What would a normal day be like on MDI?

[mids1999]

Please describe a normal day for you on MDI.

Please include wake up time, meal times, bed time, time and type of insulin, time of bg tests, excercise time and type, etc.

Reason I ask:
I am thinking about going on MDI with Levemir and Humalog and would like to know what kind of effect it could have on my current schedule.

I am currently on NPH and Regular.
I wake at 11:30a
Check bsl and first shot (Reg/NPH mix) at 12:00p
Eat breakfast at 12:30p
Check bsl and eat morning snack at 3:00p
Check bsl and eat lunch at 5:30p
Check bsl and eat lunch snack at 8:00p
Check bsl and take second shot (Reg / NPH mix at 10:00p)
Eat dinner at 10:30p
Check bsl and eat night snack at 1:30a
Sleep at 3:00a
Sometimes test at 6:30a

[Funnygrl]

When I was on MDI I woke up whatever time I wanted, and it changed everyday of the week depending on what I was doing that day. Sometimes it was 6, sometimes it was noon. I would test when I woke up, and it would usually be a little low (60s-70s), so I usually ate breakfast. I then took a shot based on what I ate for breakfast. I also ate lunch when I wanted. Sometimes I tested before lunch, sometimes I didn't. Another shot at lunch after counting carbs. I usually tested after school and ate a snack then. Another shot there. At dinner was another test and another shot. I ate whatever I wanted for each meal, and just counted the carbs and based shot dose on that. Around 10 I would test again and usually have a snack. Usually I was sort of high this time of night, so I injected a correction and if I had a snack, covered that with the fast acting insulin. I also took Lantus then as a separate shot (it can't be mixed). Then I went to bed when I wanted.

Usually my numbers were pretty much in range, and I basically did and ate what I wanted when I wanted. It worked out to usually around 5-8 blood tests a day and around 6 shots a day.

[mids1999]

Funnygrl

Thanks for the quick responce.

[Funnygrl]

Just re-read original post. I was on Lantus and Novolog. Levemir is usually given twice a day, so it would be one more shot than I described.

Basically, it's injecting the long acting, counting carbs, and injecting everytime you eat or have high bs as well.

[mids1999]

So with MDI I could wake and eat whenever I wanted?
I assume injection amount would be less units per injection.
I dont mind sticking the needle in but injecting the insulin stings. (The reason I want to stay away from lantus.)

[Funnygrl]

So with MDI I could wake and eat whenever I wanted?
I assume injection amount would be less units per injection.
I dont mind sticking the needle in but injecting the insulin stings. (The reason I want to stay away from lantus.)
Yes, the fast acting shots would be less. The lantus dose would be about 80% of your N doses (combined). The levemir dose would be 40% two times a day.

MDI when done correctly will allow you to eat what you want when you want and keep a schedule that suites you.

[HelenM]

It can also give you the flexibility (with care) to eat extra 'meals'... for example at a garden fair yesterday afternoon I tested and then used a small dose to have an icecream. I also often dose for the first course of a meal at a restaurant and wait to decide if I want a dessert and then dose accordingly.
I dont mind sticking the needle in but injecting the insulin stings. (The reason I want to stay away from lantus.)
I take lantus once a day and really don't find any discomfort, just occasionally a tiny sting. I use disposable pens for both lantus and novorapid using an 8mm needle for the lantus (normally in abdomen) and a 5mm one for the novorapid(in an arm).

[Simon]

Some insulins sting more than others. I've never had a problem with either Lantus or Novorapid stinging.

[corwin]

For me lantus is a bit unpredictable. Sometimes I don't feel a thing and sometimes it stings as soon as the first drop is delivered, other times I feel a very slight sting for a minute or 2, up to an hour after injection. However if I'm looking at the benefits compared to an occational mild sting there is no doubt lantus is the way to go for me.

[DeusXM]

The major difference is that you probably wouldn't need nearly as many snacks.

Here's my day though for you:

8am - Wake up.
8.30 - Have breakfast. 5u Novorapid usually, 6u if I woke up a little high, 4u if I'm cycling to work.
12-2pm - at some point during this time I'll have lunch. 7-10u Novorapid, depending on what I'm eating.
6pm - 30u Lantus
5.30-7pm - at some point during this time I'll have tea. 16-20u Novorapid, dependent on what I'm eating. If it's in a restaurant I increase my dose by 20% because I always either eat more in a restaurant or there just seems to be more carbs in it.
11pm - Snack, 4-6u Novorapid. I get hungry at this time irrespective of BG.
12am - bed.

With the Lantus/Levemir and the Novorapid/Humalog regime, you can choose whatever time you do your injections. You don't have to eat at certain times (indeed, the only fixed time is the time of your basal dose). It also means you can eat whatever you like.

[bonnie690]

I'm on humalog with levemir, I get up at 7.30am test me blood at 8.00am do 7 units humalog with a bowl of cheerios then test at 12 noon before having me lunch which depending on what i'm eating depends on how much insulin usually between 4 and 12. Then test me blood at 6.00pm have me dinner (usually 6 to 14 units) test me blood at 9.00pm have some toast or a small snack (4 to 8 units) do me levemir at 9.30pm 43 units.
I don't need to do the levemir twice a day as some people say you need to do it lasts 24 hours in my system.
My carb ratio for humalog usually is 1 unit to 10 grams of carbs except with bread where it is 1 unit to 5 grams of carbs.
:deal: deal or no deal?!

[Penny]

My shedule is usually regular:
I get up between 6 and 7 and test.....if I sleep a little extra, I am always lower, but after 7 hours, I range from 135 to 170.
I have to take 9 pills in the morning, including Metformin and Glyburide and eat breakfast.
also 20 units of Lantus, and according to how high I am 3 to 5 units of Novolog.
Mornings are my only time just for myself, so after I get the grandchild off to school....I read the newspaper, do email, and read the forum.
Then there is morning chores, laundry, vacuuming, yardwork, etc.
I was told to have a mid morning snack, but usually don't, if I do, I test and only take Novolog if I am high.
Lunch time (around noon) I test, take more metformin, 3 to 5 units of Novolog and eat. I am almost always low to normal but inject anyway to cover carbs.
Afternoons are for errands, taking care of grandchild, and more household chores. This is when I try to walk some for exercise.
Again, I was told to have a snack, mid afternoon, and usually don't. Not because I am not hungry, but usually just too busy to think about it.
Supper is between 5 and 6. I test and take 3 to 5 units of Novolog and more Metformin. Again, I am almost always low to normal, but inject anyway, to cover.
At 7, I take 4 other pills (non diabetic)
Between 10 and 11, I do have a snack, I test and inject Novolog, if I need it.
About 11, I take 50 units if Lantus and my last pill of the day. I get to bed between 11 and and 2, most nights.
My day seems to be full of testing, injecting, and taking pills!:boring:

[Gangrel]

I'm on Humilin N and Humalog, and my work day usually goes like this:

Wake up at 7am, get ready, go to work. Test, give both insulins and eat something for breakfast

Eat an apple or something at 10..

Lunch is at 12, when I usually test and then give more Humalog.

Snack in the afternoon, but I usually test and see what I'm at first.

Supper is at 6 or so, which is another test and Humalog.

Then I usually have a snack at 10 before bed.


Any other testing I do thru the day is "just because" or if I feel high or low..... then I will give some more Humlog if i have to.

Some days I test and inject only 4 times, other days could be 7 or 8 or 9 times depending on the day.......

[jen_slc]

I'm on Lantus (split into 2 shots) and Novolog. I have a pretty regular routine during weekdays:

7:00am - Get up, get ready for work, sometimes I test here
7:30am - Test and eat breakfast (1:7 ratio, usually 2-3 units)
~10:00am - Test post-breakfast, Lantus shot (8 units)
~12:00pm - Test and eat lunch (1:10-1:12 ratio, usually 6-8 units)
~2:00pm - Test post-lunch
5:00pm - Test pre-gym/exercise, bolus for exercise and/or snack (1:10 if I eat a snack, otherwise I bolus 1-1.5 units for the gym)
6:00-8:00pm - Gym/exercise, length varies, usually 1 hr, all types of exercise (cardio, resistance, meditative)
~8:00pm - Test and eat dinner (1:10 ratio, usually ~8 units)
~10:00pm - Test post-dinner, Lantus shot (8 units)
11:00pm-1:00am - Test before bed

Weekends are a totally different schedule every time, but my Lantus shots and ratios stay the same - it's just food and exercise that get pushed around.

[Gangrel]

How can you go to bed at 1 and get up at 7? ;)

I usually end up in bed at 11:30 and wake up at 6:30 or after and find that's not enough beauty sleep for me! Guess you just need less then me..... ;)


(don't mind me, silly alert)

[Penny]

How can you go to bed at 1 and get up at 7? ;)

I usually end up in bed at 11:30 and wake up at 6:30 or after and find that's not enough beauty sleep for me! Guess you just need less then me..... ;)


(don't mind me, silly alert)
Some of us don't have a choice! If you are young and have few responsibilities, enjoy it while you can!:D

[jeggeman31]

When I was on MDI I would take my Lantus at 10am and 10pm. ( I split mine, worked better for me) Then I would bolus for my meals and snacks. I would test prior to eating, and also prior to injecting Lantus. I would also test just prior to going to bed.

[liz32]

I switched from lantus to levemir and it was an equal trade there was no difference in the amounts. I do split the levemir but that's 'cause I split the lantus as well. Here's my day:
wake 6:30am bs in the 6's (108's) 10 units levemir, 4-6 units of novorapid depending on bs and what I'm going to eat.
do morning chores watch kids, etc. stay busy
lunch 12:00pm bs usually in the 5-6's (90-108's) 3-6 units of novo depending
supper 5-6pm bs same as before: novorapid same as other meals
8pm-evening dose of levemir...16 units. a snack slice whole wheat bread with penut butter
I try to go to bed in the 6's. Would like to go to bed in the 5's but I;m still nervous about having a hypo in my sleep. It's a goal though.

I must admit that mdi has given me the freedom to be flexible which I didn't have before. Now if I know I'm able to get out for a walk after a meal I just don't take the novo. If I can't get out then I take it. This is much better than before. The one thing I like more about levemir than lantus is that when I was on lantus I was always ravenous....I could eat all the time so it was such a battle. Now with the levemir I only want to eat when I'm hungry and I don't crave things like I used to. Actually at first I had a hard time getting an appetite at all. Now that's it's been a month or so my appetite has return. Anyways, I hope this helps
Liz

[mids1999]

I just got my levemir from the pharmacy.

I was told to start on a split of 6.5 and 6.5 every 12 hrs and test every 2 hrs. Taking Humalog with every meal. 1 u : 10 carb + 1 u per 40pt correction.

I was taking NPH 2x day 12u with breakfast and 5.5u with dinner.

Does the 6.5 split to start seem right?
Just want to make sure as it seems like a small dose compared to what I see some others are taking.

Also is there anything special I should watch for?

[jen_slc]

How can you go to bed at 1 and get up at 7? ;)

I usually end up in bed at 11:30 and wake up at 6:30 or after and find that's not enough beauty sleep for me! Guess you just need less then me..... ;)


(don't mind me, silly alert)It happens more often than I would like... a lot of times even less than 6 hrs but it's my own fault, I bring it upon myself. I slept so little during high school and college that I find it hard to force myself to go to bed before midnight now, even if I'm dead on my feet. I'd like to get 8 hrs a night but I'd never have a life. I usually just suffer during the week and catch up on the weekends. It's bad I know, I was dozing off during a conference call this afternoon. :boring: Speaking of which, I really should go to bed right now!

[Georgia]

On a week day I get up at 8:30am & test my bs. I eat breakfast & cover it with Novorapid, units depending on what I eat & what my bs is. 2 hours post breakfast I test.

At 9am I take 20u of Lantus.

I test before lunch, usually eat lunch between 12:30pm & 2:30pm & cover the carbs with Novorapid. Test 2 hours post lunch.

Dinner is usually about 7 - 7:30pm & again I cover it with Novorapid, units depend on my bs & carb intake. Test again 2 hours later.

I don't tend to snack during the day & I like going to bed knowing that the Novorapid is nearly out of my system (it's maximum effect is between 1 - 3 hours & the effect lasts for 3 - 5 hours). I test an hour or so before bed & again immediately before bed so that I know my bs is not dropping.

At w/e's I get up at 9am & test my bs & take my 20u of Lantus. I will eat at different times at the w/e as it depends where we are & what we are doing etc.

[Gangrel]

Some of us don't have a choice! If you are young and have few responsibilities, enjoy it while you can!:D

I'm not sure how young I am anymore, being 30 and all! Why, when I was a 22 year old, I used to party till 4am and sleep till 2 on the weekends......

sniff sniff, those were the days!

Penny, you can't be any more then 23, or 24, right? ;)