Symlin update

Posted by Cari Roorda

So from what I've been reading in different blog archives dating back to 2005, it seems that I may fall in with the people who don't use less insulin with Symlin at all, so do I still "need it"? It does help me not want to snack (until it wears off at 3-4 hours, when I want to eat everything in sight!). As all other options are exhausted, I may just try my old I:C ratio to see how it does. It does seem like when there isn't Symlin in my system, my insulin does NOT work as well. I end up needing MORE insulin. Maybe my liver is just waiting for the amylin to be out of sight so it can dump glucose into my blood...(: I'll tell you one thing...I miss the "normalcy" that just plain old insulin gave me! At least I knew what to expect. Still part of me feels like I "need" this hormone that I am lacking.
Today I mixed (here is the off-label part...shhh...)about 1/3 Symlin and the rest Humalog (though not advised!) into my pump after reading about other people doing this with some success. It did well!! I didn't go over 125 after dinner tonight (or after the iced latte I had after work). I felt a little "odd" though like I was on something... and then tonight it didn't go as well after my walk. Now I think it was a delayed absorption of carbs from dinner as well as glycogen release from my lengthy walk/jog. After that I decided that I wasn't comfortable going to bed with the mix in my pump (I only did a tiny bit as to test it out during the day)as I don't know the suspension and wouldn't want unpredictable amounts of either in my system! (even though there wasn't even enough Symlin in there for what was one of my previous doses). I do think that Symlin will get to the point of being a 24-hour basal and bolus med as people are already wearing 2 pumps (one for Symlin one for Insulin!) in some cases! Can you imagine me with TWO pumps AND my Dexcom!? I would have to bring my rolling bag with me everywhere I went-Ha-ha! We're getting there people! Just wish it didn't take so long...
I keep saying "One more day..." and thinking I will get it. I think I might just have to bid Symlin farewell. Maybe I can at least take a break and then see how I respond next week.
Hope that you are all doing well! Also I have a lot of pens available, samples, vouchers, so if you've been thinking about trying one, let me know! (:
Next week I am going to be in the office on Monday and Friday.