Insultard to levemir

[Laurenedwards84]

Hey all )
I’m a MODY 4 diabetic and have been living with diabetes for 14 years and I’ve been on insultard and novo rapid since I was diagnosed.
I’ve always got on with both types but do go low during the night, scoff everything in sight and wake up high....
My consultant suggested I try levemir. I’ve been on it for 3 days now and can’t seem to control my BG as it’s super high, 20.0+
Has anyone else found any benefits to switching over? As I’m debating going back on insultard as it’s what I know. I’ve read lots of articles of people becoming resistant to insulin’s too.
I only use novo norsk insulin cartridges too as I’m a wimp and still use the ‘vintage’ pen mate.
Thank you all in advance x

 

[kitedoc]

Hi @Laurenedwards84, from my diabetes experience, not as professional advice or opinion.
Were you prescribed Insultard twice daily and then Levemir twice daily,?
A single dose Levemir might last 16 hours, not necessarily 24 hours
And when are your BSLs high, day and night?
I have noticed that doctors tend to aim for a lower than equivalent dose when changing a person's insulin over so as to avoid possible hypos with the new insulin, but the result can be high BSLs until the doses are sorted.
Sounds like you need to discuss these things with your doctor or DSN as soon as possible.

 

[Grumpy ole thing]

Hi @Laurenedwards84, I was on Insulatard for years, and never did get to grips with it. I switched to Levemir about 3-4 years ago and take it twice a day around 9.30. I find the split doses of Levemir much easier to manage; the total amount is slightly higher than I had before and because the individual doses are lower I find low bs less frequent and it doesn't seem to take much to bring them back up to a reasonable level.
You might also find that your high numbers are partly to do with your liver producing sugars as a reaction to the low bs, maybe you can find out at what bs level this happens and try to avoid it. Do you have something really fast acting for your hypos? I used to eat chocolate for a hypo but it isn't fast enough so would keep on shovelling then spend the next day trying to bring my levels back down. I now have 95% sugar sweets that have an almost instant result. I agree with @kitedoc; maybe a chat with your GP/DSN would help?

 

[squeezelouise400]

I had lows in the night, 2.2 from 3am until I woke about 8am. Basel insulin is Levemir in the morning and 10pm in the evening. Last night, in an effort to combat the nocturnal hypos I reduced my levemir by one digit and I woke up with bg 5.6. My bg remained stable all night and I woke feeling good. This works for me, I hope your feeling better soon.

 

[SimonCrox]

Yes, the levemir might not be as strong as other insulins eg julio rosenstock et al found that one needed 50% more levemir than glargine in a head to head comparison - so, as above, wise to see your specialist.
Impressed that you are still on the penmate - do you have a lot of spares?
best wishes