Symlin/Insulin mixing

[Jen Jen]

Has anyone else been brave enough to mix Symlin and their Insulin yet?

I do know what the pamphlets say, but I really see little reason for concern, especially with studies coming out on it now on the subject, which show little to no change in the effectiveness of either drug. I started mixing mine(Sym and Humalog) about two weeks ago, haven't noticed anything different thus far - except I don't get the overwhelming insulin munchies as I would when I would go too long inbetween Symlin injections. I probably did take it a step too far with just jumping right in there and mixing the two in my pump, but so far so good, and yes, my doctor has threatened to beat me, but he is rather interested in how this will turn out, too.

Anyway, just curious if anyone else has tried it...

[bkfkmc]

Jen Jen-

Keep me posted on how its going. My son just started pumping on June 13th and this is the first time that his Endo. also mentioned Symlin for him in the future. She warned that this would mean shots again though. Of course this was the first I had ever heard of it and was supposed to be this first day of getting away from shots. I am quite interested to hear of your experiences in mixing the two in your pump.

[Jen Jen]

So far, I'm doing well with mixing. I was doing well with injections, but I feel even better with it constantly now. I've reduced my average insulin usage, and feel overall great with it(lost two pounds, first decrease in ages, and I really do hate admitting that). Everything's checking out fine, and my sugar's have been more even since I started mixing. I've been mixing 20 units of Symlin to 160 units of Humalog, I'm doing good with this dosage. I had to drop my basal rates by one a half units an hour, was up to three. I'm still fine tuning my Insulin to carb ratio, and my ISF, but over all, have it figured out to where I'm not swinging extremes, and it's steadied through out the day, as opposed to before, it depended upon the time of day what it would be. I'm sure not everyone reacts or will react the same with the Symlin, so maybe I'm just having freakish results, but I do love it, especially with mixing it.

[cassandra]

makes me want to use the pump even more now, as now i am using pens so i couldn't mix them if i start using symlin. i guess i'll see if my doctor will let me on it.

[Jeff]

Can you describe exactly how you're mixing insulin and Symlin?

Do you just add 20 units of Symlin to the cartridge with the insulin already in place?

I'm very interested.

[Jen Jen]

I still mix, I've many benefits from using the Symlin. I usually keep my Symlin in the fridge, since it's the most costly of my addictions(over $216 a bottle, and my insurance is bye bye now...). I pull up 20 units in a syringe and set it out for a bit to get it to room temp before I do a set change, after I fill up my res with insulin(160 units, give or take 5 or so), I add the Symlin in there. The two mixed together do get cloudy, but it works the same for me whether it's mixed or not, I've found no difference in reactions at all, and I've tested it thoroughly on myself. The insulin I use is Humalog, which shouldn't make much of a difference, but it could, since the rapids are all slightly different. One thing I do recommend though, get doc approval before trying anything, and even then please don't try anything unless you are absolutely comfortable with self management and have no issues changing basals and whatnot.

[Budapest]

I guess it is about half a year ago that you posted first. Do you have any quantifyable results, such as BG standard deviation over several months before mixing and after?

Have you/your doc heard of any clinical studies on mixing?

How did you choose this 1:8 ratio of Symlin:Insulin?

Thanks.

[Jen Jen]

I guess it is about half a year ago that you posted first. Do you have any quantifyable results, such as BG standard deviation over several months before mixing and after?

Have you/your doc heard of any clinical studies on mixing?

How did you choose this 1:8 ratio of Symlin:Insulin?

Thanks.


I've never had any difference in BGs with the Symlin before or after mixing, no significant out of the norm change in insulin dosage either. It's helped me mostly in other ways, and I feel significantly better on it. I chose the ratios, well just really started off as a guesstimate on my part and it still works well at that dosing. I believe it was CWD that had some articles related to studies and mixing of the two, been a while now though. I will admit, I did have a rough patch for a while with my BGs and increasing insulin needs, but that was due to other health issues that arose, not the Symlin, just wonderful genetics.

[Jeff]

I had two friends, adults with type 1, who mixed Symlin and Novolog in their pumps. I believe they used something like a 50:50 mix, though I'll check for sure.

They both recently abondoned mixing and use a second pump just for Symlin. They found that they couldn't get the same degree of precision in glucose management when mixing.

[Breanne]

There has been a study looking at the effectiveness of mixing symlin and insulin in an injection. There was no difference in the effectiveness of mixing in injection, so it should be fine if you mix in an injection. HOWEVER: Symlin has a pH of 2 and insulin has a pH near 7. So DONT mix it in your pump: By day 3 you don't know how much of either protein is still working.
I have used two pumps at once, with a very low basal rate of symlin in one and my normals in my other. Works really well, but it gets annoying to have 2 pumps.