Q. My Ultralente insulin at dinner seems to be keeping my sugars down much better than the NPH insulin that I take in the morning. For someone planning to remain on two shots per day, Ultralente insulin in the morning does not peak adequately to cover daytime meals, and morning NPH insulin usually works better. With the human Regular insulin, we ask people to wait 30-60 minutes to eat after taking their shot. The high blood sugars in the hour or two after eating added to higher HbA1c values at clinic visits. Now, with Humalog, the waiting is not necessary.
People can take their shots and immediately eat their meals.
This will result in lower blood sugars in the two hours after meals, as well as less guilt from not following rigid instructions. A second major advantage of Humalog is that it only lasts four hours. This will not happen with Humalog, as activity is gone in four hours. Our research at the Barbara Davis Center over three years showed the total number of low blood sugars to be reduced in half in people using Humalog. It is a prescription medication and the switch should be made with the help of health care providers at the time of clinic visits.