• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Humulin and Hypos

searley

searley

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
2,260
Location
Southampton
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Diabetes, not having Jaffa Cake
Ok, sorry if these sound like daft questions

After several months I have finally today had my prescription changed to Humulin S and Humulin I

When on the phone to the DSN about the change she said that Humulin is a little less predictable than the Novo Rapid and Levemir, she said its not unusual to get 4am hypo's so don't go to bed with a BG of less than 8 without having a snack.. Would splitting the dose reduce the risk??

The second thing is that I have never been a breakfast eater, I found with NR & Levemir that I could get through to lunch time without eating even though the DSN didn't recommend it. Should I be able to do the same with Humulin? The reason I ask is that the DSN said its quite possible I would need a mid morning and mid afternoon snack, which I find strange if the dose was correct, the DSN put it down the the longer acting time of the Humulin s
 
Hi,
I'm new to Humulin S and Humulin I ... 3days. I've been using novorapid and levemir and lantus since being type 1 for 3 years. Lots of trouble with drugged up feelings, very tired and all the usual symptoms of analogue insulin. Beginning to feel better. How are you dealing with your doses. My doc said to just trial/error my doses. I've found that I using nearly 3 times the novorapid dose and still playing around with the Humulin I dose. Around 4.15am 6.5 but by 7.00am its gone up to 14.0. This is on a dose of 20..I'll increase the dose to 24 tonight and see what happens.

How are you getting on. I'm Vit D deficient and getting my blood pressure under control.
 
Im doing ok on it.. As for the dose im taking it is almost exactly the same as when i was on novo

Infact my consultant when she gave it to me said to start by taking a 10% less dose than with novo. Then every 3 days if its not having the desired effect adjust the dose by 2 units

So if you are having that much diffent dose BE CAREFULL
 
Hi Searley,
Thanks for your reply. I used to carb count on novo so I'll keep an eye on what carbs I'm eating. I know its early days with me now on Humulin S and I. I'm just greatful that the 'tired' feelings etc. are subsiding. I'll keep a careful watch on how much S I take as I have dropping Bs when I do anything physical so at work I've started to inject at breakfast then again at tea time. I do keep a check on my Bs during my work shift as I drive and lift at work.
Thanks.
 
I. Carb counted on both, and my ratio is the same for both insulins

I have 1 unit for 8 grams of carbs, and that wasnthe same for novo

Only real difference i humulin takes longer to start working, so you should take it 20 to 30 mins before food, where novomwas about 10mins before
 
Hi

Searley how long have you been diabetic?
It seems slightly strange that you are on Humulin I and Humulin S as it would seem more sense to be on Humulin I and Humalog.

From what I know this is because:
Humulin I is a background Insulin that should be taken 2 times a day in the morning and night this covers any rise in BS. They do need to be taken exactly 12 hours apart and different doses are given at morning and night. Once injected it will take 2 hours to do anything and will be at max about 6 hours after and will continue to work for a further 3/4hours.

Humalog is a fast acting insulin that should be taken just before eating, it is the nearest insulin you can inject to what the body produces. It starts to work 5 mins after inection and is at its peak after 50min to an hour and stops working after about 2 hours.

Humulin S is often given to people when they are first diagnosed this is because the body is OFTEN (but not always) still producing insulin. Humulin S is basically a mix of Humalog and Humulin I. So it means that you only need 3 injections a day and this makes life easier for people. It takes 30 mins to start to work and peak at 2 hours and still working for 6 hours, This means that in theory you only need 3 injections a day.

Going back to your original questions:
If you are on Humulin S AND I you need to have 3 meals a day as this means you will inject Humulin s times a day which is needed to reduce BS during the day and night.
You also shouldnt go to bed with bloods to low because bloods can drop quicker with humulin S however I would say you only need to be above say 6.5, 8 seems a little high.

If I was you I would question why you are on S and I. Humulog is a faster acting insulin that work better than S.
Here is some really good info from Lilly who make these insulins:

Humulin: CLick on the patient info leaflet
http://www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/2676/PIL/Humalog+100+U+ml%2c+solution+for+injection+in+cartridge+(3ml)+(insulin+lispro)/
Humulin I CLick on the patient info leaflet
http://www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/23661/PIL/Humulin+I+KwikPen+100+IU+ml+suspension+for+injection/
Humulin S CLick on the patient info leaflet
http://www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/13402/PIL/Humulin+S+100IU+ml+solution+for+injection+in+vial/
 
Think you are slightly wrong about humulin s

Humlin s is a human insulin?... Humalog is an anolg insulin

I wanted to move awaynfrom analog as i was having issues with it... So i know exactly why i am on humlin s

Humulin s is a short acting insulin, not quite rapid, but starts to work in about 30 minutes, but does last longer than novo rapid
 
Hi Folks,
This may sound like a silly question but here goes...I used to be on novorapid and lantus, now on Humulin S and I...is the humulin S used twice a day or at each meal time, like novorapid, ,,is it best to have a single dose of humulin I at night or split the dose..I had lots of problems with analogue so now trying human over the next 5 months to see how I get on then I may have to ask again, for porcine. The consultant was unsure how to use porcine insulin so asked me to try the 'human' insulin. I'm still 'tired' but the 'drugged up ' feelings have GONE!!!!
 
I take my humulin s and i in exactly then same way.. Except i take it about 20 minutes before a meal,as it takes slightly longer to work
 
Hi,
I've finally been allowed porcine neutral and isophane insulins so I'm off analogue and human insulins...for good I hope. My drugged up heavy headed and light headed feelings have gone and my tiredness seems to be going, at lest I'm feeling better already only after 9 days on the porcine. My BSs are improving and I've been in good single figures, which I couldn't get on humulin S and I. I now need to get a painful index knuckle and fingure sorted (problems started about 2 months when my BSs were all over the place, and I've developed gum problems over the same period. My dentist has referred me to the hospital re: the gums.

It's early days on the porcine but things are 'on the up'.
 
Back
Top