NPH Question

karabea · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 05:38 PM

My Dr put me back on NPH after being off of it for 7 years (at my request). Thinking back, most of my weight problems and stomach issues started when I switched from NPH to Lantus. Any thoughts on whether or not this was a good idea?

BlueSky · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 06:10 PM

It depends on the profile of you insulin needs. If they are pretty consistent during the day, Lantus works well. But if you need much more insulin during the early morning (which is typical with T2s), you will get more mileage from a shot of NPH before going to bed.

vegasvic · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 11:01 AM

I agree with Blue Sky it depends on your needs. NPH and Lantus have different action profiles so they will give you different results. This could be good or bad depending on you, your blood sugars and what you are trying to accomplish.

vic

notme · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 12:34 PM

I think a lot more information is needed to understand if this was a good idea or not. I understand that your stomach issues are definitely a consideration, but it is totally seperate of what your blood sugars were doing.

How did you do on Lantus and why did you switch originally from NPH to Lantus? Was your blood sugar high in the evening?

A little more information would really be helpful.

xMenace · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 01:20 PM

My opinion is that humpy basal patterns need humpy insulins like NPH. A humpy basal with a flat insulin creates gaps. These gaps in coverage can manifest themselves many ways, but typically we'll need to eat extra to cover some of them. My spiral worked (20/20 hindsight) something like this
- wake up high due to DP, take a correction bolus
- BGs naturally fall as did my basal need. I now have way too much insulin and need to eat.
- eating takes me too high, so I correct again (sometimes)
- my basals drop in the night and I took extra food to keep from going low.

Extra food, extra insulin. It's viscious and difficult to identify and stop when you don't know what's going on.

Significant controlled basal testing is the only way I know to really tell what you need and when.

Eddy · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xMenace

Significant controlled basal testing is the only way I know to really tell what you need and when.

And not only basal testing... but insulin testing. Different people react differently to different insulins. (NPH lasts just a teeny bit longer in me as Novolog/Novorapid does in others.)