Being 47 and a type 2 for 10+ yrs trying to balance BS with diet, oral meds and insulin is still a daily struggle for me because the diet part is my main problem. Eating what I can find at the time just doesnt get it but ya gotta eat as the ad says but I dont do checkers but still eat out and eat the wrong things at that but try to eat the "junk" in moderation and cover excesses with novalog

I am a RN and work in NW FL and have not seen much use of levemir and actually administered it only once or twice. Lantus is fairly common now and hardly see NPH used at all any longer.
The majority of the patients I see are older and on a fixed income. When asking about their home meds I find out often that they havent been taking them because they cant afford them all. Its either pay bills to keep the lights on or buy their $500/mo of meds. I dont know what a bottle of levemir costs but I asked about lantus and think it was around $60 compared to nph at $15-20. For people on a fixed income its not fair to expect them to spend money they dont have to spare when there are more affordable alternatives. I think there is a similar price difference between Reg and Novalog also. I know research costs a lot but the costs of meds (along with everything else) is out of control. Another example $200 for 30 Actos compared to $4 for a month supply of glipizide or glucophage. I wonder how long Wal Mart will honor those prices??

I am a Type I diabetic (for 40 years) and have just changed from Lantus to Levemir this week. My physician told me to take it once a day and use the same dose that I did with Lantus. I had repeated hypoglycemic reactions with Lantus because of its peak periods of absorption. I have noticed that my blood sugars are running higher and am wondering if I should be dosing with Levemir 2X daily instead of once daily. If so, do you cut the dose in half?

I am also curious about weight gain with Lantus. Is that well documented?

I have Type 1 diabetes (26 years now) and was just switched to Levemir from Lantus due to nighttime hypoglycemia, which was seldom. It has only been one week since the switch. My blood sugars immediately skyrocketed (300-500) and I feel sick and nauseated everyday and hardly eat anything. I was taking 20 units Lantus and 1:1 carb ratio Humalog, and my blood sugars seldom reached 300. One week later, I am now taking 35 units of Levemir and 3:1 carb ratio Humalog, still having high blood sugars and already gained 5 pounds. My doctor thinks I need to give the Levemir a longer try, but I want my Lantus back. What's a diabetic to do? Is one week not long enough of a trial period for Levemir? Has anyone else out there experienced this?

I just started Levemir alittle over a week ago also, switched from using Byetta. I am still taking twice daily Amaryl. She wanted me to start out with 10 units, taken at night between 9-10pm. Immediately I noticed that my BG readings shot up high. After about two days of that I started adjusting my doses myself, alittle at a time, trying to get it to work for me better. I even tried several days of taking 10 units in morning and 10 at night, didn't work. Finally yesterday I decided to not take a morning shot, I waited until last night and took one shot of 25 units and I had much better results, but not where I want it. Tonight I took a 30 unit shot of Levemir and hopefully this will be just right. But I am wondering, is a 30 unit shot considered too much for one shot? What is the average units of insulin taken for a diabetic? Anyone know?

I am now on day 8 of Levemir. I finally took 35 units last night and woke up with a 127 blood sugar. I also take the Humalog each time I eat on a 3 units to 1 carb ratio. I didn't like my low reactions from Lantus, but it did keep my blood sugars level at a lower dosage than Levemir. I would like to know which insulin is considered superior, Lantus or Levemir? Lantus is made from E. coli and Levemir from Baker's Yeast. And some say Lantus can cause cancer!?!?!? My brother was on Lantus and died from colorectal cancer at age 46.

I am the one who posted last week when I switched from Lantus to Levemir. I gave up after 7 days due to blood sugars running between 300 and 500. I never had this problem with Lantus and have resumed taking Lantus this week.

My original problem with Lantus was the peak absorption period that I noticed about 8-10 hrs after taking an evening dose. That resulted in insulin shock happening between 4am and 6am when I was sleeping. I started taking Lantus in the morning instead, so peak absorption would occur in the afternoon when I was awake and could do something about it. That has worked well for me.

After two weeks of Levemir (up to 45 units) and skyrocketing blood sugars (300-500), I went back on my Lantus (30 units) and, of course, the Humalog when eating (which I also took with Levemir). My blood sugars are 90-100 fasting again. I also take the Lantus in the morning to avoid nighttime peaks. I would truly have to say that LANTUS IS SUPERIOR OVER LEVEMIR. I feel so much better back on the LANTUS. LEVEMIR definitely must be a twice a day insulin, not a once a day insulin as we are made to believe. LANTUS is definitely a once a day insulin for me. I am so happy to be back on the LANTUS. I just hope it doesn't cause cancer. STAY ON THE LANTUS FOLKS!! LEVEMIR REALLY SUCKS BIG TIME!!

In response to the person who said the cancer myth was put to rest years ago--ah--wrong. The article I read was dated Feb. 2006. That's not that long ago, and besides that clinical studies of Lantus caused Malignant Fibrous Histiocytomas in mice and rats--another words--cancer. Do you really want to take chances with it?

too may reps posting here

I just switched from Lantus to Levemir.
I LOVE it.Not only would Lantus burn, but my blood sugar would go lower at night and then go higher in the morning (between 8 and 11 am)which means i would have to do an extra injection at 10 to lower it. Levemir is much more stable and I do it once a day. My doctor told me that I might have to increase or my dose or do two Levemir injections if I'm too high but that it's normal because Levemir is less strong than Lantus. On top of that now I don't have to worry about increasing my risk of cancer. I heard that Lantus can make u gain weight and Levemir doesn't but I'm not sure. Does anyone know??

Jan 22 anonymous,
Weight gain is a function of the insulin in your blood turning the floating sugars into fat (or muscle) so the weight gain from either lantus or levimir should be about the same. I have been switched by my doctor to levimar after being on lantus for 6 years. Lantus has worked very well until lately for me. I have resorted to upwards of 55 units or lantus and still was not getting the sugar control that I had been enjoying. I have been using Novalog with the lantus for about six months and everything went swimmingly until about six weeks ago. I will post again after I have had a chance to compare levemir's sugar control with lantus (that I continue to use until the levemir pens [ :-) ] arrive.

Thanks CastleLord for your answer, but then does that mean you can't lose weight with either one?
Why did your lentus suddenly stop going well for you?
The same thing happened to me but I had only been using the Lentus for 2 years. I still have a low effect at night and have reduced my levemir too a very low amount(7 units). But that happened with lentus and after about 2 weeks I had to increase it to the previous dose.I'm quite frustrated with this odd effect both insulins have...Have you ever had this effect? Why is my amount so low?
PS I know I ask a lot of questions!! :D

all of these comments just makes me more confused. I wish i could get solid answers every doctor tells you something different and every person has a different story.

I just started to take the levimer this week. Two of my doctors told me that my dosage is less than what I was taking of lantus. They also mentioned that there was less of a chance of weight gain. So far, I haven't noticed much of a change between the 2 as far as how I am feeling. Reading this site has seriously confused me! I will keep checking back on here to see the latest on what other people are experiencing...take care everyone!

I have been on Lantus and have been struggling with my weight and blood sugar levels. I have also recently become super tired and weak along with awful dizzy spells. I am frustrated to see that since I started Lantus my weight has creeped up every year. I am going to my doctor and definitely switching to Levemir. Its definitely worth a try for me!

I have been on Lantus and have been struggling with my weight and blood sugar levels. I have also recently become super tired and weak along with awful dizzy spells. I am frustrated to see that since I started Lantus my weight has creeped up every year. I am going to my doctor and definitely switching to Levemir. Its definitely worth a try for me!

I am taking 140units of Lantus nightly to keep my readings acceptable.
Is anyone else taking such a high dose?

I thought this article was very informative on the difference between the two insulins. To answer a couple questions: The average insulin dose of basal insulin is about 37 units. Type 2's with insulin resistance may require much more. If you are on high dose once a day your physician may want to split the dose to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia. However, when you split the dose you may require 20-40% more insulin daily to achieve the same effect. Before splitting you dose you should check you post meal sugar. Chances are you need mealtime insulin. Too many physicians think that Lantus is the only insulin you need. The reality is, if your A1c is over 8.5 a basal insulin is not going to get you to goal.

Also, Lantus and Levemir both work well once a day. However, everyone is different and one may work better for that individual. There is also a chance that neither one will go 24hrs in some type 1 diabetics.

I am type 1 diabetic for 43 years. First of all, Ultra Lente was a pretty good long term insulin which I started using with HUmalog about 20 years ago. The best thing about it was you could mix it with Humalog or Novolog insulins (which I also take on a sliding scale) and it did NOT require a prescription and at full price cost less than Lantus or Levemir even with insurance co-pay! You cannot mix Lantus or Levemir with Humalog or Novalog, they wipe each other out so now I take 5 shots a day instead of 3. I went off the pump due to cost and the fact that if the canula came out, or there was a problem your blood sugar soared to well over 300 or more in about 1 hour. I started using ultra lente and it worked great then Eli Lily stopped making it. Why, because of money. So I am forced to see a doctor unneccesarily to renew a prescription for a very expensive product (sound familiar) instead of one that worked well and was cheaper. I am currently without insurance so I will have to go back 40 years and use NPH which was what the doctor had me on with nothing else back then. Though now I will use fast acting also. Oh, When I took Levemir at night only, I would wake up in the middle of the night with a blood sugar around 39. If I reduced the amount, it went over 300 before bedtime the next day, so I do 10-12 units in the morning and about 20 at night. 70/30 or other mixes do not allow for larger or smaller meal adjustments, if you take more because of a bigger meal, you now have more of the longer acting and risk a low blood sugar.

Lantus is better

I AM HAVING ONGOING LITIGATION WITH MY UNISON INSURER/MEDICAID.THEY HAVE DENIED MY'LEVEMIR''FOR OVER A YEAR.THEY ALSO HAVE NOT GIVEN MY LEVEMIR WHILE THE APPEAL PROCESS MOVES ALONG.THIS PROCESS VIOLATES PEOPLES' RIGHTS/HUMAN UNDERSTANDING.500 BILLION DOLLARS SPENT IN WARS/4,000 LIVES LOST AND AMERICANS ARE LOSING THEIR BENIFITS.IT IS SAD/WRONG AND PROOF THE SYSTEM NEEDS OVER HAULED.DISABLED/ELDERLY AMERICANS REALIZE/KNOW THESE TRUTHS AND HAVE LITTLE/NO RECOURSE TO CHANGE THE EGREGIOUS ERRORS THAT PUT LIVES IN SERIOUS CONFLICT/DANGEROUS!!!!WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUSES TO AVOID PEOPLE;S SUFFING/DYING!!!!!!!!SAM MAXWELL

hi im tacking levemir,sylmlim,and novolog my dr wants me to go up to 100un 4xaday of the levemir has anyone ever konw of anyone tacking that much plz help,,,ty,,

I just started using the Levemir 4 days ago and I love it. I was using Lantus and my sugars were not getting below 400. I also use Novalog on a sliding scale. Since I have started using the Levemir my sugars have dropped drastically just in 4 days. I am feeling so much better. I had swelling in my legs and feet from the lantus and I haven't had that with the Levemir. I love it and I am beginning to feel so much better!!! This coming from a family of diabetics, having lost my mother, sister and brother from the disease, I will take the one that works best for me. We are all different and our bodies work differently. With patience everyone can find the one that works the best! Good luck!

I really think that we need more clinical studies on this. The larger the population studied, the better and more generalizable. My daughter is Type I and on Lantus. She's had some pretty irradic and unexplained hypoglycemic events. I am a Nurse Practitioner and am very happy with my patient outcomes on Levemir. As soon as my daughter is old enough (FDA approval for administration in children at 7 years, though studies show safety in as low as 2 years of age) I am going to try out Levemir. I'm not sure why everyone thinks that Levemir is a twice a day and Lantus is a once a day. They are both either once or twice depending upon the individual patient. This is further demonstrated in prior statements of people needing to take their basals in the morning vs. evening. It is very patient specific. Lantus actually was manufactured by NovoNordisc by the way. NovoNordisc sold it when they developed a "superior" delivery system.

I have been a type 1 for 35 years. I was on Lantus for years because of the benefits over NPH. I always took it once a day; however, couldn't understand why I needed so much more Novolog at dinner. I recently switched to Levemir and because I take such a low dose (18 units daily), my doctor wanted me to switch to twice a day. He said that the time it lasts depends on the amount you take, and even with Lantus, I was taking the same dose but it wasn't lasting 24 hours. That's why I had to take more Novolog at dinner. Since I've started taking Levemir, I have had the best morning sugars ever (even better than my pump, although not sure why). I like that I take it twice a day because if I exercise at night, I can take a unit or two less so I don't get hypo. I couldn't do that with Lantus. I also don't mind that I don't have the burn from Lantus. Not a huge deal, but nice not to have it.

I think we all need to remember, as stated in prior comments, that each person is different, and how our body reacts may be the same or different from comments above. If you're having problems with your current insulin, why not try something else.

Does anyone know how the pharmokinetics of Lantus differs if it is given in the fat instead of subcutaneously. Studies showing this?

hello every one i have read all its so hard to really understand some of you but thanks any way i have just started using levemir at frist i just would not take it i was not sure about it i looked it up read about it 6 days i had it and was just not sure so this is what happen i made my mind up to take it has anyone had any prombles with there arms is it just me or does it cause pain in your uper arms it started in the right arm it hurts is this one of the side affects i looked up side affects to levemir also i just got off lantus because my insurance would no longer pay for it should i be glad abouth it need more info about levemir need to know now thank you all for your input stay blessed we are in a battle i wont to will

I take 100 units of levimer twice a
day it burns and itchs at injection site I also take novolog from a flex pen useing a 3 to 1 carbs.Can not say I like either one my B.S. Is like a roller coaster with out insurance I could not take it the two run about $ 1,000.00 a month. my Doc must like the Novo Rep.