Humalog and Levemir!

jskaife

Member
Messages
22
Does anyone take the above insulins?

I take humalog 3 times a day and Levemir before bed

I take 25 units at breakfast, 30-35 units for lunch, 30/35 units for dinner and 65 units for bed.

What are peoples opinions on these insulins and what kind of units do you take?

Thanks
 

luciemorgan

Newbie
Messages
1
I have been taking Levemir and Humalog for a couple of years- before I was on Lantus and Humalog and before that (!) on Humalin and Humalog... I take a split dose of Levemir 11 at night and 8 in the morning and then I take Humalog whenever I eat - approx 1.5 unit / 10g carb. I have been recently recommended to take half my Humalog dose at the beginning of the meal and half after I have finished eating- works well if you eat lots of slow/ low GI foods or more protein than carb at a meal which often means you end up with a low reading PP and then it shoots up later. Sounds as if I am in control- used to be! Now seem to be type 1 with type 2 insulin resistance... Good luck
 

suzi

Well-Known Member
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Hi,
My 10yr old son takes both these insulins, at present he's on 20u of Levemir before bed and between 5 and 12u after meals. We carb count so thats why the humalog varies and he injects after meals, so as we inject for exactly what hes eaten. It took a while to settle on the Levemir ( its his 5th basal insulin, and was diagnosed 3 1/2 yrs ago) but he's happy enough now.
Suzi x
 

LittleSue

Well-Known Member
Messages
647
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I've been on Levemir for about 2.5 years, before this Glargine for about 3 years (which I didn't have major problems with but couldn't adjust dose adequately). Been on Humalog since the time I started Glargine.
Currently take Levemir split dose of around 4.5 and 5 units and Humalog between 1 and 1.5 units per 10 carbs, varies with time of day/month.
Originally started on 14 units at bedtime (previously had 16 of Glargine) but at 8 units was still hypo during night. DAFNE clarified it wasn't lasting through the day.

I have my best control ever on this regime :D (HbA1c down from 9 to 6.6 despite varying insulin resistance/erratic monthly cycle). No plans to change unless I need a pump.
 

fergus

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,439
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I take Humalog and Levemir too.

Humalog with breakfast (3 units), Humalog with lunch (2-3 units), Humulin with dinner (7 units) and Levemir (8 units) as a basal, split 4 at bedtime and 4 in the morning.
They're good insulins in my experience but in the words of Mies van de Rohe, less is more!

fergus
 
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jskaife

Member
Messages
22
Ok

I know that ever ones bodies are different but how come I am taking shed loads more units that others who have posted in this topic? Is it because I am not carb counting or is it because people have posted what units they take as part of carb counting?

Would really like to know what people think on my unit dosage?

Breakfast - 20 - 25 units of Humalog
Lunch - 30 - 35 units of Humalog
Diner - 30 - 35 units of Humalog
Bed - 60 - 65 units of Levemir

Thanks
 

suzi

Well-Known Member
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I can only tell you that for my 10yr old his units of humalog are of a ratio to carb counting, it varies during the day ie. 1u to 10g to 1 1/2u to 10g of carbs depending on time of day and type of carb. Remebering that he's growing and hitting puberty soon, his will vary significally to that of an adults. As for his intake of Levimer, even his is higher at 20u before bed than that of Fergus.
Each persons insulins needs varies, i can compare my son to other children and he is taking almost double, but it works for him. An idea of childrens requirements is take his basal amount and add his bolus the total should come close to weight in Kg, ie 20u Levimer plus average of Humalog 22u equals 42u and he weighs in about 43Kg, again each days food requirements differ, but its close. Not sure if this works for adults.
Your dosage does seem high, even for an adult, if your unhappy with the amount of insulin you take talk to your DN and have a go at carb counting.
Take care
Suzi x
 

fergus

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,439
Type of diabetes
Type 1
They are big doses jskaife although it's certainly true that everyone is different.
I'm a lucky type 1 :shock: , which often means little or no insulin resistance. Others can become more insulin resistant over time as a consequence of larger doses - it's a feedback loop.
Larger doses are usually a result of a high carb diet, insulin resistance, or both.

All the best,

fergus
 

lionrampant

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
Fergus hit the nail on the head: 65 units in one go? That's a hell of a dose for one sitting. I used to take large dose injections of a background insulin (lantus and levemir at various points in the past) - splitting the dose into two made all the difference. You should pester your consultant about it.