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What a long hour

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My lad has Humilin M3. He has the same pens, same needles, but the prescription for his insulin reads:

Humilin M3 100units/ml suspension for injection 3ml cartridges (Eli Lilly and Company Ltd (**) cartridge

** In here the number of cartridges you are to be issued with needs to be inserted. They come in packs of 5, so '5' may well be inserted. As my lad uses high doses he has 20 cartridges at a time, but 5 is what I assume you will get.

That's exactly the wording on his prescription though, and the key is in the word 'cartridge' as that is what screws into your pen and the needle fits on the end.

Good luck sorting it all out. Doesn't instil you with confidence does it?

Tina
 
Just thinking more about this (and sorry haven't been back to read your story) have you actually been shown how to inject? I am just thinking that if it's your first time ever, have you been shown how to actually load and prime the thing? We were always advised to do a 2 unit airshot EVERY TIME to ensure there is no air in the cartridge/needle, otherwise you may not receive the full dose.

Also, as someone else said, with M3, you need to roll and invert the cartridge several times (I think 10 times) before inserting it into the pen the first time to ensure the two types of insulin are mixed properly and it goes cloudy. You should NEVER shake it though. Then, each time you need to use it, you should again roll the pen between your hands to make it cloudy again before injecting, as it does settle and split out again, the solid matter sinking to the bottom. Otherwise you will get clumps of either fast or slow acting, not an even mix going in.

My lads prescription never does state the actual dose on the label as he has different at both ends of the day and it gets altered most times he goes to clinic. If it doesn't say on the label make sure you do phone the nurse straight away before you start injecting, just to be sure. She may suggest a lower dose for the evening one, as it will probably still have an active part working when you go to bed.
 
Well done for getting the appt out of the way Ant, but on reading everyones replies it sounds like the nurse hasn't informed you sufficiently - or maybe it was just too much to take in in one hour.
I would defintiely give her a call and tell her how confused you feel and what has been suggested on here.
I am sure once you are clear, all will seem better. Dont give up on asking though, its your body and your diabetes and you need to understand what you are doing.

Was you given a demo of how and where to inject and how to prime the pen? It sounds weird that carb counting wasn't discussed though.

Hang in there and keep asking and asking until you feel comfortable with what you are being asked to do.🙂
 
Morning everyone....thankyou for your replys...I now have the cartridges for the pen, she did quickly show me how to use it but there was so much to take in one hour.
I read the instructions and just sneaked of to the loo at work to have my first jab, I removed the air then took me 5 mins to do it.....was so het up...but I done it in my thigh weird feeling and ackey thigh now, but I done it......you no what I'm quite proud of myself.
Thankyou everyone who has posted for your support and knowledge.
 
Leaving aside the vial/cart issue, I would be cautious against saying this is the 'wrong' insulin for you.

Yes, there are insulin regimes that give better control and more flexibility. They also need a lot more work. If you're new to insulin (as you are), then a mix insulin is very good idea, I think.

There's two hurdles to get over on insulin. The first is getting your head around the basic idea of injecting yourself, which I think all of us underestimate on how much of mind-screw that is. I certainly know I'm very blas? about injecting because it's just what I do. It's easy to forget what a big step injecting is, so starting you out on 2 a day is a good way to begin. If you forgive the possibly patronising image, it's the equivalent of getting on a bike with stabilisers.

Once you've got past the whole having to inject thing, the next thing is learning how your body reacts to insulin. That's a much longer process but once you start getting to grips with the basics, that equips you to move up to a different insulin regime - if that is what you want to do.

In short, the regime you're on is perfectly good enough and will not require a great deal of work from you to get half-decent blood sugars. The downside is it will compromise your flexibility - you'll need to eat the same amount of carbs at the same time every day if it's to work.

Good luck!
 
Very well done on that first injection.
I have to say I am not brave enough to inject in thigh - I always do the tummy near the belly button where I can pinch more than an inch and work clockwise around it each time.
I wonder if the tummy may be a better option - I suppose it depends how well built you are!:D
 
jalapino said:
Morning everyone....thankyou for your replys...I now have the cartridges for the pen, she did quickly show me how to use it but there was so much to take in one hour.
I read the instructions and just sneaked of to the loo at work to have my first jab, I removed the air then took me 5 mins to do it.....was so het up...but I done it in my thigh weird feeling and ackey thigh now, but I done it......you no what I'm quite proud of myself.
Thankyou everyone who has posted for your support and knowledge.
Click to expand...

Glad you have managed to sort yourself out. Do make sure you eat 30 mins after injecting.
 
WI'll do sue...I wonder how quick it will all take to kick in....I'm on 10units twice a day
 
jalapino said:
WI'll do sue...I wonder how quick it will all take to kick in....I'm on 10units twice a day
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It might take up to six weeks, it's better to go nice and slow and not over do the insulin. I'm sure you were told to ring in with your results or to adjust by x amount of units until you are in range. 🙂 Just remember Rome wasn't built in a day. 🙂
 
Pumper_Sue said:
It might take up to six weeks, it's better to go nice and slow and not over do the insulin. I'm sure you were told to ring in with your results or to adjust by x amount of units until you are in range. 🙂 Just remember Rome wasn't built in a day. 🙂
Click to expand...

Very true, she will ring me twice a week to see how my levels are.
 
Well done Jalapino. I know its a big change for you but before you know it you will have it well sussed and injecting here there and everywhere.
 
That's the same pen I have and it works in 1 unit increments, the cartridge should be 100IU/ml, or 300 units per vial. I was told to always test by squirting 1 or 2 units into a tissue before giving myself a dose. You need to make sure it's well mixed before you inject as the stuff separates when it's lying around. Another tip too is to remove the next cartridge from the fridge an hour or so before you use it, I found it stings if you inject while it's cold.

I'm on Humulin I, 10 units in the morning and 20 at night, although they now let me vary that if I'm running too high or too low and are debating putting me on a 'proper' insulin regime where I would have to start carb counting for real.
 
All the best to you, and hope your numbers get better soon 🙂, don't forget your treats. :D.
 
pav said:
All the best to you, and hope your numbers get better soon 🙂, don't forget your treats. :D.
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Cheers pav....well I injected my 2nd dose this evening......and I did it in my belly my worst fear!! but was better than doing it in my thigh 🙂
stings a bit but ok 🙂
I so hope it gets easier!!!
End of the day I just want good levels so I will do my best to achieve this, even if it means injecting....just need to keep an eye on bloods as I do not want a hypo...they sound horrid.
 
jalapino said:
Cheers pav....well I injected my 2nd dose this evening......and I did it in my belly my worst fear!! but was better than doing it in my thigh 🙂
stings a bit but ok 🙂
I so hope it gets easier!!!
End of the day I just want good levels so I will do my best to achieve this, even if it means injecting....just need to keep an eye on bloods as I do not want a hypo...they sound horrid.
Click to expand...

Well done Ant 🙂 Try not to be overly concerned about hypos, the vast majority of them let you know they are coming on well in advance and are very easy to treat, just make sure you always have some fast sugar handy 🙂 Have you stopped the pills now you are on insulin?
 
Northerner said:
Well done Ant 🙂 Try not to be overly concerned about hypos, the vast majority of them let you know they are coming on well in advance and are very easy to treat, just make sure you always have some fast sugar handy 🙂 Have you stopped the pills now you are on insulin?
Click to expand...

Yep stopped glicazide last night......levels hovering around ( average 17.6
20.2 ) not bad im thinking 🙂
 
Northerner said:
Well done Ant 🙂 Try not to be overly concerned about hypos, the vast majority of them let you know they are coming on well in advance and are very easy to treat, just make sure you always have some fast sugar handy 🙂 Have you stopped the pills now you are on insulin?
Click to expand...

Oh no I have to continue metformin...which surprises me!
 
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