Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Zoe on August 29, 2011 at 2:16pm

I don't believe so, Andrea, that's why it's taken in two doses.

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Permalink Reply by JKD1 on August 29, 2011 at 3:24pm

Sounds more like Lantus

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Permalink Reply by Starfire on August 29, 2011 at 4:02pm

When I was first diagnosed t2 18 months ago, I started on 3 shots of novalog on a sliding scale, then one shot of levemir 78 units before bed, 137lbs lost, now down to 1 shot of levemir 35units once a day and that does it.....so for me it does...everyone is different..

low carb, workouts lose weight, works for me. hope all is well with you...

I keep cutting the levemir down as I go...

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Permalink Reply by Kelly WPA on August 29, 2011 at 4:04pm

If you read the technical stuff on the Levemir website, with higher doses, you can get it to last 23.2 hours. With Levemir, the more you take, the longer it will last, but if you do that, you will also have periods where you are running low because you are taking more basal than what you need. I actually take mine 3 times a day – mine lasts for about 7 hours.

I copied the paragraph pertaining to how long it lasts - I have it in a PDF but don't know how to attach that here.


Pharmacodynamics
Insulin detemir is a soluble, long-acting basal human insulin analog with a relatively
flat action profile.The mean duration of action of insulin detemir ranged from 5.7 hours
at the lowest dose to 23.2 hours at the highest dose (sampling period 24 hours).
The prolonged action of LEVEMIR® is mediated by the slow systemic absorption of insulin

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Permalink Reply by Kelly WPA on August 29, 2011 at 4:20pm

That is what works for me and apparently it works that way for most people since they have it in their prescribing information. It does seem like the people using smaller doses are the ones that are also using it 3 times a day as opposed to 1 or 2.

Yes, that is too big of a drop - you shouldn't drop by more than 30 points. If you hadn't eaten something, it would have been a lot more. I am noticing some consistency problems between Levemir pens that I never had a problem with before. I started a new pen on Friday and have been running low ever since, even cutting back some. The same thing happened a couple weeks ago. My basals are normally pretty steady.

A pump can help,but it is also not necessarily the answer for everyone. I had more highs on the pump than I did with MDI - the problems weren't worth it for me. I do miss being able to sleep in and not hearing alarm clocks going off all the time to remind me to take Levemir!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly WPA on August 29, 2011 at 4:25pm

No, it is normally pretty flat for me. When I do basal testing, I actually do it for 24 hours and I mine doesn't go up or down very much (as long as it is set right). If you are having peaks, you might do better trying to split it.

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Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on August 30, 2011 at 3:18pm

This was one of the reasons I went on the pump and it has really helped me. I'm definitely more stable now (although like any T1, I still have my bad days). I have found with the pump that while I still have lows, they are not as bad. Also, the ability to adjust my basal rate (rather than just having a bunch of insulin pooled under my skin and waiting for it to do its thing) has been really nice. And yeah, sleeping in....definitely LOVE sleeping in!!!

Personally, I think everyone should give a pump a try. I know it's not for everyone and I know some people do better on MDI. But I think it should be something that every T1 should have the opportunity to try because, depending on your lifestyle, it can give you a lot more freedom.

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Permalink Reply by MossDog on August 30, 2011 at 3:58pm

I believe you should get a chgance to try it. I have never liked the game of your A1c is too high or low for a pump. A pump can help with control which is a major benefit but my personal opinion is that the lifestyle benefits are even more dramatic.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on August 30, 2011 at 4:29pm

That's such BS, Lynne! My A1C before I went on the pump was 6.4. Not fabulous but hardly "really out of control"! He reminds me of my mother growing up, I would ask if I could sleep over a friends and she would say no, because "you have a perfectly good place to sleep right here". Huh? I didn't NEED to sleep over, I wanted to because it would be enjoyable. I think MossDog makes a good point below that it does help somewhat with A1C but mainly it improves our quality of life! And if your insurance pays for it, how would it hurt the doctor for you to have it??

I have heard some people like the omnipod but have also heard a lot of negative things about it. I think if it were great as well as tubeless more people would be on it! Of my Type 1 Women's group of 50 members, not one is on the omnipod! So I'd do some research if you haven't already.

If you really want to be on a pump and your doctor irrationally refuses, I would get a new doctor. I kept thinking I didn't "need" the pump but then finally realized when I saw how many women in my group were on it that it was the standard of care!

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on August 30, 2011 at 6:29pm

Couldn't agree more. Food and related issues are pretty sensitive territory for some of us, especially women and if I'm happy with where I'm at, then that's great and nobody should interfere with that.

I'm on the Ping and love it. Each pump has advantages and disadvantages. I like the Ping because it has a meter/remote and you can put your pump under your clothes and do everything from the meter/remote. Tubing isn't as bad as it sounds. I get the longer one (43 inches) because I don't feel as "tethered" and can put it down and still get dressed. I'm about to post a thread about how much I love my pump!

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on August 30, 2011 at 7:08pm

Nope, I don't have an endo and my PCP admits he doesn't know much about Type 1! But you know me Lynne, my idea of a good doctor is one that doesn't bother me! I guessed I had diabetes before dx and asked for a blood test. Then I figured out I'd been diagnosed wrong and was LADA/Type 1. So I got pretty used to doing things on my own (with support from TuD and my Type 1 Women's Group).

I know my way of doing things isn't for everyone. But if you don't feel you need to see him again in 3 weeks, I would ask what the need for it is. In Mental Health before I retired we started using something called the "Consumer Model" meaning that our clients were "consumers" of services. The services should meet the client's needs not the provider's! If you feel he has his own agenda you should tell him what YOU want out of your relationship. (Nicely of course..lol)

Permalink Reply by Kelly WPA on August 30, 2011 at 7:49pm

Yes, you should have that option Lynne. There should only be 2 criteria for getting a pump: 1) you want it and 2) have the means to pay for it whether that be insurance or cash. If you read the excuses people hear from their doctors, they are told their control is too bad, it is too good, their insurance won't approve it .;. It is a game doctors play.

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