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Should I ask to switch back to old insulin?

chlsybwnx

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Bit of a back story... around 2 months ago I switched from Lantus to Abasaglar (basal), within 3 days I was in A&E completely disorientated, dizzy spells, waking up at like 3am to blacking out etc. my heart rate was erratic, all over the place, I couldn't really make sense of anything but, they said it wouldn't have been my insulin as Lantus and Abasaglar are so similar. They treated me with a urine infection despite this carrying on for 4/5 days and all tests coming back negative.

Around 4 weeks ago (start of my second new pen) I got frequent hypos, we're talking 20-25 in a week. They told me to adjust insulin and carry on. After 10 days of that I returned to normal.

Now I started my 3rd pen and the symptoms of the first episode have arisen again. and now I'm thinking it's the switch!!

I have an appointment with my DSN tomorrow morning but, just wondering has anyone else experienced this sort of thing when switcihing?! and would I be out of line to ask for my old insulin to be popped back onto my prescription?!
 
chlsybwnx said:
I have an appointment with my DSN tomorrow morning but, just wondering has anyone else experienced this sort of thing when switcihing?! and would I be out of line to ask for my old insulin to be popped back onto my prescription?!
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Of course you can ask to switch back, it's your decision.

Alternatively you could ask about using Tresiba as your basal, the feedback from the members here who use the insulin is very encouraging.
 
No advice to offer, @chlsybwnx , but am sending you a hug! To be honest I'd want to switch back too, in your position. Hope tomorrow's appointment goes well - remember that as the patient it is your decision.

 
I'd love to say it went great and they put me back on Lantus but... my appointment got cancelled half an hour before again!

Not sure if this is something the GP would be happy to swap back for me? Or if I should wait out another appointment in the mail again?!
 

You could try asking the GP but they might insist on 'permission' from your consultant.

It's worth asking though.
 
chlsybwnx said:
Not sure if this is something the GP would be happy to swap back for me? Or if I should wait out another appointment in the mail again?!
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You've been prescribed lantus before so can't see any problems with your Dr prescribing it again.
 
When I was in mid flow of swopping over to tresiba or toujeo my gp reluctantly prescribed 5 old insulin pens but told me on the monday I'd need to get diabetic unit to prescribe more til swopped over.
GP wasn't happy but did it as a one off as no possible direct conversation with diabetic unit friday afternoon with no insulin plan.
But as an intrim it did the trick. Diabetic unit prescribed more old insulin til new plan with dn on hols was back.
GP won't leave you will no insulin but not sure if a day or so with a wayward insulin would be constituted as an emergency. Make it heavily clear to gp hypos very very bad due to new insulin only.
I'm sure your sympathetic gp will come up truimps.
Ps. Do you not have your diabetic unit answering machine number to alert them that things aren't going to plan?
 
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My Drs are an absolute nightmare to get into etc. phone call screening, wait til end of day for phone call back to judge when you need an appointment, then go in when they finally book you one!

I wouldn't call it an "emergency" at all either, I'm doing well just a little off, I just hate causing a fuss so try and plod along! haha! Just I have a GP appointment early next week so just going to mention it there!

There's no specialised unit at my hospital, my nurse comes from afar to the outpatients center 2 days a week then I have my appointment with her! But, when she's off, there's nobody to step in! There's the main hospital which has a unit with consultants but, not anybody there I can call to adjust things for me! Can't be helped though and I'm sure I'll get there soon enough!

Thanks guys! (feel like I'm always asking silly questions that'll be answered in a day or two if I could just be patient hah!)
 
Hay, this might help but register to your gps online services they have a option for custom prescriptions or requesting anything new.. I made a custom request to change my strips when I last ordered my prescription, within half an hour they rang me to confirm brand etc etc didn't have to see them or try a 1000 times on phone to get through
 
@chlsybwnx definitely not a silly question here.
I just feel for you not having a better point of call for insulin advice.
If you can manage til gp appointment but if not still call that hospital unit for advice. Nurses normally call you back once theyve read your message.
If your gp is your only diabetes carer with ability to do your prescriptions then your entitled to see your gp sooner if you're concerned.
How are you managing these awful plentiful hypos?
Maybe @catapillar can give you some reminders to try and get your insulin working better for you?
I'm very concerned you've been given this new insulin and just left to struggle.
 
Why not phone DSN at hospital?
They can get hold of consultants if they need to.
They would not want you to be ill.

If under GP care, there is generally a prescribing nurse at GPs nowadays. Try getting thru reception to speak to that nurse?
 
ickihun said:
I think her appointment got cancelled and she's left in limbo.
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Appointment has actually been cancelled twice now, haven't been to the hospital since end of April!

@Daibell I was switched to Abasaglar due to budget cuts. So maybe, it has something to with costs why I wasn't popped onto Levemir!

@donnellysdogs DSN is who I was due to see today but, half an hour before appt. the hospital rang me and told me she wasn't in as she has gone on holiday and they'll send me a new appointment by letter again! Not her fault or anyones fault just bad timing as this was the first time I've had an issue!

What's it like! Just my luck!

@ickihun Thanks for your concern! Im fine! I have had just 1 hypo for the past 3 weeks since cutting my basal in half which was down to me overdoing the bolus! I was struggling for that week or so but, I am fine again! I'm definitely a "don't call for help unless I'm seriously ill" type of person. Bad trait I need to get over for sure!

I've been absolutely fine (hba1c under 50 for the past 2 years) on old insulin, now since the switch at the end of June, I've gone awol, so I've just lost faith in it! Feel like such a hypochondriac now with all the replys hah!
 
Just a little update again! I've got a letter come through from hospital and appointment is in 5 weeks! Eugh! So definitely going to be following your guys advice and bugging my GP to try and get my old insulin back for the time being!

Thanks for all your suggestions!
 

I wpuld also have left a message for your DSN at hospital and told story and that until you are seen you are going back to old insulin.

Thats down to them then whether they contact you, bit you can then explain to Consultant what has happened and you have tried and tried to keep them in the loop and asked for help....

It may be that Nurse will phone you back and would take your needs up quicker or inform GP herself etc...
 
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