Starting Symlin - Any advice

[JaxTerri]

I've been on insulin (apidra & lantus) for 10 weeks now and my BGs have come down remarkably. I went back to my doc today and he's very happy with my number. He listened to me whine about not being able to lose weight no matter how good I eat or how much I exercise. He then asked if I'd be willing to try Symlin. He told me a little about it and I agreed to try it. I'll start it tomorrow. He told me to decrease my Apidra in half and to add Symlin before meals. He explained that his patients that are using it have lost "a lot" of weight. He also said that none of them were in as good of control as I was so he expects even better results with me. My only complaint is I need too loose ~ 100 lbs and I'm doing everything right but not losing since I began insulin. Although I hate to take more shots each day I guess I'm willing to if it will help me lose weight. I go back again in a month and he'll do another A1C then and we're both excited to see how much better it's gonna be than the last one which was 10 (and the reason he put me on insulin).

Any experiences of yours are appreciated!

[ubergeek]

I started on Symlin a couple of weeks ago. I eat about half of what I was eating. Be careful not to eat too much. The first time I took it I thought I was going to explode. I didn't have that great of control before hand so my insulin really didn't change any, but now I have a lot better control.

One thing I have noticed, it's a LOT harder to control a spike in blood sugar should you experience one, take a lot longer to get it under control.

I have had any really bad nausea, but I seem to have heart burn more often than I used to, but that's easily treated with some antacid.

Other than that, I haven't really had any problems. I don't take it 100% like I was told either, but I'm on a pump so I'm not sure how they told you to take it. I was told to do a square over 3 hours after my meals to cover my meals. What I have ended up doing is a dual with 25% up front and 75% over the next 3 hours.

If my blodo sugar is under 100 before I start my meal, I will not bolus insulin until the end of my meal. I found myself getting some pretty severe lows if I did it at the beginning.

[camjen1]

I've been on Symlin for almost 3 months now and love it. I dealt with alot of lows the first couple weeks and was ready to give up but with the correct timing and getting used to it, it all worked out for me.

I had nausea maybe the first week but after that it didn't phase me. Far as weight loss, I haven't experienced more then 3 lbs. :( Which is okay but I was hoping for a few more. :D

[Funnygrl]

That one thing I've heard is just that lows are harder to treat. I've heard people get best results using pure glucose tablets and chewing them thorougly for lows. Make sure you have a glucagon kit on hand if you don't already "just in case." Since Symlin slows gastric emptying, it may be in your favor to take your Apidra after you eat. That you'll have to experiment with. Good luck!

[marked]

I have been on symlin over a year
While I did lose some weight from going on it, I was not over weight initially so this was a non issue. But I think that not only does the drug itself lend itself to weight loss. slowing the digestion curbs the appetite.
I am less hungry being and eat much less calories than before symlin.
As far as symlin and insulin. It has turned it more so an art form of sorts. I prefer that my blood sugar be in the high 70's before a meal, I eat the meal and then give the insulin dose according to what my blood sugar is post prandial. It is flexibility to the max. I use much less insulin now a days, which can limit the number of lows and highs. I love it, I hope you guys find it just as beneficial as I do.
Mark

[JaxTerri]

Thanks! I'm waiting for my pharmacy to get Symlin in as they don't have it in stock. Will start it probably Monday since I'm out of town this weekend.

What do you mean "post prandial"? Does this mean post meal? I thought you had to take insulin BEFORE the meal for it to work. I'm confused. However overall I'm excited about this. I need and want to loose weight and right now the insulin is preventing me from doing so. Thanks for everyone's input!

[solox316]

I have been on and off of Symlin. The first time I tried it I had too much nausea before even reaching full dose... I did like the appetite curbing effect, and I did shed a few pounds.

I take it now only with meals over ~80 carbs or so, when I remember. I tend to have some insulin resistance, especially with higher carb meals. For these meals I take 5 units of symlin, with no reduction in insulin. Works for me... I take the Symlin before the meal, and I wait til after, especially since it pretty abruptly tells me when to stop eating :-)

scott