On Human insulin wanting to change to Animal.

hi there I also posted this on a newbie thread but think this may be a better place to get answers.

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum, I've been doing a lot of reading of threads on here and they have been very helpful. I would like to hear from anyone who was on Lantus and Novorapid then went on to Animal insulin because they were experiencing really bad side effects on human/analogue insulin.

I have been type 2 diabetic for 20 years. I used to weigh 21 stone but have lost 8 1/2 stone. I have been mostly diet controlled eating low carb, but in times of stress my blood sugars are erratic. So I have tried oral medication but my body doesn't tolerate them. Severe vomiting and gastric issues. I was told by my DNS that I wasn't trying hard enough to tolerate the medication but I gave them 6 months. So 4 times in the last 20 years I have tried insulin but each time I experienced pins and needles and numbness down my arms and headaches plus blurred vision and bloating. 18 months ago I was put back on insulin, the numbness was worse, I felt like I had a permanent hangover. I put on 50 pound in 6 weeks. So I ate very strictly and managed to get off the insulin again. A month ago I got a really bad kidney infection which resulted in DKA. I was in hospital a week and put back on insulin. This time within 24 hours the side effects hit me. But this time they are really severe.
Very blurred vision, foggy brain, memory loss, dizziness, falling over. I look 6 months pregnant. Gastric upset, so much so I can't leave the house in the morning. Skin numbness up my arms all over my torso an now spreading down to my knees. When I take a hot shower it feels tepid! My feet feel like blocks of ice and hurt all the time, even though they feel warm to touch. My muscles hurt and have no strength. Climbing the stairs feels like I'm climbing a mountain, I have to go up one step at a time, so I'm staying upstairs most of the time to be near the toilet. I have severe fatigue, I feel like an 80 year old and I'm 51. I feel if I carry on like this then my life will be worthless!

While in hospital I discussed with my consultant about my side effects, his response was it was my high blood sugars not the insulin. He didn't like the fact I'd been researching and found out that animal insulin may be better. He said my bg would be more erratic. I couldn't use an insulin pen(I read the bnf and know they are available in cartridges for pens). He said I would have more hypos. While telling me this he was banging on the table at each point. In the end he said stay on this insulin for 3-4 weeks(by the time I go to see him again it will be 6 weeks). He said he can guarantee my side effects will have gone by then. Then he might consider switching to animal.

My side effects are still as bad and my numbness is almost all of my body now. I am utterly miserable. I want to go armed when I go back and discuss and hoping he puts me on animal insulin. Maybe it won't be any better but feel I don't have many options.

So can anyone tell me what side effects you had on Lantus or other human/analogue insulin and how you improved switching to animal insulin.

Thanks in advance.

Ailsa

My blood sugars aren't high now and still have the same symptoms, reading on this forum I found threads with a lot of people having the same symptoms.

Thanks for the link I'll take a look

Ailsa

Indy51 said:

@AilsaMarshall If you haven't already been tested, I would suggest testing for B12 deficiency. With all your gastric issues and the skin lesions, coeliac is another possibility that should be checked.

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All my levels are normal plus I take a good supplement. I do have ibs but it is well controlled. Plus I do not eat any grains which exacerbate coeliac.

azure said:

@AilsaMarshall I switched from Humalog (in a pump) to animal insulin. I'm very happy with it and feel a lot better. It comes in both cartridges and vials.

But I didn't have pins or needles like you've described nor problems sensing water temperature. That worries me reading that. Have you been checked for neuropathy-like issues? I understand you feel the consultant is totally anti animal insulin, but they may have a point about high sugars as they're known to cause issues like you've described.

The problems I had on Humalog was extreme tiredness - both sleepiness and muscle weakness, painful muscles and joints, a vacant feeling, tummy issues (but not bloating - more like digestive sensitivity).

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Thanks for your response. My blood sugars are below 10 and most of the time I'm getting normal readings now. I'm pleased to hear you are doing better on animal.

Ailsa