or should all doctors be giving the same advice

[stillawakeat4amagain]

I am a type 1 diabetic and need insulin injections

o.k so i had a G.P appointment 2 weeks ago and was told to do something then today i had a follow up appointment which was with a different doctor who told me something different.

So G.P 1 (2 weeks ago) told me to take my Novo rapid before meals which i have been trying to do but its hard to break the habit after 10 years of doing it after meals.

Then G.P 2 (today) told me to take it after food.

I am so confused anyone on Novo rapid can you tell me when you take yours please before or after meals

I'd ask the pharmacist for advice.

Read the PIL i.e. Patient information leaflet that should be with the drugs prescribed ( normally in the box) as the first option. Hopefully it will tell you when to administer it

"NovoRapid® is generally taken immediately before a meal. Eat a meal or snack within 10 minutes of the injection to avoid low blood sugar. When necessary, NovoRapid® can be given soon after a meal."

That's from the patient information leaflet. The key is that it should be very closely tied to eating because it's fast acting, so you don't want a long gap between insulin administration and food. At the same time, you don't want a massive spike in blood sugar from eating by not having the insulin on board, which is why they recommend giving the insulin before you eat.

Both the leaflet and the pharmacist say just to take as prescribed

I dont see why you are complaining about "conflicting" advice. it should ideally be taken before meals so GP1 is right. but then you say you are struggling to do this so GP2 is right by individualising their advice and saying take it after - it might be better for your personal circumstances and habits then risk not taking it at all.

Do you go to a clinic or have a diabetes specialist nurse? I'd suggest asking them.

We'd usually advise immediately before, but sometimes have to give it afterwards - the classic being afterwards for picky pre-schoolers, where you can't always tell before the meal how much, or indeed if, they're going to eat.

They're both kinda right. GP1 is technically right but sometimes it is better to wait until just after the meal to make sure you are actually ate the amount you planned. Obviously not usually an issue for adults but perhaps GP2 had learned from experience that this is a better approach

Do you carb count to work out your insulin dose? My friend who has type one diabetes does (I still don't fully understand it), and most of the time he takes his novorapid before, sometimes afterwards, I think depending on how fast the carbs he's eating will break down. So if he's having something that takes longer to break down, he'll do it after he's eaten. Very confusing!