Deano wrote in message ...

 It's working well for me.    I am shooting twice a day,  7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
My current total dose is 0.25 Units/Day-Kg body weight which is about right
for a chubby T1.  I would expect a T2 to shoot almost twice that.

My FbG is a bit higher than I'd like but I am still optimizing the evening
dose.    What I do like is the total absence of surprise hypos which my old
standby,  Ultralente,  suddenly started inflicting on me.

Levemir only lasts about 14 hours so I am risking Basal Fade by not
injecting on a strict 12 hour schedule.    I am relying on the tails from my
evening doses of Rapid to cover that last 2 hours.     I may start injecting
Levemir 3 times a day,   7 a.m.,  5 p.m.  and 9 p.m. to totally eliminate
that need.   Don't know yet,  I'm still in Early Days with it.

". . . .It gets scary when my levels shoot up so high for no apparent
reason. . ."

I forgot my morning shot once and did experience a Basal Fade during the
day.    A sudden jump to 16 mmol/L does get your attention.

". . . .Under lots of stress these days tho. Many other health problems as
well.  . . ."

When I am stressed,  my insulin needs increase.    I have seen both my basal
and Rapid dose needs double when ill or highly stressed  (low blood iron).
I hope you use the "Corrective Bolus" approach to your Rapid insulin,  i.e.
testing at 2 hours after eating or whenever you think you are high and
injecting a Corrective Bolus to knock the sugars down.

Levemir is the brand name,  worldwide as far as I can tell.   The generic
name is Insulin Detemir.

Regards
 Old Al

My doctor gave me the pre-release starter kit here in the U.S. about 6
weeks ago. The first time I used it, my blood pressure shot up to
170/101 and stayed high all day. Usually it is no higher than 135/80
though mostly it is more like 110/70. So that scared me and I called the
doctor.

My doctor suggested I call the company as she has no experience with
this insulin. I called Novo Nordisk and was referred to a "pharmacist"
there who would only read me from the Prescribing Information which
didn't mention blood pressure as a problem associated with Levemir. She
would not answer any question I asked except to read the same paragraph
from the PI over to me.

A week later I tried it again figuring maybe something else had been
going on with me, using a lower dose, as the first dose had been pushing
me  into the 70s. This second time I also saw a rise in blood pressure,
though not as high as the first time. However, that dose was too low to
control my blood sugar.  I started itching intensely that night, and
wasn't sure if it was from the insulin, either. But I pretty much decide
that was enough testing for now, at least.

Meanwhile, the company started peppering me with demands that I send
them the pen I was using when I called. I ignored them for a while, and
then when they didn't let up, I sent them the pen. I thought that was
interesting, given that they assured me that there was no way that my
blood pressure experience had anything to do with the insulin.

There was definitely no problem with it controlling my blood sugar--the
dose I started with was less than what I'm using with UL and it
controlled me a bit TOO well all day. And the blood sugar was very flat
as advertised. I wish I could use it but it looks like I can't.

--Jenny

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes  Diabetes Info

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/newlydiagnosed.htm Get Your Blood
Sugar Under Control

i've been taking the Levemir for 2 weeks now

it's a learning curve for me

i've had to add a 2nd shot at the 12 hr mark from
the evening shot (so i've gone back to dinner time
for my Levemir shot) and i'm learning to shoot
more bolus insulin for my meals...... it seems
that i need more bolus for meals for some reason

i did register a 6.5 before dinner last night, so
something was being done right.............. i'm
still too high in the morning, and it's time to up
my night time shot of Levemir for the 3rd time

i make changes once every 3 days  based on the
pattern that i see over 3 days........... sooner
is folly

kate