Changing from Human Insulin to Animal Insulin

[DiabeticVeteran]

Hi All,

From my previous post:- Being Aggresive with serious Hypo's http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12399 , I mentioned that I was going to see a Diabetic Welfare specialist, today @ 10:20.

When being seen, She asked for the nature of the Visit. I tried to express my concerns regarding my insulin & would like to be transferred onto Animal Insulin. I did not even have a chance to finishing off saying what i had written when she interupted me & said,

"The Diabetic consultant would probably not agree to changing you onto Animal insulin"
"It may be something simple like adjusting the dosage or poor control"
She stated Hypoawareness can appear in longer term Diabetes (which is true) but disagreed it could be related to the Lantus Insulin.)
and so on.....

After she said this, I said to her that when booking the appointment, it was stated by the receptionist, that the Consultant would be coming into the practice.
She replied, well, I am the Diabetic care nurse & give general advice BUT I am not in the position to question about insulins or change them!

I then asked, although I am the patient using this medication, surely I am allowed to have a choice of what insulin I can be on. She replied, it is up to the consultant. (That was the whole idea of the Visit!)

She then requested that i had to have my HB1aC Blood test done. I was all for it.
Then I had my weight checked, feet examined & Blood pressure checked. All was ok.

She said that she has booked an appointment for me to see the consultant in a months time. I made a request to her, saying i would like it sooner if possible. She agreed.

SOME ADVICE FROM YOU PLEASE.

As I really want to give Animal Insulin a try, mainly to get my awareness back & stop feeling lifeless, etc, can anyone recommend the best way for me to reinforce this fact to the upcoming meeting with my Consultant?

Many thanks for your time in this matter.

Steve

 

[hanadr]

You seem to have got through to theat nurse pretty well. You may get somewhee in the matter of changing insulin, with the consultant, but you may not. Some of them don't like animal insulins and some don't like to change things in case the problems get worse. EVen more of them don't like it if you've gained information from the internet.

 

[DiabeticVeteran]

Great, this is getting better by the minute. Do we have rights anymore?

 

[sugarless sue]

I would suggest seeing your GP and discuss it with him/her. Then get an urgent referral to the consultant via the GP.

 

[DiabeticVeteran]

Hi Sue,

Many thanks for your advice. As it goes, I have an appointment with my GP on Monday 25th Jan, so I will raise it with him.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[noblehead]

Steve,

Be assertive, don't take any prisoners!

The type of insulin you choose to use is entirely your decision, don't be told otherwise. So should you decide to make the switch to animal insulin, you should expect to receive the same care and support from your diabetes care team as you were beforehand.

I was due to make the switch back to animal insulin late last year, I too came across some resistance from My care team, but they eventually came round to the idea. Although I didn't make the switch, I am trying something else, but when I am ready no one shall convince me otherwise.

Let us know how you get on.

Nigel

 

[iHs]

Hello Steve

If you explain your problem to gp, he/she should be able to write you out a new prescription for the animal insulin you request. I was told this last year by a dsn at my hospital. I always thought that a consultant would have to give the ok to any changes in insulin therapy but apparently not anymore so it seems. :?

Good luck with the change. It may help but give it time as you will need to make plenty of adjustments to the amount of insulin you inject and also what you eat. Definately test 6 times a day and then you'll be able to catch the lows before they hit (late mid morning, late mid afternoon) and also spot the highs.

 

[jopar]

If consultant is going to give on the animal insulin, have you tried Levimer as your back ground insulin, this seems to be less problematic of the two long acting insulins

Another thing you could do, and I should imagine this might be a very persauding argument, ask your consultant for an insulin pump! This means that you wouldn't need any levimer, lantus or animal insulin for background, as the pump uses quick acting insulin only providing the background and the bolus.. I ponder giving the choice of providing you with animal insulin or spending the best part of £4000 for the pump (which needs replacing every 4 years) then £100+ for the consumables.. Your request for animal insulin should start to look like an actractive option indeed..

 

[Fujifilm]

I was on the devil juice lantus and asked to go onto animal and the diabetic nurse told me to use Levimir because "they do not prescribe animal insulin" which I did levemir for four weeks.

I then saw the consultant and insisted that I wanted to go onto animal. It was actually the consultants "student" assistant who said it would be a good idea for me to try it so the consultant agreed to give it a try.

So stick to your guns, take no bull from them, insist that its what you want. :mrgreen:

Good luck

PS. The change has been the best thing I have done in a long time.

 

[nannybarbara]

I went to the clinic today to get off Lantus and on to an animal insulin. The consultant said that my levels were good - he thinks 10-12 fasting is GOOD! He said that he didn't think I needed a basal, and to carry on just using humalog and stop being hard on myself about carbohydrate. I give up!

 

[noblehead]

nannybarbara,

I wouldn't give up! It is your choice, if you want to go on animal insulin there is nothing they can do to stop you, and they must give you all the support and advice whilst in this transition. As for a fasting reading of 10-12 being good...........I am astonished a consultant would say such a thing! :shock

Nigel

 

[nannybarbara]

Nigel,

Yes, I was pretty shocked too. Being charitable, I can only assume that he didn't register what I was actually saying. (He was talking so much and so fast I think he blanked me!)

I've made an appointment to see the GP on Monday, and I've got quite a lot of ammunition, now. The main thrust of my argument will be along the lines that IF lantus/humalog are causing my other problems, then I must try an alternative before getting into other drugs i.e. heavy duty painkillers. I've already been on 400 mg ibuprofen for 5 weeks, just to half-function, and I don't think you're supposed to do that.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Regards,
Barbara

 

[noblehead]

Nigel,

Yes, I was pretty shocked too. Being charitable, I can only assume that he didn't register what I was actually saying. (He was talking so much and so fast I think he blanked me!)

I've made an appointment to see the GP on Monday, and I've got quite a lot of ammunition, now. The main thrust of my argument will be along the lines that IF lantus/humalog are causing my other problems, then I must try an alternative before getting into other drugs i.e. heavy duty painkillers. I've already been on 400 mg ibuprofen for 5 weeks, just to half-function, and I don't think you're supposed to do that.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Regards,
Barbara[/quot

Hope all goes well with your GP. Mention your concerns, your doc may write a letter to your diabetes clinic to support your switching to animal insulin.

Good luck

Nigel

 

[nannybarbara]

Hi All,

I had my appointment today and the DSN will be phoning me to arrange the change to animal insulin. I don't think he was very impressed that I'd been taken off a basal, so it's on the cards that I'll get that back at a later date.

Thank you for your posts and PMs, I'm very grateful for the advice and support.

Barbara

 

[janabelle]

YIPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!
So pleased for you Barbara, that's excellent news!
I sincerely hope your health and control improve, keep us posted.
Jus x

 

[nannybarbara]

Thanks Jus,

I wouldn't have managed it without your help. I would have rolled over and played dead.

The only fly in the ointment from today is that my kidneys aren't feeling very well - only 40%. (S*****g consultant didn't tell me that!) However, that's another battle for another day.

Onwards and upwards,

Barb

 

[janabelle]

Barbara
really sorry to hear that. You might be interested in this link http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents ... _b1_could/
I started taking a high dose of vitamin B1 2 1/2 years ago, Holland & Barret do a 100mg, 100 tablets for about £3.
Worth a try - can't do any harm, it's water soluble and not dangerous in high doses
Jus x

 

[nannybarbara]

Thanks Jus,

I'll give that one a whirl! We going into town today so I'll go to H & B.

Thanks
Barbara

 

[DiabeticVeteran]

Hi Barb,

Well done to you, Great work on your part.

I have my appointment for this Thursday to get of Lantus & try & go onto Animal Insulin.

Great news again.

Regards,

Steve

 

[nannybarbara]

Hi DV,

I played the "it will be cheaper for the surgery" card at the end - it must be more expensive for them to pay out for painkillers and imodium than changing me to (I think) slightly cheaper animal insulin. Plus, of course, the gentle reminder that I'm the patient, I'm not stupid, I've done the research and I should try it on trial for 6 months.

I'd wound myself up expecting a no, and was a bit gobsmacked when he said yes.

The absolutely best of luck to you on thursday.

Thanks,
Barbara