Insulin degludec and Nausea: What Users Say

• CJA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Tresiba 7 days ago after nearly 20 years on Lantus, and it has been nightmarish. Had to have a COVID-19 test to rule it out, but I'm sure it is linked to Tresiba getting into my system properly. My blood sugars were totally out of control for 3 days. On day 4, my sugars stabilized but headaches and crushing fatigue started. The headaches occur for 5 hours from late morning/lunchtime, then disappear in the evening. By day 5, I could barely get out of bed with exhaustion, and then the indigestion, reflux, and coughing started. Day 6, nausea and diarrhea and stomach pains, and today terrible stomach pains all day, constant indigestion, shivering, and flu-like symptoms. Sugars are largely stable, but regularly have random spikes even when haven't eaten. Has anybody else had such a weird, horrible experience with Tresiba?"

• Isl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2019

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I am in my 30s and have been a type 1 diabetic for 14 years. I have been using Lantus for over 10 years, recently, my endo suggested I try Tresiba. The first few days, my glucose levels kept spiking overnight to 19+, it took about a week to figure out dosing (which turned out to be the same as Lantus, not less). I was exhausted for the first few days. This insulin does work well, if you miss a meal, you will, without a doubt, have a sugar low. After about 2 months, my findings are that I often had a nauseous, car-sick feeling, stomach pain and cramps in the upper abdomen were common, almost a water-on-the-brain/plugged-ear feeling. It was time to get more Tresiba, but I decided to just use Lantus that I still had left. I would say immediately the next day after switching back to Lantus, I felt normal again. The stomach pain is gone, I don’t feel dizzy or nauseous, my sugars have been stable and easy to control. Be all end all, Tresiba is worth a trial, but it was not for me."

• Pet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 5, 2019

For Diabetes, Type 1 "This insulin is horrible. I've been a type 1, diagnosed as an adult, for 10 years. I was told, as many it seems, this is the best new insulin... I just tried it. I've been trying it now for months. My sugars are sky high, sky high during the day, lows in the middle of the night. How is this a flat, stable insulin? I too am just unbearably tired, like I'm on sleeping pills or something, and nauseous too since starting this. I don't know if it's because my BG's are so messed up from this insulin or if it's the insulin. I've tried it, titrated the dose. I'm very tiny and use very little insulin, only about 6 units basal per day. But this stuff, dry mouth, more weight loss, but I too got really swollen ankles, feeling very tight. It's the worst insulin I've ever tried. I don't believe the positive comments are from real patients... I believe they're fake from Tresiba reps. This is horrible stuff... worst BG control ever and I have A1C's typically in the 6's. Since I've been on this, gone up to 8's."

• Mpa...
• January 20, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have only been taking Tresiba for 3 days (43 units in the morning), but my readings are quite a bit lower after meals, and I am using less of my Novolog. The fluctuation of highs to normal isn't so frequent and is staying more stable and in a healthy range. No nausea, headaches, or any side effects. I will say that I tried Victoza last year, and that stuff was like poison. The nausea and migraines were unbearable. I have never tried Lantus."

• Sul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor prescribed this insulin called Tresiba because my A1C was around 7. I have been taking it about 2 weeks now, and I feel horrible. I feel nauseous, and my stomach feels bloated. Prior to this, I was taking Kombiglyze XR for 5 years, but it wasn't keeping my A1C down enough, but I didn't have these nasty side effects (only loose stools, but that didn't bother me because I can easily get constipated)."

• PA-...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I've had Type 1 for nearly 40 years. My endocrinologist recommended Tresiba to replace Lantus. I took it for one month. After 2 days, I saw no changes or improvements in blood glucose levels. As the fourth day approached, I figured the flu was why I had been having blood sugar fluctuations. After a week, I seemed to have stomach issues and nausea for days, and then I had headaches and blurred vision and felt like a train wreck. After 2 weeks of symptoms, I began to wonder whether I even had the flu. After 3 weeks of symptoms, I decided to read the medical insert thoroughly, only to discover that these flu symptoms, blurred vision and dizziness, and stomach issues were all SIDE EFFECTS. I called the endo office and spoke with a doctor on call, who agreed that maybe I should just switch back to Lantus and see how I felt. I took Lantus that evening and felt better within 12-24 hours. My endo never called me back, so I won't see him again. Maybe he gets kickbacks to market this."

• Sug...
• November 15, 2017

For Diabetes, Type 1 "So delighted that Tresiba immediately helped my dawn phenomenon. So many years of morning highs on Levemir. Wow. Then disaster struck. Bad bloating, nausea, and dizziness plus weight gain. The insulin nurse said, 'she doubts it’s the insulin' and not to go back to the other one if it’s working. After googling side effects, I think it may be the cause, so I will rebel and see what happens."

• Ava...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 30, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I'm so conflicted with my beloved Tresiba. I started it last year, and my sugars have been amazing, especially the last few months. Went from 9 something to 7.2, and bet I'd still be or even in the 6's as of last month. Why am I conflicted? I've had debilitating stomach cramping, chronic diarrhea, and nausea, and other awful chronic problems (I noticed other people mentioned headaches and colds, and I had those too). Been to Drs, and everything comes back 'normal.' Despite my sugars, I am a wreck now, I realized the ONLY thing I've changed in my lifestyle is the Tresiba. I'm going on a week off it and don't know for certain yet, since my symptoms come and go (1 day I'm fine and the next they're back), but I'm going to try to stick it out and see. As far as blood sugar control, I've woken up in the 3 and 400's when off of it. It definitely is a great insulin for my levels. Devastated if I need to find another one now, but excited if my symptoms improve."

• Tim...
• September 4, 2020

For Diabetes, Type 1 "Started Tresiba in Feb 2020 - changed insulin frequently since 1988, no issues, so didn't give it any thought. During March to May 2020, I had 3 episodes I can only describe as severe 'hot flushes'; tingling from top to toe, skin on fire. When that passed (30 seconds), I was then nauseous and dizzy, with a cold sweat. Each time this was within 1 min of injecting Tresiba (20 units) and was followed by 4 hours of shivering through the night, the same as a fever, then feeling normal the next day. Upsetting, and timing-wise coincided with the start of Covid, so thought possibly a factor. Found this site and stories from other type 1 diabetics reporting the same. My doc swapped me back to the Lantus I was on previously, no further issues since (5 months now). The doc did say he had 4 other patients who had side effects. Looking back, I did feel more dizzy than usual on Tresiba and frequently felt faint. All sorted now, but we were warned!"

• Lon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Tresiba for about 2 months, however, 9 days ago, I started with horrible diarrhea, lower abdominal pain, nausea, with vomiting. My doctor wants me to stay on this stuff."

• ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Went straight to the emergency room, everything violently left my body within seconds of injection."