Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dennis on December 31, 2011 at 8:09pm

Why we still have Regular? I think it's Cost.. It's no longer on the Paten list to get their high prices for it
and as soon as ( if ever) The Logs become the same, R will go by the wayside as well

I recently was going to do a Test with using some R and went into Wal Greens and asked How much for it?
$63 per Bottle!

I looked at the Pharmacist and Said R U Sure about that? And She said yes..
I laughed and said Wal Mart has it for onyl $24, why are you ( WalGreens) asking so much more for it?

She had no idea..
I told her, that is Highway Robbery and outright Theft
Thus I went to Wal Mart and got it
and Yes, I have been Complaining to Walgreens as well.. moving up the ladder thru Corp. offices

I also caught my VA for Charging me Brand Name Prices for Other Meds I get ( pills) when in fact they are Generic.. Can be bought thru Wal Mart for $10 for 90 day supply

The VA charges $27 for the same 90 day supply..
Reglardless if it is Generic or Brand Name

And Guess what they mostly give out? Generic..

My Congressman and Senator said they will look into it..

I'm sure they will..

So Contacted my VFW and American Legion and got them on the Band Wagon now..

Using R for Pizza and Slower Digetsing Foods? Yeah, I used to do that too
Fact is? Those first few hours your sugars will go Up, till the R kicks in
Thus Need to take both a Log and a R..
I just take the Log and In 2 hrs take a 2 hr bolus and its been fine ever since, doing that.
Been 7 yrs now..doing that..

And Like Terry- Ditto- We Need A Shorter Onset, Faster Peak insulins.. These Logs take Way too long..
Especially for Corrections..

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by christy on December 31, 2011 at 9:03pm

Wal-greens does charge a VERY high price for their regular/NPH insulins. When I was taking 70/30, I could get it at wal-mart or target around 24-28 dollars. But not at Wal-Greens. Sometimes there is difference in prices among the two brands as well. Humalin and Novolin.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rubidoux on January 2, 2012 at 7:08pm

That's terrible about charging those prices. I hate to think people are getting rich of those of us who are struggling just to get the meds we need to survive.

And omg, R for corrections. I don't even remember that because I guess I didn't realize there could be something that would actually work well for a correction. No doubt, you'd have to not only correct, but then be locked in to feeding your insulin a few hours later. So if you're high before bed? Gah!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by latvianchick on January 1, 2012 at 1:14am

I had terrible reactions to all human insulins - hypoing up to 8 times a day! Sooooo frustrating! Not to mention embarrassing. Then someone saw me sitting on the base of a font in a church stuffing myself with sweets. I had no idea who he was but he asked me straight away what insulin I was on. I told him that I was on Lantus and something else - Novorapid I think. He then proceeded to tell me my history and symptoms and gave me the web site of an organisation campaigning for patient choice. They sent me their welcome pack and when I read some of their stories about reactions to human insulins it was as if I was reading my own story!

I started trying for pork insulin and was promptly dropped by my local diabetes clinic - for knowing too much. They knew better. It took me 2 1/2 years to find someone who would listen to me, and I can safely say, after being on pork insulins I am soo much better!

Different people react in different ways to different types of medication but I see no reason why just because the majority (so they say) can get on with it, that those who cannot should not be allowed to try something else!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JRod on January 1, 2012 at 9:53pm

Wow, this is an interesting response. I'd like to know more about insulin choices. Where can I get more info? You can me privately if it can't be shared on the forum.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on January 1, 2012 at 12:25pm

Lately I was using R , 6 shots a day every 4 hours as a substitute for my 2 shots of lantus. Works ok and is much cheaper. This is only an experiment and I will return to lantus , R and apidra.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on January 1, 2012 at 7:18pm

I think some people with gastroperisis and other digestive issues that caused delayed digestion still use regular insulin (as it works more slowly). In addition, I've heard some people say they still use regular insulin simply because it's cheaper. While obviously humalog/novalog/apidra are the appropriate insulins to use in pumps, I've heard from folks who have used regular insulin in their pumps in a pinch because they ran out of humalog and could only get regular (which is available without a prescription in most places). Keep in mind that when pumps first came out, they used regular insulin and even modern pumps still allow you to set your insulin duration time to upwards of 8 hours, a setting that remains in case someone needs to use regular insulin.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amy on January 1, 2012 at 9:45pm

I grew up on R and NPH and even started with only taking one needle a day. I've seen a lot of changes in 28 years since I was 5 years old. The thing is in another 20 years we will look back at today and wonder why we ever used Novo rapid, pumps and will laugh at our glucose testers.
Times change, development makes things better. Keep in mind that Regular (or Toronto as it was called originally) was a huge advancement. I met someone who was diagnosed in the 1930s and her father used to have to sharpen her needles, they didn't have disposable ones.
So when asking why anyone would be on it - keep in mind that for a lot of us 4 needles a day is quite new. Better control and new things will always be developing.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JRod on January 1, 2012 at 9:51pm

I take R in high potency U-500 form.

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are often put on N and R. I am a type 2 but I first started using insulin during pregnancy and used N and R last year. After I had my baby, I moved to Humalog and Lantus but I am now pregnant again using Humalin R again but in U-500 form in a pump. I am highly insulin resistant so 10-12 shots day weren't working and I needed to find something to get my bg down to an acceptable level.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by rubidoux on January 2, 2012 at 7:17pm

I would think Humalog would be so much easier for a new insulin user to figure out. IMO, getting really good at using insulin is not something that can happen quickly. It took me years and a lot of focusing on it. I cannot imagine having to learn how to use R and NPH while pregnant. I wonder why they'd want to have new pregnant insulin users start with R??? I know that when I was first using Humalog, they acted like it was taking my life into my own hands because I could have a really severe hypo, but I used R for maybe 4 to 6 months and I've been using Humalog for 18 or so years and the very worst hypos I've had were in those first months with the R. I'm guessing that's why they use R for people in your situation, but it seems very backwards to me.

Congratulations, btw!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Super_sally on January 2, 2012 at 12:04am

I am pregnant and my doctor only wanted me on human insulins. We compromised and I use Humalin-N for long acting (2 shots a day) and humalog for short acting. Seems to work great for me.

In Philppines, where I live, the price for a cartrige of Humalog and Humalin-N are about the same and just over US$12 each, and similar to what I pay for 25 blood sugar test strips...

The amount people in America pay for these insulins would seem to me that some middle men are making exhorbitant amounts of money. Mind you, the cost of insulin in Philippines is still well beyond the budget of many people (1 vial costs more than a days' salary) - and it is very rare to have insurance that will cover it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by christy on January 2, 2012 at 8:33pm

What I posted that I pay for my Humalog with insurance is around 77 dollars for 3 vials...thats WITH insurance...without I'd be looking at probably close to 300 dollars. Yes it is INSANE what prescription drugs cost here. When I first wanted to go on Lantus this one Dr was telling me its crazy how expensive Lantus is here versus other places he's practiced at.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page