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Change of insulin
- Thread starter Madge
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trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Personally I wouldn.t think so - Levemir has a totally different profile as to what it does and when it does it. Did the doc understand that you are only used to Insulatard? Anyway I'd take less - but you MUST test your blood frequently so you can see what's happening and adjust the dose as necessary. How come you only have one pen with you?
I have one pen and put insulated vials in it. I’m Type 2. My sugars were 22
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I know it is difficult when you are on holiday, but I would be inclined to eat very low carb until you get home especially when your BG is so high.
I don't know how your other insulin worked but Levemir is a basal insulin which is slow release so you take it in the evening or sometimes split the dose and take it morning and evening. I think it is sound advice to test regularly when using a different insulin and best to err on a lower dose than take too much.
I don't know how your other insulin worked but Levemir is a basal insulin which is slow release so you take it in the evening or sometimes split the dose and take it morning and evening. I think it is sound advice to test regularly when using a different insulin and best to err on a lower dose than take too much.
TheClockworkDodo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You definitely split the dose with Levemir, it doesn't last 24 hours - but I'm afraid I don't know how it compares to Insulatard in terms of dosage, as it's a completely different type of insulin. Could you ring your home doctor to see what they advise?
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Now I understand.
Your alternative is to utilise the spare cartridges of Insulatard you still have unused with you, with syringes. Single use Insulin syringes come in packets of 10, hence 1 packet would last you 5 days. You can keep the used ones and put them in your big sharps container when you get home again - must NOT be binned anywhere except in a proper container. That would be a lot cheaper than trying to buy a new re-usable pen - they used to cost the NHS nearly £50 about 10 years ago, so God knows how much they'd be abroad. A pack of 10 insulin syringes only costs £1.25 over the counter at a pharmacy in the UK so would be a lot cheaper I should think.
Incidentally - being wise after the event - advice for diabetics going on holiday is always to take TWICE as much of everything with you as you have calculated you'll need, so if you go for a fortnight, take a month's supply.
Your alternative is to utilise the spare cartridges of Insulatard you still have unused with you, with syringes. Single use Insulin syringes come in packets of 10, hence 1 packet would last you 5 days. You can keep the used ones and put them in your big sharps container when you get home again - must NOT be binned anywhere except in a proper container. That would be a lot cheaper than trying to buy a new re-usable pen - they used to cost the NHS nearly £50 about 10 years ago, so God knows how much they'd be abroad. A pack of 10 insulin syringes only costs £1.25 over the counter at a pharmacy in the UK so would be a lot cheaper I should think.
Incidentally - being wise after the event - advice for diabetics going on holiday is always to take TWICE as much of everything with you as you have calculated you'll need, so if you go for a fortnight, take a month's supply.
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