Humalog VS Apidra

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marps on July 15, 2009 at 10:54am

I know, I participated in the discussion that was started in 2008 this morning too- but I'm not worried about how it works, really- just the CONVERSION... any thoughts? I worried I'm gonna crash.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Scott on July 15, 2009 at 10:59am

Hi Marps

I switched from Humalog to Apidra for my pump earlier this year. The amount was the same for both types, but the timing may be a little different, as in when you take it in regards to meals. Also, it tends to get out of my system in about 3 hours, where as humalog would tend to tail off for an extra hour or two. Just be a little conservative until you get used to it. Letting your sugars run a little higher than normal for a few days while you get it all dialed in might help with the worry. Lord knows, I've run high for a few days before without changing insulin types! lol

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marps on July 15, 2009 at 11:35am

Thanks Scott. I really appreciate the input.
So, basically stick to what I'm doing, but expect my BG to drop sooner than it did with Humalog- so maybe inject after dinner instead of before?

I hope this works. I'm beginning to get worried about my fluxuations.

Thanks!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gerri on July 15, 2009 at 2:05pm

Apidra works fast, leaves fast. Changing from injecting from before dinner to after dinner is a big change to make. It doesn't work that quickly. If you do this, be sure to check BG 1 hour after dinner & then in two hours to see what's happening. You don't want to see a rise & then a sharp drop from this timing. It all depends on how quickly you digest. Most take Apidra 10-15 minutes before meals.

Any insulin (Dino's statement) can be taken after meals. It just depends on individual digestion & stomach empyting to time food to dose right. Been there, done that because I have gastroparesis & this makes bolus timing a crap shoot.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by dino on July 15, 2009 at 11:38am

I am interested in this topic as well...mainly just to have another weapon in the arsenal. I hear it's the only insulin that is OK to take after a meal rather than before. I also want something to take as a blous when I'm up and and I want it down fast...likely yo improve the A1c.

As far as your Humalog losing it's potency, I go through those phases now and again. I'm not exactly sure if an insulin switch will change your ratios, but it's worth a shot (no pun intended).

A small (<10%) increase in my Lantus dose seems to revitalize my humalog sensitivity back to normal. Of course, I do get concerned regarding high doses of insulin and weight gain.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marps on July 15, 2009 at 1:30pm

Yeah, the high doses of insulin and weight gain is annoying. My endo doesn't seem to see the correlation. He's kind of "accused" me of gaining 5 lbs in the last 10 months and inadvertantly made me feel like junk. I haven't changed my eating habits at all- so wtf? Right? But, yeah, I've def been increasing my insulin dosages for corrections and coverage. Either way, I'm losing, it seems (but not the weight! haha)

This sucks.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Revvy on July 15, 2009 at 11:41am

I loooove Apidra way more than humalog! I was on humalog/lantus cocktail for a few years and like you, i slowly started noticing a resistance to the Humalog, by the 3rd year or so i had gone from using around 10 units at meals to 30!! When i switched over to apidra i cut back a whole lot on my insulin usage, and when i started on the pump with apridra i cut back even more! it takes a while for insulin to kick in, in my body so as a fast acting insulin this has been the best one yet for me- although it still takes some time personally for it to show an effect on my BG. But be careful and monitor yourself when you first start using it- Ive heard some people need to eat 5-10 minutes after dosing or they bottom out, and others, like me, wait up till 30 minutes. So its just trial and error. but good luck!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marps on July 15, 2009 at 1:32pm

Oh, Revvy, you've got my hopes up!
Humalog used to work well for me, but yeah, after 3 years with it, I've started to take almost 30 units per meal too! I hate it!

I can't wait to try Apidra. I'm waiting for the approval from my endo office on the scrip.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amber K on July 15, 2009 at 1:00pm

Hi Marps!
I was on humalog...for a very long time before my pump and for the first 3 years on the pump. Earlier this year I switched to Apidra. My endo and I started with the same ratios and sensitivity levels but I quickly learned that they were not the same. I tried apidra for nearly 3 months and after a low that drew the paramedics in my tiny apartment I swtiched back to humalog. I think Apidra could help me in the end but those first 3 months were so hard I couldn't take it at the time.

Apidra definately starts working faster than humalog, and I found it also doesn't last in my system quite as long. So for me my basal rates didn't change but the insulin to carb ratio did as did the insulin sensitivity. I didn't always need as much apidra to cover a high blood sugar, and I definately needed less to bolus for food.

Keep tracking your blood sugar very closely the first few weeks/months to see how it works for you.

That was the other thing strange about my switch to apidra. The first 4 weeks on it things were almost exactly the same but maybe I didn't need as much insulin as I did on humalog. The next 4 weeks on it I had extreme highs that I coudln't get to go away and the last 3 weeks on it I had severe lows.

But everyone is different! If you're resistant to humalog definately trying apidra is a good idea. Good luck!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marps on July 15, 2009 at 1:33pm

Amber K

Thanks! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! Less insulin= more happiness to me!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amber K on July 15, 2009 at 1:37pm

Great! I hope it goes well. Again, I think the only reason I am NOT on it now is the highs & lows were just too much for me to handle at the time. Maybe in a while I'll try it again though. Keep us posted!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marps on July 20, 2009 at 6:32am

Just an Update:

I've been on Apidra for three days now and have seen a lot of lows. This is a little scary, but it's really relieving too because I've been running so high for the past couple of months on Humalog.

I've noticed that Apidra brings my 200 BG down in about 45 mins, where Humalog would've taken around 3 or 3.5 hours to bring it down. I've also noticed that I wake up a bit lower (46 yesterday) in the mornings, which makes me think that maybe I should go to bed around 90 or higher, instead of at my target of 75-80.

Maybe using Apidra will lower my need for Levemir too? I've been using much smaller doses of Apidra and my numbers have been pretty great- though I've been nursing quite a few lows over the past two days.

I have big hopes for this! I'm working really hard to keep myself on target-

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last