A Question For Insulin Users Please - Page 2

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Jackhound Mom wrote:
Do you have a funny taste from your Lantus after using? There seems to be a smell and a floor wax taste that never really goes away. I only inject in my stomach. I have so many symptoms from any and all diabetic medicine. Please let me know side effects you have had with these medicines. Sweating, skin rash and trouble sleeping along with bathroom issues are also problematic. Thank you very much in advance.

Cathy

Hi @Jackhound Mom. I understand how daunting it can be learning what type of insulin to use. I have had Type 1 diabetes for nearly 50 years and I even find some of it confusing.

Lantus is considered a basal insulin which basically means a background insulin. It helps to keep your blood sugars down between meals. Lantus will definitely contribute to weight gain and there were some major studies regarding it may have a less advantageous profile than Levemir. Levemir rarely causes low blood sugar and I far prefer it to Lantus. In fact my insurance stopped allowing me to use it and refused to pay for it a few years ago. I use the pre-filled pen and you just need to purchase the needles to attach to it.

Are you using short acting insulin in addition to basal insulin? Sometimes the combination of both is easier to use than just the basal insulin (Lantus). It can be more fine tuned to whatever you are eating. For instance one day you might want to eat a dish of spaghetti with marinara sauce, salad and beverage so you could fine tune your insulin dose. The next day you wish to eat a salad and that would take far less insulin because there are far fewer carbohydrates in the meal. Most meals the carbohydrate content is where you need to make adjustments. One of the foods that produces higher blood sugars is pizza. For that you would need a unit or two more because of the high fat content in the cheese. I use Novolog ten minutes before a meal because it has a good profile for not promoting hypoglycemia.

Good diabetic care also involves limiting your fat intake in addition to carbohydrates. If you consume a lot of fat it slows digestion down producing hypoglycemia (sweating and anxiety) Then the fat causes a secondary blood sugar rise by causing insulin resistance and the liver oversecretes glucose. You then end up with elevated blood sugar levels. That is why you need a balanced diet of appropriate amounts of fats, carbohydrates and proteins usually prescribed and adjusted by your nutritionist.

If you are sweating that generally means you are dropping too low and need an adjustment in your Lantus. How many units are you taking and do you take it in the evening or both morning and evening?

Metformin is an excellent drug that even Type 1 diabetics use. I use it myself along with Levemir and Novolog. It helps with insulin resistance and helps with the outpouring of glucose from the liver... often an issue in the early morning for both Type 1 and Type 2. I use the slow release form of the medication. Start out slow and eventually work up to whatever your physican suggests. Studies have been done and Metformin is considered a medication that may be protective and considered a drug that prolongs life.

Have you had a test to see how much insulin you are producing ...the C Peptide Test? This will tell where you are along with your Type 2 diabetes.v If you are producing very little insulin due to pancreatic burn-out no diet no matter who says so will ever make you go into remission. You need supplemental insulin. However, if you are still producing copious amounts of insulin which many Type 2 diabetics produce initially, you may be able to get into remission with reducing your carbohydrate intake and lowering your fat intake which is the catalyst for hyperglycemia. Of course, since there is no cure for diabetes if you revert to old habits you will quickly go back to needing supplemental meds to control your blood sugar.

I have been leading Diabetic Support Group Meetings for many years and try and keep up with the latest Diabetes News and have for years. I hope that I can answer anything you need to know and if I do not know the answer, I have many sources (board certified physicians) that can answer any question you may have. Two good friends have been able to help me for many years and they are educated Board Certified Endocrinologists. They also taught so they are amazing good sources for anything new that is happening. They also know about some of the scams regarding diet and diabetes and it is essential to be careful of them. Diabetes can not be cured. Remission can be short term because the pancreas eventually may stop producting any insulin as diabetes is a progressive disease.

My best to you and I hope I haven't confused you. Hope you begin to feel better after getting your medications adjusted.

Just wanted to add the book "Think like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE is the gold standard of diabetes care. He goes into complete detail about many questions that you may have. Even after many years of diabetes, I still refer to it from time to time.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

@cherry,

The medical providers my husband and I deal with DO NOT look at insulin as the last line of defense with diabetes. My husbands health would be much better today if he had started insulin years earlier, and that came from his provider at the VA. My husbands previous doctor strung him along with the “let’s wait and see approach”, which is responsible for why he can’t feel his feet today.

Our doctors, all under 60, say and feel the key is in control, and if their patient achieves that goal thru daily insulin, then that’s the way to go.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

@Jackhound Mom — I inject Lantus at night and have never had any of the issues you mention from it. Metformin was a GI nightmare for me and my body never became accustomed to it.

@Trinity11 — Intersting post. I will check on Levemir on my next endo appointment.

Jackhound Mom · ‎03-09-2010

@cherry wrote:
@Jackhound Mom if you are using insulin , you are using the last line of defense in the drug arsenal. They don't start type 2 on insulin ,uless all other meds are not keeping your blood sugar at safe levels

@cherryThanks for your answer! Oral meds (for me) had too many side effects to be tolorated. Yes I am type 2. Thanks for all the answers. To the one that suggested I'm in need of therapy, I can't make up buckets of perspration or rash/eczema flairs or any other misery this durg causes. I have many drug allergys and sensitive people all have different symptoms. I will call the maker on Monday to ask and post again.

Jackhound Mom · ‎03-09-2010

@Perkup wrote:
I'm a type 2 diabetic - have been for about 30 years. Recently put on Lantus in the evening, which is helping ro keep down my numbers through the night. I can smell the Lantus, but am not
suffering any of the side effects you mention. Have you spoken with your prescribing physician about your symptons? No matter what the medicine there is always a chance for some reaction, and it's possible this isn't a good med for you. Talk to the doctor and see if there are alternatives.

Thank You @Perkup!!!!!!! I had a feeling someone else could smell or taste this RX. So glad you don't have any other symptoms. I am seeing a NP new to me this week.

Jackhound Mom · ‎03-09-2010

@cherry wrote:
The major side effects of taking insulin include:
Low blood sugar
Weight gain when you first start using it
Lumps or scars where you've had too many insulin injections
Rash at the site of injection or, rarely, over your entire body
With inhaled insulin, there's a chance your lungs could tighten suddenly if you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Thank you again @cherry ! Where did you find this info?

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

@Jackhound Mom web MD

Jackhound Mom · ‎03-09-2010

@Trinity11 wrote:
@Jackhound Mom wrote:
Do you have a funny taste from your Lantus after using? There seems to be a smell and a floor wax taste that never really goes away. I only inject in my stomach. I have so many symptoms from any and all diabetic medicine. Please let me know side effects you have had with these medicines. Sweating, skin rash and trouble sleeping along with bathroom issues are also problematic. Thank you very much in advance.

Cathy
Hi @Jackhound Mom. I understand how daunting it can be learning what type of insulin to use. I have had Type 1 diabetes for nearly 50 years and I even find some of it confusing.

Lantus is considered a basal insulin which basically means a background insulin. It helps to keep your blood sugars down between meals. Lantus will definitely contribute to weight gain and there were some major studies regarding it may have a less advantageous profile than Levemir. Levemir rarely causes low blood sugar and I far prefer it to Lantus. In fact my insurance stopped allowing me to use it and refused to pay for it a few years ago. I use the pre-filled pen and you just need to purchase the needles to attach to it.

Are you using short acting insulin in addition to basal insulin? Sometimes the combination of both is easier to use than just the basal insulin (Lantus). It can be more fine tuned to whatever you are eating. For instance one day you might want to eat a dish of spaghetti with marinara sauce, salad and beverage so you could fine tune your insulin dose. The next day you wish to eat a salad and that would take far less insulin because there are far fewer carbohydrates in the meal. Most meals the carbohydrate content is where you need to make adjustments. One of the foods that produces higher blood sugars is pizza. For that you would need a unit or two more because of the high fat content in the cheese. I use Novolog ten minutes before a meal because it has a good profile for not promoting hypoglycemia.

Good diabetic care also involves limiting your fat intake in addition to carbohydrates. If you consume a lot of fat it slows digestion down producing hypoglycemia (sweating and anxiety) Then the fat causes a secondary blood sugar rise by causing insulin resistance and the liver oversecretes glucose. You then end up with elevated blood sugar levels. That is why you need a balanced diet of appropriate amounts of fats, carbohydrates and proteins usually prescribed and adjusted by your nutritionist.

If you are sweating that generally means you are dropping too low and need an adjustment in your Lantus. How many units are you taking and do you take it in the evening or both morning and evening?

Metformin is an excellent drug that even Type 1 diabetics use. I use it myself along with Levemir and Novolog. It helps with insulin resistance and helps with the outpouring of glucose from the liver... often an issue in the early morning for both Type 1 and Type 2. I use the slow release form of the medication. Start out slow and eventually work up to whatever your physican suggests. Studies have been done and Metformin is considered a medication that may be protective and considered a drug that prolongs life.

Have you had a test to see how much insulin you are producing ...the C Peptide Test? This will tell where you are along with your Type 2 diabetes.v If you are producing very little insulin due to pancreatic burn-out no diet no matter who says so will ever make you go into remission. You need supplemental insulin. However, if you are still producing copious amounts of insulin which many Type 2 diabetics produce initially, you may be able to get into remission with reducing your carbohydrate intake and lowering your fat intake which is the catalyst for hyperglycemia. Of course, since there is no cure for diabetes if you revert to old habits you will quickly go back to needing supplemental meds to control your blood sugar.

I have been leading Diabetic Support Group Meetings for many years and try and keep up with the latest Diabetes News and have for years. I hope that I can answer anything you need to know and if I do not know the answer, I have many sources (board certified physicians) that can answer any question you may have. Two good friends have been able to help me for many years and they are educated Board Certified Endocrinologists. They also taught so they are amazing good sources for anything new that is happening. They also know about some of the scams regarding diet and diabetes and it is essential to be careful of them. Diabetes can not be cured. Remission can be short term because the pancreas eventually may stop producting any insulin as diabetes is a progressive disease.

My best to you and I hope I haven't confused you. Hope you begin to feel better after getting your medications adjusted.

Just wanted to add the book "Think like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE is the gold standard of diabetes care. He goes into complete detail about many questions that you may have. Even after many years of diabetes, I still refer to it from time to time.

@Trinity11 Thank you SO much for the wonderful informative post!!!

I too will ask about Levemir. The only thing I use right now is Lantis 10 units (low dose)

I have not had the C peptide test but will ask about it this week at my appt.

The book suggestion is also appreciated. Not as sharp as I used to be and sometimes when trying to look up and read about this health problem it all starts to read like sterio instructions

You are very kind to offer your help and again if I offended anyone in the past with my surgery question I am very sorry.

Cathy

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

@Jackhound Mom has your thyroid been tested? Thyroid problems and diabetes go hand in hand....both are problems about making enough hormones

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

When I said insulin is your last line of defense, I meant there are no other treatments available beyond insulin. Most people work their way up to taking it ,as their symptoms worsen. It is the big guns. Perhaps we will see a things change in our lifetime. I have faith it will