Diabetes.Blog.com

1 - Thoughts on Lantus. Having used NPH and Regular for approx. 40 years Lantus is a Godsend. The most wonderful aspect is the ability to skip meals. Also the lack of bone crushing lows of NPH is a welcomed relief.

My list of long-term Type ones do associate Lantus and or analog use with a reduction in Hypo awareness. I have had to relearn the signs of approaching Hypoglycemic episodes. I feel this is probably due to the lows coming on more slowly.

I split dose my Lantus to insure adequate basal coverage.

It is a great insulin.

Kirk (Comment this)

2 - I started taking Lantus about month ago.I take one daily injection of 50units at bedtime. My glucose reading are within targets at Breakfast and Lunch.During Dinner the reading are high(170-259)Any help with this problem will be appreciated. (Comment this)

3 - I was injecting Lantus as a daily injection at night also. My problem was the reverse with the before breakfast BGs high. My endocrinologist switched me over to a Medtronic pump about 18 months ago. It has helped since I am able to set multiple basal (steady state) insulin rates for different times of day.

Additionally, he started me on Byetta last week and I have seen a marked improvement in my BG readings. Byetta hasn't been studied in combination with insulin-dependent subjects so I am required to monitor my sugar closely (10 times per day). However, it seems to be helping greatly while promoting weight loss (unlike Actos/insulin combinations). (Comment this)

4 - Michelle:

Lantus is supposed to be wearing off at 16 hours or so, according to the insert. Talk to your doc about splitting your dose. Works well for me and others I know. (Comment this)

5 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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6 - I've been using Lantus for several years, injecting at bedtime. Since I was having highs late afternoons, I started splitting doses - now I inject at bedtime and in the morning. I am, however, having lows early morning (2-5 am). I thought Lantus is not supposed to peak? (Comment this)

7 - Lantus does have a gentle peak in my body. And it always happens at night no matter when I take it. I try to consume an evenoing snack of protein to cover that nighttime peak, it works most of the time. I inject at dinner and breakfast and it works nicely.

Kirk (Comment this)

8 - Hi Kirk: You seem very knowledgeable about Lantus. I've been using it for a few years, but I've been noticing a lot of early morning lows, particularly on nights I workout. I do one injection at bedtime. I was thinking about changing to a morning injection or, as you mentioned, splitting the dose. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!! ~Kelsey (Comment this)

9 - Anybody know toddler on lantus? Any thoughts on that? I think it is great, and much safer than NPH or a pump in a toddler who touches poopie and can get an abscess! Any thoughts? And also, tell me about your honeymoon periods. Does hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia get harder to control after it is over? (Comment this)

10 - I have been on Lantus for the past few months after being on a pump. It was great initially but I now find I am high pre dinner and if I give extra quick acting at dinner I hypo during the night. My endocrinologist has me on morning dose but you all talk of giving it at night and so does the Aventis literature so I will have to ask him about that one. May be splitting the dose will help. Its great to hear other peoples experiences. Also the cost in Australia is an issue as it is currently costing me $169 for five 3ml ampules. I am going OS in a few weeks what is the cost in England?- Sally (Comment this)

11 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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12 - does anyone know about the "untethered" method for injecting insulin? I'm on Lantus and novolog, using the pen. Supposidly you can inject the insulin into the infusion set. Any info? (Comment this)

13 - For those of you who say you are splitting the dose of Lantus:
How are you splitting? 1/2 in morning before breakfast and 1/2 at bedtime? or other.
I am newly diagnosed Type 1 started on Lantus 3 mos ago, not using a bolus yet. Do get highs with even low carb dinners and wonder if my bedtime dose has warn off by then. (Comment this)

14 - I stated using Lantus about 9 months ago and have found absolutely no peaks at one injection a day - 11:30 at night. I can skip meals, and of course the huma-log insulin at the same time, without any detrimental effects. The old NPH insulin used to hav a 'final spurt'about 22 hours after the injection, so it seems that insulin takes longer to work with me than its supposed to! (Comment this)

15 - === Off-topic post ===
I've added a poll at the Diabetes Monitor about how you found this blog -- it's at
How did you hear about the Diabetes.Blog.com website?.

Please visit and vote (and you can come back later & see how other folks voted!)

Thanks. (Comment this)

16 - Thanks for the information on splitting the Lantus dose. It helped quite a bit this past weekend. My two sons (10 & 8) asked me to participate in a planned water park adventure this past weekend. Since I am on an insulin pump, to better control variable basal and bolus rates, I was concerned about being off of it while in the water for 6 hours. Additionally, the transfusion set would have stayed injected into my body, which could have been a source of infection.

So, I decided to go back to injections for 3 days, to allow the transfusion site to heal, and cover the time period of pump disconnection while at the water park. I just wanted to thank all of you for the useful information on Lantus.

Using the suggestions here, I picked up vials of Lantus & 70/30 insulin (my backup vials had expired in June). Since my BGs peak from 11pm to 7am, I decided to split the Lantus dosing, use 70/30 for night time, and use Novalog pump insulin for bolusing. Although it was complicated, I was able to roughly emulate my varial basal and bolus rates on my pump. I achieved fairly good BG control almost comparable to pump control. The only downside was that I ended up injecting about 5 to 7 times per day. This would definitely have been difficult to sustain over a long term period. Needless to say, despite the short comings of the pump to water, I was glad to go back to injecting a transfusion set once every 3-4 days!!

Again, thanks for the information, my control would not have been nearly as good without the information on this blog. (Comment this)

17 - === Off-topic post ===
I just reviewed the results of the poll I posted on August 27, and saw that no one has found this blog via a recommendation from any health-care professional (yet).

Can I suggest that you might want to tell your doc or nurse that Diabetes.Blog.com exists... and they can/should look it over & mention it to their other patients with diabetes? (Comment this)

18 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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19 - Hello to all. I live in the UK, I am newly diagnosed Type 1 started on Lantus 3 mos ago. Here in the UK, it is common pratice to use Lantus as a one dose injection at night, then use NovaRapid split into three doses across the daytime. I inject 18units of Lantus useing a pen device around 22:00hr, get up at 7am, take my blood sugar reading, which is most days between 104-110mg/dl, inject 10units of Novarapid 5min be for I eat. Take 10units with my mid-day food, and 10units with my evening meal.

With this system within 4 weeks of starting my blood reading are stable most days between 85-120 mg/dl, with one or two low's 65mg/dl each week. (Comment this)

20 - I have been on Lantus for about a year now. I am a type 1 diabetic & have been on both multiple injections with NPH & Humalog as well as the pump. I now take one dose of Lantus in the evening (though the literature says may be given at any time of day so long as you give the same time of day every day so I see why some of you may prefer morning). I also now take Humalog, my bolus insulin, after meals to handle the postprandials because Lantus is only a basal insulin like NPH...just thank God I no longer have the peaks I did with the NPH which caused me to gain weight because I would snack before bedtime to prevent my sugars from going to low while I slept & the NPH peaked. As for the pump, I just found it cumbersome to have to deal with and I love the freedom and flexibility my doctor has provided me with the Lantus and Humalog.

So for the type 1 I read about above, what other than Lantus does your doc have you on? I am almost certain that Lantus needs to be given with a regular or rapid acting insulin such as the Humalog I take in order to cover your mealtime sugars. Just curious......Take care! (Comment this)

21 - Thank you Ashley. I am only on Lantus and my dr is afraid to put me on insulin with meals because he feels I would need only 1-2 units or I would go hypo. He is suggesting I try Symlin instead of something like Humalog with my meals. I've been reading the Symlin blog to see if i want to try that. I do not need to lose any weight but I would like to lose my urge to graze and to take an afternoon nap.
If I keep losing weight he will start me on Humalog because I would be forced to eat more to keep from having hypo incidents. I was hoping I could just play with Lantus dosing and avoid additional mealtime shots totally. (Comment this)

22 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

 (Comment this)

23 - === Off topic post ===
Please read Dubious comments at this blog

Thanks. (Comment this)

24 - With referance to you question, I am takeing NovaRapid three times a day, 10units with each meal. This gives me a total of 48units of insulin per day. (Comment this)

25 - I have been taking Lantus for about 6 months. Have had good success with it, but run into the same problem as others are having after 16 hours or so. As far as low lood sugar readings from what I have read, the non diabetics liver secretes some stored glucose when the blood sugar becomes too low. The only timed released glucose is a product called Nite-Bar. But it only lasts 8 hours and is quite expensive. I have been a diabetic for 37 years and I have come to the conclusion that there will never be a cure for diabetes because there is too much money to be made from the monitoring/diet/insulin/supplies business. We don't cure diseases in the United States, we only help you to live day by day. (Comment this)

26 - I was on Lantus for 6 months - starting at 10 units and finally increased to 50u per day. My blood sugar only went down occassionally and primarily stayed at around 200 in the early a.m. when I get up. Results later in the day were closer to normal - I don't quite understand why it didn't seem to work at all. I have stopped taking it and my early morning sugars stayed about the same for a month so far. Any suggestions or ideas? (Comment this)

27 - I was on Lantus for 6 months - starting at 10 units and finally increased to 50u per day. My blood sugar only went down occassionally and primarily stayed at around 200 in the early a.m. when I get up. Results later in the day were closer to normal - I don't quite understand why it didn't seem to work at all. I have stopped taking it and my early morning sugars stayed about the same for a month so far. Any suggestions or ideas? (Comment this)

28 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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29 - Has anyone had problems with particles, floaties showing up in their Lantus vials way before 30 days are up? Its happening a lot. Wonder if its quality control or the way Lantus is designed, however all official info says particles arent good. (Comment this)

30 - Lisacatmom, everybody:
Do not use Lantus if it's got particles or if the liquid is discolored. Call the manufacturer and arrange to have the vial returned for analysis. They'll arrange for you to get a financial credit, also.

And if you had an adverse event while using the vial, let the company know. (Comment this)

31 - My husband age 76 is an insulin dependent diabetic and the doctor is talking about Lantus as a way of achieving better control (he's very brittle). I'm finding this blog interesting and helpful, but I'm in Australia and having trouble understanding the BSL readings mentioned as they appear to be different in different countries. Can anyone point me to a table on the 'net which shows the comparable values? It would make reading this blog so much easier.
Thankyou. (Comment this)

32 - Lynda:
Conversion of BSL to/from mmol/L and mg/dl is based on a factor of 18: 7 mmol/L=126 mg/dl. A converter is located at the Diabetes Monitor website.

Hope this helps! (Comment this)

33 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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34 - Hello
My name is Jessica Klatt. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year and a half ago. I am sensitive to most insulans because I go low all the time. I started lantus on June 8th. It is only in the needles. But I don't mind because I don't have to eat a certan amount of carbs a day. I can eat more or less. I do lantus once a day. I take 22-24 units at night jest before I go to bed. I am the only diabetic in my school. And I am the only type 1 diabetic in my town. I hope you like this blog. (Comment this)

35 - Have been on byetta for two months now, going on three, and my morning sugars are so high my doctor is considering putting me on a night shot of lantus.

Have been looking on the web and can not really find out much information regarding pens for lantus. Anyone have some good information, costs, recommendations, etc?

Thanks (Comment this)

36 - To Kathy posting of 9/18/05
Re: Symlin & Lantus.
Interested in how you made out with just Lantus and Symlin? I am taking 15 Lantus at night with 10 Symlin and Humalog Lispro before meals. Cutting back on my insulin as I've had too many scary lows. Considering trying just the Lantus and Symlin, and wondered how you came out?
Bob
rmlpulse@gmail.com (Comment this)

37 - I am a type 2 since 1990 who started on lantus a couple of years ago. I started at 40 units/day at bedtime and had gradually increased to 60 units/day with humalog coverage for spikes. Recently the Humalog has become totally ineffective. My 10:30a level was at 325 which I covered with 25 units of Humalog. Thirty minutes later my level was 352. They have just increased my Lantus to 70 units plus a higher humalog ratio. Has anyone had similar problems? (Comment this)

38 - I''ve had type 1 diabetes for nearly 30 years and hacve been on various insulin regimes. About 18 months ago I was switched from 3 daily doses of Actrapid and 1 of Insulatard to 3 doses of NovoRapid and 1 of Insulatrd to try to bring my frequent hypo''s under control. After a few months of still frequent hypo''s the Insulatard was replaced by Lantus, but I was still having frequent hypo''s. In September I was taken off the NovoRapid altogether (By then I was injecting 2 units at a time) and was put onto Lantus twice daily - in the morning I have between 8 and 10 units, and in the evening I have 6 units. I eat healthily, don''t drink much alcohol at all, exercise daily, but all this has not changed over the past 15 - 20 years. Can anyone help please? I''ve just come back from the clinic this morning feeling very frustrtated as I''ve just been told to reduce my dosages again. I feel like I''m getting nowhere! It is really bugging me as I''m feeling like no-one else has had any problems with the lantus regime, although I''m sure someone somewhere must be having similar problems. I''m a 35 year old working mum with a wonderfully supportive husband and family, but this is putting a real strain on my relationships! Help please!! (Comment this)

39 - Started on Lantus 8 months ago, since then I''ve gained weight around my upper abdomen and seem to be getting extremely bloated and uncomfortable. I was on Novalin for a couple of years with no problems. After maintaining my weight for almost 30 years, I have gained 10-15 pounds since starting the Lantus. I wonder if anyone else has had these syptoms because there is no information on any Lantus site that talks about these types of side effects.
Jessie (Comment this)

40 - I have visited this Blog as well as the Byetta Blog. I take Lantus, Starlix, and added Byetta three weeks ago. These sites have been very helpful to understand the side effects, problems, and successes everyone has experienced. The first couple of weeks on Byetta, my BS went down. This am my fasting BS was 300. I increased my Lantus dosage also this week to 36 units. I did experience some stomach upset at first with Byetta, but no weight loss. I have had no problems with Lantus. I started Lantus 1 1/2 ago, but it is probably time to adjust it. A1C went down from 8.1 to 6.9 the first six months on Lantus but is now back up to 8.9. (Comment this)

41 - I have been on Lantus since it went on the market here in the US. Due to an allergy to glycerin (not to glycerol, the alcohol version of glycerin) I cannot use any other type of insulin. However, I am up to a total of 140u of Lantus daily and I believe that''s just a bit more than what everyone seems to be using. I take 120mg of Starlix with each meal. My pre-prandial BS levels are about normal (85) now, although they used to be extremely high (300+).
So far my only problem appears to be the jitters. I am not a nervous person, but lately my hands shake on their own and I feel jumpy. Has anyone heard of these symptoms? I will see my endo on 01/24/06 and plan to explain the jitters, but I''d like to hear your opinions on the level of Lantus I am taking.
Thanks for any response. Elsa (Comment this)

42 - Some messages from our sponsor:

(1) Please spend a few minutes at the Diabetes Monitor website (CLICK HERE) and read more about diabetes. (2) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so: How did you find this blog? Tell us about yourself! (3) Finally, if you like to answer polls, there are lots more at the Diabetes Monitor, at Polls. Many thanks, from Steph & Bill Quick

 

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43 - Elsa, I am on 108 units of Lantus taken in the am. I had the shakiness you described. I also felt terrible off and on each day. I started out on a low dose then kept increasing as per my dr''s orders. The higher the dose the worse I felt. My dr wanted me to keep going higher as my BS was still out of control. I did not feel right about doing this and I think my body was trying to tell me something. Besides, in all my research on Lantus it said the dosage was 10 to 100 units. I stopped at 108 units (the shakiness has gone away). I still don''t feel so great. I have been on 108 units for about 3 weeks. I asked my dr if I could go see an Endo. She finally gave in. The Endo put me on Novolog w/meals. 5-7 units.It really hasn''t done too much. I wanted to be put on Byetta really badly (mainly for weight loss) but the Endo would not agree. This really upset me. I just found this forum today and really have enjoyed reading everyone''s posts and learning from them. I certainly will be coming back! Thanks, Terri (Comment this)

44 - My doc just prescribed Lantus for me. My first injection is to be tonight. Any additional info or tips would be greatly apreciated. I have used strictly oral...Glucotrol and Glucophage until now. Doc also said i should continue using the oral meds, it seems like it might be too much to me. My blood sugar is staying between 200 and 300 right now though. (Comment this)

45 - I've read that Lantus looses effectiveness after 28 to 30 days, but I didn't believe it because, um, 28 to 30 days from what? My bottle says it's good until the middle of next year. Is it a reaction to air being introduced to the bottle? Does anyone else experience this? It is an expensive insulin, but I like it. I just can't stand throwing a half-bottle away every month.
Lucy
nunnother@gmail.com
 (Comment this)

46 - Hi Lucy, I used Lantus for a year and a half --I no longer need it thanks to byetta--and I wasn't real good at watching how long I used a bottle, but I know I generally went a week or so over the 30 days without noticing any decrease in its effectiveness. I think the 30 day thing is an FDA labelling requirement to avoid using a contaminated product. Thirty days of poking a needle and air into the vial is introducing the potential for contagion. I always watched the vials closely for particles appearing and that did happen a few times. I immediately threw them out them.
Terry, I hope you can get your Endo to reconsider. The weight gain due to Lantus is horrible. I gained over 40 pounds during the time I took it. Now, after a month on byetta, I am able to stay with a 1200 calorie diet and have lost 20 pounds. Pat in Idaho (Comment this)

47 - I have been on Lanuts for about 4 months.I also take the metformin pills too. I was started out a 10 cc now I am up to 40 and my fasting is still around 200. All my BS stay around 200.I am to start on the byetta this week. I am thinking of not even taking the Lantus tonight. It isn't helping and I have gained like 10 pounds.My docotor told me that if I took over 30-35 units and it didn't help that it probably wasn't going to help to up the dosage. But she still wants me to take it along with the metformin when i start the byetta.I am going to take C-peptide test Thursday before I start the Byetta. (Comment this)

48 - === off-topic post ===

I have added a new Discussion Forum to share info about where you live, e-mail addresses, and other personal information.

If you want to share, simply tell someone here to go to
Who and where are you?

Hope this helps! (Comment this)

49 - Hi, I'm a type 2 diaberic for about 12 years. I've been on Lantus for my basal dose about 2 years now (formerly used R and N) and recently started using Humalog/Lispro as bolus and correction. I'm also on metformin (1000mg 2x a day). Previously used N, which stopped working well for me after about 4 years. Frankly I don't thing metformin does much for me but the Lantus sure helped with my morning highs. My dose was recently upped from 50 to 65 and I have noticed that if I take it all at night, my highs are still as high. I am taking 50 units at night, no more night sweats, and taking the other 15 in the morning. I have a new doctor now that seems willing to help me. Former doctor kept putting me off for A1c tests (1 a year!), refused to look at a foot ulcer OR to authorize a specialist (said "I don't do feet"). I went over his head (to my insurance) and got the job done before I had to have an amputation. Last HgA1c was 7.2 and my new doc has me doing this every 3 months. (Comment this)

50 - Hi

I have recently shifted to Lantus , i take 50 units before breakfast , i had a prob , when my fasting BS was 97 i took a shot of Lantus before breakfast and for breakfast (which i had after 15 mins ) i had a scramble egg on a toast (1 single slice of Whole grain bread) with unswetened Tea and after 2 hrs my sugar shotup to 230 , is it the bread .
My second question is , would it have helped had i taken a shot of humalog of arnd 3-4 units pre breakfast .....
I'm confusted as my Fasting BS reading r good but everytime i have some breakfast they just shoot up !!
Anyone with similar experience pls write back (Comment this)