what's the difference(if any) between the two? When I switched from N to Lantus almost..god...3-5years ago now(i'm bad at remembering stuff), it made a HUGE difference in my control, but does Levemir work better than Lantus? I'm taking about 32u at the moment of Lantus, which is apparently more than my body weight to insulin ratio should be(not much, but still)....
oh ps. i think i may have already asked this question. i'm pretty forgetful though...and search hates me.
they're the same ratio as each other, levemir is not an acidic solution so it will not sting as where lantus is acidic but only a handful of people ive heard of have had stingy issues. I can't remember but levemir either it lasts a little longer or it lasts a little shorter than lantus. Some people who dont have success with lantus switch to levemir and have a big change and success with it, thats how I found it anyway.
I was on Levemir until March 2010. Then my endo switched me to Lantus, which I was very leery of because of the whole tumor thing a few months back. The levemir wasn't lasting nearly long enough for me I'd take it at bedtime and by dinner the next day it had worn off. I actually needed to take 2 injections per day (in my opinion). However my doctor didn't agree for some reason. The Lantus seems to last longer for me and I've got a little bit better numbers than before. We'll see if it has helped my A1C next time I go my endo.
As for the stinging part that Greg mentioned, I have stinging with BOTH of them and my humalog too. I just can't be free of the burning sensation with any of my insulins, so I just deal with it ; ) I've tried not refridgerating my insulin, injecting slower, rotating sites and NOTHING works for me.
Hope this helps.
[quote user="orange_mms"]
I was on Levemir until March 2010. Then my endo switched me to Lantus, which I was very leery of because of the whole tumor thing a few months back. The levemir wasn't lasting nearly long enough for me I'd take it at bedtime and by dinner the next day it had worn off. I actually needed to take 2 injections per day (in my opinion). However my doctor didn't agree for some reason. The Lantus seems to last longer for me and I've got a little bit better numbers than before. We'll see if it has helped my A1C next time I go my endo.
As for the stinging part that Greg mentioned, I have stinging with BOTH of them and my humalog too. I just can't be free of the burning sensation with any of my insulins, so I just deal with it ; ) I've tried not refridgerating my insulin, injecting slower, rotating sites and NOTHING works for me.
Hope this helps.
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that's weird your endo didnt agree to put you on two doses. i take two doses of lantus, because one dose didn't work. my endo said 2% of diabetics he's worked with have been able to manage with one dose, the other 98% of us have needed two.
Levemir has a lower PH level than lantus so its suppose to sting less more so in younger kids. Lantus is a true 24 hour insulin where levemir is closer to 18-20 hours. I wanted Ri on lantus but her DNE said for PH reasons levemir was better. I would rather her have a actual 24 hour insulin and she acts like the levemir kills her (she didnt at first now all of a sudden it does) anyhow so might as well try the lantus.
[quote user="Jessica "]
Levemir has a lower PH level than lantus so its suppose to sting less more so in younger kids. Lantus is a true 24 hour insulin where levemir is closer to 18-20 hours. I wanted Ri on lantus but her DNE said for PH reasons levemir was better. I would rather her have a actual 24 hour insulin and she acts like the levemir kills her (she didnt at first now all of a sudden it does) anyhow so might as well try the lantus.
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well..Lantus is suppose to be a 24hour insulin(one of the reasons I was switched to it from N, besides the fact that my endo didn't understand why he still had me on R&N after 13years of trouble). it doesn't always work that way.
Well, I just switched to Levemir yesterday after using Lantus. More for the cancer stories I've read about, not about having more control, but after reading that Levemir doesn't last so long, maybe I'll be going back to Lantus. With Lantus I was taking 6-8 units a bedtime, and then 10-12 units in morning. I split it because of having hypos at night / waking up. I think I may still have to lower my night time shot - as I tend to wake up in 2-5 - 4.0 mmol/l range - and I'd like to maybe more in the 5-6 mmol/l range. I'll see how it goes with Levemir over the next few days, as I've just had gum surgery, have my period, yadda, yadda, yadda so body is slightly out of whack then it normally is :)
I found with Lantus I didn't get the stinging. Everyone is different in how they react with our "juice of life" that we use :)
hehe :) i know. I'm @dorkflower. i asked on here after our little convo to see if anyone had any other info :)
FatCatAnna,
My endo told me Levemir paid for those studies showing Lantus may cause tumors in order to increase their market share.
Wow Sarah - now you've got me wanting to do some research on that. Have to admit, it's been done in the past by companies. Just so sad, when it comes to our health, that the truth wouldn't outweigh market shares. I guess I live in a bubble world!
I would love for some clarification on this question too. If you take X units of Lantus, how does that translate to a Levemir dose?
If I take 18 units of Lantus, do I automatically take 18u of Levemir, or should I start by increasing or decreasing the dose?
And since so many of you have to take Levemir twice a day, how do you split it up? Do you split the dose in half and take it twice a day (e.g. I would be taking 9u twice a day), or do you take the same dose twice a day (e.g. I take 18u at two different times each day)?
My son is almost 4 so he's on tiny amounts, but he has to split his Levemir. 1.5 units with breakfast and 1 unit at 10:00pm. He started out on Lantus for the first year, which was also split doses. The switch to Levemir was to try to stop the rollercoaster of highs and lows. I have no idea why, but it works better for him. I actually cried with joy when he went to a party and his BG stayed stable while he was running and playing instead of eating. He couldn't ever do that with Lantus.
[quote user="Trish"]
My son is almost 4 so he's on tiny amounts, but he has to split his Levemir. 1.5 units with breakfast and 1 unit at 10:00pm. He started out on Lantus for the first year, which was also split doses. The switch to Levemir was to try to stop the rollercoaster of highs and lows. I have no idea why, but it works better for him. I actually cried with joy when he went to a party and his BG stayed stable while he was running and playing instead of eating. He couldn't ever do that with Lantus.
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that's one reason why i'm curious about it. i've always had a non-pattern to my levels and with lantus, i have MUCH better control than I did the 13years I was on N(even tho a lot of those years i was doing the teenage hormones thing) but i still have problems with highs, especially in the morning. BUT the slightest change in my lantus dose(or novorapid for that matter) can switch those hi 9's 10's into low 4's!