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I need your help and would appreciate any input and feedback regarding the drug NPH, and whether it is as effective as Lantus.
Because I'm on Medicare, I am required by my HMO to be a part of a yearly pharmacy treatment team review. Today I had a long discussion (on the phone) with my assigned pharmacist, and she said that in order to lower the cost to the HMO, it would be advantageous for me to switch over to NPH, which will require me to inject long acting insulin two times a day in contrast to the once a day injection of Lantus.
It will also require me to play around with my pre-meal Novolog injections in order to find the right dosage to compliment the NPH..
It has taken me the better half of a year to get my BG numbers down to a range of between 80-120 (on a regular basis prior to each meal and at bedtime), and I am reluctant to have to switch and start all over with the experiments while I get my BG levels back to an acceptable level, like they are now.
However, I did tell the pharmacist that I'd consider it the change after I did research on the drug, checked with forum members for input, and talked with me Endo (in person).
Thus, I am coming to you, my fellow diabetics for your input as to the pros and cons of using either NPH or Lantus.
It will only mean a reduction of ten dollars every three months in a co-pay, so it is not a big financial saver for me. It is only saving the HMO a lot of money, because she told me Lantus is five times the cost of NPH.
Thanks for any input from your own experiences. It will go a long way in helping me to decide whether to stay with Lantus, or capitulate and use NPH.
Shalom,
Pastor Paul :amen:
Because I'm on Medicare, I am required by my HMO to be a part of a yearly pharmacy treatment team review. Today I had a long discussion (on the phone) with my assigned pharmacist, and she said that in order to lower the cost to the HMO, it would be advantageous for me to switch over to NPH, which will require me to inject long acting insulin two times a day in contrast to the once a day injection of Lantus.
It will also require me to play around with my pre-meal Novolog injections in order to find the right dosage to compliment the NPH..
It has taken me the better half of a year to get my BG numbers down to a range of between 80-120 (on a regular basis prior to each meal and at bedtime), and I am reluctant to have to switch and start all over with the experiments while I get my BG levels back to an acceptable level, like they are now.
However, I did tell the pharmacist that I'd consider it the change after I did research on the drug, checked with forum members for input, and talked with me Endo (in person).
Thus, I am coming to you, my fellow diabetics for your input as to the pros and cons of using either NPH or Lantus.
It will only mean a reduction of ten dollars every three months in a co-pay, so it is not a big financial saver for me. It is only saving the HMO a lot of money, because she told me Lantus is five times the cost of NPH.
Thanks for any input from your own experiences. It will go a long way in helping me to decide whether to stay with Lantus, or capitulate and use NPH.
Shalom,
Pastor Paul :amen: