Tresiba side effects- anyone else?

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sue Williams

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Type 2
New and needing advice please. Suffer with severe IBS. Put onto Tresiba as cannot tolerate meds. Been on this for 4 weeks but have experienced worsening diarrhoea over this time.
No other side effects and appears to be working (fasting target between 5 and 7, specific 5.7) and after initial readings of 10, quickly dropped to target range and reduced dosage to 14 units.
Unfortunately the anxiety of this side effect is a very real problem. Had a family event planned last weekend and didn't take insulin for 3 days as I just wouldn't have been able to attend. Restarted tresiba on Monday and by Tuesday more of the same again.
So upset as it does appear to be working but this side effect almost intolerable, irrespective of diet. It is listed as possible side effect. Anyone else had this experience or any advice please?
 
Welcome @sue Williams sorry to read about your problems.
Have you spoken to your doctor about your reaction to Tresiba?
It is one of the slow acting insulins. Some doctors think it is the best because it is very long lasting but, amongst the Type 1 community, the reaction to this is mixed.
I have not heard of anyone having your reaction to it but there are other options available such as Lantus and Levemir. Hence, my suggestion to talk to your doctor and requesting a different type of slow acting insulin.
 
Hi @sue Williams Yes, stomach issues can be a side effect of some insulins, usually the analogue insulins like Tresiba. Ask to be changed to a different insulin. You might find one of the older, non-analogue insulins suits you better, eg Humulin i. But yes, it’s an uncommon but recognised side effect.
 
Inka said:
Hi @sue Williams Yes, stomach issues can be a side effect of some insulins, usually the analogue insulins like Tresiba. Ask to be changed to a different insulin. You might find one of the older, non-analogue insulins suits you better, eg Humulin i. But yes, it’s an uncommon but recognised side effect.
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Thankyou for your responses. I am now under the Community Diabetes Team and do intend to contact them , but just seeking others experiences of this issue.
 
sue Williams said:
Thankyou for your responses. I am now under the Community Diabetes Team and do intend to contact them , but just seeking others experiences of this issue.
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Are your digestive problems the only issue you’re having? I had that, aching joints and muscles, fatigue and brain fog, if that helps. A change of insulin sorted all those out very quickly.

The reason I mentioned the non-analogues is because it’s not uncommon for someone to be swapped to another analogue insulin and have the same problems. It’s then wrongly deduced that it wasn’t caused by the insulin. Be prepared to push if necessary.
 
Hello @sue Williams, sorry to read about your side effects from Tresiba. I can't help I'm afraid; Tresiba has been brilliant for me, with no side effects. There are only a few users of Tresiba that I'm aware of on this Forum and I've not noticed anyone else reporting this side effect.
 
Sorry to hear you’ve experienced an upset stomach having started on Tresiba.

This page from a major US clinic does list diarrhoea as a relatively common side effect

More common​

  1. Body aches or pain
  2. diarrhea
  3. dry mouth
  4. ear congestion
  5. fever
  6. headache
  7. loss of voice
  8. runny or stuffy nose
  9. sneezing
  10. sore throat
  11. stomach pain
There is a suggestion that these symptoms may resolve in some people given time for the body to adjust to the insulin?

But as others have said, you may simply prefer to try an alternative insulin - there are lots of options!
 
I am taking Tresiba and didn’t think I was experiencing any side effects but having read the list above I’m wondering if the mystery severe pain I am getting in one leg could possibly be an insulin side effect? Has anyone experienced anything like this?
 
That doesn’t sound right @CathyFP The pains I felt were more general. Have you seen a doctor about the pain? What type of pain is it? Muscular, joint, burning nerves?
 
Hello @CathyFP,

There is a risk that we can attribute every new ailment to our Diabetes or our new medication that we now get, thanks to our D. This is deceptively normal - it's something we humans can so easily do thanks to our unique capabilities of reading and reasoning (and making 2+2 add up to 5!).

I am NOT suggesting you are being overly creative - you may have pain from a Tresiba side effect. But it is worth examining your inner self and just checking that you aren't clutching at a list of side effects to find an answer that isn't attributable to either your D or Tresiba. One difficulty I have with US website information about Tresiba is that any conceivable side effect gets listed simply because that protects organisations such as the Mayo Clinic from litigation.

Tresiba was first approved in the US and has become a very well established, widely used, basal insulin; in part because its users like the long acting stability it provides. The flexibility of not having to take their basal at precisely the same time daily lends itself to many people, including frequent flyers crossing time zones in N America. Also the dependability of this long acting insulin means that once it's well set up it does not require the daily scrutiny of "is my basal right" and "should I tweak my bolus or my basal"?

I'm not trying to say Tresiba is perfect for everyone - I find it's excellent for me and I get no side effects. Because it's not yet so widely prescribed in UK it's "difference" is not necessarily understood by UK D specialists; but even so that is the best (only) source for clinical review as to whether you have a Tresiba side effect. After your own personal inner scrutiny.
 
Proud to be erratic said:
Hello @CathyFP,

There is a risk that we can attribute every new ailment to our Diabetes or our new medication that we now get, thanks to our D. This is deceptively normal - it's something we humans can so easily do thanks to our unique capabilities of reading and reasoning (and making 2+2 add up to 5!).

I am NOT suggesting you are being overly creative - you may have pain from a Tresiba side effect. But it is worth examining your inner self and just checking that you aren't clutching at a list of side effects to find an answer that isn't attributable to either your D or Tresiba. One difficulty I have with US website information about Tresiba is that any conceivable side effect gets listed simply because that protects organisations such as the Mayo Clinic from litigation.

Tresiba was first approved in the US and has become a very well established, widely used, basal insulin; in part because its users like the long acting stability it provides. The flexibility of not having to take their basal at precisely the same time daily lends itself to many people, including frequent flyers crossing time zones in N America. Also the dependability of this long acting insulin means that once it's well set up it does not require the daily scrutiny of "is my basal right" and "should I tweak my bolus or my basal"?

I'm not trying to say Tresiba is perfect for everyone - I find it's excellent for me and I get no side effects. Because it's not yet so widely prescribed in UK it's "difference" is not necessarily understood by UK D specialists; but even so that is the best (only) source for clinical review as to whether you have a Tresiba side effect. After your own personal inner scrutiny.
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Thanks yes I’m aware that my current problem may well be absolutely nothing to do with my diabetes or my diabetes treatment- but good advice. I’m waiting for an emergency X-ray on possibility the worst day of the year to be doing so! (and I’m an IT professional)
 
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