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Why r doctors seduced by lantus and levemir??

A

aileenc0

Member
Messages
8
Location
glasgow
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Dislikes
lantus and levemir
:? :( Sorry I know some of you guys on these insulins think they are great and good luck to all of you with no problems but I'm afraid I need a bit of a rant. At the moment I can't sleep I'm sitting with my arms and legs in ice at the moment I am covered from head to toe in the same allergy I broke out in 4 years ago which according to the docs had nothing to do with lantis even although it started a day after the lantus did and stoped a day after I came off the lantus. Now I have taken it with levemir the main difference is that antihistimines did work on levemir but now I have hust found out that I am pregnant and have been told not to take them thus the ice buckets as my skin is on fire.I visited the diabetes specialist nurse on Thurs who advised me that I'd either have to put up with it or go back to the really bad hypos that I suffered on insulitard.Also my blood sugars have barely been below 20 for the past 2 weeks which I think must have something to do with being pregnant needless to say My stress levels are through the roof worrying about wether the high bms will damage the baby I am only un the very early stages. I have 2 perfect little girls who I had on insulitard while I was pegnant with them my hba1c never went above 5.5. however the side effect was the hypos. I feel like I'm gonna have a nervous break down with the itch and high sugars.Can I demand that they change insulins because I think they are going to tell me to stick with it for a while longer. what can I do ? do I have a right to tell them to get me off the levemir. As I feel that they can't see by it. :( :x help please anyone??
 
I'm not sure I will be of much help Aileen but of course being pregnant does mean that your homones are all over the place at the moment and insulin is essentially yet another hormone!! Levemir can have the side effect you describe but it is generally short lived (mine lasted about 2 weeks I think) and then subsided, never to return as the body gets used to it.

I think that Levemir is liked by our medical friends because it is a long acting analogue (though sometimes not as long acting as we would wish!!) with a fairly level slow release. It also tends to not cause weight gain quite as much as other insulins. I have no experience of Lantus though by reading posts on here I believe the side effects can be a bit worse, nor of Insulitard - my parents are both on Mixtard and have never had any side effects (save weight gain!!)
 
Hi Aileen,
I'm sorry to hear your having such a rough time and what is obviously an allergic reaction to Levemir, and at a time when you should be stress free and enjoying your pregnancy. My 10yr old son had similar reactions to Lantus and is now happy on Levemir with thankfully no repercussions.
Only thing i can suggest is to go in there and be prepared to argue, i did for my son when suggested he stuck with it another 3mths, i won. Considering your pregnant they should be more understanding, going back onto insultard isn't really an option either if it made you hypo, so perhaps asking for an animal insulin, that might leviate any allergic reactions.
Hope you get a change in insulin soon and begin to enjoy your pregnancy stress free,
Take care,
Suzi x
 
Hi aleenc0

You still got a couple of options that you can ask for…

Either trying a animal insulin

Or

You can ask for a Insulin Pump, which only uses quick acting insulin in it, the insulin pump would avoid the background insulin that you seem to be allergic to. It will also help to avoid the hypo’s that the insulatard you’ve been experiencing…

If you are pregnant then they really need to act quickly, I wonder if you BG’s are around the 20mmol/l mark have you checked if you are getting ketones? As if you are I would either contact your GP or get yourself to A&E to be checked, as this should hopefully ensure that the diabetic team act quickly to resolve your problems….
 
Your poor thing!!!!

I had no problems with Levimir, either now, or when pregnant, for which I consider myself lucky.
I would go back and talk to the most sebior diabetes specialist that you can get your hands on. You shouldn't have to remind them what high blood sugars can do to your baby, especially in teh first 12 weeks, so don't take no for an answer! Personally, (and this is just me, I would go to the Dr/A&E and get things sorted as best you can.

I really do feel for you, you have my sincere sympathy...as well as congratulations about your pregnancy.

best of luck
 
Thanks for all your help went back to hospital today and again they suggested increasing the insulin dosages to help with the hypo's although this will most likely just make the itching more unbearable. To be honest I'm not that great at demanding, I'm a bit of a failure at it to be honest and the **** rashes keep coming and going and never seem to be at their worst when I actually go to the doctors. :x . So I think I may just print some of your responses and some info about my other options before I go back in 6 weeks (that is of course if I haven't been commited by then )Any way I'll let yoi know how I get on. Thanks again everyone I really appreciate your help.

Aileen
 
Aileen that all sounds horrid
Could you discuss with your care team going back to the insulin that gave you no problems and combining it with a reduced carb diet. then you would only need lowered doses and that would reduce the hypos.
I'm not very knowledgeable about pregnancy in diabetes, But I would definitely ask to see the specialist in that discipline.
 
My observations over many years are that Lantus and Levemir are *usually* an order of magnitude better than NPH, and especially better than Mixturd

BUT

a small but significant proportion of users have allergic and other reactions

Wockhardt still make animal insulins although your doctors may well try to discourage you from going on them. Most people with problems mainly with Lantus do a lot better on pork or beef L but have to fight to get on them

http://www.iddtinternational.org/

might be worth a read
 
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