T2 Humulin-I question

[Jonsi]

I started on Humulin-I about 4 months ago and it has had a significant effect on lowering my HbA1c in that time.

I started on 16u and have gradually increased over that time to the 32u I am on now. I have noticed that my BG readings of an evening and before bed are usually higher than at other times of the day, even when I've consumed not a lot all day (by anyone's standards let alone my old ones!)

The question is: would I benefit from splitting my current single dose of 32u taken at around 06:00 to 16u at 06:00* and the remaining 16u at 18:00*? ...or is that not the way Humulin-I is designed to work? *These times are when I usually take my other Meds.

 

[Owen]

I started on Humulin-I about 4 months ago and it has had a significant effect on lowering my HbA1c in that time.

I started on 16u and have gradually increased over that time to the 32u I am on now. I have noticed that my BG readings of an evening and before bed are usually higher than at other times of the day, even when I've consumed not a lot all day (by anyone's standards let alone my old ones!)

The question is: would I benefit from splitting my current single dose of 32u taken at around 06:00 to 16u at 06:00* and the remaining 16u at 18:00*? ...or is that not the way Humulin-I is designed to work? *These times are when I usually take my other Meds.

Get rid of it and the glic, get on MDI, the difference will beyond your imagination

 

[Copepod]

You really need to get advice from whoever prescribes your Humalin I. That's the same insulin that I have used for 20 years. After about 5 years, I reported regular hypos in the wee small hours (2 to 6am) while taking a single dose at bedtime to my DSN at clinic. He suggested splitting the dose into two and advised about the proportion of split to fit with the time I intended to take extra dose. I strongly recommend that you ask someone and hope they are as helpful as the nurse who helped me. I was also taking bolus doses with meals.

 

[Diabeticliberty]

I take Humulin I at the times you are proposing to split your dosage to ie 6.00am and 6.00pm. I did try just taking an injection last thing at night as part of a basal bolus regime but it did not work at all well for me. Please bear in mind that I also take a faster acting Humulin S also.

 

[Caroline]

I'm on humulin m 3. The doctors and nurses advised I adjust the dose up or down depending on my meter readings. I'm on two injections a day. Speak to your DSN or doctor.

 

[Jonsi]

You really need to get advice from whoever prescribes your Humalin I. That's the same insulin that I have used for 20 years. After about 5 years, I reported regular hypos in the wee small hours (2 to 6am) while taking a single dose at bedtime to my DSN at clinic. He suggested splitting the dose into two and advised about the proportion of split to fit with the time I intended to take extra dose. I strongly recommend that you ask someone and hope they are as helpful as the nurse who helped me. I was also taking bolus doses with meals.

thanks @Copepod, @Owen, @Diabeticliberty & @Caroline ...I wouldn't make any changes without asking Nursie first (I'm a wimp when it comes to things like that, but they are allowing me to go up to 40u if I think it's justified) - I just want to gather some others' experiences before I go asking. Comment was made at the recent review that we ~(they) will look in November to possible mixing <??? > if BG levels not dropped again (which they show no signs of doing atm). Increasing the single dose seems to be illogical to my mind when it (Humulin) has a time-limited operation.

 

[Copepod]

Please be sure you always specify which Humalin insulin you mean. Humalin I is intermediate / medium acting; Humalin S is soluble / short acting and Humalin M3 (mentioned by Caroline) is a mixed insulin, containing both short and long acting. It's particularly important to check the packages before you leave chemist shop, as if drugs leave the shop, even just for a minute outside the door, they have to be destroyed. If you notice an error at the counter, you can exchange and the insulin won't be wasted.

 

[AlisonM]

Humulin I was my nemesis, I was put on it about 6 months after diagnosis and persevered till about a year ago. It was some roller coaster ride because the 'profile' of Humulin I is just so wrong for me, I kept having nasty hypos and then bouncing into the high teens. And it doesn't actually cover you for 24 hours. Once you inject there's a build up period and a fall off at the other end when numbers can be affected, sometime drastically.

My charts looked the track of a kid on a pogo stick. That's in addition to the very nature of my form of D which meant my pancreas was also getting in on the act by spitting out wads of insulin at all the wrong moments. I changed over to MDI about a year ago and things are so much more stable now that my last 4 HbAs have been identical at 5.5. The chart look like a series of gently rolling hills with the occasional gorge and hypos are far more rare. Actually, it's more Basal/Bolus now as, with my DSN's connivance I'm actually injecting my fast acting according to my numbers and what I eat rather than simply jabbing a set amount before each meal.

You should definitely discuss the options with your DSN or consultant at the first opportunity. Mixed insulin may work for some, but maybe you need another solution.

 

[jocat]

I take humulin I twice a day, 8 units when I get up and 44 units at bedtime, then I take novorapid at mealtimes dose calculated on how much carb eating. I adjust all my doses as needed e.g. During the very high temps at beginning of sept I had to drop basal insulin quite dramatically to stop myself hypoing the whole time, now it's cooler I've built doses back up again as opposite problem I.e. Going hyper. Speak to your nurse because as you can see I need a lot more basal overnight compared to during the day.
Jo