The mental hurdle of taking more insulin as a T1D: why your needs change (and how to stop worrying about it)

Something that is not talked about enough is the mental hurdle of needing to take “more insulin” as a T1D.

As someone who's been managing type 1 diabetes for 24 years, I’ve never needed as much insulin as I do now at 27 weeks pregnant. My insulin resistance has been steadily increasing to the point where I’m now taking 25 more units daily than usual.

This experience has magnified just how important our relationship to insulin is - whether you’re pregnant or not. 

If you find yourself looking at a bolus or correction calculation and thinking, 'ooh that feels like a lot of insulin. I'm gonna cut back' but then end up going high, it’s time to acknowledge the role that your relationship to insulin is playing in your management. 

Do any of these blocks sound familiar to you? 

• Fear of low blood sugars: The anxiety of overcorrecting and crashing low often makes people hesitant to take the right amount.‍
• Fear of weight gain: Some people worry that taking more insulin will lead to weight gain, which can cause them to under-dose.‍
• Comfort and routine: After years of dosing a specific amount, changing those numbers can feel uncomfortable and scary, even if it’s necessary.‍
• Judgment: A lot of us learn over time that there's a 'normal' amount of insulin we’re supposed to take, and anything more feels like 'too much.' So when we need to take more, it can feel like we’re doing something wrong, and we might worry about being judged by others—or even by ourselves.‍
• Education gaps: Being taught to give X amount of insulin for each meal (regardless of food eaten) or a lack of education around hormones, such as the menstrual cycle or stress, can prevent people from understanding that insulin needs to be adjusted often. 

Bottom line: Our insulin needs fluctuate all the time - during different parts of the day, throughout the menstrual cycle, or depending on life factors like stress or physical activity. That’s why understanding patterns in your insulin sensitivity and resistance is so key. 

When you know your body’s needs, you’ll feel more confident about dosing and shift from a reactive approach to managing your blood sugars to a more proactive approach.

This is exactly why so many people come through Risely Health’s coaching programs—because they’re looking for more predictability, peace of mind, and confidence in their T1D management.

Talk to our team so you can stop struggling alone and finally experience freedom and confidence with T1D.