Lantus and Humalog (questions -- help!?!)

Jill-O · #1 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 03:10 AM

Yesterday, I was switched from Novolog 70/30 2x a day to Humalog before meals and Lantus once a day.

I took my Humalog before dinner and had a little more carbs than normal. About 15 minutes after eating, I took the Lantus (6pm).

I felt a little funny and checked my numbers and was at 130 an hour after eating fairly many carbs. That concerned me (should it have, though???), and I had a donut (yeah, wonderful choice). I checked in 15 mins and the number was about the same. So I ate some candy thinking I was going to go too low with it being that I'd had so many carbs. I do think I over did the candy and really probably overestimated how quick the candy would show up on my test as I have NEVER had to try and correct for a low (which I thought was pending, maybe incorrectly).

So, one question I have is whether or not is is okay for me to take the Lantus only an hour after Humalog?

Can you all give me insight into my dosing? Before, I took 22u Novolog 70/30 before breakfast and 32u of Novolog 70/30 at dinner.

NOW, it's 5u, 7u, and 10u of Humalog before breakfast, lunch and dinner, and 24u of Lantus in the evening.

I took the Humalog this morning and had usual breakfast (2 no sugar added yogurts -- 28 carbs, 180 calories). I will be testing at 7am (2 hours post) and probably again before I drive to work.

THANKS! I was really freaked out last night, but maybe should have waited to try and correct until it actually was 70 or so. I just never saw a number that low on me so soon after a meal.

Jill-O · #2 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 06:19 AM

BTW, it is beginning to dawn on me that I just totally totally jumped the gun thinking I was going to go low (but well before I was low).

I guess my main question is about taking Lantus and Humalog around the same time and if that's okay? (I know not to mix or use the same syringe).

Thanks.

Scratch · #3 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 06:53 AM

It's perfectly fine to take them at the same time.

The only thing is I always try to avoid injecting Lantus and my rapid insulin, Novolog, in the same area. I use my thighs for the Lantus, inject Novolog in belly and arms or on the opposite thigh of where the Lantus shot was taken.

grace girl · #4 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 07:38 AM

I remember having similar thoughts when I first went on lantus/humalog. They are totally different insulins, and yes, you can take them at the same time. But as was mentioned above, don't shoot them in the same areas.
I personally thinks it's okay to over-react and freak out a bit when initially on a new insulin regime. You'll begin to understand it all and you won't freak out with time.

I STRONGLY suggest that you get a copy of Using Insulin by John Walsh. I wish I had gotten a hold of it the day I started lantus/humalog. You will learn exactly how these insulins work, and most importantly, how to do basal testing so that you know your doses are correct and you can live out your life with a fair amount of confidence about what your insulins will and won't do.
Good luck!

Alice · #5 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 07:57 AM

Hi Jill-O...it was helpful for me years ago to pull the graph out of the packaging...the graph that shows the "work schedule" so to speak of the two insulins.

The Lantus takes about 4 hours to get up to 100% speed...but it will overlap some already in your system, so that is not noticed by many people.

Humalog will kick in pretty strong in about 30 minutes to one hour...give or take. I have gone a low if I take it too early before a meal. I try to take slightly before eating or immediately after.

The two are completely independent of each other...but if taking too much of either one, you will definitely go low (reverse is true)...

If you are having trouble with glucose numbers, then double check basals (Lantus) before trying to fix bolus (Humalog)...I struggled for years trying to do this on my own...endo wasn't much help because you really have to figure it out on your own. I just wish I had been given more info on the two insulins when first prescribed...other than short acting and long acting.

I really like the two...after a few years of "getting to know them"! Your meals are totally flexible now.

xMenace · #6 (**permalink**) 12-18-2007, 08:27 AM

130 one hour in would have me thinking the same thing. I wouldn't eat a whole donut, but I'd at least be following up with more tests.

Try a few profile exercises. Test every half hour after a meal for four hours. Pick a standard meal with good starting numbers. I find this very enlightening.

TenderVittleS · #7 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 11:40 PM

TRy to take the Lantus at the same time everyday, it helps alot. I take mine at midnight. Lows with this regimine are fairly easy to correct as well.

Jill-O · #8 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 02:10 AM

Thanks everyone!

I know know I just freaked out unneccessarily (I could be a professional worrier).

It's all making more sense now. This morning, I'll be calling my doctor. My before lunch and before dinner numbers are between 135-148 (so not great) and my morning ones last three mornings have been 200-210. So, I'm sure I need more of Lantus, Humalog or both but I'm not supposed to adjust on my own (but am reading and trying to learn so eventually, I can -- I think I'm more in touch with ME than my doctor or anyone else).

Thanks for the help. You all are awesome!

Isometric · #9 (**permalink**) 12-29-2007, 05:00 PM

I just started on this regimen (or a very similar one) three days ago. I have been mixing the Lantus and Novolog in the morning. I've been taking that shot immediately before breakfast, consisting of 14U Lantus and the appropriate Novolog dose + correction. I was told that mixing these two was OK, widely practiced, and soon to be officially OK (i.e. warning taken off the Lantus vial). Now I'm wondering if I haven't spotted a reason that this is not OK. Each of these days I've had a high post-breakfast, and a low post-lunch. Is it possible that mixing these is delaying the action on the Novolog? I don't think it's the other way around (speeding up the Lantus) because my fastings aren't high. But today, for instance, I had a 123 before breakfast and a 195 post. Pre-lunch at 12:40 was a 152, so I shot for two big apples (like 1/2 pound each) plus one correction unit. At 2:50pm, I tested at 42! It's a possibility, I suppose, that I counted the apples wrong, but yesterday I read the carb count off of a label and shot for much the same situation (147 pre), and I had a 56 post. My other tests seem to be showing, if anything, that either my correction ratio or my basal dose is too conservative. I've got a few more days to collect the data before I send it off to my endo, but I can't be running lows like that every day - especially because I haven't felt the last two.

Jill-O · #10 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:09 AM

When you are taking the two, Lantus and Humalog, at the same time before breakfast, are you using two different injection sites? I do Lantus on the left side, and Humalog on the right. Since posting this, I found it's fine to take them at the same time, but important to take them at different sites and not to use the same needle.