[Deetles13]

I saw my endo team Doctor for the first time yesterday. I have been seeing the NP before this.. and for the first time i was not told to do a sugar log! THANK GOD..

anyway the most interesting news was that he told me that Humalog has been found to percipitate in the plastic of the pump... leaving it less potent by the time it reaches the body. So he switched me to novalog becuz that seems to work better with the plastic tubing. I was amazed at this.. and will be thankful if that was the problem this whole freakin time!!!

Anyone else heard of this?

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by Deetles13

I saw my endo team Doctor for the first time yesterday. I have been seeing the NP before this.. and for the first time i was not told to do a sugar log! THANK GOD..

anyway the most interesting news was that he told me that Humalog has been found to percipitate in the plastic of the pump... leaving it less potent by the time it reaches the body. So he switched me to novalog becuz that seems to work better with the plastic tubing. I was amazed at this.. and will be thankful if that was the problem this whole freakin time!!!

Anyone else heard of this?

I had been using Humalog while on injections and continued to use it when I switched to the pump 3 1/2 years ago. I have a 300 unit reservoir which is way more than I need. I fill it completely and use it until it's empty. The longest it's lasted was 15 days. I have never had a single problem with the Humalog crystallizing, clogging the tubing or becoming less potent. I leave it in during the hot summer months with no problems.

Novolog may work better for you but it might not have anything to do with Humalog reacting in the tubing! My CDE tried getting me to switch to Novolog a bunch of times and has finally given up asking me about it.

[Subby]

Interesting finding about the Humalog. I don't know that it's the whole Nov vs Hum picture though, as even with MDI some people find variations between the two (apparently, from endo and multiple posts etc).

At one stage I went to Humalog hoping for better action, in the end it seemed the same but for me gave some pretty bad side effects, such as constant nausea.

I hope Novalog gives you improvement. Out of interest do you feel your issues involve your insulin being generally slow or sluggish to act?

[Deetles13]

Hmmm. well i dont know that my insulin is slow or sluggish to react.. but It just doesnt seem to work.. And I know that basal checks and sensitivity checks can be done, but its like I would be perfect one week then totally off the next week with no explanation... i duno.. Im trying some new stuff so we will see. Thanks for your input!

[JungleJim]

I pumped with Humalog for a year or so and never had any problems with it. My endo switched me to Novolog because she knew I was spending a lot of time outside during the summer, and said that Novolog was more resistant to heat. I couldn't tell any difference between the two as far as their action, and the same settings worked with the same results.

[xMenace]

I spent my first two years on Humalog. I switched this summer and the performance improvement is fairly dramatic. I could never go longer than 772hours on Humalog. About 1/3 of my sets failed after 2 days. I've gone 5 full days on Novalog. Hardly any set failures anymore.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Deetles13

Hmmm. well i dont know that my insulin is slow or sluggish to react.. but It just doesnt seem to work.. And I know that basal checks and sensitivity checks can be done, but its like I would be perfect one week then totally off the next week with no explanation... i duno.. Im trying some new stuff so we will see. Thanks for your input!

Just for clarity I'll qualify "slow or sluggish"... by that I mean taking more time to start to be effective, usually letting the food spike you up before the insulin is fully effective.

You can quite easily tell if this is a potential culprit because often you will have a high post-meal 2 hour reading, and then get downward action at 4 to 6 hours, leading to normal or low levels.

Prebolusing can be added to your arsenal of tactics if this ever occurs for you.

As opposed to "not working" by which I take it you mean it seems generally ineffective, would usually mean your BG spikes upwards from the meal, and stays high until you bring it down with a correction dose or your basal/next dose might eventually bring it down. It would beg the question why not just increase dose, although I hear you when you say your ratios work one week and not another, which really does makes it more complex.

I hear what you say about having things to go on with, and good luck. I always think three techniques, issues or aspects of diabetes is about the max to concentrate on at one time, then once dealt with, move on.

[someone]

I have switched back and forth and never really noticed much difference.

[Chauncey]

Originally Posted by Deetles13

I saw my endo team Doctor for the first time yesterday. I have been seeing the NP before this.. and for the first time i was not told to do a sugar log! THANK GOD..

anyway the most interesting news was that he told me that Humalog has been found to percipitate in the plastic of the pump... leaving it less potent by the time it reaches the body. So he switched me to novalog becuz that seems to work better with the plastic tubing. I was amazed at this.. and will be thankful if that was the problem this whole freakin time!!!

Anyone else heard of this?

I used Humalog in my pumps from 1996 (when it became available) until earlier this year when I tried Novolog. I have found a difference, mostly in the reduction of my TDD. Also it tends to work faster than Humalog. However, if Novolog were no longer available from my insurance company I would go back to Humalog but not happily.

I change the reservoir and infusion set every three days so I have no experience with deterioration of the insulin.

[It Ain't Over]

Endo told me Humalog has never been approved by the FDA for use in a pump and Novolog has. He said as far as he can tell Humalog does work well in pumps, but there are some reports of problem with it failing.

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by It Ain't Over

Endo told me Humalog has never been approved by the FDA for use in a pump and Novolog has. He said as far as he can tell Humalog does work well in pumps, but there are some reports of problem with it failing.

Aaarrggh! My CDE told me the same thing and it is not true! The FDA has approved Humalog for use in insulin pumps.

[sleepy_hound]

Interesting topic. I have always wondered why my sister is on Humalog and I'm on Novolog and we're both on the same type of pump and see the same Endo. I've always been on Novolog even before pumping, but I think she's been on both and just stuck with Humalog...hmmm. Didn't know all these little details.

[Funnygrl]

I've pumped Humalog, Apidra, Regular, and Novolog, all successfully. The only time I have trouble with clogs is when I used Cleo tubing too long, and that was the same amongst all the insulins. I have heard what you mentioned before, though.

[Type I Tester]

I used to be on novolog too but Humalog is what I really needed with the Lantus injection once daily I never have to worry about highs. Lows are a different story but I would rather be too low than too high.