humalog/levemir difference

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hellbell84

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Type 1
Afternoon

im intrigued to know why people get prescribed different types of insulin... i am on Humalog and Lantus but others are on levemir and (damit cant remember the name)

is there much difference if i take humalog and move onto levemir?


Also, what does DAFNE actually mean, and what are the top three things that you get taught on it?

p.s have a good weekend people and go murray!!!
 
I think, and I'm sure I'll get corrected, it's to do with different National Health Trusts having different contacts/deals with different drug suppliers, and a bit of what your support team know about different drugs and your personnel situation.

DAFNE
Dose adjustment for normal eating (Whatever normal is!)

No idea about top 3 learning points, but I am considering looking into a course, have you got one lined up?? If so let us know how it goes please.

Go on Murray indeed. Damn I'm still at work, hmmm, bbc website it is then, I'll go made if the link is as intermitent as last time!
 
cheers rossi!

no i havent been on one but ive heard everyone on here talking about it so i was thinking i might be missing out on a trick here!


We have a tv but its in the main office and im running out of things to photocopy and get signed so i can see what the score is!! thanks for the link as well

can anyone else help with the DAFNE course, i dont know how i sign up for one???!

x
 
I only have a little bit of knowledge in response to your questions (and I may not be wholly correct!). I think that lantus is fairly new compared to levemir, and is more expensive (to the NHS). Don't know anything about humalog. I'm on lantus (basal:slow) and novorapid (bolus:fast).

Dafne teaches you how to adjust your dose of bolus insulin according to the food you are about to eat, plus various other factors that you need to take into account, like activity levels, ratios (insulin sensitivity at different times of day), what to do if you fall ill, carb-counting etc. I haven't been on a DAFNE course, but my PCT ran a shorter course that introduced similar elements and concepts - your own PCT might have something similar, so ask your DSN. It mat be that they do DAFNE in your area, in which case I think you need to be put on it by your consultant or DSN or GP. There's often a long waiting list for DAFNE courses.

I'm sure someone who has done DAFNE (so to speak!) will give better info than me, and other longer-term diabetics who know a lot more about the reasons for different insulins!

Go Murray! Mind you, his likely opponent is having such an easy game, he's not going to be tired.
 
Getting on to a DAFNE course is very dependant on your PCT. Here in the Warwickshire area, there is no chance. Other areas seem to hold regular courses.

The basics of DAFNE though from what I've studied (through the OU course Diabetes Care) is about counting carbs and adjusting your insulin doses to match. You may for example work out that you need 2 units of insulin per carb portion (1 carb portion is 10g), so you would work out that you would need 8 units to cover a meal containing 40g of carbs. (Please note, this is an example only, you may need a completely different ratio)

Personally, I haven't tried it as I'm stil having trouble getting a decent and stable basal level. Until that is sorted, it's very difficult to carb count effectively.
 
thanks alanjardine

I am quite bad at being strict enough to sit down and figure out how many carbs im eating per day per meal etc, so im testing and inkecting according, ideally i would love to carb count

but i am now on slimming world which tends to seperate the protein etc from the carbs as i am trying to lose weight as well

will ask my DSN if we have a DAFNE course in the essex area

xxx
 
Really it depends on what the dr likes when they prescribe. the older basal insulin is insultard, then came lantus then came levemir shortly after.
Humalog was the first rapid acting, then came novorapid then came aprida.
There are slight differences in price, with I believe lantus and apidra to be the cheapest,
 
sofaraway said:
Really it depends on what the dr likes when they prescribe. the older basal insulin is insultard, then came lantus then came levemir shortly after.
Humalog was the first rapid acting, then came novorapid then came aprida.
There are slight differences in price, with I believe lantus and apidra to be the cheapest,
Click to expand...

See, I knew I'd get it wrong! Thanks sofaraway!🙂
 
hi hellbell

DAFNE does teach you about facts, but the most helpful thing for me was the support. You are with 7-8 other people for 5 consecutive days, discussing only diabetes. This can be intense but it really helps. It is impossible to find time in normal life to focus on diabetes, things always distract you and get in the way. On DAFNE, each day you note down your blood sugar, insulin dose and anything that could have affected it. Each morning you copy these notes onto OHP slides and discuss them as a group. It is good talking online like this, but meeting others face to face and getting time to go through test results really helps.
 
I wrote a really long reply to this and it disappeared off into cyber space so will try again.

Sorry Northerner but Lantus came first, Levemir was about year behind. Lantus can sting people a bit. They both are supposed to last 24 hours but in reality that is rubbish. Levemir is generally 16 to 18 hours and Lantus 18 to 22, this is rough. Most people end up splitting the Levemir to twice a day morning and night as it runs out. A few spilt Lantus but not many. Levemir is made by the same company as Novorapid. They use the the same pens and I have known people to get them mixed up, not a good thing to do obviously.

Novorapid and Humalog are quick acting. I believe Humalog is a bit quicker than NR both are a maximum of 6 hours in the body though. You can use them in any combination, ie one quick acting with either long acting.

You have a fixed dose of long acting and then you should be carb counting to work out how much quick acting you need to cover the carbs you eat.

Hope that helps.
 
Hello,

Think the preference of different insulin manufacturers is down to the what the local NHS have negotiated with, but can also come down to a patient reacting better to one make than another. I'm currently on Humalog and Lantus. The lantus does sting a little more sometimes and I've been told it's because it's more acidic to help it last in your body for longer.

I've been on the DAFNE course and would highly recomend it. As someone else said earlier you get to spend 5 whole days talking nothing but diabetes with 7-8 other diabetics, a dietician and a diabetic specialist nurse.

You get taught what types of food you need to take insulin for, how to adjust your insulin (ratios), what to do when you are ill or exercising, better ways for treating hypos, and much more. I personally found it invaluable. You also get annual meetings to meet up again and catch up with everyone and have a quick refresher as well as getting any updated information.

Have a look at http://www.dafneonline.co.uk/ for more information.

NiVZ
 
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