[CrazyGramma]

Has anyone had any side effects from using rapid (humolog/novorapid). I was on it twice for about a year and stopped due to dizzy spells, loss of balance, lightheadedness. Reason I ask is that my discovery that I have been over-correcting and eating too many carbs with huge boluses may have been a factor. Now that I'm doing an overhaul I would like to switch back to rapid acting versus fast.

[milfordj]

While on MDI, I always had to premix Humalog with Regular insulins for same reason as you. This might have been due to slight gastropareisis (SP?), but was particularly true whenever I was eating a larger meal with more carbs, requiring more insulin, or when exercising after eating. My suggestion: go on the pump! EVERYTHING is working so much better now.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by milfordj

While on MDI, I always had to premix Humalog with Regular insulins for same reason as you. This might have been due to slight gastropareisis (SP?), but was particularly true whenever I was eating a larger meal with more carbs, requiring more insulin, or when exercising after eating. My suggestion: go on the pump! EVERYTHING is working so much better now.

Her signature says she is using a pump.

[milfordj]

My Bad! I forgot that pumps can also use regular insulin.

[Mich]

The only thing I noticed was not really a side effect, but a direct effect. The difference between the lows caused by regular and Humalog/Novalog is dramatic.

With Regular, I woould feel the approach of a low and have about 15 minutes to respond. I could finish checking out at the market, then take the groceries to my car and chomp a few glucose tabs.

With fast-acting insulins, my first clue was a burst of nausea. The very first time, I treated it the same way and it almost got me. Now I know to reach for the glucose tabs quickly. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200. Most of the time I have to plan a short sit down just to make sure my glucose is working before I am up and resuming my previous activity.

Most of my lows are from unplanned activiity or (rarely) an overcorrection. The white spot you mention in the center of your vision is a symptom of low blood sugar for me. Must have something to do with nourishment of the macula?

Mich

[CrazyGramma]

Mich, I also experienced very strong lows on the rapid. So I take it your willing to deal with effects of a low on rapid because it is a better insulin?

Milfordj, I would give up my arm before my pump.

[CrazyGramma]

Scratch, how did you know I was a she?

I see that you are runner. Have you posted lots of stuff about exercise I can look up?

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by McCaffrey

Scratch, how did you know I was a she?

I see that you are runner. Have you posted lots of stuff about exercise I can look up?

I've got signatures turned off so sometimes if I think I should check to see if a person has treatment information in the signature, I click on the username and look at the public profile, which will have the signature and other stuff. Your profile says you're female.

I don't know if I've posted lots of stuff about exercise, although I did keep a thread tracking some about the training to run my first half-marathon and I've been keeping one making some short notes about the Broad Street Run which is 9 days away.

I have been mulling over starting up a more comprehensive thread about what I do for fitness after the Broad Street Run. Running was a good start, but I'm more interested now in something a bit more comprehensive than just being able to run long distances. It's been having some interesting effects on managing this diabetic condition and it's been something of an eye-opener to see just how short all of us probably are from being physically fit or attempting to approach what could be our physical best.

[Mich]

McCaffrey,

I prefer faster insulin because I always hated the feeling of being sleepy after eating.

I don't find it an inconvenience now that I know a low means "FIX IT RIGHT NOW." If I feel one coming (depends on how busy I am but usually around 60) I immediately pop a couple of glucose tabs. If it is soon after a bolus and it was a larger bolus, I stand by to follow up with more glucose. Usually I test before adding more--trying not to over correct.

A bolus of fast insulin gets you back to normal quicker after a meal or snack. Dr Bernstein does outline reasons for using regular, like having severe gastroparesis, so do check that out first.

Mich

[UpNorth]

I've never ever used regular and probably never will. But the hypos i get on Novorapid hit me hard and fast! I always have to carry glucose in my pocket or bag just for safety. But i don't get those hypos often at all. Most of the time, or i'd say 9 times out of 10 i catch a hypo while it's still just a "low" and not a full blown hypo. My last HYPO! was a couple of weeks ago, since then i've only been a tad low a few times

[CrazyGramma]

Looks like I will need to hit the library and get Berstein and Walsh books. And try the rapid again once I am stabalized.

[CrazyGramma]

I would like to be very fit. I was in an exercise study last year so I think I have the basics on how to do it.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by McCaffrey

Looks like I will need to hit the library and get Berstein and Walsh books. And try the rapid again once I am stabalized.

Get Scheiner's "Think Like A Pancreas" too.

Now that your basals are getting straightened out, maybe you'll have better luck with rapid. I know nothing about insulin alergies.

[CrazyGramma]

UpNorth
Good to know that hypos on novorapid can be few and far between. Had a hypo on rapid once in the grocery where I had to get my hubby to grab a coke, sit me on a stack of cans of something, while I waited for my vision to clear of swerls and sparkles. Not a lot of fun.

[Mich]

MacCaffrey, you made me laugh!

I've gone low, verging on hypo in the grocery store. I pop a few glucose tabs and then usually stand still for a while, leaning on my basket and pretending to read a package.

I wonder how strange it looks to see a woman who looks like she's memorizing the same package for five minutes, gobbling candy from her purse?

Probably as strange as a woman sitting on a pile of cans having a coke

I would have recognized you...as a fellow diabetic.

Mich