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01-08-2008, 11:20 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 6
| | | Alternative to Lantus
Hi!
I've been diagnosed as a T1 since Sept 07. The dr prescribed me Lantus (12u per day) as basal insulin and Apidra (4u per meal = 12u per day) as bolus insulin. My BGs have worked fine with my vasting count rarely (once a month maybe) above 5.5 and post meal checks below 8. My HbA1c at diagnosis in Sept was 12,4 and the most recent one (31 Dec) was 6.1. So everyhting seems to be under control.
My medical insurance don't cover the Lantus (Even though they do cover the Apidra). I'm concerned that when the honeymoon is over that I'll need more Lantus, since it's quite expensive to purchase.
What other basal insulin might do the same trick as Lantus?
Thanks for all the great info! |
01-08-2008, 11:41 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hastings Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,110
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by janniev  What other basal insulin might do the same trick as Lantus?
Thanks for all the great info! | Levemir I think from Novo Nordisk. I am thinking of getting Levemir too as the Lantus is a good insulin but the Pens that they use is terrible. The Autopen24 is not to my liking plus it uses 2U per click and that's just rubbish.
Novo for me.  |
01-09-2008, 02:57 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Universe, Planet Earth :P
Posts: 1,038
| | There's as said, Levemir from Novo Nordisk... I'm on Levemir for basal and Novorapid with meals, it works great. I've used Lantus aswell, just after diagnosed, but changed over to Levemir later because the Lantus pens are c.r.a.p. I prefer Novopens  Levemir doesn't sting like Lantus when injecting, so i also feel it's more "comfortable" to use.
__________________ 
22 years old, diagnosed T1D on october 14th 2004.
On MDI, Novorapid and Levemir, using the NP4
Currently back to pumping with my IR1200, April 2008.
Been using D-tron and Animas IR1200 but prefer the pen  |
01-09-2008, 03:47 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hastings Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,110
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01-09-2008, 04:19 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 776
| | | Are you using lantus vials or cartridges? Just checking because my insuance covers the regular vials just fine, but will not cover cartidges for pens. Silly silly regulation... but it doesn't bother me because it covers my novolog penfills in any case.
although I've never tried it, i've heard that levimer works as others have said... or you could try a pump.
__________________
That would be a good thing for them to cut on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment.
- Dorothy Parker
T1 18 years
26 years old
Minimed Paradigm 522... yay!
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01-09-2008, 04:28 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hastings Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,110
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin although I've never tried it, i've heard that levimer works as others have said... or you could try a pump. | Hello Erin, As far as I know that levemir cannot be used in a pump from the Perscribing Notes that I have read.
I also think that Lantus cannot be used ither. |
01-09-2008, 04:43 AM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 164
| | | I think the generic brand is NHP, right?
You could go on a pump in which you would use the Apidra as your basal insulin.
Whatever you choose, good luck!
__________________
Type 1 (MODY - maybe) April 2007
Mimi Med pump w/Apidra 10/24/07
CGMS - I would be lost with out it
Byetta 10mc - not typical for a type 1, but it's working!!!!
Metformin 1000 mg at night
Newly Wed 5/3/08
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01-09-2008, 04:57 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,810
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by gambi I think the generic brand is NHP, right?
You could go on a pump in which you would use the Apidra as your basal insulin.
Whatever you choose, good luck! | Nope- NPH is a different insulin all together. None of the insulins have generics.
As others have said, Levemir or a pump are your best options out there if Lantus isn't covered, though I personally think it's a shame that it isn't. I had much worse control on Levemir than on Lantus.
I'm surprised Lantus isn't covered. |
01-09-2008, 05:48 AM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada, Prince Edward Island
Posts: 476
| | Yes it is clear. The Novopen 4 is really a great delivery device.
__________________ Mark K~
Type 1
Dx June 21st 2007
HbA1c
June 22, 2007 - 12.8
September 27, 2007 - 6.6
January 3, 2008 - 6.0
April 16, 2008 - 6.1
July 21, 2008 - 5.5
October 8, 2008 - 6.1
NovaRapid With Meals
Levemir at Bedtime
Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) 81 mg Daily
"Diabetes is for the intelligent and disciplined." |
01-09-2008, 06:13 AM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 6
| | | It is a little stupid that it's not covered but I'll see. I'm willing to pay the few extra bucks and I know everything is under control since Lantus works quite good for me.
Does anybody know something about Humulog or Humulin? Will that be a suitable alternative? |
01-09-2008, 06:29 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rothesay, New Brunswick Canada, eh
Posts: 7,119
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by janniev It is a little stupid that it's not covered but I'll see. I'm willing to pay the few extra bucks and I know everything is under control since Lantus works quite good for me.
Does anybody know something about Humulog or Humulin? Will that be a suitable alternative? |
It is a fast acting insulin, a little slower and longer acting than your Apidra but not by much. An alternative is Novolog or Novorapid.
Some people here in a similar insurance situation as you still inject regular and NPH insulins. They are tough to manage though. The regular is too slow for a fast acting and the NPH is too fast and spikey for a basal.
What country are you in? |
01-09-2008, 07:20 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland
Posts: 173
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by ant hill I am thinking of getting Levemir too as the Lantus is a good insulin but the Pens that they use is terrible. The Autopen24 is not to my liking plus it uses 2U per click and that's just rubbish.
Novo for me. | Lantus is available in SoloStar disposable pens. This does 1U per click. It doesn't have the Mercedes-like feel of the Novopen, but it seems to do the job very adequately. I get my insulin free on the NHS, but I understand the cost of the pens and cartridges are the same, so there shouldn't be a problem with insurance. I now use the SoloStars for both Lantus and Apidra and have had no problems with them. I used to use the Autopen 24 1-20 version, which does do 1U per click, but I prefer the SoloStar.
I tried Levemir, it didn't work at all well for me. The action curve is very dose-dependent. I found that it only lasted about 10-11 hours, so my BG's would start to rise alarmingly in the last hour before my shot and for the following hour.
With Lantus I get more even coverage by taking it twice a day, at 10.00 pm and 8.00 am. Whether Lantus or Levemir works best seems to be very much dependent on the individual.  |
01-09-2008, 09:09 AM
| | Banned
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Shire
Posts: 793
| | | The Lantus SoloStar disposable pens are slightly cheaper than the cartridges if thats any use to you. The price difference is around 10 dollars per box of five pens. |
01-09-2008, 10:58 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland
Posts: 173
| | | Rich:
How are you getting on with the Apidra? Hope you got your supply of SoloStars.
The more I use it the more I like it - you couldn't pay me to go back to Novorapid. Apidra is just sooo predictable - makes corrections a cinch.
Joel |
01-09-2008, 06:39 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: montreal canada
Posts: 36
| | | hi ant hill novorapid here yes levemir is clear and work with the novolin pen 4, great new pen by the way although takes a little getting used to as when you inject it's so quick that you think something is wrong but it's not, i take levemir 2x a day 25units and novorapid 3x a day levemir comes in the penfills just right for the new novolin 4 pen.
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