Lantus without food

[BexC89]

Hi all,

I'm a 24 year old newly diagnosed type 1. I am currently taking 12 units of lantus with my breakfast along with novorapid (between 2-10 units) at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This morning I was feeling unwell and didn't want to eat anything but knew that I had to take my lantus (I'm assuming that it's ok to skip my novorapid if I don't eat a meal - is it?). I tried to call my nurse but couldn't get through so I ended up forcing myself to have a banana so I could take my usual 12 units of lantus and just took 1 novorapid.

Basically my questions are:

1. Is it safe to take my lantus on an empty stomach?
2. If I skip a meal, do I just skip my novorapid as well?

Thanks in advance!

Rebecca

 

[Ambersilva]

Lantus is slow acting insulin and works in the background for 24 hours.

Check your blood sugar while you are not eating. Blood sugar tends to rise when you are unwell. If your blood sugar is higher than you are expecting, you may have to inject a small amount of Novorapid.

 

[AMBrennan]

1. Is it safe to take my lantus on an empty stomach?

Yes. Ideally, your Lantus should keep your BG stable throughout the day while your are not eating; if you regularly get low BG then you might have to adjust your Lantus dose.

The phrase "on an empty stomach" only really applies to medicines taken in tablet form which could be affected by the presence of food in here stomach; Insulin injections are unaffected.

2. If I skip a meal, do I just skip my novorapid as well?

Yes. Novorapid is a fast acting insulin which you take to counter the BG increase from eating food; thus if you don't eat you should not take any fast acting insulin.

 

[n1v3r]

Hey there.
I am on the same insulin setup and was under the impression that the lantus solostar contains some short acting insulin as well.
My nurse told me to always take with a meal as well as novorapid (I take mine with my evening meal). To be fair if I don't take it with food I start to go hypo. I'm on 18 units.
Am I getting this round my neck? I usually have really good BG.
Sorry this doesn't answer your question but had to ask if any one could shed some light?


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[Sarah69]

I use lantus and novarapid. I take my lantus at 10pm when I go to bed. I take my novarapid with my meals, if I don't eat I don't inject. I've never been told that I should take lantus with food and that it's a long acting background insulin. Hope this helps!

 

[SamJB]

Yes and yes!!

 

[BexC89]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

@n1v3r, I have a specialist GP appointment next week and will ask them and get back to you.

 

[AMBrennan]

I am on the same insulin setup and was under the impression that the lantus solostar contains some short acting insulin as well.

Well, you are mistaken. If you keep having hypos after taking Lantus then I'd suggest discussing this with your doctor

 

[BexC89]

@n1v3r. I spoke to my GP this morning and he confirmed that you do not need to have your lantus with food. He said that even if you're not eating you MUST still take the lantus.

I hope that helps.

Bec

 

[n1v3r]

I have spoken to my GP as well and I am getting it confused with my old humalog mix 25.
Also to explain the low sugar after taking it in the evening, I am a regular gym user and rock climber. These activities usually coincide with my lantus injection and as mention I was taking to much!
This is the first time I have used the forums and already has highlighted a simple but important lack of knowledge. Thank you Bexc89 for getting back to me.


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[Fetchmeacoffee]

NEVER miss your lantus , I did this before and had a few weeks of feeling like rubbish , it's ok to miss fast acting as if there are no carbs to break down else u'll just hypo.