Suddenly Novorapid does not work - Type 1

[Replicant]

I checked some of the other discussions about this subject and could not really find an answer.

I have been type 1 three years now. My sugar levels have been very well under control until now. I have normal weight, no illnesses and am moderately active.

The last two weeks have been different, it looks like the insulin does not work properly anymore. I take 12 units of Levemir 9PM and 10 units Levemir 9AM. My morning sugar levels used to be around 6-7. I do quite detailed carb counting and eat around 120 grams of carbs per day. I do my normal bolus of 1 unit of Novorapid per 10 grams of carbs which has worked well so far.

Now after my normal 24 grams oatmeal breakfast my sugar levels go up to 14-15 2-3 hours after breakfast. I normallyt inject 3 units of Novorapid for the breakfast. Now when I inject 4 more units correction bolus the sugar is still high (>10) after two hours.

No change in lifestyle, no change in the food I eat. No idea what is going on?

 

[noblehead]

Change your insulin cartridges/pens @Replicant and see if this helps resolves things.

 

[Queen_B]

Diabetes is a strange beast and spikes like this can been seen from time to time without reason. Sometimes it can be related to stress or the start of an illness thats not yet become apparent. If it carry's on for longer than a week seek medical advice as we also become resistant to insulin at some points too.

 

[Replicant]

I did change both insulin pens to fresh ones (from the same batch of five). Maybe I should get a new set. The insulin has also been stored according to instructions.

 

[noblehead]

I did change both insulin pens to fresh ones (from the same batch of five). Maybe I should get a new set. The insulin has also been stored according to instructions.

It's not happened to myself, but there's been members who have had to request a new batch of insulin due to it being stored incorrectly during transit, so it may be worth your while as you don't want to be running high bg levels like that.

 

[etmsreec]

The condition of the insulin is a possible issue, but what happens if you're later eating breakfast and taking your Novorapid?
If you normally eat breakfast at, say, 7.30am, what does your blood glucose do if you eat at 08.30am instead?
You also don't mention what your blood glucose is doing at other times of the day. Does it work ok then?

Several options:

If the blood glucose goes up anyway with a later breakfast, then it's possibly Dawn Phenomenon.
If the blood glucose is ok at other meals and it's only breakfast that's an issue, then that would also make me think of Dawn Phenomenon.
If your blood glucose is generally much higher than it should be, then it's possible that it's the Levemir rather than the Novorapid. Is the Levemir duff, or maybe the injection site for it is a little harder and "lumpy". As injection sites are used, they will degrade and become lumpy, which means that insulin isn't absorbed as well as it might be.

 

[rachelsnj]

There has been discussion of this on facebook this week. Many people are being given novorapid that is coming from other countries. The writing on the box is in other languages and an English sticker is covering some of the wording. It seems that people are having problems similar to yours when using this 'foreign' origin novorapid and the concensus is that maybe it isn't being stored correctly in transit from these other countries.

 

[janeliz]

I have been having the same problem with novorapid. I know no two days may be the same but one shredded wheat today (20carbs) , I would take 2 units. ( 1 unit to 10 carbs). Now I seem to have to have 4units for the one shredded wheat. I've noticed that my BG levels also rise during the day. I take lantus 20 units at 10pm. The nurse thinks it's due to infection but I think the insulin becomes less effective after first opening the syringe out of the fridge. I've only been on it since last December.

 

[tim2000s]

@janeliz how long have you been diagnosed? You say you've only been on insulin since December so it's highly possible that your variations are simply caused by a variable output from your pancreas. This is emminently possible if you've not been long diagnosed?

 

[sgc]

I have had IDDM since 1983. In the last year I have found Novorapid in flex pens to be problematic. I have a day or more when my blood sugars do not improve after taking insulin. I am forced to increase dramatically OR I throw away the box of pens and start a new one! I am not stupid and I know the problem lies with the insulin NOT other factors. No one takes any notice because it is convenient for them to say the fault is mine or I am ill or too much stress etc. Novorapid is not reliable in my opinion and I am thinking of moving to another rapid insulin.

 

[Freefall_Ash]

I checked some of the other discussions about this subject and could not really find an answer.

I have been type 1 three years now. My sugar levels have been very well under control until now. I have normal weight, no illnesses and am moderately active.

The last two weeks have been different, it looks like the insulin does not work properly anymore. I take 12 units of Levemir 9PM and 10 units Levemir 9AM. My morning sugar levels used to be around 6-7. I do quite detailed carb counting and eat around 120 grams of carbs per day. I do my normal bolus of 1 unit of Novorapid per 10 grams of carbs which has worked well so far.

Now after my normal 24 grams oatmeal breakfast my sugar levels go up to 14-15 2-3 hours after breakfast. I normallyt inject 3 units of Novorapid for the breakfast. Now when I inject 4 more units correction bolus the sugar is still high (>10) after two hours.

No change in lifestyle, no change in the food I eat. No idea what is going on?

That's so strange, I've literally had exactly the same. I also changed both my lantus and novorapid but not really noticing any difference to the sudden changes in my sugars and carb ratio. I was totally puzzled when I checked my bg at around 9am and found it to be 9.2, but skipped breakfast and took a 1 unit correction. So I had absolutely no carbs in my system whatsoever and took novorapid, as well as an extra unit of lantus at the same time (14 instead of 13) and it was 9.7 at midday 3 hours later?! This never usually happens and hausuallygoing on for at least a week.

I might just get a whole new set as mentioned, very weird though

 

[PD Oz]

I checked some of the other discussions about this subject and could not really find an answer.

I have been type 1 three years now. My sugar levels have been very well under control until now. I have normal weight, no illnesses and am moderately active.

The last two weeks have been different, it looks like the insulin does not work properly anymore. I take 12 units of Levemir 9PM and 10 units Levemir 9AM. My morning sugar levels used to be around 6-7. I do quite detailed carb counting and eat around 120 grams of carbs per day. I do my normal bolus of 1 unit of Novorapid per 10 grams of carbs which has worked well so far.

Now after my normal 24 grams oatmeal breakfast my sugar levels go up to 14-15 2-3 hours after breakfast. I normallyt inject 3 units of Novorapid for the breakfast. Now when I inject 4 more units correction bolus the sugar is still high (>10) after two hours.

No change in lifestyle, no change in the food I eat. No idea what is going on?

Sometimes I find that the rapid does not seem to be doing the trick as normal. I wonder whether the pen content may have been super chilled in the fridge frozen and spoiled. Recently several days went by with inexplicable higher readings. I stuck with the routine and things levelled. I did in that time emerge with a slight head and throat virus, so I suspect that the blood sugars were influenced by that. If I do get a period of higher than normal pre meal readings then something I have tried successfully to break the cycle is to go for a one off extra couple of units and that can work too. Either before breakfast or lunch though, not at dinner.

 

[Spiritosl]

Why do you have sugars for breakfast when you do not tolerate sugars?

Have a real food breakfast with thee or four fried eggs in butter. Then you're satisfied until late afternoon without having to compensate for any sugars.

 

[Sweetie Honey Pot]

I've now had 15 pen fills all of which are rubbish! I could take upto 34units per day on top of the Lanctus I take, to not see my blood sugars go down. Before anyone says I'm not aware of what I may be doing, I've been IDDM for 26.7years I don't know who's to blame for the issue? but finally I've found I'm not the only person who has had this problem. However, whom ever I speak to seems to be very helpful and happy to blame me for the problem and constantly remind me of the cost of insulin and the importance of keeping at within correct temperature control at all times and to ensure my diet is correct?
(The latter two have not changed apart from my diet decreasing due to increased Blood Sugars)

 

[Squeakal3393]

I checked some of the other discussions about this subject and could not really find an answer.

I have been type 1 three years now. My sugar levels have been very well under control until now. I have normal weight, no illnesses and am moderately active.

The last two weeks have been different, it looks like the insulin does not work properly anymore. I take 12 units of Levemir 9PM and 10 units Levemir 9AM. My morning sugar levels used to be around 6-7. I do quite detailed carb counting and eat around 120 grams of carbs per day. I do my normal bolus of 1 unit of Novorapid per 10 grams of carbs which has worked well so far.

Now after my normal 24 grams oatmeal breakfast my sugar levels go up to 14-15 2-3 hours after breakfast. I normallyt inject 3 units of Novorapid for the breakfast. Now when I inject 4 more units correction bolus the sugar is still high (>10) after two hours.

No change in lifestyle, no change in the food I eat. No idea what is going on?

Has there been a change in the temperature of the environment you are in? IE was there a cold spell? If you feel cold, the body will kick out more Glucose from its stores to burn to keep warm. Now in folk without Diabetes, this OK as the pancreas will supply more insulin. However, for us Type 1, this can be a problem. This happened to me whilst working in Edinburgh, and the cold got into me so bad, my levels went past 38 and I was rushed into hospital (I pretty much could not walk through cramping all over). It was only after I discharged myself, went back to work and googled it. It was a website in the states that enlightened me to this scenario, which is little known about apparently this side of the pond....
Any ways. I hope you find a solution for yourself. All the best.

 

[Dinkeroon]

I checked some of the other discussions about this subject and could not really find an answer.

I have been type 1 three years now. My sugar levels have been very well under control until now. I have normal weight, no illnesses and am moderately active.

The last two weeks have been different, it looks like the insulin does not work properly anymore. I take 12 units of Levemir 9PM and 10 units Levemir 9AM. My morning sugar levels used to be around 6-7. I do quite detailed carb counting and eat around 120 grams of carbs per day. I do my normal bolus of 1 unit of Novorapid per 10 grams of carbs which has worked well so far.

Now after my normal 24 grams oatmeal breakfast my sugar levels go up to 14-15 2-3 hours after breakfast. I normallyt inject 3 units of Novorapid for the breakfast. Now when I inject 4 more units correction bolus the sugar is still high (>10) after two hours.

No change in lifestyle, no change in the food I eat. No idea what is going on?

I totally agree with what you are saying, it isn't the Novorapid I have trouble with it's the Levemir, my blood sugars are fine through the day but then I take my Levemir at night and my blood sugar is really high in the morning.
I do all the usual things change my needle every jab, all my insulin is in date. My Consultant has even changed my long acting insulin twice but it seems to be the same so far. I have been a Type 1 for 40 years and have never had a problem with my insulin before, it's almost as if the body is rejecting it now. As soon as I take my Novorapid in the morning it brings me straight back down.
If you have done all the obvious checks you need to keep on at your Diabetes Team as something is spiking somewhere, you do change your injection sites don't you so it's not getting a build up in a pocket.
You need your Team to listen to you as carrying on like this will only go from bad to worse, I know you are only a small fish in a huge ocean but every little fish counts too.

 

[Dinkeroon]

I've now had 15 pen fills all of which are rubbish! I could take upto 34units per day on top of the Lanctus I take, to not see my blood sugars go down. Before anyone says I'm not aware of what I may be doing, I've been IDDM for 26.7years I don't know who's to blame for the issue? but finally I've found I'm not the only person who has had this problem. However, whom ever I speak to seems to be very helpful and happy to blame me for the problem and constantly remind me of the cost of insulin and the importance of keeping at within correct temperature control at all times and to ensure my diet is correct?
(The latter two have not changed apart from my diet decreasing due to increased Blood Sugars)

I find this as well, it's always something I am doing and not the equipment that is at fault.
I have had 40 years of the buck being passed and made to feel totally inferior of the so called medical specialists.
What they don't seem to realise is that we ourselves the sufferers are the actual specialists. Nobody knows your own body like you do. I have gone through alot of medical changes in my years of being a Type 1 and not all of them for the better. I think there is a severe breakdown between the medical profession and the suffers. They do not seem to rely any information on properly.

 

[tim2000s]

If you find you are having issues with any insulin and it is consistent across a box, please Yellow Card is making sure you report the Batch and Serial numbers of whatever you have.

https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

 

[TaylorScotland]

I would just like to add it could be your ratio 1 unit Nova Rapid per 10 Carbs is wrong !! I am on 1.4 units per 10 carbs this
Seems to have helped my levels, if you count Carbs and just guess then sometimes I am eating more carbs than I have said then
Not giving the correct amount of Insulin it is very hard to get it right!! I thot my Nova was not working But really think
I am not counting Carbs correctly, I get really annoyed as I use Carbs & Calorie Counting App, weigh my food look at food
Labels but these can be wrong!! Wish someone would develop a app that get it right.

 

[adamrit]

I find this as well, it's always something I am doing and not the equipment that is at fault.
I have had 40 years of the buck being passed and made to feel totally inferior of the so called medical specialists.
What they don't seem to realise is that we ourselves the sufferers are the actual specialists. Nobody knows your own body like you do. I have gone through alot of medical changes in my years of being a Type 1 and not all of them for the better. I think there is a severe breakdown between the medical profession and the suffers. They do not seem to rely any information on properly.

Type 1 for nearly sixty years.
This is a huge problem with diabetes. Whenever anything goes wrong according to the diabetic rules we are given as gospel, we are told it is stress or undeveloped infection or something. We diabetics always feel we are being blamed because we know our own disease very well, and the reasons doctors and nurses give always feel like a cop out, an inadequate excuse for the doctors not having an accurate view of what we know and what we go through.
The truth is probably in between. It is a stinking, horrible, difficult, changeable disease. Some doctors and nurses are beginning to give up pretending that they know everything (meaning it is always our fault) and acknowledge that it is a nightmare disease which is different for each person, often different every day.
I have found my diabetes marginally more stable using a pump and sensors, but it still behaves irrationally. With precisely the same regime of food, exercise, insulin and stress, the BG results can be completely different. Very occasionally with very high (18-22) BGs that won't come down despite large extra boluses. My BG suddenly starts falling very fast 6 hours after the last bolus. Insulin is only supposed to last 2-3 hours, How is this possible? Many of the previous contributions give examples which also don't follow the rules.
Keep cool. Keep notes. Try and work out things for yourself. Things change. This weeks nightmare results will probably be different next week. I try to be sensitive to my diabetes and be intuitive. I take more insulin for breakfast if I feel like there will be a BG spike in the hours following. Sometimes it works, sometimes my frequent BG testing saves me from problems. I haven't had hospital treatment for a hypo for 40 years in spite of low hypo awareness, because I'm careful and test frequently and I still can see, have all my limbs and garden three allotments at 75.