Help needed for my insulin

[Mervyn]

Hi all,
I forgot my Lantus injection at 6am this morning!! I remembered and injected at 8.30am.

Now should I take it at my normal time tomorrow? or gradually wean myself back to my normal time? I only take 8 units at present but a bit concerned about it causing a hypo. I did read that it takes between 1 and 3 hrs for the insulin to kick in.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Mervyn

 

[anna29]

Hi, Mervyn.
I too have forgotten take my split dose levemir at same times, was told to return back to normal times and keep routine.
Try keeping close eye on yourself after next dose and shot, yep insulin takes between 1 - 3 hrs to kick in as you say. [ levemir is 2 hrs ]
Anna.

 

[Mervyn]

Hi Anna,
Thanks for that...in fact I took it just one hour after my normal time and back to normal tomorrow. It was ok although my BS did go lower than normal so a couple of biscuits were called for

 

[Mervyn]

doh!!!!! I have done it again!!! remembered to take it just a moment ago....3hrs late :-(
.....I even left a sticky note on my computer to remind me but my memory is not what it used to be. I will have to get some sort of alarm system to remind me to take it otherwise my BG is going to be all over the place!!! any suggestions??

Mervyn

 

[Snodger]

an alarm on your phone or watch (if you have one of those kinds of watches/phones) sounds a good idea. But although it's best to take the lantus at the same time each day I wouldn't worry hugely about a couple of hours either way. Don't forget that it will have a slightly different effect in everyone - some people find it runs out sooner than 24 hours, some find it carries on into the next day. So there'll be a natural variation in the number of hours it's working even from one person to the next.

 

[Mervyn]

hi,
Thanks for your reply. No watch alarm or mobile phone here. Man of simple means ;-) . I think you are right. I normally take at 6am but although my test results have dropped markedly before meals, the before bed and first thing in the morning results have not dropped very much. Although my diabetic nurse seems to think a morning reading averaging 9 and an evening of 10 is ok :-S

Mervyn

 

[Snodger]

are you just on Lantus, or are you taking quicker acting insulin for your meals?

 

[Mervyn]

hi,
just on 8 units of lantus and 1gm metformin x twice daily...was also on 160mg gliclazide but taken off it as it upset my stomach

 

[anna29]

Hi, just a simple thought is it possible to nudge the time of taking your lanctus forward? To say 8am with your breakfast?
This may help you to do it then at the SAME time as breakfast, making it more routine and easier to remember for you.
You are on 8 units of it? is that right? once daily?
I was advised to take my levemir with my lunch, and after my evening meal . It really does help to think meal then my insulin an easy routine to settle in with...
I have forgotten only a couple of times thankfully - but I DO know what it is like to have short memory loss days! [menapause plus pregablin I blame it on!]
It is frustrating to forget something easily and get caught out for it later... :roll:
Anna.x

 

[Mervyn]

hi anna,
my diabetic nurse eventually left a message after 8hrs...was told to take at normal time. yes I am on only 8 units of lantus at the moment but I think it needs adjusting up as my morning and evening and indeed my 2hrs after eating are still high. but my next appointment (via telephone) is not for another 2-3 weeks. and I was still late taking this morning :-( although only by half an hour and will discuss with nurse to see if I can take it with breakfast...my memory seems to be shot at the moment ;-) now where was I ???? :-D

 

[anna29]

Hi Mervyn.
Its clearly toooo early for you to remember to take it at 6am.
When do you eat your breakfast? 7am, 8am, 9am, ? What time do you feel most sparky and ready for the day? The time of day when your mind is most focused etc...
It could be you need to work out a time and routine that you would feel more comfortable with doing the shots with.
Write the ideas down [ :wink: ] so you dont forget them! Try talking it over with your HCP/DSN when you speak to them.
Am sure they would want to help you achieve an easier way to overcome this. All you can do is put the idea forward and see what they discuss with you.
Anna.x

 

[Snodger]

will discuss with nurse to see if I can take it with breakfast...

Hi Mervyn, don't worry, It is a slow acting insulin with no peak action, and lasts 24 hours (well, it's supposed to, anyway) so what you are trying to do is ensure that it keeps up a nice steady pace with no gap between one 24 hour period and the next. You could take it at 10pm if you wanted (I do) or at lunchtime or at two in the morning! as long as you take it at the same time each day so it doesn't run out or overlap with the next one too badly.
Did the nurse ever say why they originally wanted you to take it at 6am?

 

[Mervyn]

hi,
the nurse was originally going to start me at about 6pm as my morning tests were/are always elevated,but the last test before the first injection was quite good although I had told her I had not eaten since breakfast. So she started in the morning. Morning readings are better but still high, the before lunch and evening meal are good most of the time now but the before bed is still high...14.1 last night. The specialist nurse,the last time I spoke seemed happy with my readings,although that was before I came off gliclazide. I am not due to speak to here again for another two weeks. I feel more adjustment is necessary.