Hi All

I have been using the Solostar Pen (Lantus). Good control but then again I watch everything that goes in my mouth and I test often.
Doing quite well.

I get my solostar pen from a friend who has extras. My doctor knows this and when and if I need a new prescription, he'll give me one. But for now, I can save $80 so I'm saving the money.

Today my husband and I both saw the doctor for checkups. My doctor is a health nut like me and loves my sprouts. He gave me a two things of Levemir. He explained that it's a basal insulin like Lantus and when I run out of Lantus I can use the Levemir pen (he also gave me a vial of Levemir). I told him I take 15 units at bedtime with the Solostar pen.
He said "do the exact same thing"


So.....when I finish the rest of my Solostar pens, I will have to make a decision. Do I use the samples of Levemir that the doctor gave me? or get a new prescription for the Solostar pen

He'll write me a new prescription if I ever need one.

I have never used Levemir and I looked it up and it's a bit different in what is inside it. Lantus is insulin glargine and Levemir is another thing.

And the brochure for the Levemir says it it finished after 42 days (wow, that's a big difference that the 28 days of the Langtus.

So if any of you have switched from Lantus to Levemir, would you mind telling me of your experience.? Did you use the exact same amount?

I don't take any other medication for my diabertes and my morning readings are between 89 and this morning it was 110.

He took bloodwork today. I'm not expecting any p0roblems in that department.

So any imput would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, one more question. I put all the insulin in the fridge. With the solostar pen, once you start using it you keep it at room temperature. I gather it's the same with the Levemir?

Thanks much for any assistance

Melody

Here is an article that discusses the differences:

http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2...he-difference/

It appears Levemir is easier to tolerate a bit, but they are very close. Perhaps less reactions at the injection site.

I have seen some comments that Levemir offers some advantage.
But in the low dose range you use it may not be a big difference.

There is a suspected less weight gain with it (all insulins may cause weight gain--but at the low dose this is not so critical)

Levemir may cause less hypoglycemia at night...but in your low dose this may not be a factor.

People using high doses may require two Levemir injections per day. But you do not use high doses.

Less reactions at injection site for Levemir because it does not remain there in the tissue long like Lantus does.

So for you once a night dose would be the same, I think.

Okay, I had looked up the difference online and saw that these medicines use different ingredients. I wanted to make sure. My doctor said that was no problem but I like to run things by you anyway.

And I can keep the levemir pen at room temp, like the Solostar pen?

My goodness, the changes I am making at the age of 64 are really something.

I now have a Vitamix. Do you have one of thsse? A good online buddy had an extra one and she gave me it. Can you imagine someone actualy giving you a complete Vitamix system? Of course I reimbursed her all shipping.

So now Melody is happily sprouting and Vitamixing. Getting even more nutrients in my system.

And this morning my reading was 98.

Been a diabetic for 24 years and I hit a 98 and I'm doing this more and more.

I really do thing (besides taking the amount that I take) (never knew this was a low amount actually, but I think my cells are becoming more insulin sensitive because I'm not putting any crap into my body. At least that's the way I like to look at it.

But when I compare what I take to what my friend takes (80 units of basal insulin) at bedtime. 3 shots of novolg before each meal. And she wakes up inthe morning and her sugar is 255?

Well, I don't understand this at all. I guess I'm still learning about diabetes.

Did you know that most diabetics think that if they take insulin (any kind) that that's it. Then they can eat whatever they want BECAUSE THEY TAKE INSULIN.

I used to think that a type 1 or type 2 who takes insulin would then have no problem. I thought this until I was in the Accord program.

That's when I really learned about insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity.

Thank god I can follow directions, and I have my sprouts.

That's all I can say.

Oh, I'm going to post a story on another thread. You'll find it VERY interesting.

Melody

Your friend may have that high reading because of her poor compliance, OR because her pancreas is burned out.

Sometimes the beta cells die and stop producing insulin. This can happen if someone has pancreatitis, or just has been insulin resistant for so long that the cells cannot work any longer.

Each person is very different. For example, and this does not pertain to you or your friend, but about 25% of people getting a liver transplant develop new onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) while on the immunosuppressant drugs after tranplantation.

Diabetes is very complicated, and the factors for each person are very unique to them in many cases.

Another example: I started theanine (an ingredient in green tea), on vacation, because someone on PN posted a study that theanine helps with peripheral neuropathy pain. Taking in supplement form, gives higher doses. Well, this is making my fasting morning sugar much lower, even lower than metformin!

Now I am watching to see if this continues, or a tolerance happens. The fenugreek did not help for me. So each person is a has unique biochemisty and body. It is thought that theanine reduces cortisol, which is a stress hormone and raises blood sugar (thought to be responsible for the "dawn phenomenon".)

How absolutely fascinating. I never remember to take my fenugreek tea and lately I make Vitamix banana ice cream using frozen bananas, unsweetened cocoa powder, a splash of almond milk and some 50/50 sweetner.

My fasting blood sugar is under 100.


Go figure. lol

And did the Theanine help with your PN pain?

I'd love to give Alan some hope.

Thanks so much

Melody

Yes, it helps a bit. I was hoping more for the anti-anxiety actions since I am tending to have night time anxiety more now...due to the low blood sugars at night I think. My son is using it for anxiety with success.

So I was hoping for a dual action for myself. I did not expect 103 morning sugars on vacation when I was not even using metformin for 2 and a half weeks (I had a gall bladder attack then so stopped it).

I don't know if this will last however, as the body tends to readjust and overcome drugs and supplements in some ways.

Did you ever try sprouting again?

lol

Melody

P.S. I'm waiting for my 5 lb can of Organic Fenugreek sprouting seeds. One tablespoon of seeds will make over one quart of sprouts and in a salad, they are to die for. lol

Nope... after that e.coli thing with the Fenugreek from Egypt...
I am not doing it at all. Good thing because I was so sick on vacation if I had been doing sprouts I would have been paranoid and gone to a hospital or come home early!

That German sprout thing was traced to Fenugreek from Egypt! (contaminated seeds)...as far as I saw.

I am not comfortable with sprouting because if the disease risk.
I have seen ways to disinfect seeds, from some suppliers.
But Thompson Morgan, a huge source in England (where I get my flower seeds) recalled all their sprouting seeds this summer!

Ah, I see

We had quite a discussion on the sprout forum in yahoo. They talked about cross contamination of seeds. They also said it had nothing to do with home sprouting. I have no idea whether that was the case or not.

I continue to buy my seeds from handypantry.com and have never had a problem thank goodness for that.

I can see your point. You would not enjoy doing this and sprouting is supposed to be fun as well as beneficial.

Do you vitamix?? lol

I'm so new at this I'm having a ball. If you have ever seen my first video on making banana ice cream, you'll die laughing. I had to stop recording because not only did I not know what I was doing, I was doing it WRONG, and I froze the stuff in 2 seconds instead of 30.

Go on youtube when you get a chance. I named the video

I JUST KILLED TWO BANANAS.

So funny

Melody