Should I still take the same dosages? Thank you Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concern. To decide the dose of insulin and OHA (oral hypoglycemic agents), we will need FBS (fasting sugar levels) as well as 2 hrs of PPBS (post-prandial sugar levels). When your HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) was 15 mmol/mol, you wer... Read Full »
CKD patient with high phosphorus content. Is dialysis required now?
Query: Hello doctor, My father is suffering from CKD for the past one year. His creatinine level is 11.05, urea is 144 and uric acid is 5.10. He has no swelling or breathlessness, but his phosphorus content is high 5.80. We have not started the dialysis at the moment. Could you please guide the right wa... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. After seeing all the details and your father's reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). I would like to ask few questions. What is his age? How is his appetite? Does he feel nauseated or vomit? Is he losing weight and feels generally unwell? With... Read Full »
Do high cortisol and insulin levels indicate insulinoma?
Query: Hello doctor,I have always had issues with fasting hypoglycemia (not diabetic). I recently had blood work done which also showed abnormally high cortisol and insulin levels. Any ideas on what could cause these things together? Sudden weight gain about a year ago of 15 lbs. Already healthy person. I ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. What about random and post-prandial blood sugar levels? Cortisol and insulin have opposing actions. Cortisol and growth hormones could be elevated as a compensatory mechanism to counter insulin release. We need to rule out insulinoma. It is a rare tumor of the pancr... Read Full »
Diagnosed with gestation diabetes. Was the test done right?
Query: Hi doctor, I am 9 weeks 3 days pregnant. My doctor has diagnosed me with gestational diabetes. At my 1 hour test, my levels were at 170, which was high, but they told me it was low. I was scheduled for 3 hours test and was told to eat sugar treats and sugar drinks three days before my test and then ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Let me make a few corrections in the methods done. I have not heard of the methods done. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of the pregnancy, which appears in pregnancy only after 26 to 28 weeks, the time when pregnancy hormones are at the highest level. So... Read Full »
What dosage of Novolog is recommended for TID?
Query: Hi doctor,I was diagnosed with TID 14 years back. I will run out of Lantus before the next shipment arrives, but I have plenty of Novolog on hand. My daily dose is 32.5 units Lantus at 10 AM and 12.5 units at 8 PM, with a sliding scale for Novolog (typically 0 to 6 units). What dosage or schedule wo... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can tell you right away that your type 1 DM (diabetes mellitus) is not being managed correctly. Those who have type 1 DM cannot make it without basal insulin so insulin it has to be provided 24/7. You should be on balanced Lantus and scheduled Novolog (and not sliding... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,My brother has high blood sugar and is on four-time insulin. He is not using any drugs, alcohol, or something else. Can you please review his scan reports and suggest your opinion? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. I have reviewed the attached CT (computed tomography) scan report (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). I also reviewed the short history you provided. Two points in history are not co-relating to ... Read Full »
Doctor advised taking Insulin injections instead of tablet. What do you suggest?
Query: Hello doctor, I am 33 years old. One year back, my HbA1c result was 8.2. Then, I started to take medicine Dailyglim M1 for three months and started some workout and took light food. Then, my sugar level came down. Fasting and PP result were in 105 and 160 range respectively. But, after some time it ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand you are hesitant to use Insulin. But what she has said is right. Finally, Insulin is what controls your blood sugars. Since people are hesitant to use it, we usually do not prescribe it as a first-line treatment. Oral medications help the pancreas to p... Read Full »