Jo's Cafe

This is the insulin I was given at the Doctor’s office on Thursday.

From their website, About 24-hour Lantus:

LANTUS is a long-acting basal insulin analogue used once a day at the same time each day that is proven to lower basal glucose levels for a full 24 hours.1 Basal insulin is a term used to describe the slow, steady release of insulin needed to control blood glucose and to keep cells supplied with energy when no food is being digested.2

LANTUS is unique in that it has no pronounced peak. The chemical structure of LANTUS causes it to be released into your body steadily and continuously. That means there is very little difference in the amount of insulin that’s working in your body from one hour to the next for a full 24 hours.1

Prescription Lantus is for adults with type 2 diabetes or adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes.

Doc started me out on 10 units once a day. He also prescribed me a 31 gauge BD needle with syringe. The first shot that I gave myself Thursday night was not awful at all. Hell – I’ve had paper cuts that hurt worse. I started with my stomach — closest thing to me. It stung, don’t get me wrong – anytime you invade the body it’s going to smart, but I think the sting came from the fact the Lantus was chilled and I had to hold the syringe for 10 seconds in my skin after injection. I think I was pressing too hard. When I noticed the sting last night, I backed off the pressure a bit and it eased.

You cannot tell where I gave myself the shot either. The first one had some redness still the next morning, but was gone by lunch. The one from last night didn’t have any redness at all. I can give the shots in my stomach area around my belly button, my thighs and my arms. I don’t think me and the arms are going to work, so if they ever need to be given there, that’s going to be up to the CSM to handle.

Did I notice anything right away? No. But the next morning I had a BG reading of 115. Amazing considering it was 299 in the doctor’s office the day before. I still had an over 200 reading before supper, but this morning it was 185. I see the doctor in 2 weeks to get any adjustments, but like any new medication dosage, you start small and go up and you have to give it time. But so far I’m pleased. I haven’t had a 115 reading in months!

Wish I’d done this months ago? Yeah.

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