View Full Version : Lantus
I have been to Diabetic Clinic today to review the results from wearing the glucowatch. These have shown that I get the Dawn phenomenon and so they have suggetsed I try Lantus. The doc tells me this will give me a smoother insulin pattern and no night hypos.
Has anyone been using this insulin and what has your experience been? I am going to give it a go tonight but am a bit wary about changing my night insulin. I have been on insultard for years and this feels like a big step.
Anything I need to know that the 'professionals' haven't told me?
Well i'm still here:D My sugars are a bit high (13.7) but the glucowatch shows no peaks and troughs overnight, just a straightish line of readings. I just need to get my bedtime reading down a bit and I should be looking good:p So far I am pleased with this new insulin.
Keep me posted on how the lantus is going. I asked the doctors about getting my son on it, but they said that was too many shots for him. I don't know why, the only meal he doesn't take a shot with is lunch, and he is always high then, even with the nph kicking in.
Jon
My sugars have been a bit high today but thats because they started me on a low dose. I don't believe that Lantus is licensed for children in the UK but it might be different in the US.
I have been on Lantus since it came out in June 2001. I know of children as young as a year who have been put on it. I was on NPH & Regular for 36 years before I switched to Humalog and Lantus. The switch has not been without adjustments, difficulties, continuous juggling of times, amounts, tests, etc., but in all, I have been VERY pleased with the overall improvement in control. Yes, Jon, I have had to increase the number of injections I take from 2. I take 3 or more every day. I say "or more" because, with the Lantus, there is quite a lot of leeway in what you can do. If I skip lunch (most days) then I take 3 shots--breakfast and dinner boluses of humalog, and my bedtime basal of Lantus. If I decided to to eat lunch, I take a shot according to what the test is and how much I'll eat, so up to 4 per day. I sometimes mis-calculate my dinner bolus, and need to give a correction bolus before bed--maybe once or twice a week. Since no other insulin can be mixed with Lantus, that's yet another injection. I seldon do more than 5 a day, and most days only 3, but that's because I DO skip lunch. A child would generally need 4. The nice thing is that, without the peaks of NPH, if a meal is late you don't need to worry. It is a MUCH more flexible routine.
I have occasionally had problems with overnight lows even with the Lantus-- in fact, for a while, I was waking up hypo (below 60) almost daily. I tried a lot of things for that--changing the amount (taking less made me go high later in the day) changing the time to dinner time, and even to breakfast time (basically traded problems at one time of day for another time!), and finally have been able to adjust my bedtime readings and bedtime snack to prevent these lows. Still, sometimes I'll wake up high or low if I don't figure it out quite right... However, with the Lantus, even when I am low, I always feel it, know enough to test and take glucose, no more falling down without warning lows. That's been almost the best of it.
Michael
Thats good to know. I didn't realize the Lantus couldn't be mixed with other insulin. My son already takes 4 shots a day. I would imagine that he would still be on 4 a day with Lantus. As it stands now, his morning NPH is supposed to cover lunch, but it looks like he will have to start taking a 5th shot every day because his lunch readings are always high. He gets another shot right after school, because his NPH is wearing off. Then he takes H with dinner and N at bedtime. I am going to talk to the doctors again about Lantus.
Jon--if he's already on 4 injections, and possibly going to a fifth, than Lantus will be MUCH better. BUT--he WILL have to inject either novolog or humalog at lunch. Does he use a pen? That's the way to go for injections on the run. I just take mine out of my pack, test, screw on a needle, dial up the dose and shoot--it takes about one minute. With the lunchtime dose bringing him down then, and the Lantus keeping him even all day, he'll definately only need 4 shots, unless he's high at bedtime, and then he'll probably get a schedule of correction bolus amounts. He definitely won't need that shot when he gets home--The Lantus almost always lasts pretty close to the 24 hrs advertised, all other things being equal. Don't just ask about it--demand it!
Michael
My sugars are still high so I guess I need to up my dose tonight. I have also swapped over to the novorapid pens today so its all a bit of a mess at the moment.
Hopefully things will settle down over the weekend as i'll have more time to dedicate to sorting out the doses.
Jada Mae
03-23-2003, 06:36 AM
Hels,
I have been taking Lantus ( 78 U ) for about a year and I have had good results with it. FBS are great between 70-115. Just wanted to share my experience with it. Good luck.
JadaMae
Did you ever consider putting your son on the pump it is so much easier and will make both your lives much easier also...i am on the pump...and i talked my moms friends into making their daughter go on the pump shes 9 and they love it too...the kid got her life back she plays soccer and basketball and all other kinds of sports and it has made it real easy for her to do things ....i think its better than being on lantus...they say being on lantus is the poor mans pump ....why be on four shots a day if you can use the pump and change it every 3 days....i love it....
Jada
Thanks for your positive response :-) My sugars are much better now, even when I was diving I had fewer hypos than before.
Gina
Lantus is pretty new to the UK, its only been avaliable for the last six months here. As for it being the poor man's pump all i can say is that I earn a pretty good wage in the UK but the difference between lantus which is free on prescription and paying for a pump and all the accesories, which aren't free here would take a significiant chunk out of my pocket each month. I have never found doing 4 shots a day a problem but am not sure about having a needle in me 24/7 . I guess it's what you get used to, and i would welcome your experience on how you manage a pump 24/7.
As a child, and now I never lost my life to diabetes, I would guess it's more of a mental attitude than what regime you use.
I want to get my son on a pump, but the doctors are giving me the runaround. They don't think he is ready, and they keep wanting more records. The last records I turned in I had tested him every 2 hours for 3 days straight. They said it was the best records they had ever seen, but it still wasn't enough information.
My son is very active too. We don't let the diabetes control our lives. It is still frustrating though.
statdeac
03-23-2003, 07:19 PM
I think that there might be a bit of confusion over the idea of Lantus being a "poor man's pump" anyway. In fact, Lantus is now being substituted in pumps by many endos in place of NPH and other intermediate to long acting insulins because it is peakless and makes management easier even for pump users.
Mabye some refer to the MDI therapy as the poor man's pump. I could see that, though I really think that it's a matter of matching the best method for each individual based on how that person is able to manage the situation and financial considerations might also factor into the decision.
It may be that the pump would be great for Jon's son, but more difficult for the next person.
statdeac,
i totally agree with you when you say:
"I could see that, though I really think that it's a matter of matching the best method for each individual based on how that person is able to manage the situation and financial considerations might also factor into the decision."
i was replying to one of jon's comments and referred to him not to make it seem like i was trying to reply to anyone else....because of jons post and the nph issues...at school with his son....thats all hehehehe...
I dont in anyway want to discourage anyone from being on lantus...if it works for you t hen great if you cant afford the pump then lantus is the best way to go....
hels,
as far as the pump and a needle being in you 24/7 its not what you think...its not a needle like your syringe its more like an iv type of thing...
and since i was diagnosed at the age of 25 and now i am 27...i have encountered major problems with lifestyle change... it took me almost a year to get myself back to normal after i found out...and yes everyone is different and so are their regimens....and for me the pump has given me back what i was used to for 25 years ....im sure that everyone on here has a different story and feeling about everything...and thats why we are here so we can all share our thoughts and experiences ....and to help each other :D
I just want to help i dont want anyone to think that i am trying to say that their regimen stinks or anything....
Ok Gina, this one is for you now. I still haven't found that foot in mouth pic.:p
i didnt p ut my foot in my mouth...people are not reading what i wrote in the first post...it was suppose to be directed to everyone i guess next time i will just private message instead...:):-
i mean it wasnt suppose to be directed lol ohhhh boyyyyyyyyyyyyy
kemist
04-21-2003, 05:55 AM
Originally posted by hels
Jada
Thanks for your positive response :-) My sugars are much better now, even when I was diving I had fewer hypos than before.
Gina
Lantus is pretty new to the UK, its only been avaliable for the last six months here. As for it being the poor man's pump all i can say is that I earn a pretty good wage in the UK but the difference between lantus which is free on prescription and paying for a pump and all the accesories, which aren't free here would take a significiant chunk out of my pocket each month. I have never found doing 4 shots a day a problem but am not sure about having a needle in me 24/7 . I guess it's what you get used to, and i would welcome your experience on how you manage a pump 24/7.
As a child, and now I never lost my life to diabetes, I would guess it's more of a mental attitude than what regime you use.
Do what I did, get the pump without the doctor. Diesetronic will give you a 3-month free trial on one of their pumps.... just monitor closely and you should be fine....
Why should a doctor decide when I can try something new.... is he the one enduring the symptoms and discomfort?
I gave up on doctors a while back.... I use my family doctor who is also a diabetic, and will prescribe anything i ask for - that's the way it should be.
kemist
i didnt know you can get free trials with the pump
overclock
09-05-2003, 10:33 AM
I was on Lantus for about 6 months. It worked better than NPH. One drawback for me was that it burned like crazy after injecting for about 5 seconds. Doesn't sound that long until you are writhing in pain. Felt as if someone was jabbing me with a hot poker. Not everyone has this problem. Lantus does have a peak I don't care what the propaganda says about it. Everything peaks. Just that when you take it at bedtime it peaks during that cursed dawn phenomenon time.
Now I am on the pump. My insurance wouldn't pay for Lantus anymore but they cover the pump and supplies 100%. Lucky me.
snydermom
09-07-2003, 07:15 AM
overclock - Did you keep it in the fridge? They told us to leave it out & at room temp once we started a bottle to avoid the burning sensation.
statdeac
09-08-2003, 06:50 AM
I keep mine in the fridge, but draw the proper dose into the syringe and let that get to room temp before injecting. I think the larger the dose, the more likely you are to feel a burn.
lelvins
09-10-2003, 08:12 PM
Originally posted by hels
My sugars are still high so I guess I need to up my dose tonight. I have also swapped over to the novorapid pens today so its all a bit of a mess at the moment.
Hopefully things will settle down over the weekend as i'll have more time to dedicate to sorting out the doses.
Watch you numbers for the first few days. In my case the needle was to short for my thick skin. Each shot hurt for along time after ijection because the needle was letting the insulin into the skin and not the fatty tissues.
lelvins
09-10-2003, 08:15 PM
Originally posted by statdeac
I keep mine in the fridge, but draw the proper dose into the syringe and let that get to room temp before injecting. I think the larger the dose, the more likely you are to feel a burn.
My first 2 bottles of lantus didn't start burning until they would reach about 22 days, My latest one started burning at 13 days.
Originally posted by lelvins
My first 2 bottles of lantus didn't start burning until they would reach about 22 days, My latest one started burning at 13 days. Do you clean the vial with Alcohol swabs?
pacon
09-12-2003, 05:06 AM
Originally posted by statdeac
I keep mine in the fridge, but draw the proper dose into the syringe and let that get to room temp before injecting. I think the larger the dose, the more likely you are to feel a burn.
Why are you using a syringe, and not an insulin pen with a mounted vial, and keeping the pen out of the fridge?
pacon
09-12-2003, 05:10 AM
Originally posted by Tony
Do you clean the vial with Alcohol swabs?
Does anybody clean anything with alcohol swabs, really?
Alysse404
09-12-2003, 08:10 AM
Pacon,
I had to laugh when I read your response, because I was thinking the same thing!!! When I first got diagnosed, I reeked of alcohol (from the swabs, mind you) all the time! However, I discovered that NOT using alcohol swabs was just one of the many short cuts that diabetes can, and do, take on a regular basis. If I can't wash my hands at a sink before i test, I do resort to alcohol swabs, but other than that I rarely use alcohol swabs. So far (knock on wood) this hasn't come back to haunt me.
Originally posted by pacon
Does anybody clean anything with alcohol swabs, really? I know I don't and from your reply I now know you don't either.
Maybe we should send it to the polls for ha ha's
Quoted from lantus.
Injection Site and Allergic Reactions:
As with any insulin therapy, lipodystrophy may occur at the injection site and delay insulin absorption. Other injection site reactions with insulin therapy include redness, pain, itching, hives, swelling, and inflammation. Continuous rotation of the injection site within a given area may help to reduce or prevent these reactions. Most minor reactions to insulins usually resolve in a few days to a few weeks.
Reports of injection site pain were more frequent with LANTUS than NPH human insulin (2.7% insulin glargine versus 0.7% NPH). The reports of pain at the injection site were usually mild and did not result in discontinuation of therapy.
Immediate-type allergic reactions are rare. Such reactions to insulin (including insulin glargine) or the excipients may, for example, be associated with generalized skin reactions, angioedema, bronchospasm, hypotension, or shock and may be life threatening.
Intercurrent Conditions:
Insulin requirements may be altered during intercurrent conditions such as illness, emotional disturbances, or stress.
Information for Patients:
LANTUS must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible
Shalyndria
09-12-2003, 05:59 PM
I work in a hospital, and often am responsible for disinfecting instruments or equipment or prepping syringes and vials for nurses. When I was in college, we learned all about the wonderful world of bacteria. I can tell you, having been educated on it, that if you aren't using alcohol swabs each and every time you use a vial or penfill of insulin, then you are asking for trouble. Until learning all that I learned, I wasn't cleaning vials at all. Then some pics that I saw made me wise up, and ever since I have swabbed vials and washed my hands EVERY time. I have similar pics at work and would love to post them, if only I had a scanner. Now, I can't stress the importance of washing your hands! You wouldn't leave the bathroom (I hope) without doing so, now would you? It is just as important to wash before testing, especially if you reuse lancets (I won't even touch that one!). And I don't mean a quick hands under the water, swish em around a little. Sing the "Happy Birthday" song in your head 2 times, and that's how long you are supposed to lather with soap. You don't need to use alcohol on your fingers, in fact I say don't since it will harden the skin. You can even use those no wash gel hand disinfectants, which can be bought in conveniently small containers and carried with your meter. Now, you may be thinking that you've been doing it for years, nothing's gonna happen. You may be right. But better safe then sorry, right?
Please don't consider this a lecture; believe me it's not. You can take my advice to heart or not, I just thought it's important that people be educated on this, since not enough of us are. We are simply told what to do.
:D
snydermom
09-12-2003, 08:25 PM
We must be really new? I only allow Ed one syringe - one lancet - one alcohol swab for EVERYTHING. I am the new & sterile nazi. I think if I ran out of swabbies I would use gin. That will kill anything!
I read all of the posts on re-using and thought of all the $$$ it would save. Then when I tried to do it I got the shakes. And Ed wouldn't know the dif ... just ME?
Well, ya know... here's the voice of veeeeerrry long, practical REAL-WORLD experience talking now. Over the past 38 years, I've given myself something around 40,000 insulin injections, and maybe done around 10-15,000 fingersticks. I've reused lancets and needles for weeks at a time. I haven't wiped the top of an insulin vial with alcohol in well over 25 years, and I've used over 1,000 vials of insulin. Yeah, okay--maybe there ARE germs on the loose. I have never had any kind of infection of any sort ever. In fact, I generally miss about one day of work due to sickness every 4-5 years. So, my unsterile habits obviously have not gotten me into any trouble.
Yet...
Michael
T1 since 1965
I would think that in a hospital situation, sterilizing would be very important because of all the different people and germs you come in contact with. For the average diabetic however, I think it is pretty safe to re-use needles a few times. One thing to consider though, is the needles become dull after the first use. The more you use them, the duller they become. The syringes we get come with a close up picture of a needle after one use, and it looks painful. I have also noticed that my son will have a hard time getting blood out of his fingers if he hasn't changed his finger stick needle for a couple of days.
Getting back to the topic, my son just started Lantus a couple of weeks ago, and we both love it. It is much easier for him to remember his shots, because he takes one every time he eats. When he was on NPH, it was confusing. He would get a shot with breakfast, but not lunch. Then a shot after school, another with dinner, one at bedtime, then the N would kick in during the night, and cause a low.
They still don't think he is ready for the pump. I have been insisting on it, but they still won't go for it.
snydermom
09-14-2003, 01:44 AM
Well Jeeze Jon! Don't you just want to beat them to a pulp and say "then YOU live our lives???"!!! You deal with his care every day & know what you are asking for!
I hope things have gotten better for you two since school started up again. Beth.
HeatherP
09-15-2003, 08:14 AM
Hi Jon, I'm really glad to hear that your son is doing better! Keep insisting on that pump and hopefully they'll start listening.
Originally posted by snydermom
Well Jeeze Jon! Don't you just want to beat them to a pulp and say "then YOU live our lives???"!!!
Lucky for them they don't keep a baseball bat or a large stick in the doctors office!
After 5 years, I am sick of dealing with those people. I talked to the CDE today, and when I left, I was so mad at her that I don't know if I will ever go back. I am tired of them talking to me like I don't know what I am doing. They want me to stay up all night checking my sons blood sugars every couple of hours, then get him up at 5:00 in the morning to eat breakfast. It is easy to tell someone what they need to do, but I wish they could try living like that for a while.
Unfortunately, I have Kaiser insurance, and there is only one doctor in the area who handles insulin pumps. I am stuck with what she wants until next August when I have the option of changing to another insurance plan.
Ok, I am done venting now. Until the next doc appt...:rolleyes:
Alaska
10-26-2003, 01:17 PM
Jon,
The bay area is a HUGE place and your telling me Kaiser only has one pump specialist for the entire area? Some one is telling you a lie. I use to live in San Mateo and I use to have Kaiser Insurance. I can tell you there are MANY pump specialists in the bay area. First thing I'd do is ask Kaiser for a new DR. Tell them your willing to drive to Sac just to see a new Dr if you have to. If they are not willing to play ball then tell them you request a hearing so you AND your lawyer may attend. Tell them they had better have thier lawyers in attendance too.
I had to do this to get my retinopothy surgery covered. I meantioned lawyer and they changed their tune when I explained it would be cheaper for them to do it then to pay thier lawyers and court fee's
Dave
Hey Jon,
If you really want to get nasty, ask your Docs and your CDE how much of a kick-back they get from their Lantus Pharmaceutical rep. Lately in my life I have come to realize that Drug Companies truly have an incredible amount of control over which course of treatments physicians prescribe to patients. It is such big business, and at times so out of control that the Feds are looking hard into regulating what pharmaceutical reps can "pay" physicians for prescribing their goods...
On a personal note, I have a new endo. Upon meeting him, he says "I see you're on a pump." I said yeah, I love it. He says "uh-huh" as if I was lying...
Later in our visit, he says if I want to come off of the pump, he would prescribe lantus...That way, I wouldn't have to be "tied to the pump." I told him I would shoot myself first.
He looked at me like I was nuts, and continued to expouse the virtues of lantus. He went on for about a minute, and I cut him off and asked "How much is lantus giving you to get your patients on it?" HE GOT MAD as ****. BUt he never denied that they were giving him a kick-back...
Don't get me wrong, I have read what lantus can do, and it is so much safer than NPH, which had almost killed me three times. But compared to the control of a pump, it's like comparing having surgery with a butcher-knife or a scalpel, in my mind.
By the way, on the way out the endos office, I saw a bunch of pamphlets about lantus on display. Uh huh.
Alaska
10-26-2003, 04:07 PM
Well..........this is how I got my pump
My endo wouldn't give me a pump.......nope nope nope
Went to a new endo........Told him I wanted to go on the pump
He asked why I wanted one of those? It was just a fancy gadget.
I explained.......I just left my last endo because he refused to prescrib me a pump......either you can help me get on a pump or I look for a new endo.....which route are we taking?
As we all know now I have my new pump.
He hasn't seen me since I've gotten the pump installed and I have an appointment with him this Friday. As much teething problems as I've had with this new pump the benifits have far outweighed the bad. I'm going to ask him how in good conscious he could possibly not want to put his other diabetics on a pump.
Originally posted by duck
He went on for about a minute, and I cut him off and asked "How much is lantus giving you to get your patients on it?" HE GOT MAD as ****. BUt he never denied that they were giving him a kick-back...
That should tell you right there. You know he is getting some kind of kick back.Originally posted by _ALASKA_
I explained.......I just left my last endo because he refused to prescrib me a pump......either you can help me get on a pump or I look for a new endo.....which route are we taking? lol.. Nice job! The things we have to do to get something we want.
I didn't have any problems getting on the pump. It sure didn't happen over night. I told my dr. I would like to go on the pump. He sent me to a Diabetes center. and after 3 months or more I think I was on the pump.
snakeye
10-26-2003, 04:47 PM
I'm on multiple daily injections.
From the threads it's sounds to me that most people use the pump over here.
Are you in better control if you get in control of it? Can you say that you cannot achieve the same control with MDI?
I feel like I'm out of fashion on my treatment!
And, how much can you adjust your boluses? It's gotto have limits I guess...
Originally posted by snakeye
how much can you adjust your boluses? It's gotto have limits I guess... Well let put it this way.
If you eat 22carbs and your carb ratio is 20/1. The amount required would be 1.1 units of Insulin. You can't take with Injections, as far as I know.
Snakeye,
I would say with all honesty *I* could not have achieved the level of control on MDI as I have with the pump. Even when I get "sloppy" on the pump, I am in better control than I was when I was careful on MDI. The worst A1c I have had as a pumper was 7.3, and that was with me travelling a lot for work, not exercising because of travel, and the stress that comes from travelling and eating "on the run"...
My old endo was cautious about the pump. He told me he had patients who loved it, or hated it, so he wanted to "sort" me out. After I convinced him that I was VERY serious (after all, I felt the NPH was trying to kill me), he sent me to class and here I am, happier than ever as a diabetic. But he retired, so...
If I could not get on a pump, I would probably be using Lanta, let me say that now, and humalog. Lanta sounds so much safer than NPH. But humalog is "safer" than lanta in that we know how long it takes humalog to become active and how long it stays active (just a little less than 4.5 hours for me). Therefore being able to set a basal rate with an insulin that acts right away and then disappears after 4 hours is a wonderful benefit of being on a pump.
I could go on and on, but my fingers would tire of typing and the board admins would ban me from posting, they would think I work for a Pump manufacturer... =)
snakeye
10-26-2003, 05:26 PM
That was quite enough! Especially travelling and eating is the worst part of mine...
Unfortunately the governments insurance doesn't apply the pump solution. I'll stick with MDI unless I loose much control. I know that it costs quite more than MDI.
Considering that I'm not paying for anything that I use including the test strips...
Alaska
10-26-2003, 07:44 PM
I can make the boluses any amount I want.
If my BS is low and I'm eating the pump automatically makes the adjustments for me.
If I need a correction and eat the pump automatically makes the adjustments for it.
If I don't agree with the pump I can always change it no matter what.
I'm in control........not the pump
My pump and I have a love/hate relationship.........lol
It's getting better though the more I understand it
snakeye
10-27-2003, 05:11 PM
What I meant by bolus was "extra" shots for something you might want to eat...Maybe like you've wanted to eat a slice of pizza (yea I know--bad example!) could you extra bolus for that? And if you can what is the limit for an extra? 15g 30g carbs...maybe?
Just an extra that you can't stand...
Automatically? How come I never heard of that? If so whats the feedback; does it measure ur BS? dont think so...
Originally posted by snakeye
What I meant by bolus was "extra" shots for something you might want to eat...Maybe like you've wanted to eat a slice of pizza (yea I know--bad example!) could you extra bolus for that? And if you can what is the limit for an extra? 15g 30g carbs...maybe?
Just an extra that you can't stand...
Automatically? How come I never heard of that? If so whats the feedback; does it measure ur BS? dont think so...
I think I know what you are talking about. There is no limit. I eat when I want. I eat how much I want. We know pizza is high in fat.
When you bolus for something like pizza. You dual wave bolus. I bolus 5units now and over 3 or 4 fours I will getting another 5units. That is just an example. Those number will be different for everyone.
I'm looking back, today I bolused 6 different times.
You check your blood with the meter and the meter sends the bg reading to the pump and the pump does all the calculations.
Yeah, Tony is on one of them-there new-fangled Minimed 512 pumps. I'm still using my handy-dandy 508 with no complaints...What his pump and meter combo do automatically, I need to calculate. But no complaints from me so far.
Shalyndria
10-27-2003, 07:44 PM
The 512 has a limit of 25 units per bolus, which you have to set. I don't know about the 508..
As for control, I had almost perfect control with MDI, and switched to the pump for lifestyle reasons. And now, as much as I hate to say it, I think my next GHb is gonna be a little higher...
Alaska,
You have the 512? I do and haven't yet met anyone else with it!!
snakeye
10-28-2003, 11:27 AM
512 on autothrottle, 6 boluses--sounds free to me! Plus eating anytime would be the best part I wonder.
Shalyndria, lifestyle reasons is a killer reason!
Do I need to find a better job for this pump? How much does it cost there?
Alaska
10-28-2003, 12:02 PM
I was on MDI and the pump I know for a fact will bring down my A1c tests. I can see the difference already. When taking injections I just couldn't bring myself to give a shot for 10 carbs and then an hour later another 10 carbs would mean another shot. I'm a snacker, I eat small amounts but a lot of them all day.
The cost of the 512 for my insurance company was about 6500 US dollars.
Hey Shalyndria..........wanna start a 512 pump club??..........LOL
Belinda
10-28-2003, 03:35 PM
Well I have the 507C and have had no problems. Checked to upgrade and my Dr. ask why? duh...newest equipment. He said they are working on one that checks your BG and delivers insulin! Sounds like a pancreas to me...lol
snakeye
10-28-2003, 05:09 PM
Originally posted by _ALASKA_
The cost of the 512 for my insurance company was about 6500 US dollars.
Awww shoot, how bout the vials?
Keeping with "fashion" has always been expensive!
With what Belinda says this thing is getting much like a computer which you can get a better model each day.
Originally posted by snakeye
Awww shoot, how bout the vials?
Keeping with "fashion" has always been expensive!
You use the same vials as on mdI and you use a fast acting Insulin.
Alaska
10-28-2003, 08:30 PM
Yeah......what Tony said.
It;s hard to explain without seeing it but you do use the same vials you do now. You draw the insulin into a special cylinder that fits into the pump. The 512 pump old 176 units and the 712 pump holds 300 units
Originally posted by _ALASKA_
Yeah......what Tony said.
It;s hard to explain without seeing it but you do use the same vials you do now. You draw the insulin into a special cylinder that fits into the pump. The 512 pump old 176 units and the 712 pump holds 300 units
You had me on the 712, I thought you meant the 508.
So I do a little research. Come to find out, yesterday they announced the market introduction the ParadigmŪ 712 insulin pump, which has a larger reservoir.
Alaska
10-29-2003, 08:55 AM
Thought I was a smoking weed there for a moment didn't ya Tony.........lol
I got my pump a week ago and this wasn't out so I'm S.O.L
Originally posted by _ALASKA_
Thought I was a smoking weed there for a moment didn't ya Tony.........lol
That is exactly what i thought, I said to myself "What is he smoking?" lol...
Andrea
10-30-2003, 01:36 AM
Originally posted by Shalyndria
And now, as much as I hate to say it, I think my next GHb is gonna be a little higher...
Shalyndria,
I had really great A1cs when i was on MDI too. My last A1C on MDI was 6.4%. My next one (after 2 months on the pump) was 7.4%! I freaked. I was so upset, but then i realised that since going on the pump, i had stopped having lows. All the crazy lows that i had been having before i started pumping were bringing down my "average" and therefore my A1c. Then i was able to work on getting the highs down and soon after that my A1c was back down to where it was before i started pumping.
I started pumping mainly for lifestyle reasons too. And haven't regretted it for a day since then.
Andrea
Shalyndria
10-31-2003, 03:50 PM
Alright boys, whatever the both of you are smoking you'd better have enough to share!!! :-
Andrea,
Yep, I hear ya. My problem is that on MDI I had pretty much no fluctuation in BS. No lows, ever, and the rare i mean extremely rare hyper. And now I have lows too often, and more hypers than I'd like to see, and I've gained weight (my CDE laughs at this point cause she thinks I need it)!!! I just keep on telling myself that I've only been on it for a couple of months, and everything should iron itself out. I hope...and please tell me these extra pounds will shed easily?!?!
I'll take my smaller 512 over the 712 myself.
ALASKA,
Buddy, me and you we'll start a gang!! You think of the name and I'll get us some goods!! :cool:
Shy
Shy,
If you're gaining weight then doesn't that mean you're under good control (a "high" diabetic can't gain weight, right?)?
Alaska
10-31-2003, 06:19 PM
Duck, I've never heard that before. About the gaining weight if not in good control.
Shy, We could call ourselves "The Pumperz" <snickers>
****, that sounds bad........lol
I like it :P
Alaska, I think we're saying the same thing: To get fatter/gain weight, you need to be in good control. Therefore, if Shy is gaining, she IS in good control. Seems to me the most weight I ever lost in my life was when I was oh-so-out of control...
Andrea
11-01-2003, 02:00 AM
While it is true that if your blood glucose level is consitently and constantly high, you will loose weight, you actually don't HAVE to be in good control to gain weight. It is quite possible to gain with wildly fluctuating blood glucose levels.
The weight loss when blood sugar is high is due to fat breakdown. This only happens when there is not enough insulin available to get enough glucose into the cells. So the glucose stays in the blood stream (high glucose levels) and your body needs some other source of energy since it isn't getting its primary source. So it starts breaking down fat cells. The breakdown of fat gives some energy (though not very efficient), but also has a bi-product of ketones, which are poisonous in the abscence of insulin. The body, wanting to get rid of both this poison and all the extra sugar, tries to pee everything out - causing dehydration which is a big contributor to weight loss as well.
However, if you get on the rollercoaster of highs and lows (you eat too much and then take a huge injection of insulin to lower than high, then find yourself low, then eat too much to counteract the low, then give too much insulin because you are high....), you likely will gain weight - and it is a hard cycle to break out of. This is because you ARE providing enough insulin to be getting enough energy from the glucose and your body does not have to start breaking down fat. AND, your A1c might be just fine because it is an average of all your highs and lows.
I am not saying that this is Shalyndria's case at all. It sounds like she is in pretty good control, but now experiencing a few more highs and lows than she used to. Shalyndria, try and focus on the lows more than anything if you don't want to gain more weight. When i started pumping, i had been having so many lows that i always felt i was feeding my insulin, but on the pump, i stopped having the lows and i lost 5 pounds in the first month because i was no longer needing to snack as much.
Andrea
snakeye
11-02-2003, 02:41 PM
Till now I can say that the long acting Lantus does also have an effect in this thread eh?
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