NPH or NovaRapid

[claysmum]

I have read in a few posts about NPH that it almost killed someone. My son is on this, why is it so dangerous?? Please let me know!!:confused:

[David]

NPH has a reputation of somewhat unpredictable peaks (at least partially justified IMO), so most NPH users schedule a snack before or at its likely peak time. If that snack is forgotten or the NPH peaks early one day, a low may result.

David

[buzzborne]

I personally use Novorapid. I used to be on actrapid and before that the mixtards, but find that novorapid has been the best shot for me.

[Shalyndria]

FYI, NPH and Novorapid are two different insulins. The NPH is a long-acting, while Novorapid is an analogue. Novorapid is called such outside of the United States; you may know it better as Novolog.

As David explained, NPH can be very unpredictable with some people. Please don't let them scare you too much though :) Sometimes we forget how our words can affect others, particularily someone who's new at the disease (and a parent to boot). Personally, I was on NPH for 12 years and it worked like a charm for me. This was during childhood, puberty, and teen years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it ;)

Shy

[rzrbks]

claysmum

I have read in a few posts about NPH that it almost killed someone. My son is on this, why is it so dangerous?? Please let me know!! :confused:

Any of the insulins will cause serious trouble if you're not monitoring properly.


If he's having good results with his current Regimen, I wouldn't worry.

I've been Googleing like crazy and can't find anything about the "Dangers" of NPH

[claysmum]

Pheww....thanks for the more positve outlook on NPH. You just tend to go with the flow and assume the doctors are doing the best, so thanks for the info.

I do know that NPH and NovaRapid are two different insulins. We are still in the adjustment stage of things and his sugars are really high. He went into what they referred to as the "honeymoon period" and now is out of it. Too bad. It only lasted 1 week and then he got sick.
So now the insulin doses are going up and up..

:(

[eevee]

Without knowing just how much insulin Clay is getting, "up up up" isn't a great guide. Did you know it is wise to leave insulin shots unchanged for three days (at least) before moving them up/down. It is to do with the body recognising and adjusting to the new amount of circulating insulin. Doing it slowly will help avoid rapid swings...theory anyway..!!

Can you give more details...weight, approx age,shots, exercise, Claysmum..??

Cheers......Eve

[claysmum]

Hi,

Yes, we only change the insulin doses every three days if we have to. We were told to take care of the lows and then the highs. So right now there are no lows.

Clayton is a 4 and a half year old little boy. He weighs 38 pounds which is starting to increase. We originally took him into the doctor because I thought he had a bladder infection. He was having accidents and drinking loads of water. (It is obvious to me know...hindsight is always 20/20). They did a test but instead of bacteria, they found lots of sugars and lots of ketones, so we had to rush him over to the childrens hospital and there underwent lots of tests and to my utter shock, he was Type 1 diabetic.:( His blood sugar was 41
I am still in shock.

He is on 4 NPH and .5 NR in the morn and at night he is on 1NPH and 1 NR.

His numbers are great in the morning 8.1

Lunch 22.1 (yesterday)

Dinner 18.9

Snack 20.

So his numbers were really high at supper and bedtime snack, but have seem to come down.

That is the scoop.:)

[nantomsuethom]

Hi Claysmum,

I am sorry to hear of what you are going through right now.

I am sitting here at work with tears in my eyes. My coworkers are going to think I am crazy. I am having flashbacks while reading your last reply!

Clay's levels will come down. It does get a little easier. I just becomes part of life.

The scariest thing for us in the begining was sending to school. I am thankfull that he had a full time nurse at his school and now this year I am the nurse at his school.

You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Nancy

[eevee]

I must admit I am not familiar with children and diabetes, but are you only using those two insulins twice a day..?? His daytime numbers are pretty scary. Are you seeing a paediatric/diabetes specialist..??
If you do a 'net search there are lots of support forums for juvenile diabetics. I see you are posting on the Parents thread here...it doesn't hurt to get as many points-of-view as possible...
Any chance Clay can get a pump...I believe one would bring him into line more quickly than a twice-a-day regimen. Some pumps can deliver very small amounts of insulin.
I do not envy you your task, but try not to 'freak out' over it...nothing drastic is likely to happen to Clay while you are feeling your way.

.........Eve

[claysmum]

I know his numbers are very wacky. I have a really good endo but I will have been one month since we have seen him last. I was warned that it may take a while to stabilize him. We will see him at the end of next week, so we will see what he says.!!:confused:

[Fat Steve]

I'm on 60/day Lantus and running at 5 - 19, so I got started on Novarapid. Yea ok its harder to control sometimes but I feel better...apart from a headache after dose. Only one hypo, after excercise which I controlled with chocolate (shame) and looking forward to new lows. I guess I am lucky - I get a hypo warning early.:marchmell :marchmell

[Stuboy]

im on lantus and novorapid. never used NPH... isn't that like actrapid?

[Funnygrl]

im on lantus and novorapid. never used NPH... isn't that like actrapid?
No, actrapid is what we call R. I think you Brits call NPH Isophane or Protopane.

[Stuboy]

Oooh... so what do you call Novorapid?

(please dont say novorapid, i'll feel stupid) lol

[Funnygrl]

Oooh... so what do you call Novorapid?

(please dont say novorapid, i'll feel stupid) lol
Novolog. See, no need to feel stupid.

[Stuboy]

and there i was thinking novolog was somethings else!!

Hey, we should have a table on this forum somewhere... American vs English terms/glossary.

Would be very usefull...

[notme]

Claysmum, While NPH is still used, it is an isulin that is very hard to predict. I agree if it was working for you, then it would be fine to stick with it. I was on NPH for 16 years and Regular. These insulins have peaks that are very complicated when you are trying to figure out meal times and injection times, this is complicated more my your son's activity level and growth.

Lantus, or insulin pumps with short acting insulins have helped alleviate these issues. Lantus is a long acting insulin with no peaks. The pump gives you small doses of short acting insulin during a 24 hour period. You should be able to have good blood sugar all day long without eating a meal if you have your pump set up correctly.

While NPH is still prescribed, there are different insulins and programs that are much easier to figure out. I would talk to your doctor about options.

[Funnygrl]

The original post was over 2 years ago. I have no clue why it was bumped...

But good answer nonetheless Nancy.

[notme]

LOL DUH!!!! Guess I should look at stuff like that. Thanks!!