Apidra is impressive so far, if a little odd...

[Gary_W]

Very, very early days yet. As in I've just taken my 3rd shot of the stuff before lunch.

What I do know is that I woke up with 4.5 BG (81) and shot up 10 units of Apidra. I ate exactly the same breakfast as yesterday (55g of carbs comprising wholemeal toast and grapefruit). I injected about 15 mins before eating to give it a head start.

1/2 hour post breakfast I was 5.1 (92)
1 hour post I was 8.5 (153)
2 hour post I was 9.2 (165)
3 hour post I was 7.8 (140)
4 hour post I was 5.1 (92)

I know that a single mornings results prove very little, but first impressions are that it keeps me on a much more even keel in the morning than the Novorapid ever did. I know that the 2 hour post reading is a long way from ideal, but when you consider that my norm is to be 14 (250) one hour post breakfast, 11 (198) two hour post and down to about a 7 at four hours post then you can see why the above has got me excited. It's a lot better than my usual morning which always starts and ends well but has a massive spike in the middle.

The odd thing is that it seems to level off after 2 hours and then kick in again at 3 1/2. It did this last night as well (BG started to rise at hour 2.5 and then started to drop and was perfect before bed). Anyone else find this with this insulin? I wonder whether it's always going to be this way or whether that will alter as my body gets used to it?

I'm now 2 hours post lunch. At one hour, my BG had only gone up to 5.4 and it's currently 6.0. Which is fantastic.

I am really hoping that this insulin proves to be predictable and repeatable, as it's actually got me quite excited. Sad I know, but we all want to feel good in the here and now as well as living a long happy life. When you get a glimmer of hope that makes that more realistic it does make you feel good :)

Gary

[Scratch]

Very, very early days yet. As in I've just taken my 3rd shot of the stuff before lunch.

What I do know is that I woke up with 4.5 BG (81) and shot up 10 units of Apidra. I ate exactly the same breakfast as yesterday (55g of carbs comprising wholemeal toast and grapefruit). I injected about 15 mins before eating to give it a head start.

1/2 hour post breakfast I was 5.1 (92)
1 hour post I was 8.5 (153)
2 hour post I was 9.2 (165)
3 hour post I was 7.8 (140)
4 hour post I was 5.1 (92)

I know that a single mornings results prove very little, but first impressions are that it keeps me on a much more even keel in the morning than the Novorapid ever did. I know that the 2 hour post reading is a long way from ideal, but when you consider that my norm is to be 14 (250) one hour post breakfast, 11 (198) two hour post and down to about a 7 at four hours post then you can see why the above has got me excited. It's a lot better than my usual morning which always starts and ends well but has a massive spike in the middle.

The odd thing is that it seems to level off after 2 hours and then kick in again at 3 1/2. It did this last night as well (BG started to rise at hour 2.5 and then started to drop and was perfect before bed). Anyone else find this with this insulin? I wonder whether it's always going to be this way or whether that will alter as my body gets used to it?

I'm now 2 hours post lunch. At one hour, my BG had only gone up to 5.4 and it's currently 6.0. Which is fantastic.

I am really hoping that this insulin proves to be predictable and repeatable, as it's actually got me quite excited. Sad I know, but we all want to feel good in the here and now as well as living a long happy life. When you get a glimmer of hope that makes that more realistic it does make you feel good :)

Gary
The larger drop between 3 and 4 hours could also be your liver quieting down from its early after wakeup levels. Possibly your liver stops supplying so much internal glucose, and makes it look like your bolus shot had extra tail.

[Gary_W]

The larger drop between 3 and 4 hours could also be your liver quieting down from its early after wakeup levels. Possibly your liver stops supplying so much internal glucose, and makes it look like your bolus shot had extra tail.

Thanks for the reply, Scratch. I would agree with that but for the basal fasting test I did a couple of days ago. My BG stayed absolutely level throughout the morning in the absence of breakfast or bolus insulin. For this reason, I discounted my liver from the equation.

Gary

[Scratch]

Thanks for the reply, Scratch. I would agree with that but for the basal fasting test I did a couple of days ago. My BG stayed absolutely level throughout the morning in the absence of breakfast or bolus insulin. For this reason, I discounted my liver from the equation.

Gary
Yeah, that could be. It can also be dependent on how consistent your basal metabolism is, which of course is why there's often seen the give it 3 days sort of advice. I have certain consistent tendencies in my basal metabolism I use to guide me, but honestly enough there is enough variability in it that stuff like you report above makes it almost impossible to ever say with any certainty that something was the cause that made the effect.

[JediSurfer]

Vast improvement for me with Apidra(Glulisine). I found I could use it more like a tool rather than being used like a tool.
I find day to day control and adjustments far easier to manage. Beats any of the other insulins I have used before.

Rich

[jen_slc]

I am really hoping that this insulin proves to be predictable and repeatable, as it's actually got me quite excited. Sad I know, but we all want to feel good in the here and now as well as living a long happy life. When you get a glimmer of hope that makes that more realistic it does make you feel good :)LOL, I felt exactly the same way when I switched: hey, better control IS possible, I don't have to feel like **** after meals!!! I get really excited about Apidra because of what it's done for me, so I say go ahead and bounce of the walls because I did! Those are good numbers that you're getting, here's hoping they are the beginning of a new trend! :wink: I also feel like there might be some "funny" stuff going on with me in terms of its action profile and the timing later in the curve, but I have to rule out basal problems by doing some basal testing first. Glad you are enjoying it so far! Yay for good results! :D

[NoelD]

I used it when on MDI to replace R. I still use it now in my pump and it is very predictable for me. I LOVE it.

[Gary_W]

Good to hear from you folks that use it and love it . Very encouraging posts so thank you for those.

The highest I've been all night was 1.5 hours after dinner when my BG peaked at 6.2 (111). Other than that, I've been running between 4.0 and 4.9 which is fabulous :D

FWIW, dinner was chicken, asparagus and baked sweet potatoes. Followed by an apple.

[JediSurfer]

wow. 4.0 to 4.9 is very very low indeed. Sheesh. For me that kinda range is a fully paid day ticket to hypoland.

[Gary_W]

wow. 4.0 to 4.9 is very very low indeed. Sheesh. For me that kinda range is a fully paid day ticket to hypoland.

Until a few months ago I'd have said the same. Nowadays, I am so fortunate that my basal is spot on as I will happily live down there without fear of going any lower. Of course, it's going to be touch and go on the Apidra until I fully get used to it, but it didn't seem to do anything too drastic when I didn't want it to. If you really believe that 4-5 is a definate recipe hypo, I would recommend you do some fasting tests to make sure your basal is right. When I hit the 4.0 last night I just kept a close eye, and fortunately it didn't go south any further. Actually snuck up a touch before bed.

I went to bed at 4.9, woke up at 4.2. The worst BG I've had all day was 7.2 an hour and a half after breakfast :) :) :D :D And I had peanut butter and jam (jelly I believe you call it in the USA) on toast just to test it to destruction. It seems more predictable already (he says touching wood).

Man alive this stuff is cool. Long may it continue :cool: