Injected insulins

[akrickard]

What are the different injected types of insulin and what makes them different from each other? My daughter was diagnosed on 4/2/2006 and so far, we've only been using Novalog and NPH (per our endo). Is this what is most common for an initial diagnosis?

My daughter keeps starting out her day fine, hovers around 150-200 at lunch and is often well over 200 (sometimes 300) at dinnertime. She only gets an injection in the morning (1/2 unit clear, 6 units cloudy) because she drops so much on her own overnight. I'm just wondering if I should ask if we can try a different type of insulin to keep her a little lower later in the day?

[jlwilts]

readers of the forum will need more information such as your daughters weight, food/carbs consumed and activity levels before they can be really helpful.

I am in the UK and use an insulin which is not obtainable in the US so cannot give any further help, sorry.

[Amy C.]

What are the different injected types of insulin and what makes them different from each other? My daughter was diagnosed on 4/2/2006 and so far, we've only been using Novalog and NPH (per our endo). Is this what is most common for an initial diagnosis?

My daughter keeps starting out her day fine, hovers around 150-200 at lunch and is often well over 200 (sometimes 300) at dinnertime. She only gets an injection in the morning (1/2 unit clear, 6 units cloudy) because she drops so much on her own overnight. I'm just wondering if I should ask if we can try a different type of insulin to keep her a little lower later in the day?

Insulins are numerous and can be confusing to a newcomer. Hopefully, your endo explained how long each of your daughter's insulins lasts.

There are fast acting insulins -- like Novalog and Humalog. These begin working with 30 minutes and a gone in about 4 hours. Usually folks take these with meals. This covers your daughter's breakfast.

I believe that Regular could be considered fast acting, but it doesn't work as soon as Novalog or Humalog. It begins working after about and hour peaks at around 2-3 hours and is gone 5-6 hours.

NPH is medium acting. It kicks in after a couple of hours and begins a peak after around 3-4 hours, then is gone in about 8. This is what is working for your daughter's lunch.

Your daugher is high at supper because she doesn't have enough insulin to cover the lunch she had. She is probably high a bedtime as well. The endo is depending on her pancreas to supply the insulin for overnight.

If you read on this site, there are recommendations for the insulin to use. It seems to be best practice to mimic the pancreas. A long acting insulin like Lantus or Levemir works for nearly 24 hours and then a rapid acting one like Novalog covers the meals.

NPH and a rapid acting is the easiest for an endo to prescribe, and some folks have acceptable control, but always with more injections than what you daughter is currently on. Some endos don't go the NPH route at all. At diagnosis in 10/97, my son was on 70/30 insulin. He eventually moved to two shots of NPH -- morning and 10 pm and two of Humalog, morning and supper before he went on Lantus/Humalog. He now receives Humalog with every meal/snack and Lantus at 10.

As your daughter's pancreas begins to shut down, more injections will be needed. Educate yourself on what is best. Most endos will approve what you would like to do if you are well versed on how to do it.

[ann-lolly]

My daughter uses NPH anf Humolog also but we give her more Humolog at dinner and also the NPH---Usuall 1/2 unit of Humolog and 1 NPH Check with your endo.. Maybe they need to change her dose.

[margaret]

Just a thought, but check with endo on upping morning NPH.
Margaret

[ramrummy]

My son was on Novorapid and protophane to start with, but he was one of those where the protophane peaked early and by afternoon the numbers began to climb. We intorduced Lantus but it didn't make any difference. We played with all sorts of variations, but it was the protophane that was the most unpredictable.

[Momof4gr8kids]

My DH was on a NPH and regular regimine for years. 2 shots a day. He switched a few years ago to lantus, and novolog. He hasn't minded taking the extra injections, which now is a minimum of 4. He covers each meal, plus his lantus at 10pm. He has had better overall control with the lantus, and novolog, and has had more freedom to eat what he wants when he wants.
Like stated above, the NPH is being used to cover the lunch time carbs. Some people do really well with this, and others don't. I would let your endo know about the highs, and ask if you should add more insulin to cover lunch, and dinner, and if so which one. If you are interested you could also ask about an insulin change, but that is something that you would have to decide on.
Good luck. I hope you get it worked out. Jamie

[n_K]

NovaRapid is made by Nova Nordisk and is good in all temperatures whereas lilly's humalog will crystalise in warm temperatures or while taking a bath / shower etc.

[lilituc]

NovaRapid is made by Nova Nordisk and is good in all temperatures whereas lilly's humalog will crystalise in warm temperatures or while taking a bath / shower etc.

Novolog isn't as sensitive to heat as Humalog, but it's not good in all temperatures. I've had Novolog go bad when it was too close to a heater - and it was still under 100 degrees.

[n_K]

Novolog ? is that the american name :confused:?

[Jen Jen]

Novolog ? is that the american name :confused:?

I believe NovoRapid and Novolog are the same, been a while since I've looked into it. Novolog is insulin aspart.

[lilituc]

Novolog ? is that the american name :confused:?

Yes, NovoLog and NovoRapid are the same thing.

[jpb286]

Who knows... I believe protophane is the same as NPH=(Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) here in the states.

[AK PUMPN]

NPH is ancient... definitley want to switch to something a little more up to date... lantus maybe

[Kent T]

Hi,

NovoRapid is the European name for NovoLog. Available in Europe before it was available in the USA. My wife is Norwegian so we have had experience with both!