Question about Lantus to Pump

[aeromarv]

Okay. I finally got my Dr. to get his act together and now have a pump. I'm going to a training class to get hooked up next week. My question is this:

When going from MDI of Lantus and Novolog, how does the lantus dosage compare to the daily usage of Novolog in the pump via basal? If I currently take 57 units of lantus every day, does that mean 57 units of novolog via basals in the pump? Now I know I'll probably end up with several different basal rates throuhout the day and I am assuming the better absorption predictions of the novolog may actually lessen the insulin needed.

I'm trying to figure out how long a resevior will last me based on my current dosages. I have a pretty low insulin sensitiviy and/or high carb sensitivity. I go through quite a bit on insulin right now. I'm debating on trying to cut back on the carbs even more to lower my bolus at meals (plus to work on thining down some).

[barbarac]

What kind of pump did you get. The animas holds less insulin. I didn't know that until after I got it and was being trained (probably my fault for not asking, but never thought to ask). So far it is plenty, but could be a problem you might want to check on. If pump is already in it may be too late though.

[aeromarv]

Yeah, I've already got the pump.

I got the Minimed 722. Will hold up to 300 units. That one and one other was recommended by my endo's nurse practitioner because of the reservior volumes.

[spike]

Usually, you set your basal on your first day of pumping to 80% of your basal on MDI, as a starting point and adjust it from there. that's the short version.

[lilituc]

Well, the most you will need to put in the pump for one day is probably your current Total Daily Dose - all Lantus and Novolog, including any corrections. The pump can reduce that by 5% to 25% but it depends on your weight, IR, basal patterns, etc. Do you have Pumping Insulin by John Walsh?

[Michael R Zeigl]

When I switched from Lantus and humulog to just humulog, my total insulin needs dropped about 20%. It takes more insulin to bring down a high than to maintain a constant BG. The pump seems to make BG readings more constant.

[Funnygrl]

When I started I was on 11 units of Lantus. They started me at a rate of 0.5 units/hour. That worked out to 12 units. It was too much and I shortly cut back to a basal of 10.8 units/day.

However, just 6 months later, I now use 13.6 units/day.

[JanTx]

Pre-pump I was on 30 units of Lantus at night and Novolog as needed to cover a meal and correct highs - probably 34 units of that so 64 total. A little more than a week of pumping and my daily units are around 40 - usually a little less. You'll reduce your daily insulin needs by about 25%. My trainer set things up to do about 50% basal and 50% bolus. I went for a follow up today and we're beginning to tweak that.

BUT today I also went to the throat doc and was put on a prednisone pack - 6 days of steroids starting with 6 pills today and decreasing by one pill each day for 6 days. I called to see how to handle that and am increasing the basal as a "Pattern A" for the duration of that series since my BG is already on the rise. Sigh. I had just begun to think that I'm just beginning to know what I'm doing!

I also have the 722 pump. Going by what the trainer told me I've been taking out a reservoir each set change with over 100 units of Novolog left in it! Now that I have 6 weeks until a follow up visit I'm going to do what I've learned here - keep in that reservoir until it's empty!