Hey y'all. I was wondering if there's anyone out there that's experienced a reaction to Humolog. I've had diabetes for awhile now and this is my first experience with this. I talked with my doctors nurse today and they recommended switching to Novolog or Apidra. I don't know much about Apidra and I've been on Novolog a long time ago so I'm not really sure yet which to even try at this point.
I'm pumping - poding with humalog too. What type of reaction are you having?
Well, let me start off by explaining my set up. I just switched from a Minimed 90 degree site to Omnipods 40. I don't have trouble all the time. In fact, I don't have any trouble in my arm. My back is another story. It's always super painful but my Bg stay pretty regular so I wait it out until it's time to change.
Yesterday I decided to try my stomach. It seemed great! No pain, looked great, seemed great, but 2 hours later I had a high BG and Moderate Keytones. With my keytones being so high I had to give a shot. It wasn't a minute later and I started realizing that shot hurt a lot more than I remember the last one. I looked and I had a huge welt looking thing. It hurt all night but thankfully was gone in the morning. It was then I realized that maybe all these years I wasn't reacting to my tape but maybe it in fact was my insulin. I would explain the random high readings and then extreme lows that never could be explained.
Called my doctor and he agreed. So here I am. Have you too had troubles?
OH, so sorry to hear. What do you contribute your high BG and Ketones to when you changed the pod, was it a bad pod? How long have you been on the Omnipod?
Where did you give yourself the shot, it was a shot of humalog, correct? Maybe you hit something and it developed into a small hematoma, collection of blood under the skin? I've done this many times, usually in my legs - thighs though; it's like a huge lump and I was told to put pressure on it for about 20 seconds (it usually bleeds and will badly bruise). Was it like that or an actual welt like allergic hives - did it itch?
I've tried all three insulins. I may switch back to novolog as I've heard humalog can sometimes be heat sensitive and/or not work so well in pods..but, IDK, some use it just fine. From what I understand, some say Apidra works much quicker and gets out faster..some notice no difference. Maybe try one and see if it works. I didn't really notice any difference between any of them. Maybe someone else will come on with more comments? take care.
Well, I wasn't sure what was the cause for my bg problems. I've had my Omnipod just about 3 weeks. One thing was sure, I wasn't getting insulin. Usually when that happens it's painful, that or I get an alarm saying there is an occlusion. Last night none of that happened.
I knew, none the less, I had to change the site. I took the pod out and it still seemed okay, wasn't bent or deformed in anyway. I was extremely unhappy at that point. When I got to the shot I was just about devastated. Mainly because I wanted to go to bed. I injected in my stomach like usual. It looked like a welt to me, there were a few marks around it making me think it almost looked like hives. It didn't really itch but it didn't feel too great.
Are you kidding me about Humolog over heating??!! Why haven't I heard this before?? I just posted about high Bg's in the heat. Even if I'm not allergic to it for sure switching because of the possible heat sensitivity would be totally worth it!
Thanks for all the input, you've been very informative! It's great to know about the hematoma, I've never heard of that!
ah, you're very welcome! :) Do you like the Omnipod? Why did you switch from MM? I know, changing sites, injections when it's late, we want to go to bed, tired, frustrated, high blood sugars..it all frickin SUCKS, huh. But, i'm glad you noticed it before you actually went to bed, sleep,
I've tried both, Revel and just restarted Omnipod yesterday. I dislike all of this, have to be honest. I seem to only get about 2 days on these pods but maybe my basals aren't set right, didn't like the tubing on the Revel, but it has it's pluses i guess. I'd actually like to go back to shots - MDIs, call me crazy, but that didn't seem to work, splitting levemir doses.
Yeah, try novolog...I think I'll switch back when I change my next pod. If you need to do another shot before an actual POD change, maybe do an injection with Novolog first before you start pumping it, to ensure you do OK with it. Good luck, hang in there.
To be honest, I don't know if I like it. I switched because I couldn't afford the supplies and a new pump(My MM pumps motor went out). So I ended up at Omnipods door. I actually have been blogging about my experiences if you want to check it out at http://sugarfreetheway.blogspot.com/ Omnipod was great. They made me feel like they wanted me to live a happy "normal" life more than they wanted my money. Which is more than I got from the other company. I actually asked about shots too. My doctor was super against it. I guess my BG have been a lot better since I switched to Omnipod. I would have your DR check your basals. They did a lot of tweaking to mine when I started!
I'm gonna read your blog in full later on, thanks for sharing this. I just read a bit of it...do you have the newer small pods? I just briefly read where you feel nervous about sleeping on it, I do too. I taped mine down yesterday, using opsite flexifill tape - amazon, or have you seen these bands, supported by Insult: http://www.bands4life.net/
I'll read more later. I do like it, the ease of it all. I can't seem to get my basal right in the middle of the night, something funky happening between 1 - 3AM, same thing on shots. so, have to work with pump nurse to get this right, I keep waking up high every 3AM....ugh! not sure what my basal rate(s) are. patience, patience, patience..ha!
I do use the smaller pods. I had briefly looked at the band, but my trainer stressed how important it was for my pod to "breath" so perspiration didn't cause the tape to come off. I decided I'd just see how I did on my own. So far so good but it's not as easy to forget about like my old sites.
It defiantly sounds like you need your basal upped at that time. I'm sure your health care team will get it worked out. Like you said, we need patience and I know that I'm not very patient when my Bg are messed up, especailly at night!
I don't know how common this is but you are certainly not alone. I have a very good friend (name withheld) who reacts so badly to Humalog that she can't use it at all. I can't use it, either, though for an entirely unrelated reason.
cute pic...just read your blog..keep blogging. :)
I wouldn't wish any complication on anyone but it's nice to know I'm not alone. What type of insulin are you currently taking?
Levemir, Regular, and Apidra. Used to use Novolog but switched to Apidra because it's faster, for me at least.
I do not use an Omnipod, I have a MM 523. I have used Apidra for years. I like it because it "gets in and gets out". Acts on food for bolusses and corrects quicker than both Humalog and Novolog. However, it does not linger for me longer than 2.5 hours, so you will spike higher if you have no delivery from the site.Thus, if your Omnipod is not delivering insulin, you will spike higher from the lack of it. HOwever, I prefer the Apidra because I know it will work right away, within 15-25 minutes if the dosage is accurate.
God Bless,
Brunetta
I am on MDI, but I switched to Apidra for exactly the reason Brunetta states (quicker in, quicker out).
My experience is discomfort when dosing 10+ units of Humalog. It's gone within 30 seconds, so no big deal, but it's different than Novolog. At the time of my medical plans switch in insulin, I was using the Ping w/Contact/Detach sets. All was good as far as my BG readings go until early April. Numbers were significantly elevated and I couldn't get them under control. Ended up in the ER twice in two days and the second trip they decided to pull the pump and return to MDI. After a month, with the blessings of the endo, I was back on the pump and within less than 3 weeks the same thing was happening again. I was successful in getting control back this time and discontinued the pump. Now using Humalog and Lantus, pens and my control is really pretty good. It was a set issue for me, not the insulin.
Wishing you well in your daily adventure with diabetes.