Pumping vs. Lantus and taking Novalog/Humalog

[Lynne1]

I'm on Humalin N and Humalog now and I hate the lows I get if my lunch is delayed.

Based on what I've read on the forum, lantus is a great improvement over my current meds. What kind of improvement in blood sugar control can be expected in switching from lantus to the pump?

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm on Humalin N and Humalog now and I hate the lows I get if my lunch is delayed.

Based on what I've read on the forum, lantus is a great improvement over my current meds. What kind of improvement in blood sugar control can be expected in switching from lantus to the pump?

Lantus and the pump are a pretty equal comparison. The only main advantage on comparing those two is the pump is a guaranteed 24 hour feed. Some Lantus users experience that it doesn't last 24 hours for them. So they usually have to split their doses up to get a 24 hour coverage.

The biggest benefit of the pump is configurable basal rates. I can change my bolus every 30 minutes. On Lantus, if you split a dose up it may give you the ability to have more insulin in the system in the morning vs evening. Like with me, here is my current pump programming...

1200 - 0500 -- 0.875 units/hr
0500 - 0900 -- 1.000 units/hr
0900 - 1500 -- 1.525 units/hr
1500 - 2000 -- 1.850 units/hr

That above could never be done with Lantus alone. I would have to take some mid-acting insulin for my afternoon/evening rate. Therefore the pump works best for me.

[David]

What kind of improvement in blood sugar control can be expected in switching from lantus to the pump?

That depends. Lantus is supposed to provide one steady basal rate all day with one (or 2 for some people) shots. If one steady rate what you need, you may see little improvement. On the other hand, if your basal needs vary through the day, you may find that the pump gives a significant improvement.

David

[spike]

I'm on Humalin N and Humalog now and I hate the lows I get if my lunch is delayed.

Based on what I've read on the forum, lantus is a great improvement over my current meds. What kind of improvement in blood sugar control can be expected in switching from lantus to the pump?

You can delay or skip meals entirely, on a pump, assuming you get your basal rate(s) set properly. Or you can sleep in. Or you can exercise on short notice. It's a HUGE improvement over MDI and gave me back a "normal" lifestyle. I can't even conceive of going back to shots.

[rzrbks]

I also think that it depends on how commited you are to making MDI work.

For some of us, MDI is fine and we're happy with that-- which leads to Lantus working.

Others of us are not happy with MDI and therefore Lantus isn't going to work as well for them. For them, the pump is a better option.


Last, but not least, are you and your body working together or are you having issues?

Some of us, no matter hard we work at it, find that the versatility of the pump is the only realistic way to meet the needs of our particular brand of Diabetes.


imHo

[Cyborg]

Jedi,

Did you get your times right?

[JediSkipdogg]

Jedi,

Did you get your times right?

huh? What do you mean?

Wait, I guess you mean my starting and ending times? I'm an idiot there, it should be 0000-0500 and then the last one should be 1500-0000