So Far So Good on Lantus

[boelkowj]

As a normal weight T2 diabetic I am finally seeing normal range fbg levels having started insulin 1 shot in the evening a few weeks ago. Lantus seems to be working well for me. I've titrated up to 8 IU and seems to be an adequate dose to date. I've dc'd Actos and Amaryl dose halved to 4 mg/d. I sure hope the good results to date continue as the pills never seemed to control my bg levels very well. I was first diagnosed 8 yrs ago and believe I should have started insulin a long time ago. It is so easy to administer as I only take 1 dose/day. I sure hope my pancrease continues to perform for several more years or do you think this is just a "honeymoon" period and will have to adminster more often as the disease progresses? I'm 63 and never had a weight problem. I'm just trying to be realistic about the future. My next A1c may also tell how well I am doing. Thanks for you input.

Larry

[princesslinda]

Larry, so glad you're seeing good results. I know that's encouraging. My brother in law has been on Lantus for 4-5 years now and is still seeing good results on it.

[Scrabblechick]

Glad you're seeing such good results, Larry! Hope you continue to do well on one dose for MANY more years!

[Hammer]

Hi Larry! I started on Lantus a few months ago and it took me awhile before I got the correct dosage. I started at 8 units, and added two units ever few days if my numbers were still high. I finally arrived at 72 units, but I needed the help of Byetta to get there.

What kind of fasting numbers are you getting with your Lantus? If you are getting them with just 8 units of Lantus, then that means your pancreas is still doing a good job and only needed a small amount of help to get you in the normal range.

One thing that surprised me, and I bet it surprised you too, is how easy it is to inject Lantus. The needles are so thin that you don't really feel anything....nothing like the needles they use when they take a blood sample.

Anyway, good luck with the Lantus, and hopefully your numbers will stay good.:)

[boelkowj]

Hammer: Thanks for the information. My FBG levels are mostly below 130 and closer to 110 alot of the time in the morning. By late afternoon levels can get below 80 which I watch pretty carefully. I can spike over 180 in the midmorning time if I don't watch what I eat. So Lantus is not a magic bullet for PP levels.

Larry

Larry

[wildrose]

Forgive my ignorance here. I've only known I had diabetes for two months and I know so little. I was wondering what you mean when you say you hope your pancreas continues to work for several more years? Does the pancreas eventually fail to produce insulin and is that something diabetics must look forward to? If so, what happens then?

I am on Metformin and Glipizide and I haven't been able to get my bg to a normal level yet and I've been wondering if insulin is the answer. I was told I can't take a higher dose of Met (2000mg) and my Glipizide was increased from 5 to 15 mg. I don't know if that can be increased.

Rose

[Hammer]

So Lantus is not a magic bullet for PP levels.

Larry

Larry

No Lantus doesn't help at all with PP levels, it only affects your fasting level. Lantus is usually used with another med....Prandin and Byetta are two, although I see some people are taking metformin with it also. Prandin or Byetta both help to keep the spikes down after a meal. They both work in a similar fashion in that they slow the digestive process. Lantus alone won't control the spikes.

[Alice]

It makes perfect sense that Lantus helps many Type 2's...basal level glucose is something that is often ignored by the old "eat right" advice given by doctors. Sometimes you just need more basal help from that great invention which is insulin.

I love my Lantus...type 1 here. It took me a long time to learn how to adjust it...had I listened to "myself" a long time ago, I would have worked it out sooner!

[cadcon]

It makes perfect sense that Lantus helps many Type 2's...basal level glucose is something that is often ignored by the old "eat right" advice given by doctors. Sometimes you just need more basal help from that great invention which is insulin.

I love my Lantus...type 1 here. It took me a long time to learn how to adjust it...had I listened to "myself" a long time ago, I would have worked it out sooner!

I've been using Lantus for a while and I 'm really not sure
it does me any good. My Doctor swears it is important so
I've been spending the $100.00 a month or so to keep it going.
I Realy feel the Januvia is working at $170.00 for 30 days.

It's a tough learning curve. Thanks to all that post here, I've
learned alot.

Regards,

Jim