A new journey on Lantus

NewdestinyX · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 04:07 PM

Hello gang,
Well -- after my doc visit yesterday he agreed that it's time to try a more aggressive approach, though he, like most of you, told me I don't get ALL my freedom to pig out on carby stuff again just because I'm on an insulin product. But he agreed Lantus was a great next step for me - rather than more Metformin or a Sulfonylurea drug.

So told me to start on 10 units which I injected in my still fat love handles and I didn't even feel the prick of the needle -just a slightly minor 'stretching' pain around the site for about 10 minutes - I guess until the insulin was fully absorbed and no longer sitting under the skin all in one place.

Well I woke up later today and even before taking my 1st injection of the Lantus I had gone to Starbucks and got one of the Sausage Egg and Cheese Sandwiches on an English muffin. They always put the cheese on top so it melts into one of the muffin halves. I ate that half AND had about 4 oz's of 50% sugar OJ.. And my latte. That was about 10 and then I injected about 11AM.. About 12noon -- the BG was a 191... Haven't seen that in awhile but we all know that my breakfast broke the rules. I knew the Lantus, though slow acting, should be 'immediate' help within the day (and not need to build over time like the MET) IF 10 units was going to help at all.

Did some errands and wasn't ready for lunch until about 3 - but I started getting 'really, really, SHAKEY, hungry at 3. Haven't felt that in a LONG time. So I stopped at McDonalds and got those Snack Wraps made from grilled chicken and cheese and lettuce in a tortilla soft wrap. Little carbier than I should..

But when I got home the cool stuff started happening..
My BG before eating the lunch was 105!!!!!!!! (tested two more times to make sure and 105, 107, 108). Never had those numbers --EVER.. And BOY was I jonesin' for food. I hope 90-100 doesn't feel that way ALL the time -- or I fear I'll eat a whole pizza.

But what SHOULD have happened next was I'd eat that meal - go up to 150-165'ish and then still be above 150 at 2hrPP and then at 3hrPP be only back to 140..

Here's what happened:
Before lunch: 105
1hrPP: 141 (no surprise considering what I ate)
--and then -- what's NEVER happened before -- that I ENVY about so many of your journeys..
2hrPP: 119!!!!!!!!!!

The 'hump' bell curve which is what BG is supposed to do.

Only at 10 units of Lantus, day 1, and my 1000mg of Met -- I'm VERY encouraged. Interested to see my wake up number tomorrow morning and am a little nervous about a 'low' overnight.. Do you wake up when you go LOW???? I hope so!

MCS · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 04:28 PM

Thats great Grant!

With power over your D like this, comes responsibilities.

NewdestinyX · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCS

Thats great Grant!

With power over your D like this, comes responsibilities.

I so hear you!. This afternoon I made sure to walk the steps in my house since we're in the middle of a noreaster rain storm for the next 4 days. So I need to stay on my diet and keep moving. That 'sugar' in my bloodstream had to 'go somewhere' -- didn't it? It didn't just disappear. I don't know if you're 'allowed' to play around with insulin this way -- but it would seem prudent, if this Lantus is 'that effective', to 'drop to half the units (5) and stay lo carb on the days I will be more sedentary at the job - and on my higher exercise days.. I can up the carbs to 130-150ish and the units back to the '10' so I don't store the sugar as fat. But exercise itself can drop BG level so --- hmm... I guess I have to be more 'calculating' now.

Well the journey is just beginning. Let's see how dinner the first night goes.. And part of me's a little worried about taking my bedtime Metformin dose... hmmmm... Any thoughts?

Tribbles · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

It didn't just disappear. I don't know if you're 'allowed' to play around with insulin this way -- but it would seem prudent, if this Lantus is 'that effective', to 'drop to half the units (5) and stay lo carb on the days I will be more sedentary at the job - and on my higher exercise days.. I can up the carbs to 130-150ish and the units back to the '10' so I don't store the sugar as fat. But exercise itself can drop BG level so --- hmm... I guess I have to be more 'calculating' now.

Well the journey is just beginning. Let's see how dinner the first night goes.. And part of me's a little worried about taking my bedtime Metformin dose... hmmmm... Any thoughts?

I was told Lantus takes a couple of days for a change to stabilise so not to change it by a unit or two every three days or I wouldn't truly see the effect of the new dosage.

Personally I would take the metformin (because it reducing the work the Lantus does and will stop you getting extra glucose) and push your bed time BG level up to 140 tonight then test a couple of times in the night to see what is happening. I doubt there will be any problem though.

... and buy some glucose tabs.

NewdestinyX · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribbles

I was told Lantus takes a couple of days for a change to stabilise so not to change it by a unit or two every three days or I wouldn't truly see the effect of the new dosage.

Personally I would take the metformin (because it reducing the work the Lantus does and will stop you getting extra glucose) and push your bed time BG level up to 140 tonight then test a couple of times in the night to see what is happening. I doubt there will be any problem though.

... and buy some glucose tabs.

Your second paragraph there has a couple of typos that are making it hard for me to understand, you, Trib. (..because it reducing...) Please restate? And how do you think I should 'push my BG level to 140 tonight? Maybe some pretzels and peanut butter before bed? And should I set my alarm for 2am and 5 am -- something like that to check BG? I also think I'll take my MET with dinner tonight rather than at bedtime.

art · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:34 PM

and you're going to love those bumps under your skin.

I hated those

Art

NewdestinyX · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by art

and you're going to love those bumps under your skin.

I hated those

Art

They did dissipate after a few minutes for you didn't they? Or are you talking about bumps that 'stayed'?

NewdestinyX · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:39 PM

Now THAT's weird...Didn't see this comin'...

Before dinner (no food since lunch) -- 178??

(119 to 178 in 2 hours without having eaten a thing??)

Is that a latent effect of the carbier lunch '4 hours PP'? Or is it a liver dump since I had no snack or since I had such lower numbers earlier in the day? What a "Mr Toad's Wild Ride" this has been today...(105-191 was the range). I guess I'm takin' that Metformin dose with dinner... hmmm..

Like Tribbles said -- maybe it will take a few days for the Lantus to 'stabilize' and my liver needs to learn what's happenin'.. I guess..

jer.lawrence · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:48 PM

"Shouldn't have cheated!" says me, as I sit here enjoying my slice of chocolate cake.

:P Good luck to you, though. I hope that your numbers will go ahead and stabilize like you like them.

SteveFromIowa · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

But when I got home the cool stuff started happening..

That is one of the first things that struck me after starting insulin... an action taken and a near immediate result of that action. It was the beginning of having true control after having been out of control for so long. Cool indeed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

I hope 90-100 doesn't feel that way ALL the time -- or I fear I'll eat a whole pizza.

That threshold goes down with time. Initially I felt that way at 120. Now I'm usually well below 80 before feeling it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

Do you wake up when you go LOW???? I hope so!

I have. At least so far I have. Keep the glucose tablets handy.

Good luck Grant!

Tribbles · #11 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewdestinyX

Your second paragraph there has a couple of typos that are making it hard for me to understand, you, Trib. (..because it reducing...) Please restate? And how do you think I should 'push my BG level to 140 tonight? Maybe some pretzels and peanut butter before bed? And should I set my alarm for 2am and 5 am -- something like that to check BG? I also think I'll take my MET with dinner tonight rather than at bedtime.

That sentence is also available in English!

Personally I would take the metformin because it reduces the work the Lantus needs to do by stop you getting unwanted glucose. Push your bed time BG level up to 140 tonight then test a couple of times in the night to see what is happening. I doubt there will be any problem though.

I was told that until I was happy I understood how my body behaved through the night that I should run slightly high at bed time for safety. Pretzels and peanut butter is a good bed time snack.

NewdestinyX · #12 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribbles

That sentence is also available in English!

Personally I would take the metformin because it reduces the work the Lantus needs to do by stop you getting unwanted glucose. Push your bed time BG level up to 140 tonight then test a couple of times in the night to see what is happening. I doubt there will be any problem though.

I was told that until I was happy I understood how my body behaved through the night that I should run slightly high at bed time for safety. Pretzels and peanut butter is a good bed time snack.

Well I still got the bell curve with a Chinese meal tonight. What AM I thinking on day one to be eating so poorly.

Went into dinner with a 4hr fasting # of 178.
1hr PP = 162
2hr PP = 141

Took my 2nd Met with dinner.

So Im at 141 heading to bed. (late dinner at 8:30).

Maybe no pretzels and peanut butter tonight.

And shouldn't I be taking the Lantus at bedtime? Rather than Am?.. I was worried it would be most potent when Im sleeping and send me low. But it would probably help my dawn phenomenon better if I took at bed time. Thoughts?

NewdestinyX · #13 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveFromIowa

That is one of the first things that struck me after starting insulin... an action taken and a near immediate result of that action. It was the beginning of having true control after having been out of control for so long. Cool indeed!

That threshold goes down with time. Initially I felt that way at 120. Now I'm usually well below 80 before feeling it.

I have. At least so far I have. Keep the glucose tablets handy.

Good luck Grant!

What a super helpful post, Steve. Thanks for sharing ur experience. I'll try and resist the "whole pizza" thing at 105 in the future. Just haven't ever been that low yet. I got my glucose tabs by the bed tonite. Is am or bedtime better for the injection?

Hammer · #14 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 08:51 PM

It was recommended that I take the Lantus at bedtime, since most people go to bed at the same time, so it would be easier to remember to take it then. I take mine at midnight every night, as that's easy for me to remember.

NewdestinyX · #15 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

It was recommended that I take the Lantus at bedtime, since most people go to bed at the same time, so it would be easier to remember to take it then. I take mine at midnight every night, as that's easy for me to remember.

Yeah.. I'm just remembering that I have different times I leave for work each day and so I don't wake up at the same time. So I probably shouldn't reinject only 12 hours from my last one right?.. Wait until bedtime tomorrow night to restart the plan? Or take 5 units in am and 5 units at bedtime to switch it over.. Any thoughts?