1 Big Insulin Switch: My Basal Insulin Journey from Levemir to Tresiba – By Mike

This week on We Are T1D, Mike takes the reins solo for a heartfelt and candid diary entry about his recent switch from Levemir to Tresiba. With a touch of vulnerability, he shares the nerves and overthinking that came with this change, as well as the lessons learned along the way.

Join Mike as he reflects on his long relationship with Levemir, the reasons behind the switch, and the initial challenges he faced with Tresiba. He discusses the importance of flexibility in managing Type 1 diabetes and the mental load that comes with insulin adjustments. Expect relatable anecdotes, a few laughs, and a dose of honesty about the ups and downs of living with T1D.

What to Expect:

• Mike’s journey from Levemir to Tresiba and the emotions involved

• Insights on adjusting insulin doses and managing expectations

• Real-life reflections on the mental side of switching insulins

• Tips for those considering a switch in their basal insulin

• The importance of finding what works best for you

  
  

“It’s not about which is better; it’s about what works for you.” – Mike

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Extra Resource:

Diabetes UK – Resources and Support

Hashtags:

#Type1Diabetes #T1DLife #DiabetesPodcast #WeAreT1D #T1DCommunity #InsulinSwitch #Tresiba

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
All right, so Full disclosure, not even Jack knows I'm doing
this one solo. Sorry mate, I just felt like I
needed to get off my chest, you know?
It's not going to be a long episode, more like a little
diary entry. I've been through this switch
from Levemir to Tresiba recentlyand I wanted to talk it out,

(00:22):
share what I've learned and maybe I'll help someone
listening to. And I'm not going to lie, I was
very nervous. Like really, really nervous
actually. Took me two weeks to finally
load up my Novo pen with Tresibaand inject it for the first
time. And yes, I was overthinking

(00:42):
every single thing. Is this the right dose?
What if it goes too high? What if I crash?
You know the classic overthinking that any type 1
diabetic will make. But this is my story.
Oh yeah, and one more thing. I'm still a bit under the
weather, so if my voice sounds alittle off today, that's why.

(01:03):
I've got the usual cold symptoms, you know, runny nose,
low energy, the works. But I figured why not record it
anyway? After all, life doesn't wait for
us to be perfectly healthy, right?
So this is just me today, keeping it real, thinking out
loud, and hopefully giving you something useful along the way.
And I hope you don't miss Jack too much because it feels weird

(01:25):
doing it by myself. But anyways, So a bit of
context. I was on Levemir for honestly so
long I can't even remember when I started.
Before that I was on human mixedart.
And when I switched to Levemir, I was also switched to Nova
Rapid and it honestly felt like a whole new world because I had

(01:47):
also started learning carb counting, which was weird.
But yeah, here's the thing. I actually loved Levemir.
I have my morning dose and an evening dose and that
flexibility suited my lifestyle perfectly.
Busy day? I could quit, tweak it down.
Quiet day, adjust it the other way.
Nighttime doses, same deal, can deal with that morning glory.

(02:11):
So I think what I appreciated most was control.
I could plan my day around it, but it also adapted to my day.
And let's be honest, flexibilityas a Type 1 diabetic is gold.
Anyone listening will know what I mean.
That little wiggle room that canfeel like a superpower.
But then Levemir being discontinued and you know what?

(02:33):
I don't want to wait for that day at the pharmacy and they
just turn around and say, yeah, sorry mate, no more Levemir.
That thought stresses me out, soI started looking into why this
was happening. It turns out Novo Nordisk is
discontinuing Levemir due to a combination of global
manufacturing constraints, declining insurance coverage,

(02:56):
and the availability of alternative treatments like
Tresiba. They announced that Levemir Flex
Pen will face supplier disruptions starting mid January
2024, with full discontinuation by April the 1st 2024 and vials
no longer available after December 2024.

(03:19):
The UK is expected to see suppliers run out by December
2026, so there's still time, butthe clock is ticking.
Anyways, my diabetes team explained that Tresiba is a long
acting, once daily basil. It lasts longer than Lantus and
apparently it gives you a bit more flexibility with timing.
Sounds great on paper, right? But let me tell you, I was

(03:44):
nervous. Two weeks of hiding my pen in
the cupboard. Do I take it today, I take it
tomorrow, tomorrow. Or do I just run away?
Just run away, run away. Classic me just procrastinating.
But eventually I took the plungeand when I finally injected
Tresiba for the first time, I started on 25 units.

(04:06):
Straight away I noticed my bloodsugar creeping a little higher
than I expected. Around 10:50 moles.
My Levemir total added up to 27 units.
So I knew the diet dose was slightly under, but taking that
big dose fell door in. And plus, it's new insulin.
But eventually I moved up to 28 units and things began to sell.

(04:31):
And you know what? The first couple of weeks didn't
feel drastically different. That's actually reassuring in a
weird way. But the biggest change I noticed
was fuel hypos. And that's one of those subtle
winds you only really notice when you reflect right now.
But yeah, I'll be honest, there was a period where I kept rage

(04:53):
by listening before bed because I've gone a bit high.
And at first I blame Tresiba. It's you, Tresiba.
Why aren't you working? But looking back, classic me
moment. That was just me being a bit of
a Dick, nothing to do with the insulin.
Has anyone else done that? Come on, be honest, please.

(05:15):
But as always, I've learned to laugh at it now.
But in the moment it feels like drama.
And the biggest win is not doingthat extra injection every day.
Sounds small, but it feels massive.
It's one less thing to schedule,1 less thing to stress about.
Otherwise my routine hasn't changed.
Sleep, eat in, exercise. All the usual suspects except

(05:40):
for being. I'll still am, in fact.
And that's why my voice sounds like this.
But I'm not sure if it's the switch, the timing of autumn, or
just my luck, but it's definitely made the past couple
of weeks feel more interesting. And the mental load, that's
where Tresiba shines. With Levemir, I had to hit 8:00

(06:00):
AM and 8:00 PM doses precisely Tresiba 1 injection a day.
I can breathe a little, my brainhas little more freedom, and
honestly, that is priceless. And do I think Tresiba is better
than Levemir? No, not really.
And would I say Levemir was better than Tresiba?
No, not really. Both do the job.

(06:24):
Once Tresiba's dose is right, it's just as effective.
And generally once a day bolus needs same as before, maybe a
tiny bit smoother, but honestly that could just be in my head.
Either way, the end goal is the same, a basal insulin that keeps
me alive and steady. So if you're listening and

(06:46):
thinking about switching, I'm going to give you some tips.
Start with A1 on one ratio conversion from your current
Levemir dose. Don't overthink it, adjust
slowly and pay attention to yourpatterns.
Be patient with the mental side.The first couple of weeks are
always a bit of a roller coaster.

(07:06):
And remember, it's basal insulinnot about which is better, it's
about what works for you. So let me know, have you ever
switched basal insulin before? Was it terrifying, exciting, or
just weirdly uneventful? I'd love to hear your stories.
DM, WhatsApp, Instagram, whatever works.

(07:28):
And maybe we'll feature them in the future episode.
But for now, that's it. This is my little diary entry
about moving from Levemir to Tresiba.
If you're considering the switch, I hope this gives you a
bit of insight, a laugh and maybe a small confidence boost.
Thanks for listening, for letting me ramble a bit, and for
keeping your own diabetes journey going strong.

(07:50):
Whatever insulin you're on, catch you next time.
And don't worry, Jack will be back.
See you guys.