Lantus: spotted a trend.

[Brunneria]

If all the conditions remain constant, then your thinking about membrane puncture and air contamination seem very likely.

In which case there is nothing you can do about it - except adjust dose to compensate - but what an inconvenience.

I must say, I am impressed with your systematic observation and analysis. There must be many out there who put the BG rise to 'life'.

 

[tim2000s]

A quick question for you. How long does it take you to get halfway down a cartridge? Many of us who have used lantus in Phials with a syringe found that even in a phial it was shot after 18-21 days.

 

[satindoll]

Actually this problem isn't just confined to Lantus I have found over the past 6 months that the last 70-100mls of my Insulatard cartridge is losing potency, whilst I don't leave the needle attached it still goes weaker, I used to up the dose to counter the lose of potency but now I must admit to binning it as I found it could cause hypo symptoms if not a full blown hypo, one other thing I have noticed is that the colour changes from a milky white to a milky grey,

 

[smidge]

I definitely noticed the same issue with Levemir - 20 days max. Apidra is even worse - get rid after 15 days. I've not noticed the same with Tresiba yet and Insuman Basal definitely did not have the problem.

Personally I just chuck out what's left every two weeks now and start fresh cartridges. It seems wasteful, but it's not worth using insulin that has lost its potency.

Smidge

 

[RuthW]

So we need a Campaign for Smaller Cartridges!

 

[tim2000s]

So we need a Campaign for Smaller Cartridges!

What? Like when our novopens used 1.5ml carts you mean?

Taking that one step further.... After the introduction of MDI and dafne, were pen sizes moved to 3 ml because people thought they could eat whatever they wanted and insulin doses went up?

 

[Jaylee]

A quick question for you. How long does it take you to get halfway down a cartridge? Many of us who have used lantus in Phials with a syringe found that even in a phial it was shot after 18-21 days.

Good question Tim. Thanks for asking. I can tell you exactly when I changed to a new cartridge.. Friday the 5th of June.. I'm around the half way mark now. & the potency has started to slip.
Just to reiterate. Pen? Check. Insulin storage temp? Check. Cartridge condition? Check. (No cracks or obstructions.)

Just covering all bases to make sure I haven't missed anything...

 

[Jaylee]

What? Like when our novopens used 1.5ml carts you mean?

Taking that one step further.... After the introduction of MDI and dafne, were pen sizes moved to 3 ml because people thought they could eat whatever they wanted and insulin doses went up?

Lol. I was sold MDI in 1989? on the idea I could eat whenever I want due to my "irregular lifestyle" at the time. (I was in a Surrey dance/performing arts school.)

 

[noblehead]

Lol. I was sold MDI in 1989? on the idea I could eat whenever I want due to my "irregular lifestyle" at the time. (I was in a Surrey dance/performing arts school.)

Was it that far back @Jaylee

 

[Jaylee]

Was it that far back @Jaylee

Yep, plastic "windows 95" OS running computer case coloured pens that were flat sided & the only difference you could tell from the basal bolus (apart from removing the cap.) was a removable colour code strip (yellow for Actrapid & green for insulatard.) on the cartridge box that could be stuck to the side of the corresponding pen!

Those were the days.. I had a dancer sit on my bolus pen the first week I got issued...

 

[noblehead]

How the years fly by @Jaylee

 

[robert72]

Was it that far back @Jaylee

I got my first NovoPen around 1989 when I switched to Actrapid and MDI. Still had syringes and vials for insulatard though.

 

[noblehead]

I got my first NovoPen around 1989 when I switched to Actrapid and MDI. Still had syringes and vials for insulatard though.

Clueless when I got my first pen and changed to MDI Rob, it was probably around the same time as you and Jaylee.

 

[tim2000s]

I went to MDI somewhere around 1992. Actrapid and Protophane.

 

[Jaylee]

I went to MDI somewhere around 1992. Actrapid and Protophane.

The protophane rings a distant bell... Green top on the cartridge?

 

[LucySW]

I definitely noticed the same issue with Levemir - 20 days max. Apidra is even worse - get rid after 15 days. I've not noticed the same with Tresiba yet and Insuman Basal definitely did not have the problem.

Personally I just chuck out what's left every two weeks now and start fresh cartridges. It seems wasteful, but it's not worth using insulin that has lost its potency.

Smidge

Yes, I've noticed by 21 days my Novorapid really doesn't cut the mustard any more. Into the bin with it.

 

[Jaylee]

I definitely noticed the same issue with Levemir - 20 days max. Apidra is even worse - get rid after 15 days. I've not noticed the same with Tresiba yet and Insuman Basal definitely did not have the problem.

Personally I just chuck out what's left every two weeks now and start fresh cartridges. It seems wasteful, but it's not worth using insulin that has lost its potency.

Smidge

Yep. A waste. But it would narrow down managment consistency with BS control.. One less "variable" out of the mix.

 

[tim2000s]

The protophane rings a distant bell... Green top on the cartridge?

Yup. Got renamed as Insulatard.

 

[tim2000s]

Yes, I've noticed by 21 days my Novorapid really doesn't cut the mustard any more. Into the bin with it.

I nominally get about 15 days out of a novorapid cart but I have found that the last couple are often not so effective.

 

[Curly604]

This is really interesting post and something i will be keeping track of from now on (thought it was in my head).

I take 12 units Levimer a day so takes me a while to get through a pen and it definitely becomes less effective the older it is.

Thanks