I don't care how much they like to advertise it as stable... for me, Lantus has a HUGE spike after I take it. Every night, I have to get my blood sugar to AT LEAST 230 to avoid waking up low in the middle of the night. However, If I lower the amount I take, my bloodsugar runs high all day long.
Today confirmed that I'm getting the perfect amount of basal during the day. With my new job, they like to give you 5 hours shifts, anything longer than that and they legally have to give you a break. Because of this, I had a nice 5 hour stretch to do some basal testing.
11:00AM- 175 (didn't measure my cereal this morning, so I guesstimated on the carbs. I also didn't want to risk a low at work, so I didn't correct it) 2:00PM- 178
4:00PM- 172
5:30PM- 173 (finally back home, so I corrected it then)
That was 6 1/2 hours without much change in bloodsugar, so that should mean that my Lantus is set right. If thats true, then why the heck do I have to eat 40 uncovered carbs just to get a good night's sleep?!?
On top of all this, my mom thinks that is completely normal and won't let me split my dose or take my shot in the morning, AND she thinks there is no difference between Levemir and Ultralente so I can't switch to that insulin either...
ugh
I honestly don't know what to do at this point besides what I've been doing.
I haven't seen an endo or any T1 diabetes-competent doctor in the last 5 years (seriously, they told me I needed to RAISE my lantus last time I went to the doctor) For some reason, my mom seems to be terrified of doctors, and wont let me go. I'm really thinking about either switching my dose to the morning, or splitting it without my mom knowing.
I really do want a pump... They really seem to be helpful. but if I get one, it is going to be at least 4 years from now when I'm out of college. Until then, I gotta put up with this crap lol
That is really not a sensible long term care plan. You should at least be meeting with an endo once a year, maybe even every 6 months. Are you getting regular eye checks, HbA1c checks, renal checks etc?
I obviously don't know you or your mum, but is there no way to discuss this with her. Is there anyone at school/college who can intervene on your behalf.
I split my dose 16 hours. I was on 28 units of lantus. I did 16 at night around 22:00 and then the 12 after lunch.
I get A1c's done whenever I'm my mom is forced to take me to a doctor to get my prescriptions refilled. (It was 7.2 in September, and 6.2 in Feburary.) I had an eye exam done last January, but that was only after 4 years of begging to get glasses. Turns out I only have an astigmatism, nothing diabetes related. I am well aware that this is a horrible way to manage my health, but I really don't think my mom cares at all about it. Any discussion quickly becomes an argument.
If I had the money to go to an endo myself, I would. But I'm having to pay my own way through college and every $ I save is important.
Splitting my dose of Lantus really helped a lot with those overnight lows. I take around 13 units in the AM and 16 at night and most of the time it works really well. There are some days still I fight lows all day but overall it works much better for me than Levemir did.
You say your basal is ok because it is right in the afternoon, but at that time you have only the tail effect of lantus. You take a big dose of lantus in the evening to be right in the afternoon, that's the point.
Levemir is taken twice a day, so you can find the right dose for night and day, which often are different doses.
But if you can't change insulin, try splitting it.
You can't go on that way.
I hated Lantus also. I used split doses, lowered doses, different doses overnight & for daytime. Didn't matter because when Lantus peaked, I had staggering lows. For me, Lantus was not level. After several arguments with my doctor, I convinced him to write an Rx for Levemir. This was soon after reports of Lantus links to cancer. Would that convince your mother? My experience with Levemir is that it's more stable, doesn't sting & lasts 6-8 weeks, compared to Lantus' 28 days.
How would your mom know if you split Lantus doses?
Knowing my luck, she would happen to come into the kitchen right when I'm taking a lantus shot at 10AM lol, or she would hear about it when we are at the doctor. I'm apparently too stupid to go alone...and THAT would be a fun car ride home. (because, you know, EVERYTHING I read online is going to kill me)
Ive already taken my normal shot tonight, but I guess I could try something like 12before bed and 12when i wake up tomorrow
Hey TimmyMac don't worry about it. It sounds like you are doing the best you can with the cards you were dealt. I agree with Gerri- How will your mom know if you split the dose?
If it is always a fight why not ask her to express her most pressing issues regarding your diabetes (money or whatever). Ask her to give you some guidelines surrounding her top two or three things and to otherwise stay out of your DM management for no more reason but to save the peace.....
Good luck. I had a very similar situation before I was able to do it on my own. Keep doing the best you can!
The day you try, do half dose at night and half in the morning. Then measure and adjust doses (they usually are not half-half).
The first days measure a little more.
TimmyMac, Lantus worked the same way for me. Huge spike and constant lows at night. I switched to Levemir and never looked back. If I start the night at 145 I wake up at 145. Your mom (no offense!) has no clue about insulins. The binding agents are different between Lantus, Levemir, and UL so they work differently with different people.
Call your doc on Monday and get a script for Levemir. You'll start with the same dosage as Lantus, but you might have to tweak it a little bit. I ended up adding a little supplement of Levemir (4U) in the mornings to assis with pre-dinner highs.
Good luck and let us know how Levemir works for you! And BTW you really need an endo... try to find one!
I'm sorry for your situation with your mom. And you've probably considered the following possibilities, already.
Does your college have a health center? If so, can you go there for help in getting referred to an endo? Or at least see a doctor there who can prescribe a more effective insulin regime.
Do you have health insurance? Is it through your mom's health insurance? Often there is health insurance for cheap for college students, but I don't know if the health insurance companies are only willing to insure the "healthy" students.
Someone else on this board who is your age--or someone who has a diabetic kid in college--would know a lot more than I do about the possibilities.
As the last resort that I can think of at the moment, if your school has guidance counselors, maybe one of them could help.
You sound like a smart person who wants to take good care of himself. There must be someone who can give you some support in getting better health care for yourself.
Timmy, make sure your mom reads all these replies. Seriously. She needs to know that you are putting in a lot of thought and effort into figuring this thing out. You're just like all of us, and you have a right to experiment with different treatments and make educated decisions to balance your blood sugar.
Your mom should be more supportive and open to your ideas. There is a reason that there are so many different insulins out there. You never know how one is gonna work for you, specifically.
One thing about Lantus (and other basal insulins as well) is that for small doses, they don't have a nice long profile. This has to do with the fact that a small dose of insulin will absorb faster. It is also for this reason that you are recommended not to inject more than 50 units in a single injection.
Are you taking a small dose of basal insulin (i.e. < 10 units). If so, you may benefit even more than most from a split dose.
I'm not taking a huge dose (like my uncle, who takes 48 units twice a day...that would kill me) but I'm currently taking 24... I'm not really sure if thats small or not.
I honestly don't think my school has a health clinic. It's a community college, so no one actually lives on campus. They are more likely to just tell you to go home than treat you for something there. I could ask the guidance people... but what should I say? Do I just walk up to them and say "my family is compromising my health...help me?"
I'm currently on my dad's health insurance. It SHOULD cover enough for me to go to an endo every 6 months or so... The only thing it really prevents me from getting is a pump, but I would be okay with that if I could keep my night time numbers from crashing.
