Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Zoe on May 29, 2012 at 7:33pm

I stand corrected, Jen. I didn't know 1/2 unit pens existed! Which insulin is it and what's it called? I have a pump, but it's good info to have if someone else needs it!

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Permalink Reply by Jen on May 29, 2012 at 7:49pm

We use humalog and humulin N, both in 1/2units. Our pens are not disposable tho, they hold the cartridges and we change them out monthly. We also give lantus by syringe, as those pens are disposable and only available in 1u increments. The 1/2u pens are usually marketed under a 'pediatric' pen.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on May 29, 2012 at 8:02pm

Thanks, Jen; I had no idea that humalog came in 1/2 units. I've been on a pump since January 2011 and last week I ran out of sets and had to use shots for 2 days. I really hated how inexact the one unit doses were and with the syringe it was hard to even get that right!

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Permalink Reply by Brian (bsc) on May 30, 2012 at 4:41am

I was not aware of Humalog being available in a pediatric pen. Novolog is available in a pediatric version, it is called the Novopen Junior. The Novopen Junior allows dosing in 1/2 unit increments, although I do believe the minimum dose is 1 unit. NovoNordisk also has a new pediatric product called the NovoPen Echo, but I've not found it readily available in the US. The Echo also has half unit dosing and some other cool features.

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Permalink Reply by NoSugarAdded on May 29, 2012 at 7:39pm

That is good to know I will have to look into that because as of now I just have the per one unit pens. we will see what my doctor says next week! thanks :-)

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Permalink Reply by Brian (bsc) on May 30, 2012 at 4:34am

I think that learning to accurately count carbs is hard, even if you have been doing it a while. I can look at a meal and I consider myself lucky to be able to estimate within 20% what the carbs are in the meal. And then when you factor in all the other variables, the time of day, whether I have just exercised. It is just not an exact science.

I found that two books really helped me with learning to use insulin, "Using Insulin" by Walsh and "Think Like a Pancreas" by Schiener.

I've been using insulin for a year and a half. I still have stuff to learn, but I feel a lot more competent and confident about what I am doing. I can get my fasting numbers where I want and I can manage my after meal blood sugars really well. You've been given some key advice and the people here are really helpful. I'm sure you have wonderful success at this.

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Permalink Reply by Eric on May 30, 2012 at 5:58am

I'm on Lantus also....if I dont take 8 units of Humalog after each meal my BG levels skyrocket to dangerous levels. If I do, my sugars stay normal. Not sure how much you would need to take for the amount of food you're eating, but I'm pretty sure this is why your levels are so high....and talk to your Doc!
Eric

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Permalink Reply by Shawnmarie on May 30, 2012 at 9:37am

As a general rule, I think most people do take their bolus before they eat. It sounds like some endos suggest doing it after, but I don't get it either. I keep increasing the length of time between injection and eating to try and find the sweet spot so I have no spike, but I have a hard time not digging into the food!

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Permalink Reply by Shawnmarie on May 30, 2012 at 9:59am

I think with kids, they don't want you to wait too long before they eat. Probably lots of factors at play with that decision. I also don't want to push it too far for myself, but I'm still experimenting.

Sounds like you're on top of everything & Quinn is doing great!

Editing to add that with younger kids, I believe they inject after eating because you can never be certain how much a young child is going to eat. Don't want to dose for x number of carbs and then find out they'll only eat 1/2 that! You probably don't have that problem with Quinn. :-)

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Permalink Reply by VikkiToria on May 30, 2012 at 6:23am

Helooo!!

I think you are deffinitely still in the honeymoon phase! I also use Lantus (basal) (27 units in the morning) and I have worked out my insulin to carb ratio pretty nicely, using Apidra (bolus, rapid acting) (1 unit per 5gram of Carbs), although when I eat more than 30grams of Carbs the ratio tends to change. I like to stick to very low carb eating, and therefore never eat more than 30grams of Carbs per meal. I stick to 3 meals a day, at least 4 hours apart, because my Apidra works +- for 4 hours, and I don't like to inject my insulin over each other (while the one bolus is still in my system - if that makes sense?) I usually eat about a total of 60grams of carbs a day only.

My sugars are normally 5 (morning), 6 (lunch), 6 (dinner), 6 (bed time), 5 (during the night).

Just some information - More or less:If I tested my sugar bed time, and it was in range, but the next morning it is high, then I know its my Lantus. If I test my sugar 4 hours after I have eaten and it is high, then I know its my Apidra.

Hope this helps a little ;-)

VikkiToria (Type 1 - 26 years)

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Permalink Reply by Stress on May 30, 2012 at 8:24am

It's a lot of information but you should write down a list of questions for your doctor - I know from experience that if I don't write them down I'm sure to forget something!

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Permalink Reply by NoSugarAdded on May 30, 2012 at 8:28am

All great information from everyone I am definitely going to write down a list of questions because I know I would forget them too! Thanks

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