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1 - Hello, my name is John. I am an adult T1 diabetic for 5 years. My A1C is actually quite good, but I decided to try Symlin so that I can enjoy more foods without having post-meal spikes that made me feel so bad and out of control. I am on my second DAY of usage at 2.5 units.

Today I decided to exercise before taking Symlin and eating breakfast. I just don''t want to take any risks! I''ll check back in from time to time with questions and comments. Glad to find this blog. (Comment this)

2 - Has anyone tried giving the shots in places other than the stomach? I''ve been on the pump for so long that my stomach is a bit tough (I''ve acutally bent a symlin needle trying to get through) and have had some very bad bruises appear. I read the literature and it says not to do it in the arm, but wanted to get information from those that are actually using it. (Comment this)

3 - Deb D - I have bent needles just trying to get them into and out of the Symlin vial. I have no idea why they had to make the top so thick and hard to penetrate!

No experience injecting away from the abdomen. (Comment this)

4 - 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)

5 -
Hi Deb,

I always inject in my right thigh. I have done so for many years with insulin and continue to do so with Symlin. I estimate that I have injected there over 20,000 times, so the scar tissue has built up to the point that I usually do not feel the injection.

I occasionaly get some bruising and sometimes bend a needle - I get rid of the bruising by doing a better job of moving the injection location around. I also have some trouble with the thickness of the rubber top on Symlin vials. Today''s small, very thin needles just don''t work well with that thick rubber.

The Babe

 (Comment this)

6 -
Dan,

I read your post about a 24 hour version of Symlin with much interest, as I follow Symlin closely and have no knowledge of this. Several days ago I posted your info on the Yahoo-Finance-AMLN message board. The response I got was from a medical professional who also had never heard of a 24 hour version.

There is a technical reason that a 24 hour version may not be feasible. Symlin (a mimetic of amylin) has a 1/2 life of 48 minutes - that is why many of us start getting hungry about 3 hours after injecting. Amylin (the natural version) has a half life of even less than 48 minutes.

Your body *** has never had *** a 24 hour version. In a normal person, amylin comes from the beta cells in your pancreas "as needed" - which is also true of insulin in a normal person - they both come from the beta cells.

Perhaps you can give us some references on the planned 24 hour version of Symlin.

The overall tone of your post comes under the heading of "condemning with faint praise". Does Symlin just not work for you or ... ?

The Babe



 (Comment this)

7 - Babe, one day there will be another resevoir for the pump and this can just be selected as a basal or bolus like insulin. (Comment this)

8 - Does anyone take Synthroid or another thyroid hormone in the morning? If so, how do you time this pill with breakfast with Symlin and breakfast? (Comment this)

9 - Johnboy,
I take synthroid and have had great success w symlin. I take the synthroid at 700, eat and symlin at 7:45 nd insulin at 800. I havent had sny problems.

I called Amylin about the 24 hour symlin. They said they had no idea what I was talking about. They said they were beginning trials for 24 hour Byetta, but no plans for Symlin. I am curious if there is more info on the 24 hr Symlin.

Do you guys eat a snack when taking Sylin or just a meal every 3-4 hours? Thanks! Alicia (Comment this)

10 - Symlin changed the rubber on the vials. The new bottles are mch easier to pierce and don''t dull the needles as bad.
Alicia (Comment this)

11 - Hello Symlin folks,
I had my first symlin injection today! I really wanted my endo to give me the byetta, but he said no since I am type 1 insulin dependent.

I find if I am extremly disciplined and structured, my b.g. stay in the good range. If I have even the slightest stress (good or not so good) my b.g.s begin to bounce up and down.

Glad to have this support group! (Comment this)

12 - Alicia, thank God they changed that rubber. I am still working with the original vial from the started kit, but am looking forward to filling my first Rx in January.

Thanks for the tip as well. I woke up at 6 today and took my Synthroid, did Symlin at 6:50 and ate at 7, insulin at 7:15 and exercise at 7:45.

Today, I moved up to 5u from 2.5. Wow, I felt full in the middle of breakfast. This is going to be interesting!


 (Comment this)

13 - Hi there. I am a 33 year old female and have been diabetic for 21 1/2 years. I have been on an insulin pump for 2 years now. I saw my doctor this week and asked to start Symlin and he agreed. I am waiting to hear from his office for an educational appointment. Can anyone tell me what I can expect those first few days? I am wprried about having a sevear low blood sugar reaction because of it. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me? In addition to being excited about better blood sugar levels I am curious to see what this drug will do to my weight. Has anyone lost any significant amount of weight while on Symlin? (Comment this)

14 - Karla, it took a couple of days for me to get the hang of it, but once my body adjusted I did fine the first week. I just upped my dosage per the CDE''s instructions and have been running a little high today, which i have been correcting for. If it''s like the first week, my body will respond soon.

One thing I noticed right away with the week 2 dose today is that I felt and stayed full very quickly compared to the week 1 dose.

I haven''t really lost weight yet, but it''s common and I can see why.

Good luck!
 (Comment this)

15 - I am a 27 year old Type 1 diabetic. Ive been a diabetic for 14 years and a pumper for ten years. I am very active in the treatment of my diabetes. I test at least ten times a day, but usually more than that. I run 5-7 miles 3 to five times a week as well. Currently my a1c is at 6.9. Ive been struggling with a lot of variability post meals and also surrounding my exercise routine. I also am 5''7 and I weigh 169 lbs. I have been trying to lose weight for the past year but I just can''t seem to lose weight in any marked fashion. It hasn''t helped that the exercise at the intense level i do it requires tons of extra calories to accomplish, even if i reduce my basals to .05 and .00 in the four hours prior to exercising.....well my doctor has recommended the symlin for me because i am so aggressive and i do have such intense varibility in my sugars. Im due to start the end of july. Im wondering if anyone on here has used symlin with an aggressive exercise regiment? I want the variability evened out, but Im afraid of crippling lows.... (Comment this)

16 - Karla and Sarah,

I have been on symlin 10u now for 3 days. I was afraid of the lows also, but so far so good. I did wake up about 4 am today with 101 reading, but I was not having my typical low feeling. I ate a banana and a few hours later my b.g. was 130. My night and early morning b.g. are normally about 160-180. Needless to say, I am thrilled.
Also, I am not having severe side effects only a little nausea and light headache shortly after injecting.
I have not noticed any weight loss after 3 days, but symlin has decreased my appeite tremendously.
Sarah, cheers to you for your intense exercise routine. I am very active, but certainly not intense. I really feared the lows, but have not had a critical drop.
I am returning to the pump this week. I can''t take all these injections. (Comment this)

17 - Ecuadorjanine, it''s great that this has worked out well for you so far. If your bg continues to even out enough and you are not feeling low at 101, you may even decide that you don''t need to eat a banana to get you bg up. For me 101 would be a perfect morning reading.

Are you T1 or T2?

 (Comment this)

18 - Johnboy,
I am type 1. This evening pre dinner I had bg of 83 and did not feel bad at all. I was getting hungry but that is it. My normal lows are about 115 anything below that I get the crushing low feeling.
I am amazed that I am not reacting to the lows, must be the symlin!
My morning to lunch bg continue to be higher than I like. I may need to add a little more insulin into my am dose.
I have lost a couple lbs. thank goodness! (Comment this)

19 - The body does adjust. I had severe headaches week 1 and 2, but now (end of week 4) - no side effects. I have not lost any weight, which is frustrating considering I''m eating a lot less than I used to, but at least the scale has stopped trying to creep upward. Kudos to you Sarah, I barely have enough energy at the end of the day to drive home let alone exercise (yes, I know I need to). I used to get the shakes at about 90 b.g., but now I don''t feel it until it is under 60 (and I''ve only had a couple of those). My next a1c is in mid-January, it should be lower since overall my sugars have been around 150 instead of my normal 200. (Comment this)

20 -
Deb,

Are you on a low-carb diet? There is a technical reason that could have something to do with your lack of energy.

My "target" bg is 85. I start getting "signals" in the 60s.

The Babe (Comment this)

21 -
Ecuador,

The "Dawn Phenomenon" causes many people to have bg problems during the morning. I have to add 18 units of Humalog each morning just to offset it. Obviously the dose varies by individual.

The Babe (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 - I am type 1 of 20 years and on the pump for 5. I am an avid exerciser. I did the Tour de cure bike ride for diabetes (50 miles) and run almost everyday. I found when I started the symlin, I actuall ran high. I cut my units 1/2 and started at 2.5u w/ symlin. Once I got to 5, i have had almost perfect blood sugars. I took a break from exercising when starting Symlin. I liked the Babe''s advice-eliminating as many variables as possible. I have lost 10 pounds since I started Symlin and don''t really want to loose much more. Before Symlin, I was running up to 8 miles and not seeing a pound drop off.

I started running again, right after I had breakfast and Symlin. I felt real nautious and had to stop. Normally I do just fine. I do much better working out before I take my shot (and food). My blood sugars don''t seem to drop too much. I have power gel just in case and I alwayse use it if I am working out aerobically more than 40 min.

As you gain tighter control of your bloodsugars, you will be able to go much lower before you start feeling symptons. -Not that this is a good thing.

One pointer for everyone starting, go with the longest needle you can. I started w/ the short ones. I bruised and had rashes all up and down my leg. I read in an earlier post to try a longer needle (which didn''t sound like fun). I switched to the longer ones and the burning has lessened and the bruising is much less frequent.
:) Alicia (Comment this)

24 - I read is a previous post that when someone opened a new vial they were getting a little nautious almost like the Symlin was breaking down or not as potent towards the end of the 28 days. I had some major problems the last week of my Rx. I spoke with my dr, and we figured out it had broken down from being carried in my purse-"excessive aggrivation". I know it is a protein and should be stored away from light and heat, but didn''t even think about the third. Anyway, everything is good now but Amylin wants to know if anyone else has had any symptons that their Symlin isn''t as strong towards the end. I spoke to research at Amylin, and they want me to call back w/ others that had the same problem. If anyone else has had this please let me know. Thanks, Alicia (Comment this)

25 - Babe,

I have gone to lower carbs and "good" carbs. I try to follow along the Glycemic Index diet (by Rick Gallop). I have to be careful because I adopted 3 children 2 years ago and they were extremely malnourished (my son, 9, actually missed a growth spurt and weighed only 45 pounds). I have to add carbs to their diet and I HATE cooking separate meals (nor do I have the time). For those that are wondering, the kids are all responding well, growing and becoming normal, obnoxious kids ;-). Anyways, I don''t notice a difference in my energy level, unless its a total carb pig-out, then I''m very tired. (Comment this)

26 - Alicia,
It is so nice to run into someone else who is a diabetic who exercises strenuously! I would love to get some more hints about how you manage your sugars while exercising. I think I will more than likely have to put off running at least a week when I start the symlin. I hate to do that because the first few runs can be pretty painful after taking even a short break. As it stands now I will be starting the symlin in 3 weeks. It is kind of a count down, well it is a count down for me, and I am very excited. Ive had to take a break from running the past week anyhow because I sprained a joint in my back but im hoping that ultimately, the symlin will help me over the 6-7 mile wall my body reaches, where my bs drops faster than I can replace the sugar. I just found out about this stuff called gu that I am going to try, once i actually am healed enough to get out again. I love reading about all of the symlin experiences on here. Keep it up everyone, it is great! (Comment this)

27 - Sarah,
It seemed for me Symlin helped exercising in the fact that I lost 10 pounds. That doesn''t seem like a lot, but it sure makes running easier. I haven''t tried my long workouts yet on Symlin. We do that on our bikes when the weather is nice. Keep us posted when you get to start. This is almost a "miracle drug" with everything it has done for me. (Comment this)

28 - Alicia,
I have a sports chiropractor, and we''ve been working for quite some time to try and maneuver some weight loss. It is amazing that I can run 6 miles five times a week eating 1600 calories a day and not lose weight! Especially considering that at my weight of 169, a 6 mile run burns well over 600 calories. It''s nuts! That is one thing my endo pointed out specifically for me is that if it should help me lose that final ten lbs, which is all she''d really like to see me lose, and then bring my a1c down hopefully around 1 point, from 6.9 to 5.9, w hich in her view that entire scenario would be perfect for me. Im so excited to get started and get going on this. Im planning on registering for an earth day race for may which is 14 miles. It may be wishful thinking to try and run that far without hitting my diabetic wall, but perhaps with the symlin added in, the help from my sports therapist and my endo, i can make it happen!
 (Comment this)

29 - Sarah
I ran a half marathon and I can give you pointers on blood sugar control or at least what worked for me. It sounds like you are dedicated! I know they want the discussion to stay on Symlin on this post. If you have time email me at abpollan@cox.net.
Alicia (Comment this)

30 - 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)

31 - good to hear from other diabetics who excercise. I''m 21 type I for 19 years. I''ve been on the pump for 5 years and taking symlin for 4 months. I run usually 4-5 days a week and lift weights.I plan on running a half marathon in June. Symlin has been very helpful. My A1c before symlin was 6.8, I know its lower now but havent been to endo since symlin. I also lost 10 lbs. After making some adjustments the symlin has helped in stabalizing my blood sugar. I have found that its best for me to work out 1-2 hours after symlin and food. I also found that its best for me to take symlin with my meal but not give a bolus of insulin right away. If I bolused insulin with my symlin and meal I would go very low, sometimes 30-40mgdl. My Blood sugar would then shoot up 2 hours after meals. Excercising became dangerous when my blood sugars were dropping so rapidly with the symlin. I found that my body does not need insulin for the half life of symlin, so I now wait to give my insulin until symlin starts to wear off. I also found that it was easier to adjust to symlin without excercise. I took off about a week or two.

so heres what works for me:

test blood,take symlin- 10 units
wait 10 minutes, then eat meal

wait 1 hour test blood and give insulin.

I usually work out in the evening 1-2 hours after meal.
hope this helps...
Ben (Comment this)

32 - I am on my first bottle of symlin . I started off at 2.5 units for 3 days then I have inceased 2.5 units every 3 days until I am at 10 units . I can really tell the difference when I go to eat . I think I have lost 8 pounds .I have cut my insulin to 6 units now. I did not have any symthons from symlin! Rita (Comment this)

33 - I haven''t read or posted in a long time...and I can''t go back to read what was posted in the last month or two. I wanted to ask The Babe a question. I wanted to know if you have lost anymore weight and what your total weight loss has been? I have lost a total of 55 pounds since April. Half of the weight loss was pre-symlin, the other half was while taking symlin since September. I lost very rapidly at first...now only about 2 pounds a month and nothing this past month ( my fault...i ate a bit more for holidays ) When I first began taking Symlin, I had a great appetite reduction, now this is only happening with breakfast and lunch. With dinner, I am usually very hungry and stay hungry until I go to bed. I usually do not wake up hungry. I am also wondering if you are still getting the "full" sensation? I am having excellent tight controlled BG''s. My A1c is 5.5, down from 7.8-10 pre-symlin. I also am the only patient that has been successful with symlin in my doctor''s office; I think that may be due to lack of compliance because symlin is so inconvenient when going out to eat and traveling. If you don''t mind, just let me know how you are doing. Thanks so much!

Jessica Miller (Comment this)

34 -
Jessica,

True confession time: I may have to turn over to you the position of "Symlin poster child" on this board!! And yes, I am frustrated.

During the first 6 weeks I was on a serious "low carb" diet and lost so much weight (36#) that AMLN listed me on their safety report to FDA as an "adverse event".

I then switched to a "balanced diet". I feel better (more energy and the "magic feeling") but the weight loss stopped. I then travelled from late Sep until early Dec, then came the holidays. You are "right on" - for me it was impossible to lose/hold my weight during that time frame.

The last time I checked I have lost 25# since starting Symlin on 27 June 05. I can''t weigh or exerecise now because I am wearing a huge surgical boot.

I am treating that Sep > Jan time frame as a "plateau". I will now be home for several months (I am retired) and am close to being back into my Symlin routine. (It take me about 4 - 5 days to do that).

I do not normally have the "full" sensation, but I have no trouble with eating between meals - except in the evening -does that sound familiar?

The Babe

 (Comment this)

35 - hmmm, i keep coming back to this site to learn as much as i can about symlin. i have been on it since sept. and some months have been great, some not so good. i am the only patient on this so my physician is looking at my experiences and trying to draw some logic. i''m not sure there is any logic. i have learned that if my bs is below 100 when i get up, to take the symlin, eat breakfast, and wait about an hour before giving the humalog (insulin). what doesn''t make sense, is i eat the same exact breakfast every day, same time of day, and sometimes my sugar starts to raise in a half hour, sometimes it takes two hours. could this be due to the absorption rate of the symlin upon injection? i know this sometimes is a problem with insulin, so i am assuming...Babe, you appear to have done the most study of this product. have you noticed this? anyone else, please let me know....

thanks
jill (Comment this)

36 -
Jill,

My experience is that bs will rise related to the time you get up, not when you eat - this is the "Dawn Phenomenon" at work. It is caused by your liver adding "stored" sugar to your blood. I think it is independent of when - or if -you eat breakfast. (Think back to the early days of man - get up in the morning and find something to eat ... or maybe not).

I find that my morning "get up" blood sugar has a lot to do with what I ate the day before - heavy dinner -vs- light dinner, evening snacks or not, etc. A very heavy lunch (like Thanksgiving) even seems to make a difference.

When I was taking my "lab" approach to Symlin during the first 3 months, I sometimes felt that I was trying to learn "too much". (One day I did 23 blood tests!!) I now test - take Symlin - eat - wait a while - take Humalog. Since I do not take Humalog between meals, there isn''t much I can do to change my bs between meals anyway.

I am now at 3 - 4 blood tests a day. My left ring finger, where I do all of my tests, can handle this ok. It sure did not like 23 a day!!!

I realize that I may not have provided a "direct" answer, but the info may be helpful.

The Babe
 (Comment this)

37 - babe:appreciate any input you can give. i''ve never thought i have really had to deal with the "dawn phenomen" since i was diagnosed, but then again i can always be wrong. the one thing that does make sense, is if i go to bed with a bs of 47, and i wake up in the a.m. with a b.s of 170+, i figure my sugar went too low during the night, and this is why i bs is high in the a.m., however, if the same occurs that i go to bed with a bs of 47, and in the a.m wake up with a b.s. of 47, then it puzzles me. this disease is so insideous, its'' hard to always understand. but with the symlin, i also wonder if one goes to bed with a low sugar, then the release of nutrients occur at night, would not one''s blood sugar be raised in the morning? i know that symlin has a half life of 48 mins, and if you are taking 20 units/meal, how long does the symlin stay. also, if in 3 hours it''s out of the system, then does the sugar start to rise in one''s system. is this why you eat every 4 hours?

jill (Comment this)

38 - 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)

39 - Hi, I have just in the past few days heard of Symlin. The first I even read anything about it was today. It seems a little like Byetta in it''s weight loss and lowering BS properties, but don''t think it can be the same since Byetta is said to be a Diabetic medicine that''s alone in it''s class?
Can anyone tell me more about Symlin? Can it be taken with Lantus, Metformin or Novolog?
I want to thank everyone for their postings. I am learning an awful lot thanks to you great people!
Terri (Comment this)

40 - I am new to this blog. Have been on the Byetta blog for several months. Had great success with Byetta the first month - lost 15 lbs, not much appetite, and all except first AM bs reading was within 84 - 130 range. I did have fairly bad nausea every AM for about 3 hours but it seemed worth it. I had to stop Byetta for 3 months due to unrelated illness. When I started back - the success was gone. True, I no longer have nausea but my bs readings are erratic and usually in the 140 - 180 range. Lower than pre Byetta but still under control. This all leads to the fact that my endo has said that if my A1C wasn't down by end of Feb, she might switch me to Symlin. So I have started reading this blog. Found much good info - but have a few basic questions. First, does Symlin come in a pen like Byetta or only in a vial and syringe? Second, do most people have a set amount to inject each time or is it dictated by bs reading? I am sure my endo will go over this if I make the switch - but would like to know these things ahead of time.

Thanks for all the sharing on this blog - most helpful.
Nancy (Comment this)

41 - Oops! Meant to say my readings are not lower than pre-Byetta but still NOT under control. (Comment this)

42 - Hi all. I've enjoyed reading all the comments on Symlin. I'm a type 1 diabetic x 15 years. Diagnosed at age 11. I went on the insulin pump at 16 and went on Symlin in November. I'm now up the the full dosage of it (10 units every meal) but having lots of problems with my number. For instance, this morning I woke up at 105. Took 10 units of Symlin and ate 30grams of carbs. Took 0.6 units of insulin via the pump. My carb ratio is now 1:45 grams of carbs-it was 1:15 prior to starting Symlin. Within 1 hour, I was low-54. It took 30 grams of carbs to get my blood sugar up. Then by lunch I was 180. This has been happening all the time-low after meals (sometimes 30's and 40's) and high prior to meals. Any suggestions??? Also, anyone heard on when studies will be done on symlin and pregnancy? My husband and I will most likely start trying next fall/winter. Hoping Symlin will be studied in pregnancy by then. One more question-what do you all do when skipping a meal? I work strange hours and sometimes do a 24 hour shift and am then sleeping the whole next day. I just skip my Symlin but find that I then run high. Thanks for any help you can all give me!! (Comment this)

43 - hey megan,
I'm type 1 and have been on the pump for 5 yrs. sounds like you may need to wait a while before bolusing for a meal. I had the same problems- low Sugar the first hour after symlin injection/ insulin bolus. Then my Blood sugar would rise 2 hrs after meal/symlin/ insulin.

Heres what I do to avoid lows right after symlin and highs hours after symlin..

1. I test, take symlin and then eat.
2. I wait about 45min-1 hour then I test again and bolus my insulin.

I have had great control with this system, and have avoided the extreme lows I was experiencing at first. I found that my body does not need the insulin while the symlin is at full strength.

good luck stick with it. (Comment this)

44 - Thanks for the tips Ben. I think I'll try bolusing 1 hour after meals and seeing if that helps. (Comment this)

45 - In regards to several different questions. I've been on Symlin for a month now. Severe headaches were the only side effect along with bruising at the injection site. The full feeling has worn off, however, I'm a habitual "picker" while cleaning up and have found it very easy not to pick or have that "last" spoonful. I am also on the pump and bolus for the carbs that I've eaten 1 hour after eating. I've only had occasional lows or highs (lows are below 60 and my highs are over 180) and most are explainable due to things such as forgetting to bolus or not taking into consideration my exercise. If I skip a meal (my weekends are anything but routine) I do not take the Symlin, although this sometimes causes me to start getting the headaches, which stop as soon as I take Symlin and of course, eat. I go to my endo in 2 weeks, if my A1c is below 8 then Symlin is a success and I will continue to work on healthy eating, excercise and losing weight (ok, maybe only 1 of those for now ;-)).

You need to look at what your overall goals are, because we are all different and react to Symlin differently. Take from this blog those things that work for you and don't forget to let us all know how it works for you, we all learn from each other. I am inspired by the lessons shared here to honestly keep working on getting better control. (Comment this)

46 - Well, I tried the bolusing 1 hour after meals at dinner tonight and it worked much better. I took my Symlin right before dinner and then ate. Tested 1 hour later and was 149. Bolused for my meal then. 1 hour later I was 80 and now approx. 2 hours later, I'm 125. This is the first time in weeks that I haven't gone low after eating and then been high 2 hours later. I talked to m y doctor this afternoon and he adjusted some of my basal rates as well. My biggest problem seems to be my unpredictable schedule. I work a call schedule and when I'm on call, I am sometimes up for 24 hours or longer-trying to control my blood sugars during those times is near impossible! Thanks for the advice. (Comment this)

47 -
Megan,

I went from 3 months on Symlin at home -to- 3 months on Symlin while traveling - as close to a black & white, yes/no, either-or scenario as you could choreograph.

I dislike being this blunt, but your "call schedule" (like my travel schedule) is the worst thing you can do to your current health situation (and your future family plans).

It appears that it is time for you to do a hard-core priority check.

The Babe
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48 - Babe,

Thanks for the input. I'm not on call every day-which is why I (along with my doctor) don't see it as a negative. I work 8-10 call days a month-about 1 or 2 of those end up being 24 hour shifts. The rest of the time, my job is a regular 8-5 job with the option of working from home and great flexibility-all of which are reasons I love my job. The biggest problem, is just trying to control my blood sugars during the 24 hour call-which as I said is only an average of 2x a month. If it was more than that, I would totally agree that it was bad for my health. I'm very diligent about testing my blood sugar while on call-if I'm up 24 hours, my alarm is set for every 2-3 hours to remind me to test and eat a snack if needed. It is normally the day of recovery (Sleeping) that is difficult because I end up sleeping through lunch and missing a dose of Symlin. My A1C is actually fairly low (6.7) despite my oncall schedule-just working on getting it lower before starting to try and get pregnant. At this time, I along with my healthcare team and husband, do not feel my job negatively impacts my health but it is certainly something we look at closely and requires much more planning and testing on my part. My attitude with diabetes has always been that it will not stop me from doing anything-I love my job and while managing my diabetes with my job is difficult, it is not impossible. The good thing is I work in the healthcare industry so stopping to test my blood sugar is not only understood my all my colleagues, but appreciated. Thank you very much for your honesty-I do appreciate it. With the help of my healthcare team, colleagues and hard work on my part, I do manage my blood sugars well-I'm just not satisfied with "good" right now and am striving for tighter control. The nice thing about a 24 hour shift is that I test quite often-being awake for a whole day will do that to you! Thank you again for your input. (Comment this)

49 - well, through all my trials and tribulations i received a call from my doctor and my latest a1c came back at 6.0. that's the best i've ever had. it usually has ran between 6.7 and 7.0, plus the prior two readings were slightly above 7.0, which infuriated me as it made no sense. so, symlin definitely made an impact on my a1c. the main thing i seem to need to get a handle on is the severe low's i have experienced recently. i have cut my symlin back from 20 to 15 thinking that 20 units was too high. has anyone else had to cut the smylin dose? and if so,what was the affect? any and all information is always apprecitated.
jill (Comment this)

50 -
Jill,

Congratulations on the improved A1c!!

Symlin cannot cause low blood sugar - it is caused by insulin.

You might want to call your doc about reducing your insulin.

The Babe

PS - By the way, "severe lows" implies that you have been in the hospital recently for low blood sugar/hypoglycemia in which case your insulin should have already been reduced.



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