[Zander]

I've been on oral meds, Metformin, avandia, glimipiride, actos, in various doses and combinations for about ten years. (I did enter a brief intro post. I'd post a link but since I haven't posted 5 times yet, it won't let me.)

So anyway, I was started on Lantus (12 units) on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I was taken off all oral meds at that time. They have been upping the dose in 4-6 unit increments so that I am currently taking 76 units as of yesterday. I don't thinnk that will be enough. A few weeks after starting on Lantus, I began taking Novolog at mealtime. They started me on a set dosage of 5/3/3 units at each meal, then upped to 8/5/5 and then, after meeting with the dietician, began on a carb:insulin ratio. That still is not getting the results.

So my question is this for someone who has transitioned from meds to insulin. Is this normal to take this long to get stabilized? (4 months so far) And what about no meds, like metformin? I see some of you are on it and insulin. My gut is registering a big vote-of-no-confidence for this endo. If this sounds off base to you guys, that would clinch my decision to get a new endo.

I've got more questions, but I'll stop for now. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[MinisMom]

I have been on Lantus for almost a year and I still take Metformin , Glyburide and Onglyza. My readings are still all over the place, usually anywhere between 140-200.

 

[Richard157]

You definitely need oral meds along with the insulin, to handle your insulin resistance. Metformin is the best choice for most people with insulin resistance. it can take Metformin 3 or more weeks to take full effect, how log did you use it before you quit?

 

[Ajnabee]

when i started insulin i immediately got rid of all my oral pills..i.e Daonil and glucophage which worsened my control so i took pills along with insulin and slowly got rid of the pills in 2 months but i still take half the dose of glucophage though...
since u r taking 76 units of insulin u should keep taking the pills as well to keep good control specially the pills for insulin resistance...

Good luck

Ajnabee

 

[Zander]

I had been taking slow release metformin/glucophage for about 10 years. Is he seeing how insulin affects me without pills and when gets a baseline will put me back on pills?

 

[Shanny]

I had been taking slow release metformin/glucophage for about 10 years. Is he seeing how insulin affects me without pills and when gets a baseline will put me back on pills?

Getting off the sulfonylurea drugs make good sense because they have the capacity to shorten the life of your already overworked pancreas. I don't see any benefit in getting off the metformin unless you're having horrendous side effects.

Avandia is banned in the EU, and more strictly regulated in the US - Actos also gets some bad press. Maybe your doc is getting cold feet, but in my opinion, there's nothing about metformin that calls for withdrawing this medication that helps SO much with insulin resistance.

 

[jwags]

People who are insulin resistant benefit from taking metformin or actos while on insulin. It will make you more sensitive to the injected insulin you take. Not all diabetics are insulin resistant, but it sounds like you may be. Welcome to the forum.