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My Lantus question

When do you take your Lantus?

  • Before Bed

    Votes: 7 87.5%

  • Before Breakfast

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Split between the two

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Before Lunch

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Before Dinner

    Votes: 1 12.5%
  • Total voters
    8
K

Klang180

Well-Known Member
Messages
130
Hello all

In a recent bid to get totally under control after spending the last few years hovering in the mildy ok range of 7.3-7.5 on my HBa1Cs i read, amongst other things, "Think like a Pancreas" by Dr Gary Schneier.

I thought "great i have all the things i need to really get on top of it". I have instigated a lot of things from more exercise to lower fat and no caffience etc, in short an extension to what i already knew.

However, one of the first tests to get under full control is your Basal rate test i.e. my Lantus dose. The book has a lot on pumping but only mentions testing your Bolus on MDI by taking a test before bed and then testing in the morning. Granted he mentions makign sure you have a normal dinner and going to bed 5 hours after this, all fine.

However, when i do this i tend to go to bed at about 8-9 for example and thenw ake up in the night with a 4 needing a boost. This would suggest my Lantus is too high, so i reduce it. This solves the nightime low but then in the day when i skipped breakfast or lunch i seem to creep up, suggesting it is too low.

I can't find an equilibrium and wonder whether the timing of the injection or the absorption at the site was the key here? Could it be that it is being absorbed too quickly and acting quicker than it should?

I take the Lantus before bed but would i be better off leaving it until the morning?

Any advice gladly recieved. I really want to nail my basal so i can't get onto my bolus ratios some of which i have a pretty good grasp on already but are of course influenced by my basal!

regards
 
Not saying it will work as it's trial and error getting the dose and timing right, however I use to inject before bed and found I'd often get early morning hypo's, my DSN suggested I move the dose back to early evening to see if this helps, I moved it back to 6pm (ish) and not had many problems since.
 
I used to be on Lantus and was quite often low at night and high in the day

My nurse and I worked out that it was because it was spiking and then running out.

I have since changed to 2 daily injections (12 hours apart) of Levemir and things have greatly improved.

I still have some highs to sort out and maybe my Levemir doses need adjusting but it seems to have stopped the spikes and the running out.
 
Thanks Zoe that is really interesting. I have been tempted to split my dose and have two basal's a day but wasn't sure if it would be easier or not. Good to have your experience to compare.
 
Klang180 said:
Thanks Zoe that is really interesting. I have been tempted to split my dose and have two basal's a day but wasn't sure if it would be easier or not. Good to have your experience to compare.
Click to expand...


According to the manufacturers of lantus it shouldn't be split and should only be taken in a single dose, we have had members who have switched to split doses of lantus but you do need to be careful and this should only be done under the supervision of your diabetes team.

As Zoe says levemir can be given in a split dose and is often recommended when lantus fails to last for 24 hours, I would speak with your DSN about your options.
 
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