New on Lantus with side effects

[Vivid Lily]

Hi everyone! I've been on Nph for a few years and the doctor switched me to Lantus because I couldn't my fbs down - I went from 8% to 7% in a few months from L.C. Here's my problem -I'm highly sensitive to everything (even vitamins) I also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol which I can't take things for. I've tried in the past and they just make my numbers worse ( I feel like total crap! Technical Term!!!!! :lol: Last 2 weeks I've been feeling really bad since going on Lantus. Well last few nights within l-2 hrs. after taking Long acting Lantus. I feel really bad - upper arms really ache - funny feeling in my chest I feel like I'm going to be sick . Very shallow breathing. Blood pressure goes up. I phoned the specialist (my endo this morning -he won't be in til afternoon. )His nurse wasn't helpful she said it sounded more like heart problem. I felt ok til I took Lantus. Right now I have a headache and feel terrible. Still funny feeling in chest. Blood pressure elevated l53/84 -
Anyone have the same symptoms? :help: I wish I could just get off all this stuff . Thanks Suzy

[eddiemcm]

"I wish I could just get off all this stuff ."
You can get off of anything you want to get
off of.Doctor is supposed to work for you,not
be your master.
Your choice
Eddie

[v-effect]

I was on Lantus for some time before going on the pump- I recall reading the entire side effect sheet and did not see anything like your symptoms. I really loved Lantus- got rid of those terrible NPH lows. What are your blood sugars when you feel poorly? Perhaps the Lantus is sending you low?

V.

[Vivid Lily]

Thanks for your help. Since on Lantus my numbers are higher. Especially in the a.m. I got up this morning at 5 a.m. and BS> 8.9 what the heck! Go to bed at l0 around 6 - 7 . Took 5 units of Lantus. I guess I need more - I'll try 6 tonight. I think my symptoms are not related to Lantus - Thinking it's probably my thyroid. I did a search -it said I was 92% positive for hypothyroidism - going to go to health food store and get some Iodine - apparently if you put brown iodine on your belly and see how quickly it absorbs will tell you how deficient you are. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again Suzy :wave:

[Markm]

I used to have a similar problem after switching to Lantus. A problem with it is that Lantus is that it isn't suitable for controlling the Dawn Phenomenon effect. Its flat action profile means that BG are higher when you get up than when you go to bed. You wouldn't have noticed the DP as much with NPH because a pre-bed shot peaks in the early hours of the morning. One way to deal with it is to inject Lantus in the morning and NPH before bed. :D

Mark

[Vivid Lily]

Hi Mark! I'm not sure what you mean - I take Lantus before bed -around l0 p.m. 5 U. - and then 5 u. around l0 a.m. Then Novorapid with each meal around 3 units per meal. Since I've been on Lantus - my sugars are higher in a.m. 8 - 9 . which I don't like ! Pretty much throughout the day sugars are pretty good running from 5 - 7. I don't eat grains and very low in sugar. Mostly eat veggies and seeds and nuts , little fruit and little meat. Lots of salads with every kind of veggie , some nuts and seeds, own dressing homemade. Yet I'm not losing weight. Exercise a little (I know I need to do more) Not a whole lot of time. I know no excuses - I need to make time. Take care . Thanks for your help. Suzy :wave:

[Markm]

Vivid Lily,

The graph below shows the action profile of Lantus and NPH. Lantus action is pretty flat. Which is why, when you become more insulin resistant in the early hours of the morning, your blood sugar increases. NPH, on the other hand, peaks about 6 hours after you inject it. So if you inject before bed, the NPH will be getting up to full strength a couple of hours before you get up in the morning. And your fasting blood glucose should be a lot lower. :)

I would suggest changing the night-time shot to NPH and continuing with Lantus at 10am in the morning. This is not a common treatment approach. And you will have to explain to your doctor why you want to do it.

Mark

http://www.drugs.com/pro/images/Lantus-image02.jpg

[Vivid Lily]

Thanks Mark - This is really very helpful. I think I will try this tonight as I still have 1 vial of NPH. Kind of a pain with 3 different insulins but I'll give it a try. Thanks Suzy

[tregar]

Not that I am a big fan of doctors or anything (I am not), but you might want to give lantus a shot (so to speak). It sounds to me that you are not taking enough lantus. you may want to try upping the night time dose a bit every night until you have good morning readings. remember to not inject more than 7 units into each site at a time though to have predictable results (Dc. Bernstein's law of small #'s). definitely keep doing the night time and morning injections though.

[ddjoyceann]

Suzi, You probably are doing this, but are you eating a snack with your lantus? This is very important so your bs doesn't bottom out. Your SX almost sound as if your bs were getting too low or anxiety.

I dunno just a thought. Keep us updated, Dee

[tregar]

I am a big fan of snacks and eat them whenever I can (bg wise), but I've never heard of snacking after lantus. lantus is a basal insulin and does not have any spikes, so a snack would not be effective.

[Vivid Lily]

Thanks everyone for your help! I've tried eating a snack and not eating one - didn't seem to matter much. What should my morning fasting sugar be? The doctor never seems to concerned. I am!!! Most mornings it's around 8 something. Last night I took 2 extra units of Lantus at bedtime and sugar came down a little- but still 8.0 should I take more? I have so many other things going on at the same time and I'm wondering if being in pain and having anxiety is whats keeping my sugars higher in a.m. Thanks again. Suzy

[Lisa N]

Suzy, pain and stress can play havoc with blood sugar control because they stimulate stress hormones that in turn promote gluconeogenesis and increased blood sugar readings. Pain medications can also have a hyperglycemia effect.
8 is somewhat high for a fasting reading (ideally, you want to be closer to 5), but it may not be realistic to attempt that low a reading with the other issues you have going on right now.

[Vivid Lily]

Thanks Lisa - I keep trying different things. Last night I had 2 celery sticks with peanut butter. BS before bed was 6.2 - good -took 7 units of Lantus and FBS 8.2 -shoudl I take more? Should I go back to Nph at bedtime? doctors aren't any help. what about different snack -I've tried no snack -sugars still high in a.m. Thanks Suzy

[tregar]

Sometimes it takes a few days for an upped dosage to take effect. I'd try upping by a unit or so for three days at a time until you get the morning readings in the low fives. It takes patience. but it will work. Exercise will make a big difference. Night time snacks will not help morning readings.

[Vivid Lily]

Hi Tregar! Thanks for your feedback - You know what -I too don't think having a snack at night makes any difference in fbs. but thought I'd give it a shot!!!At this point I'll just about anything! Well, just about anything :lol: I think I'm going to try going Raw Food eating and see what happens. I've read alot of good things about the diet. Last night I didn't have a snack and took 1 extra unit and sugar was still 7.8 -Wait l more night and then try l more extraThanks Suzy

[Markm]

As I mentioned above, replacing Lantus with NPH at night will reduce your fbs. You will just have to experiment to find the right dose.

The other thing that has a major effect on the DP is exercise. The increase in the metabolic rate and improvement in insulin sensitivity reduce fasting BG levels. This enabled me to stop using NPH at night. But you need to exercise every other day, at least. I find if I go 2+ days without exercising, my morning BG goes up again.

Cheers,

Mark

[Vivid Lily]

Hi everyone! I've been really trying different suggestions!! Ok -last night had dinner at 5:30 p.m. and nothing else but water. Bedtime BS 5.2 - 4 a.m. 5.7 - 7:30 6.6 - Much better :agree: I'll do it again tonight and see what happens. Thanks for your help. Take care Suzy :wave: I walked alot yesterday with the granddaughters and bounced on the rebounder for l0 min. 3 x's . Oh and last night I took the same amount of insulin (Lantus). bye

[Vivid Lily]

Ok! Last 2 days I switched back to Nph - morning and night - I already feel a little better and not aching as much. My fbs was still 7.8 - I'll have to set alarm to see what's happening at 4 a.m. - Going on holidays for 2 weeks so I hope I'm ok with switching back to Nph. I'll let you guys know when I get back. Take care and thanks for all your help. Suzy :wave: