Has anyone seen a graph comparing Apidra with Novolog and Humalog? If so would you please post it in this discussion. I used Apidra when I first started on my Animas 2020 in June of 2007 and now I am using Novolog and I have seen some of the same differences that others have described here.
Ok I just came from the specialist and said we would like to use apidra in the pump. He said “they” told “them” (I assume the doctors) that Apidra should not be used in the pump. Apparently it clogs up the pump (!?). Anyone ever heard of this or experienced it? My son is currently on the Medtronic 722 with novorapid (novolog in the US).
Just the opposite, actually. It’s supposed to be the least likely insulin to clog tubing (that’s a link to their website with their claim about clogs), with less incidence of clogs than Humalog. I’ve used Apidra in my pump since 2005 and I’ve never had a clog, so I’ll vouch for it. I’ve never used Novalog, so I can’t say how it compares.
I have been on apidra since starting my omnipod in September, I do like the quickness that it works at and I can do it right after eating too if I am low or if I eat less carbs than assumed. Its quickness keeps me from shooting up after eating and I dont have to worry about boulsing for 50 carbs then only eating 30 I can eat then bolus with my last few bites to keep things steady. I do however feel it is more expensive than Novalog which I was on before. I was using novalog pens and my co-pay was 25$ a month now using apidra 2 vials cost me 40$ a month. that’s my only downer…
I used Apidra and I’m a non-pumper. I take 5 units of Apidra if I eat a meal of 40/ 44 g of carbs and if I don’t walk after my meal. My Apidra goes fast but it is still in my body 4 hours after the shot. One example: two days ago I took 4 units because I thought I was walking after my meal at 14 h but the rain came and lots of rain! So my blood sugar was very high 230!!! I took 2 units 2 hours afte y mear and at 19 h I was at 57! too much Apidra. My endo told me that Apidra works only two hours and I don’t believe her.
I will be starting Apidra in my OmniPod starting tuesday of next week. (i just got my omnipod today so im still on saline.) But, ive been using it for almost a year now with the opticlick pen and it been working great for me! After 3 months of using it my A1C went from 10.4 to 7.8.
Pumper with Apidra.
Apidra seems a little faster. I use Apidra in my MedTronic 522 pump for basal and bolus.
Also told that it clogs less than Novolog.
I am a competitive cyclist and Team Type 1 uses and are sponsored by Apidra so I trust them…
Just read this thread because I was starting to wonder if Apidra is more likely to clog. I had fewer than 5 occlusions during 6-7 years of pumping Humalog (which I used MDI for years). After less than a year on Apidra, I’ve already had 2 occlusions–in one week! Not sure it’s the Apidra (which I do prefer because it appears to work more quickly and linger less long) or the fact I’ve been trying to cover more ground with infusion sets and have been using the sides of my abdomen more. Will report back if this continues to be an issue. Again, I think it’s YMMV.
I get the impression that occlusions are more often the fault of scar tissue than from insulin clogging. Like with all things diabetes, I hate the existence of so many variables. As always, who knows?
I’ve been using it since last summer, first with injections and then since September with a pump. Before that I’d been on Actrapid for over 30 years. The Apidra is much better in that it peaks much earlier and for me is just easier to control.
I use Accu-Chek Tenders (have for all my years of pumping). I’m wondering if my problem is site selection, rather than the insulin? I wouldn’t expect to have scar tissue in the sides of abdomen, the two areas that occluded (never injected there during MDI days nor used insertion sets there until the past 6 months). So far, I’ve been pleased with the Apidra.
Hi. My 12 year-old niece is Day 2 and a half on Apidra in her pump. Her basals are the same as with Novolog from 12 midnight until noon. Noticed a rise with her basal test today and she started rising modestly from noon to 1:30 pm. (from 101 to 140). Initially set her DIA on the pump to three hours and “fed the insulin on board at hour 2” and she went up and did not stay flat hour 3. Also noticed that with corrections DIA seems to be 2 hours, maybe 2 and a half. Changed DIA on her pump to 2 hours but now have reconsidered and will continue to test DIA. But Apidra is speedy quick. On Novolog it takes hours to come down with corrections and I don’t see any action until Hour 2 (DIA on Novolog has been tested and retested and it is five hours). She seems to have a huge increase in basals from 6pm to midnight (as she had on Novolog). She had to be increased to 2.95 units an hour during this time period in order to get basals down and they are still a bit high. I am hoping her body is just adjusting to it and that she will need less Apidra. So far, I think it is better than Novolog. Probably should give Humalog a try if her Mom does not choose to keep using Apidra. I’m on the fence right now, because her TDD jumped from 56 units to 70 in one day. That can’t be good.
Your specialist is incorrect. Apidra has been approved for use in the Minimed insulin pump and many are using Apidra in the pump. They only recommend certain pumps. I did notice the instructions coming with Apidra recommends certain sets with each pump. Quicksets are recommended and my niece’s sils are not. And that they recommend changing out the Apidra every two days and using abdomen for the site. I will see if this is necessary (Day 2 and a half). But Apidra is working well with the Sils and using tush as site area.
Day 4 using Apidra in the pump for my 12 year old niece. Apidra drops her at night (meaning her basals had to be lowered two nights in a row and still dropping with carbs and minus temp basals), yet she starts jumping high starting from 4 p.m. to midnight and we need a ton of insulin plus corrections. My sister increased her 20% on a 5 pm - midnight 2.75 unit an hour basal (which is insane). At 3.20 units an hour, she fell into range 9 pm to midnight. She had great stable numbers night before last (with juice) midnight until 3 p.m. in the day (we were doing fasting basals this whole time.) We desperately need to get fasting basals 4 p.m. to midnight, but that will not be happening this weekend due to the holiday. I have already decreased her ICR from 1:14 to 1:10, lunch and dinner, will reduce breakfast today. I think if we can wrap our mind around the higher basal need, and the fact that she may need a lot more of this insulin as a TDD than Novolog, it might work out. As a bolus insulin, it is unsurpassed. It seems to be out of her system in two to two and-a-half hours. No tail. Versus Novolog which has a DIA (for her) of five hours. If this insulin is stable as a basal insulin, then I think we should switch. Jury is still out.
I think Lantus is the basal insulin with endurance. I have read negative things on the CWD board about Levimir, basically, that for some it does not work well at all, whereas Lantus works really well. A lot of parents try Levimir if they have to do a split shot of Lantus, since if they are going to have to give two shots anyway, Lantus stings and Levimir does not. Levimir, despite manufacturer’s claims, does not always work as well as Lantus. Of course, I would try Levimir first to see if it works, to avoid the sting.
I had the resistance problem with Humalog. It was causing irritation at pump sites too due to my body’s fierce reaction against it.
Apidra testing is OVER! Apidra Day 5, nujmbers better on drastically increased basals all evening. After midnight, despite reduced basals (from .90 to .70), plus minus temp basals and juice my niece dropped like a rock until 6am, then went up to 250 and 387 (Rebound) by 7am and 8am. She seems to have a very large variation in the basals, much more so with Apidra, and her basals do not stay that steady as a rule, anyway. I am not happy with the much larger amounts of insulin I need to give her during the day and especially 3pm to midnight with Apidra. She is often doing activities in the afternoon and I would prefer not to have large amounts of basal insulin during this time. I can see Apidra is quick as a bolus and correction insulin. I wish I could put Apidra in her older Animas pump and hook her up for meals and corrections and use Novolog as a basal insulin (through same site) but her endo already told us that we can t mix the insulins this way, plus you would have to waste while you fill the canula with Apidra each time or may not get the proper dose since Novolog would be in the canula. I was told this simply could not be done. So it’s back to Novolog, our steady and more predictable basal insulin and we will have to wait longer for corrections to take effect and for meal time insulin to leave her system. There is no perfect insulin for her at this point.
I have used both and I have not really noticed any difference between the two.
I am new to the community and have been using a pump for the last 14 1/2 years. I have been on Novolin R, Novolog, Humalog, and now Apidra. Of all of them, I still like the predictability of Novolin R. Novolog and Humalog did not seem to last for me much longer than about 25 min. after a bolus. I could not even take my pump off to get a 20 minute shower without a significant raise in blood sugar. With Apidra which I have been using for about 3 months, I am still having very high sugars pre-dawn and most of the morning. I have adjusted my basal almost everyday since beginning to use it. I have also had a very lengthy battle with a cold that turned into pneumonia…This is the first pneumonia I have had in 12 years and I thought it was sort of funny how it started right after beginning Apidra (within 3 weeks), and I am having trouble after 6 weeks regaining my energy and stamina for everyday activities. I am also finding that I have to bolus with more Apidra (insulin to carb ratio) to get the same results. But please, don’t forget that every body is different and every person has to make diabetes management their own responsibility! My physician knows that I only call when I am in trouble and will call me back within the first half hour. I am the one that controls what goes into my mouth and what doesn’t, not him. I have had diabetes since 1973 and to date, no complications! I thank all the people out there that are helping each other learn about how to take care of themselves!! Keep up the great encouragement!
We pump with Apidra. We do not have any complaints and are glad it has a shorter DIA