Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trudy on August 2, 2012 at 9:22am

Hi Char. I'm not sure I understand what you've written. Anyway, the usual method of taking insulin is a long-acting, such as Lantus; and also a fast acting, such as Humalog, for meals, snacks, corrections. A split dose of basal/Lantus, would be a morning injection and a nightly injection of it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Char8833 on August 2, 2012 at 9:26am

Okay so I am taking one daily injection of Lantus at 10pm of 16 units and then I take fast acting Humalog with every meal about 4 - 6 units. Previously i was taking one night injection of 14 units of a 12hr insulin and then nothing in the day except fast acting when i ate (about 5 units/meal) . Since changing to the 24 hr lantus i have had a lot more highs than when i had no base insulin in the day.

Not sure what im doing wrong am i meant to split the Lantus ?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Trudy on August 2, 2012 at 9:39am

A split dose simply means to take part in the morning and part at night to make sure you have 24 hour coverage of Lantus. It could take a little tweaking, but one way to start off using a split dose is to take half at each time, that is 8 units in the morning and 8 at night. You might want to check with your doctor, but it really is commonly done.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zoe on August 2, 2012 at 9:45am

You need to get your basal dose right first, and as others are suggesting, a split dose is usually better and Levemir is smoother than Lantus for many of us. Once your basal is covering you as closely as possible so your numbers are good between meals, at waking and at bed, then you can start tweaking your I:C ratios until those are more in line. It's really hard to do both at once because you can't tell what's causing highs and lows.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Holger Schmeken on August 2, 2012 at 10:08am

Hello and welcome! How was your control with the humalog alone? What was your average BG in mmol/L then? Your A1c from the humalog time would be helpful too to understand your current situation.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian (bsc) on August 2, 2012 at 10:44am

It sounds like you were taking NPH. You may have very different dosing between Lantus and NPH. As has been mentioned you need to determine your basal dose first, this can be done with basal testing. This is described in books like "Using Insulin" by John Walsh and "Think Like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner. A simple description is also on the Gary Scheiners site.

 

It is quite likely that before, the humalog you took during the day was partially acting as your daytime basal.  And remember, once your blood sugars get high (like 22), you will need more insulin to bring your blood sugars down to normal.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tim on August 2, 2012 at 11:40am

Transitioning to a new insulin plan is not always "automatic". Sure it may be better on paper or according to the folks who sell insulin, but until you get things adjusted right, it can be tough!

If you are running high a lot of the time, it's not surprising it takes you more total units.

Lantus isn't a true 24 hour insulin but it is a lot longer acting than say NPH. I do Lantus twice a day (12 hours apart) with pretty good success spreading it out evenly. If I only had to do one shot a day it would not be so good.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Char8833 on August 2, 2012 at 1:37pm

but if lantus is a 24 hr insulin and u split the dose doesnt it mean im getting a lot more in the day then at night ? if i take 16 units should i try split it ? is it too soon ? highs continued went to pilates and went up to 17 duno wat to do

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian (bsc) on August 2, 2012 at 3:01pm

The simplest way to split a dose is to take half at night and half in the morning, each dose 12 hours apart.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Igs on August 2, 2012 at 1:14pm

Hi,

I have personally just used Lantus at night (24 units, but I am male and weigh in at 85kg) and just use Humalog before each meal. As others have said, it is also common for people to spread the dosage over two shots (usually night and morning).

Hope this helps!

Ian

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by garidan on August 2, 2012 at 1:15pm

First: your lantus dose has to let you go to bed with a good BG and wake up with a good BG: is it so ?

Yogurt can have a lot of sugar, but mine usually is 13-16 carbs and you take 4U, it's a lot. Try to change site of injection, can you ?

Look and see how BG go in the afternoon, because lantus can fade away too soon. If this happens you can:
- get a bolus of humalog (with or without snack) in the afternoon or
- split lantus or
- use a mixed insulin at lunch (novomix 70/30, qhich has 70% of novolog and 30% of sort of NPH)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by blazer1155 on August 2, 2012 at 1:45pm

First you have to get your base line set with the Lantus. then after you have a steady baseline 80-120 you have to readjust your use of humalog. Remember you already have a active insulin in your system so you won't be using the same amount of insulin as you did before. If you used to use 4 units for a yogurt before, I would start out at a 1/2 unit and check to see what your readings are and readjust from there on. Remember now you have a active insulin baseline and you have to find your new I/C scale (maybe you were 1/5 now you maybe at 1/20)

Also don't forget , don't use the same injection area as you are for the lantus, or you will be wiping out one or both of the insulins, they usually don't mix)

Good luck
Jeff

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page