Symlin one time daily?

[HannahB]

Has anyone had a teen on symlin one time daily? Our teen has a problem with post breakfast highs, even though her carb ratio for breakfast is double other times of the day. Our MD mentioned trying symlin at breakfast to help but I don't know much about it and my daughter doesnt seem too fond of the idea. Wanted to know if any others had tried/heard of the idea and what your experiences have been?
Hannah

[Brensdad]

I am not a teen, but I have just added Symlin to my diabetes care (I am on a pump).

So far, I am very impressed with the results. What I do is lower my bolus to 50% of normal (per the directions) and I also lower my basal to .5u/hour for two hours. The reason being this: My insulin (Novolog) peaks in exactly one hour and thirty minutes, but the Symlin causes the stomach to empty much more slowly, so there aren't yet any carbs in my system to cover the insulin. Then at exactly 1 hour 45 minutes, my stomach begins to empty and everything matches up. Reducing my basals prevents lows during the first 1 1/2 hours after a meal.

What I recommend you do is take your Symlin and insulin as directed, then test every 15 minutes after you eat for three hours for a few days. Then you will know exactly when your insulin is peaking and when your stomach is beginning to empty and thus carbs are getting into your blood.

[Ali]

I do not quite understand the symlin. If it changes your digestion pattern could you not on your own figure out your own digestion pattern and figure out when to bolus for that with your own natural body process/digestion speed? I am unsure how the synlin helps? Does it slow down the entire process of digestion so that you do not have as many carbs entering your system at one time as you would without the symlin? I eat a low carb diet so may not have the the same type of issue that you all are speaking of. Thank you for the information. Ali

[Brensdad]

Symlin works in two ways to reduce the post-meal spike. The first way is by slowing the rate at which food leaves your stomach and enters your small intestine. That means your food is absorbed much more slowly than usual. It also works by blocking your liver from releasing natural glucagon into your bloodstream. So, in a nutshell, what it will do it cause lower blood sugar for the first couple of hours after a meal, and then your blood sugars may be slightly higher after the 3 hour mark. The reason for this is that the food you ate is being released more slowly.

I've found that lowering by bolus by 50%, lowering my basal for 2-3 hours after I eat, and then raising my basal from 3 hours on (depending on what I have eaten) that I have eliminated my post meal spikes. It has also supressed my appetite and I don't snack after eating anymore.

[Ali]

Brensdad
Thank you for your information. Ali