Is my doctor an idiot? (Changing from Humalog/NPH to Levemir ONLY)

[decepticon284]

I'm 26, a type 1 diabetic (have been for..18 years) and I went to a new doctor because I just moved and was curious about Lantus/Levemir replacing my NPH because I heard it would be healthier (my A1C was 5.7 though) My doctor said that I could replace my 3 shots a day with 1 shot of Levemir in the evening...and that's it.

This didn't sound right to me, but I switched to the Levemir and night and continued taking Levemir. I went back 2 weeks to him saying I still had to take Humalog, he said I was doing it wrong, I wasn't listening to him and that Levemir took awhile for my body to adjust.

This sounds ridiculous to me, I even asked him if he thought I was Type 2, he said he'd worked with lots of diabetics before and didn't understand why I didn't trust him.


Has anyone heard this before? I don't see how levemir could work the way he says. I'd love to be on 1 shot a day, but it doesn't sound realistic.

[Keezheekoni]

Yes your doctor is an idiot. Levemir is basal only insulin, it doesn't have any fast acting in it.

Get a new doctor, quickly!

[Simons70]

Hi- I also think your doctor needs to go back to school. Lantus is a long lasting insulin. It lasts twenty four hours for me. Humalog or Novolog is a fast acting, short duration insulin. I test my bs before each meal and take the appropriate amount of Novolog, in my case 4 to 6 units. I do not understand how he could think you do not need to take the fast acting insulin, what is going to cover your meal?
Good luck and use your common sense.
Simons

[Scratch]

Get a new doctor.

[duck]

Before you get a new doctor, I'd ask this one for two things: Your treatment plan in writing, and a copy of his diploma so you can call the Medical School he graduated from and ask if he really attended...

Just in case:

For all intents and purposes, there are two types of insulins: Basal (sometimes called "long lasting") and fast-acting insulins. In today's market, the basal insulins are Lantus, Levemir and still to a large extent, NPH.

The fast acting insulins are Novolog, Humalog and Apidra, with Regular insulin being a bit slower acting (but not a basal insulin).

Basal insulins are used to cover your body's "basal" metabolic needs. Most people don't realize it, but the human body releases glucose all day long in differing amounts for various reasons--this is part of the basal metabolism. Therefore, even if you didn't eat all day, chances are your fasting blood sugar levels will increase and continue to increase if you did NOT take insulin. The convenience of basal insulin is that you take one shot (in theory) to cover your basal needs. Could you use "fast acting" insulin for your basal needs? Yes, but you'd be taking A LOT of shots (insulin pumps actually use fast acting insulin as the basal insulin).

Fast acting insulins in this line of thinking are used for two things: to "cover" food intake, and to "correct" highs. Fast acting insulins are more predictable toward the end of their activity, making them ideal for this purpose.

What your doctor is asking you to do can potentially kill you, and certainly will make you sick As far as I'm concerned, you can print this thread out and take it to him for his consideration...he can berate a dude who calls himself "duck" on an internet forum, but ask him to get a second opinion from ANY other doctor, and he'll see the error in his ways.

[grace girl]

A doctor who thinks a type 1 can survive on basal insulin ONLY? Now I've heard it all. Get a new doctor. Fast.

[Alice]

Let me guess...he's not an endo, right?

But, regardless, that's a pretty significant boo-boo on a doctor's part...

Do you think he's so used to treating Type 2's (the majority) that he overlooked your Type 1 status? Who knows, but I agree with everyone else...find a new doctor, hopefully an endo.

[Cyborg]

Sounds like he's using you as a guinee pig! If it ain't broke, why fix it? :hmmmm2:

[owlyn]

Yes, your doctor is an idiot. Get a new one ASAP.

[JediSkipdogg]

Get a new doctor, quickly!

Hi- I also think your doctor needs to go back to school.

Get a new doctor.

What your doctor is asking you to do can potentially kill you, and certainly will make you sick

Get a new doctor. Fast.

Sounds like he's using you as a guinee pig!

...find a new doctor, hopefully an endo.

Yes, your doctor is an idiot. Get a new one ASAP.

How do I say it better myself? Gosh, I don't think I can besides making it bigger....


GET A NEW DOCTOR ASAP

[ant hill]

Yes Alice, See that you get an Endo. Doctors are so nieve to diabetics. :s: :stupido3:

[Jodie]

He is an idiot and he doesn't know what hes talking about. Like everyone else has said in this thread, get a new doctor! :)

[shabbie]

another 'new doctor' vote here too!!

[orsaugen]

Amen to the other responses plus another point:
Even if you do use Levemir as your basal insulin you probably will find, as most of us who do have learned, that although Levemir is promoted as a 24-hour basal, we find we have to take two injections, one in the a.m. and on in the p.m. Plus bolus insulin. Get thee to an endo!

[UpNorth]

Yes, that doctor is an idiot, or wait... It's an IDIOT :T
Lantus/Levemir is as said numerous of times only basal insulins, but a type 1 can never JUST have a basal insulin- as all of us know... Need to cover the food with bolus...

[Jan B]

The doctor's plan might work if you NEVER ate! But the side effect would be you would eventually starve to death.

[TenderVittleS]

I told you to get out of Mexico!!!

[mortis505]

This does not sound like an endocrinologist to me, but some GP who thinks he knows everything just because he read it in some medical journal. Get to an En do ASAP!!! and find a new GP, this one is an idiot.

[morrisma]

Don't often get 100% for ANYTHING on this forum! I agree with the majority opinion and think you should get a 2nd opinion quickly!
Mike

[Emm]

Ditto all above!

That's just suicide. Basal only? Geeeeez what on earth does this doctor think he's doing?!

Please, not only get a new doctor but also make sure this doctor knows he can't do this. If one of his patients is newly diagnosed by him they could be in biiiiig trouble.

Why would he want to change anything anyway? Were you having trouble? Your A1c is brilliant!

[JasonJayhawk]

Decep,

What kind of medical background does your doctor have? I'm assuming this doctor is not an endocrinologist.

Is it your primary care provider?

If it's a PCP, it's likely that a drug salesperson taught him the wrong message, causing him to get confused between Type 1 and Type 2.

How have your glucose levels been as of lately?

It sounds so crazy that I'd almost think you were kidding us all just to make us go bonkers with the craziness of it.

[decepticon284]

I'm glad it wasn't just me thinking something was wrong. That's what I get from picking a doctor from the insurance list. I realized later that it was a clinic, not a "real" doctor. Oh well. I was sick anyway, so I needed to go in. Not a TOTAL wasted trip.

[Lizzie G]

i wish there was a way you could forward this thread to your doctor.....that is a pretty fundamental error.....

[Cyborg]

i wish there was a way you could forward this thread to your doctor.....that is a pretty fundamental error.....

Print and mail... :vroam:

[Mich]

The short answer would be yes.

Gee, Doctor X...the new treatment plan seems to work well if I only eat three lettuce leaves per day...

Doesn't he expect you to eat? Almost anything you eat will cause a spike. I too, suspect he's not too up on types of diabetes and proper treatments. Big boo boo for a doctor which could cost lives...

Mich

[JJM335]

What kind of medical background does your doctor have? I'm assuming this doctor is not an endocrinologist.

.[/b]

I dunno - he came very well recommended.

His last patient came in first by a short head in the 3.30 at Epsom!

;-)

[chipewap]

I've been using levemir for a month now and like it's effect on my bs...closer to normal for 24 hrs. Lantus I used for 10 years. I changed to levemir because its expiration is 42 days vs lantus 30 days. I noticed a post from another member who said she used the levemir until the bottle was empty. I wonder if it's strength is reduced after 42 days. Anyone care to give me their experience? thanks Mike

[chipewap]

My Dr suggested 2 levemirs a day....I take one shot around 6am 21 units and it works great 24hrs....better control than I've had with lente nph lantus Have had diabetes for 53 yrs and still have good vision....only need glasses for driving, and no surgeries. Thank the Lord......But it's been a struggle, a terrific balancing act.

[Yodee]

Sounds like they have pretty much said it all - but I have to agree. And as ant hill said some doctors are ignorant about diabetes - I am having that issue with the hospital where my son is at - we are telling them how it needs to be done. They wouldn't let him put his pump back in and then they let him go for almost six hours with only 4 units to cover a "high" and they wondered why it was up to 586? Hmmmm really? Don't worry I "explained" it to the doctor when he called me. Luckily I wasn't there - I would probably have been posting this from jail :) Next time he checks himself in there I am going straight down and checking him out - I don't have a degree but I can get him back on track and your "new" doctor will be able to also!

Good luck to you.

[bluesgirl102]

You need a doctorectomy!! Please get one in a hurry!! I concur with the others here...

[Metermaid]

DANGEROUS!!! REPORT HIM!! AND DO NOT GO BACK!