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Type 2 Help for steroid induced T2 new Lantus user

quizzical

Member
Messages
7
Location
Midlands
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Posting here because I can’t quite to grips with how to use the forum!

I was diagnosed with steroid induced t2 some years ago and managed it with diet only. My hba1c is now going up, and my GP is starting me on Lantus next week (gliclazide exacerbates my IBS).

I’m hoping all will go smoothly but would appreciate words of wisdom from others about their initial experience of Lantus. It will probably be a morning dose.

Many thanks!
 
Welcome to the forums @quizzical . Would you like me or another mod to move your post to its own thread in "Ask a Question" or the "T2 with insulin forums", title something like
"Help for steroid induced T2 new Lantus user"
 
Hi @quizzical, I've moved your post to its own thread.

I'm a long time lantus user but T1, so haven't got quite the right experience for you but will try to give you some advice.

Hopefully they are starting you on a low dose and working your way up. In theory it lasts 24 hours though some people find it last less long, so it shouldn't matter when you take it as long as you keep to that time (roughly).. I used to take it at night because I like it to be having its full effect in the morning (I suffer from dawn phenomena where my liver pumps out extra insulin then).

The main thing to be wary of as a new insulin user is hypos. My recommendation is to have glucose (or equivalent) by your bed and always take some with you if you go out. If you drive you'll need to tell the licensing authority (if in the UK) and wherever you are do a blood test before driving. A hypo while driving could be fatal to others as well as yourself.

Not trying to scare you, my guess is that the aim of the lantus is to just give a little boost to your own insulin production and hopefully hypos won't be too much of an issue, but it's always a good idea to be prepared.

Good luck.
 
Thanks EllieM.

My GP says that he will up the dosage very slowly. I also suffer from Ménière’s disease, so I’m hoping that I can tell the difference between a Ménières attack and a hypo!

Some literature seems to say that you only need to test BG once a day when using Lantus, but elsewhere I read that you should test more often during the day in order to obtain a better picture of what is going on. I think that I would certainly like to keep an eye on it more than once daily.

Thanks for the opportunity to ask daft questions!
 
Hi @quizzical ,

Lantus? In my T1 experience, the hypos can be a slow creeper. (In symptoms.) it's not like other insulins I've used over the years, but there are distinctive signs. Lower field of vison with dancing lights or a shimmer. Brain function regarding the cognitive on simple tasks done at the time feel like astrophysics.. It's almost like a (dare i say it.) form of "dementia?"

Though i don't have Ménière’s disease, i have had the odd ear infection that caused vertigo? Pretty much losing my balance because my ears were lying to me.. The difference for me with a hypo is very clear.

If the dose is too high? hitting lows with just fast acting carbs will stop the low for a while. but there could be a recurrence.. (an hour or 3 later..?) Back up the sweets with something longer acting on the carb front too..

I've also noticed with Lantus as i get down the cartridge (once in a while.) it can lose potency? The safest thing for you to do if your BGs are uncharacteristically high? change the cartridge for the following day's dose. Do not increase your dosage. (Unless of course advised by your HCP.)

Testing is key. Ideally a CGM set up could be more preferable.

Best wishes..
 
Thanks Jaylee

That’s very helpful. The problem with the Ménières is that there is sometimes a kind of spaced out aura before the vertigo - but I guess that it would quickly be clear that it wasn’t a hypo.

I will seriously consider the Libre2, but would struggle to self fund.
 

All i know is with the inner ear infection i had. Twas like the world had "rocked." Not unlike being paralytically drunk? (to a degree.)

My advice would be, anything out of the "norm" use the meter? That includes what your experience with Ménières. Just till you feel more comfortable using the Lantus..
 
I now have five days of once daily Lantus under my belt! I didn’t realise that dosage is now a
DIY process. My practice has no dsn, just an overworked GP trying to fit diabetics in to the workload. However I’ve done lots of reading and probably don’t need to have my hand held. This forum is a great resource too.
 
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