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How do you get on with Lantus?

linda_b

Active Member
Messages
42
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

I've been diabetic 25 years this year. For 10 of those I was on the basic two shot a day Humalin. Then when I was 15 I got moved onto Novorapid and Lantus. This worked brilliantly for me for a long time but recently I've developed a bit of a battle with the Lantus for example this morning I woke up and my Libre daily graph showed I'd been somewhere between 2 and 3 throughout the night. When I woke up I was 2.3 (I still function on low blood sugars my hypo awareness isn't great). Automatically I would assume I'm taking too much Lantus in the evening but if I was to fast throughout the day my bloods would rocket without any Novorapid, so I feel it's not working great in the background during the day.
Previously I have tried reducing it by a couple of units but that does the opposite they'll spike during the night then be sky high in the morning.
I don't have great hospital support. I've been waiting four years to see a consultant (finally got an appointment next month) and I never see the same person twice.
How do others get on with Lantus? Stupid question but is it possible I could have 'outgrown' it and would it be worth trying a different basal?

Thanks
 
I was on Lantus for about 12 years and found it could be erratic sometimes. Have you tried taking it in the morning to see if that helps with your overnight lows? If you think your basal needs vary at different times of the day then you could try two shots of Levemir. I've been on Tresiba for about three years now and find it to be very flat and predictable compared to Lantus, so that's another option.
 

Hi Robert,

I have heard of people taking their basal in the morning and I am wondering whether it would be worth giving it a try to see if it changes anything. Just seems really strange as I've always taken it at night but it would be interesting to see.
 
Lantus is what I was put on when I was diagnosed. I started on it each morning which was then switched to early evening to combat waking up a bit too high (which has worked) but I've just been advised to try splitting mine 50/50 12 hours apart to try and keep it flatter over the whole day.
 
If you are happy to change it, it's worth a try
 
Hi linda_b, I'm on Lantus. I'm a late comer to the Type 1 club - only diagnosed two and a half years ago. For some reason I decided to inject mine in the morning and it works well for me. I usually wake with bg around 4.5. Sorry to hear about the poor care in your area. Come to Bournemouth!
 
I take 2 units lantus at 10pm. It keeps me steady or just a tiny dip through the night. HOWEVER, once I get up I just rise and rise if it don't eat bf and take novolog. Lantus does nothing for me during the day. I tried taking it in the morning as well to help through the day, 1 unit, and I hypod all day long. I asked my endo if I should try taking lantus in the morning too and he was against it. That's ok because then I don't have to try to figure out the actions of two insulins. So I just use lantus to keep me flat at night, and novolog during the day.

I NEED to eat bf as soon as I get up or I keep rising. And insulin does nothing. Now I take 1 unit novolog with my bf at around 8, then 1/2-1 an hour later and then another 1/2-1 about 2 hours later. This is the only way I can keep flat. My version of a pump. Mornings are rough.
 
You need to try splitting it......

you need different amounts of Lantus between day/night....

I was on a Levemir split before the pump, which I think performs better when split, at least for me.......

I took a dose before bed and one in the morning...
 
Hi linda_b I'm also on Novo rapid+lantus as other members said my Novo rapid works ok sugars are between 5to8 most days if I'm not feeling poorly but lantus can be hit and miss during night sometimes when i wake it's 4 and sometimes it can be nine but i take 60 units at bedtime i have tried to adjust dose but as it varies so much i just stick to same amount keep well.
 
Forgot to add the effect can be different if I have a snack before bed or not ...
And it depends what that snack is.
 
Hi linda_b,
I struggled immensely with Lantus and Novorapid.
I switched to Levemir and Apidra which I found suited my needs, I did though split my basal insulin and took it at 7am/7pm.
For me Lantus hurt like hell when injecting and I would always hypo after taking it. The Novorapid for me just takes too long to work.
I am though lucky to have a good team to work with.
Sorry you don't have any joy with consultant/team.
Best decision was switching to a pump but that's another discussion for a different day.
 
I am on novorapid and lantus and manage fine,it is also about how much carbohydrates you are taking as well
 

You can take lantus anytime of the day provided you stick to around the same time, like yourself I use to take it before bed but changed it to a morning injection before settling for a early evening slot (between 6-7pm).

Worth a try as Robert has said.
 
@linda_b . I struggled with lantus, tried bedtime injections and then breakfast injections once a day. Undertook the DAFNE course and started to split my lantus twice daily, approx 9 pm 7 am. This works great for me and allows for more control at different times of the day and different days of the week.
We're all different and what works for one doesn't for another. Maybe have a chat next month and see if it's an option.
Good luck.
 
I was on lantus but suffered a lot from night hypos. I injected before bed 12,units. My consultant suggested that I change to Tojeou. I have been on this for 5 weeks started on 10 units now looking to take 14 units as morning results are a little high. It seems to be much flatter and worked well last night after exercising. So still getting to grips with it but much better than lantus.
 
Lantus first thing in AM always. Works for me. I was never keen on taking insulin and going to bed.
 
Interesting to read this ....I take 18 units of Lantus at 9.00 every evening on the dot...it does burn a bit when injecting (don't know why) but so far no issues...I am interested to know if morning Basal is better....very concerned about having hypos during sleep
 
And...if I were to switch to mornings...should I take the glucose hit and not inject the night before and inject in the morning....?
 
Mark14400 said:
And...if I were to switch to mornings...should I take the glucose hit and not inject the night before and inject in the morning....?
Click to expand...
You could take half your normal dose in the evening and then start with the full dose in the morning.
 
Think I will try splitting the Lantus dose....makes complete sense to me
 
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