Humulin m3

[rikm12345]

Hi, ive recently been stared on humulin m3 insulin. I'm currently on 30 units morning and 26 units evening. My bloods go up slightly after dinner and settle back down through the night to a normal level. My problem is during the day I spike up to 14 after breakfast after 2 slice of toast then they go low at lunch time. After lunch, usually 2 rolls they slowly go up to 18 and don't go back into range until about 8pm.

Do I take more morning insulin even though I go low at lunch time?

Thank you.

 

[Antje77]

Hi, ive recently been stared on humulin m3 insulin. I'm currently on 30 units morning and 26 units evening. My bloods go up slightly after dinner and settle back down through the night to a normal level. My problem is during the day I spike up to 14 after breakfast after 2 slice of toast then they go low at lunch time. After lunch, usually 2 rolls they slowly go up to 18 and don't go back into range until about 8pm.

Hi @rikm12345 , welcome to the forum.

Humulin M3 is a premixed insulin, so a basal (long acting) mixed with a bolus (quick acting) insulin.
Most T1's are prescribed two separate insulins because the amount of bolus we need depends on what we eat and when we eat, but the amount of basal we need stays roughly the same.

If you'd increase your dose to better deal with your breakfast and lunch, you'd likely go way too low in between meals because you'd also have the extra basal sloshing around.

In general, mixed insulins are seen as an older type of treatment in T1's (LADA is T1), although it's still used by GP's treating T2's.
Are you under care of an endocrinologist or under your GP?

With mixed insulins you'll need very regular meals to work with the action time of the insulin.
On two insulins, you'll need more injections (before anything you eat/drink containing carbs), but it gives us the freedom to skip meals, eat different amounts of carbs every day, eat at irregular times etc.

 

[rikm12345]

Hi Antje, thank you for your reply and information. It's all still quite new to me but ive had type 2 for about 3 years, hba1c was up at 130 at one point. I've just been given metformin x 4, then gliclazide 4 times a day eventially, then eventually dapaflaglozin too. It's went on for quite some time with the additional meds not really doing what they should as much and hba1c generally high 70 or 80. Good days and bad days but just kept plodding on taking the meds.

Eventually after many attempts got referred feom GP to the local hospital who started me off on this insulin. Was given different options to choose from. Injecting 4 times a day was one of them and sounds like you say the best way I think.

I've called them and asked if should change to 2 insulins. Wait to see what they come back with as going on holiday soon and know ill want to eat more than normal lol.

 

[Antje77]

Let us know how it goes!

 

[rikm12345]

I will do, thank you

 

[rikm12345]

Got a call back from the hospital. Didn't listen to my concerns about staying high lunch till evening and ive just to reduce morning dose by 2 units, see how I go. Even though less in morning will likely make higher during day. Honestly...

 

[grantg]

Got a call back from the hospital. Didn't listen to my concerns about staying high lunch till evening and ive just to reduce morning dose by 2 units, see how I go. Even though less in morning will likely make higher during day. Honestly...

have you maybe got an email address for them? if not call the reception and ask for the email address. put the concerns in writing that way you'll have a copy of it and they will also require to answer your concerns via email.

imo if say you'r happier at trying the 4 injections a day rather than twice a day as believe that will give you a lot more control and had time to think about it they maybe able to swap to the other original option that you were given. background + fast acting 100% agree with Antje77. I got swapped insulins several times got a little supply here now lol and currently on none (honeymoon period type1).