Lantus Issues Help, Advice !!!

[JennyWorthington]

Hi, i have been on insulin, lantus (10units) and novorapid(varying) for 6+ years, over the last 6 or so months i have noticed that exactly 3 hours after injecting my lantus it is causing my blood sugars to plumet, quite dramatically over say 30 minutes, it makes me feel extreme hypo and confused, disorientated, drunk, even like i am going to collapse, ( i have not yet collapsed) i then find myself eating food, sugar, carbs at a time when i wouldnt normally eat, just to bring my sugars up and make me feel normal again, the whole episode normally lasts about an hour an hour... two hours max. This is happening pretty much daily and is really effecting my life. Does this happen to anybody else and any ideas on how to manage this, i am thinking of reducing my lantus?? Or do i ask and get it changed to another insulin?

 

[Deleted Account]

The profile of Lantus is not level - there is a peak after two to three hours which is, I think, what you are experiencing.
You say you feel hypo - have you taken BG reading to check this?
Reducing your basal dose may leave you too high the rest of the time.

If it is reliably exactly 3 hours after injecting that you feel/go low, can you plan your meals close to this so you will be eating two and a half hours after taking your Lantus and bolus less?
Alternatively, there are other basal option available which are flatter. You can ask your diabetes team about Tresiba and Levemir.
In fact, I would definitely discuss these symptoms with them.

In the meantime, avoid going to sleep 3 hours after taking your lantus, if possible.

 

[kitedoc]

Hi @JennyWorthington,
I wonder whether you have adopted a new injection technique or new injection area and /or lost some weight such that you are accidentally injecting into your muscle?
The uptake from muscle is more rapid than from the subcutaneous tissue and could explain what is happening to you.

 

[JennyWorthington]

Hi @JennyWorthington,
I wonder whether you have adopted a new injection technique or new injection area and /or lost some weight such that you are accidentally injecting into your muscle?
The uptake from muscle is more rapid than from the subcutaneous tissue and could explain what is happening to you.

Not lost weight, but very interesting comment, usually inject into upper thighs, may look at other places, am willing to try anything if it helps

 

[EllieM]

Not lost weight, but very interesting comment, usually inject into upper thighs, may look at other places, am willing to try anything if it helps

You can inject on a pretty large area on your stomach, I'd definitely give it a try if there's a chance you've been overusing your thighs.

 

[JennyWorthington]

You can inject on a pretty large area on your stomach, I'd definitely give it a try if there's a chance you've been overusing your thighs.

Possibly, i inject my novorapid in my stomach, i would worry about putting my lantus there too, does anybody else do this,... before i try it?

 

[Deleted Account]

Not lost weight, but very interesting comment, usually inject into upper thighs, may look at other places, am willing to try anything if it helps

Interesting if you inject into your thigh - have you always done this? do you exercise after injecting?
I was told if you inject into your legs and then go for a run, walk, etc, the movement will cause the insulin to absorb quicker. Unless you are doing a stomach-crunch-athon, you are unlikely to be moving your stomach muscles as much so exercise will have less impact if you inject in your stomach.

 

[JennyWorthington]

The profile of Lantus is not level - there is a peak after two to three hours which is, I think, what you are experiencing.
You say you feel hypo - have you taken BG reading to check this?
Reducing your basal dose may leave you too high the rest of the time.

If it is reliably exactly 3 hours after injecting that you feel/go low, can you plan your meals close to this so you will be eating two and a half hours after taking your Lantus and bolus less?
Alternatively, there are other basal option available which are flatter. You can ask your diabetes team about Tresiba and Levemir.
In fact, I would definitely discuss these symptoms with them.

In the meantime, avoid going to sleep 3 hours after taking your lantus, if possible.

It is pretty predictable, i do test my BG maybe a little too often, am considering getting a libre to see how exactly my sugars are dropping, they usually drop about 6mmols , i do tend to run a little higher, since this has been happening to avoid hypo's so its usually around 10 dropping to 4 . Maybe move my lantus to morning? Eat lunch early, bolus less,... sounds like something to try??

 

[Leeannea]

It is pretty predictable, i do test my BG maybe a little too often, am considering getting a libre to see how exactly my sugars are dropping, they usually drop about 6mmols , i do tend to run a little higher, since this has been happening to avoid hypo's so its usually around 10 dropping to 4 . Maybe move my lantus to morning? Eat lunch early, bolus less,... sounds like something to try??

Have you thought about splitting your lantus between morning and night along with the great suggestions in the other posts. Best wishes

 

[kitedoc]

As @helensaramay said, hight hypos are risky. Perhaps contacting your specialist or GP and request to change to Lantus in am.
You would need to discuss how to do this. ? take Lantus?? 4 hours earlier, be prepared to eat a little more in the first 4 hours to allow for overlap and work back 4 hours at a time until at a suitable am time. Please check it out with doctors first as they may have a better plan. And also ask to try stomach shots as you do this. Best Wishes !!

 

[EllieM]

Possibly, i inject my novorapid in my stomach, i would worry about putting my lantus there too, does anybody else do this,... before i try it?

Yes, I've been doing both lantus and humalog on my stomach for the last year (obviously not in same spot).