Heathenlass
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,631
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
This is quite interesting :
Signy
Though often thought of as being 24 hour insulins, Lantus and Levemir are actually 18 to 26 hour insulins. At least a third of all users do not get a full 24 hours of action from these insulins. Those who experience shorter activity times may also notice more peaking in activity and a tendency to have lower readings about 6 hours after the injection. A larger peak in activity at around 6 hours is usually associated with a shorter action time, and vice versa. Anyone who does not take their long-acting insulin at about the same time each day can also experience gaps and stacking of insulin with a single injection a day. Smaller doses are also often associated with greater insulin activity at 6 hours with less at 18 hours and beyond. More peaking usually indicates less than 24 hours of activity.
If your Lantus or Levemir “wears out” before the day is done, this can cause unexplained highs before or soon after the time when the next dose is given. It can also cause low readings during its peak activity. For instance, if Lantus is given only at bedtime, night lows may become more likely due to a peak in activity, while if one injection is given in the morning, high readings may occur before breakfast due to the lessening activity from the previous dose.
Splitting doses of "24 hour" insulins into two equal doses with half taken in the morning and the other half taken in the evening evens out dosing gaps and minimizes peaking. After splitting a single dose of Lantus or Levemir, many people find they have better readings.
- See more at: http://www.diabetesnet.com/about-diabetes/insulin/insulin-action-time#sthash.9AkQPNgU.dpuf
Signy