Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jake on June 16, 2011 at 1:44pm

Another advantage of Levmir is that you can do slightly odder splits since its a twice a day insulin.. So you can sort of plan for a lower or slightly higher basal at night.. But really.. dont be afraid of insulin.. Yes you can have lows, but you can also be a insulin user who uses very small doses to correct after meals.. (definitely want to get a device/needle that doses in half units to do this and bring this up with your endo).. Levmir will help with the basal, but if you want, its not unheard of to completely *go insulin* as a type 1.5 or type 2... The one T2 pill they still might want to try to keep you on if you can tolerate it is metformin, since it will help you use what you got for insulin production.. They are even trying it on insulin resistant type I's (experimental still, in fact I had it, but have other issues that preclude me from using it) If

Permalink Reply by April on June 16, 2011 at 4:46pm

Thanks, Jake - but the one thing my Endo said I was NOT was insulin resistant...so she said I was NOT a candidate for Met....I'll ask again tho.....

And, YEAH -I'd be HAPPY to do all Insulin and in basal bolus. LOVE the idea of 1/2 units!

Permalink Reply by Jake on June 17, 2011 at 2:52pm

As one says.. YDMV.. But ideally youd go with a half unit pen for that kind of small correction (novopen Jr or Luxura HD (humalog).. the syringes in half units are a bit hard to find.. Theres some evidence that Metformin can help preserve beta cells in type 2 diabetics, not just for insulin sensitivity... Either way let us know how it works out for you.. Many endos are hesitant to go all-insulin for t2s.. but its a thought..

Hope that gives you some good questions to ask your endo..

Permalink Reply by April on June 17, 2011 at 5:57pm

Well, Jake...I have my pen.

I am going to start out with only a single unit tonight and work up and see where I need to be...but do not anticipate needing anything more than a max of 5 at night.

I'd like to see how I do on the night time dose and how I react....

My Endo looked surprised when I asked for insulin...but she did not put up a fight. She mentioned I might gaint I simply told her that I thought that insulin was a more natural choice than ANOTHER pill. I did NOT say that the side effects of all the pills I'd read about just scare the hell out of me....

I did say that I like the flexibility of insulin dosing vs. the relative rigidity of the pill dosing....

And I had already figured out that she would likely start me on 5 units of Levemir at most. I had a hard time believing I would gain 20 pounds on 5 units. Or 10 pounds. Even 7 seems like a stretch.

So when she told me to start at 1 unit and work up I asked her she really though I would gain weight on that little insulin and she said no....

So..it left me wondering exactly why she was discouraging me REALLY from the insulin? WHAT was I missing? Was there something held back? What kind of an argument is "you might gain weight" when she REALLY did not think I would gain weight? WHY did she look SO surprised when I suggested it?

Now, I cannot say I am upset..as I did get the script and I will get to see if this is a good choice for me at this time. And even if it is not right at this moment...it may be again in another 6 months.

Thank you for your help.

Anni