How many pumpers or non-pumpers are using Apidra?

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Rawlings on April 7, 2009 at 5:48pm

I use Accu-Chek Tenders (have for all my years of pumping). I'm wondering if my problem is site selection, rather than the insulin? I wouldn't expect to have scar tissue in the sides of abdomen, the two areas that occluded (never injected there during MDI days nor used insertion sets there until the past 6 months). So far, I've been pleased with the Apidra.

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Permalink Reply by Brad Potter on July 21, 2009 at 8:27pm

I've been on the insulin pump for 2 years and have been using NovoRapid (NovoLog) insulin. My doctor recently suggested a switch to Apidra. I tried it for two weeks, but experienced clogs in the infusion set (Quickset / Minimed) as mentioned by Riette and Kelly. Since I've never had this problem with NovoRapid insulin, I'm assuming the problem is being caused by the use of the Apidra insulin.

In checking the Aventis web site they indicate that Apidra can only be used for 48 hours in the insulin pump. The infusion set must then be changed. http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/apidra/apidra.pdf

I would be curious to know how long others keep their insulin pump infusion sets going before a change. I'm usually between 72 hours - 96 hours without a change and could probably go much longer.

Regardless, at 48 hours max in the pump, the Apidra is definitely not a suitable alternative for me. Not only would that increase the cost of operating the pump, it's also a pain to be constantly changing the infusion set (takes away from the benefits of the pump).

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Permalink Reply by Jan on April 9, 2009 at 11:17am

Your specialist is incorrect. Apidra has been approved for use in the Minimed insulin pump and many are using Apidra in the pump. They only recommend certain pumps. I did notice the instructions coming with Apidra recommends certain sets with each pump. Quicksets are recommended and my niece's sils are not. And that they recommend changing out the Apidra every two days and using abdomen for the site. I will see if this is necessary (Day 2 and a half). But Apidra is working well with the Sils and using tush as site area.

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Permalink Reply by Linzie Wohletz on February 12, 2009 at 10:17am

I have been on apidra since starting my omnipod in September, I do like the quickness that it works at and I can do it right after eating too if I am low or if I eat less carbs than assumed. Its quickness keeps me from shooting up after eating and I dont have to worry about boulsing for 50 carbs then only eating 30 I can eat then bolus with my last few bites to keep things steady. I do however feel it is more expensive than Novalog which I was on before. I was using novalog pens and my co-pay was 25$ a month now using apidra 2 vials cost me 40$ a month. that's my only downer....

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Permalink Reply by Brigitte on February 12, 2009 at 10:20am

I used Apidra and I'm a non-pumper. I take 5 units of Apidra if I eat a meal of 40/ 44 g of carbs and if I don't walk after my meal. My Apidra goes fast but it is still in my body 4 hours after the shot. One example: two days ago I took 4 units because I thought I was walking after my meal at 14 h but the rain came and lots of rain! So my blood sugar was very high 230!!!! I took 2 units 2 hours afte y mear and at 19 h I was at 57! too much Apidra. My endo told me that Apidra works only two hours and I don't believe her.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron on February 17, 2009 at 2:04pm

I will be starting Apidra in my OmniPod starting tuesday of next week. (i just got my omnipod today so im still on saline.) But, ive been using it for almost a year now with the opticlick pen and it been working great for me! After 3 months of using it my A1C went from 10.4 to 7.8.

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Permalink Reply by Thierry on March 5, 2009 at 1:28pm

Pumper with Apidra.
Apidra seems a little faster. I use Apidra in my MedTronic 522 pump for basal and bolus.
Also told that it clogs less than Novolog.
I am a competitive cyclist and Team Type 1 uses and are sponsored by Apidra so I trust them...

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Permalink Reply by Brad Potter on July 21, 2009 at 8:37pm

Hi Thierry - are you still on Apidra. I have a Medtronic 722 and recently tried Apidra, but I found it clogs after about 2 days of use in the pump (issues a continuous "No delivery" message) which never happened with NovoRapid (NovoLog) insulin previously . Previously, I could keep my infusion set (quick-set) going for 3 - 4 days.

I'm curious what your experience with the MedTronic pump and Apidra has been like.

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Permalink Reply by MelissaBL on July 21, 2009 at 10:27pm

I started Apidra when on a Paradigm 715 in 2005. Never had a clog with it (or Humalog, for that matter). I then used Apidra on the Cozmo and now wear an omnipod. Your info about a time limit on Apidra in a pump is news to me. I go 80 hours between pod changes. Haven't had any problems in 4 years on it. If Novorapid works for you though, go for it. I've never tried it.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on April 6, 2009 at 4:10am

I've been using it since last summer, first with injections and then since September with a pump. Before that I'd been on Actrapid for over 30 years. The Apidra is much better in that it peaks much earlier and for me is just easier to control.

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Permalink Reply by Jan on April 11, 2009 at 4:46am

Day 4 using Apidra in the pump for my 12 year old niece. Apidra drops her at night (meaning her basals had to be lowered two nights in a row and still dropping with carbs and minus temp basals), yet she starts jumping high starting from 4 p.m. to midnight and we need a ton of insulin plus corrections. My sister increased her 20% on a 5 pm - midnight 2.75 unit an hour basal (which is insane). At 3.20 units an hour, she fell into range 9 pm to midnight. She had great stable numbers night before last (with juice) midnight until 3 p.m. in the day (we were doing fasting basals this whole time.) We desperately need to get fasting basals 4 p.m. to midnight, but that will not be happening this weekend due to the holiday. I have already decreased her ICR from 1:14 to 1:10, lunch and dinner, will reduce breakfast today. I think if we can wrap our mind around the higher basal need, and the fact that she may need a lot more of this insulin as a TDD than Novolog, it might work out. As a bolus insulin, it is unsurpassed. It seems to be out of her system in two to two and-a-half hours. No tail. Versus Novolog which has a DIA (for her) of five hours. If this insulin is stable as a basal insulin, then I think we should switch. Jury is still out.

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Permalink Reply by Jan on April 12, 2009 at 6:05pm

Apidra testing is OVER! Apidra Day 5, nujmbers better on drastically increased basals all evening. After midnight, despite reduced basals (from .90 to .70), plus minus temp basals and juice my niece dropped like a rock until 6am, then went up to 250 and 387 (Rebound) by 7am and 8am. She seems to have a very large variation in the basals, much more so with Apidra, and her basals do not stay that steady as a rule, anyway. I am not happy with the much larger amounts of insulin I need to give her during the day and especially 3pm to midnight with Apidra. She is often doing activities in the afternoon and I would prefer not to have large amounts of basal insulin during this time. I can see Apidra is quick as a bolus and correction insulin. I wish I could put Apidra in her older Animas pump and hook her up for meals and corrections and use Novolog as a basal insulin (through same site) but her endo already told us that we can t mix the insulins this way, plus you would have to waste while you fill the canula with Apidra each time or may not get the proper dose since Novolog would be in the canula. I was told this simply could not be done. So it's back to Novolog, our steady and more predictable basal insulin and we will have to wait longer for corrections to take effect and for meal time insulin to leave her system. There is no perfect insulin for her at this point.

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