Indefinite Use of Insulin

[bg091593]

When people cycle insulin it's to keep your sensitivity high, correct? If one was to keep tabs on their fasting blood glucose numbers while utilizing insulin wouldn't they be able to run it as long as their fasting numbers were in the low range? Then once they began to rise or you see a rising trend, then you come off and use GDA's, lower carb intake, cardio etc to get back into that low range and start again?

 

[dnab87]

Just because your BG is in range that day doesn't mean you aren't losing sensitivity. You'd be better off getting an A1C for a 3 month span to actually know your BG.

Moderation.

 

[nothuman]

Just because your BG is in range that day doesn't mean you aren't losing sensitivity. You'd be better off getting an A1C for a 3 month span to actually know your BG.

Moderation.

Glad you brought up HA1C. Absolutely critical blood test for anyone, let alone a bodybuilder. Shows how close you are to becoming a diabetic, among other things.

 

[Elvia1023]

There are so many variables but sure this could be fine for some people. By some I mean guys who are 100% with their diets and aren't eating sweets and drinking sugar throughout most days. Our bodies produce huge amounts of insulin throughout the day just from eating alone. So if someone were to eat a healthy and well balanced diet but utilizing low carb days, GDA's and cardio etc then sure he could probably use insulin for long periods. But the amount of insulin is a huge factor in all of this. Regardless I think it's common sense to have breaks from insulin regardless what your fasted glucose levels show.

 

[Mike Arnold]

When people cycle insulin it's to keep your sensitivity high, correct? If one was to keep tabs on their fasting blood glucose numbers while utilizing insulin wouldn't they be able to run it as long as their fasting numbers were in the low range? Then once they began to rise or you see a rising trend, then you come off and use GDA's, lower carb intake, cardio etc to get back into that low range and start again?

Yes, time off is usually taken in order to keep insulin sensitivity high. However, like some others have said, just because your BG levels remain in a normal range, it doesn't necessarily mean that your sensitivity is good. This is because the body will automatically respond to a decrease in sensitivity by producing additional insulin--in order to maintain a normal BG level. BG levels won't begin to rise until the body is no longer able to make sufficient insulin (which could lead to a whole host of other problems).

If you want to prevent a decrease in sensitivity while using insulin, do the following. For one, use as little as possible. Pre-workout only use will typically allow someone to prevent a decrease in sensitivity, so long as they employ the appropriate counter measures, such as the inclusion of insulin sensitizers (berberine, etc), cardio, dietary adjustments, etc.