Insulin degludec and Tiredness: What Users Say

• moa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Tresiba 2 months ago. Since then, I have gained almost 15 lbs. I'm always tired, and I have respiratory problems. I seem to be sweating (armpits) a lot. I don't think this drug is good at all. I'm hoping that my doctor can prescribe something else. I cannot wait to see him in a couple of weeks. Anyone else is unhappy?"

• Jew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2020

For Diabetes, Type 1 "This insulin Tresiba made me feel like I was constantly sick. I gained weight quickly, had heart palpitations, no energy, muscle weakness to the point I couldn't walk more than a few feet. Always tired - I would fall asleep at 8 pm and wake up tired at 7:30 am. Felt like I was injecting poison into my body. I became depressed because my body hurt so bad. My stomach hurt and it was bloated. If it wasn't for others posting their symptoms, I probably wouldn't have related all my symptoms to my insulin. I've been diabetic for over 50 years. As soon as I stopped, it took me 2 days to feel like my old self again. I will never take this medication EVER again."

• Jew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2020

For Diabetes, Type 1 "This insulin Tresiba made me feel like I was constantly sick. I gained weight quickly, had heart palpitations, no energy, muscle weakness to the point I couldn't walk more than a few feet. Always tired - I would fall asleep at 8 pm and wake up tired at 7:30 am. Felt like I was injecting poison into my body. I became depressed because my body hurt so bad. My stomach hurt and it was bloated. If it wasn't for others posting their symptoms, I probably wouldn't have related all my symptoms to my insulin. I've been diabetic for over 50 years. As soon as I stopped, it took me 2 days to feel like my old self again. I will never take this medication EVER again."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Tresiba for about a week and haven't really seen a drastic change in blood sugar, but mostly I just feel awful since I started taking it. I felt so tired I started taking my blood pressure, and several mornings it was under 110 over 65, but yesterday morning it was 187/85. Last night I didn't take it, and I feel much better today. Anyone else have these kinds of problems? The pharmacist says it's usually well tolerated, but leave it to me, I'm so medicine sensitive."

• 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."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took this medication for 4 weeks. I was on Lantus prior. I got a headache, which I thought would go away, however, it didn't. I became bloated and started getting flu-like symptoms. Only wanted to sleep and felt I couldn't even walk to the mailbox. I thought I was dying. I finally realized it must be the new insulin. I stopped and told my doctor I wanted to return to the Lantus. She agreed. I am slowly beginning to feel better, but it has been two weeks, and I'm still not back to my old self. This is a terrible drug. I also gained 6 pounds on top of everything else. How could this drug ever get approval?"

• loz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have type 2 diabetes and take 1000 mg of slow-release metformin. My DSN decided to start me on 10 units of Tresiba as my HbA1c had gone up to 7.5, and for the 8 days I was taking Tresiba, I felt like I had no control of my body. I had constant headaches, flu-like symptoms including severe tiredness, itching, breathlessness, anxiety, ear congestion, my blood sugar levels were all over the place. Definitely not the medication for me, I will be speaking to my DSN to see my other options."

• Ari...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 17, 2020

For Diabetes, Type 1 "In the beginning, this Tresiba insulin was a miracle. It came with stable glucose levels, but after a couple of years, I became aware of its side effects. Notice that I had a constant flu-like symptom, the bolus insulin didn't kick in as it did before, it was like Russian roulette. Tried Lantus in November, and there is no doubt that Tresiba has some nasty side effects besides the flu: lethargy, depression, water retention, itchy skin, and a feeling of a lump in the throat. Tried it again this last week, and all these side effects came back within two days. The flu-like symptoms kick in about 3 hours after injection. Regret I tried it, because after some years off the Lantus, it seems the body has developed antibodies, and the Lantus now has some side effects as well. Will get off this medicine tomorrow and try Lantus again, and hopefully the depression and flu-like symptoms will subside again."

• Izz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I’ve been on Tresiba for just under a week (made the switch from Levemir) and have mixed feelings. Although it’s still early days in terms of fine-tuning the dose, I feel like it would probably be a great option in terms of enabling more consistent and lower blood glucose levels. HOWEVER, since day 3, I have felt absolutely dreadful. I have had chronic diarrhea that just doesn’t seem to go away. Awful, agony stomach pains. I’ve felt exhausted, far beyond what I’ve ever felt before. To the point where I feel like I could sleep 24/7. And I’ve felt breathless for no reason also. I really want Tresiba to be a viable option for me, but unfortunately, it looks like it’s the most likely cause of these symptoms. So I’ll be on the phone to my diabetes team tomorrow, it looks like another switch will be necessary. Just hoping I’ll start to feel remotely normal soon!!"

• dog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "After four weeks of getting chronically tired, worsening every day since starting 12 units of daily Tresiba, I was taken off this insulin and given back my former insulin, Novolin. It was like a heavy fog lifting, and I began returning to normal. I warn all to be suspicious of Tresiba. If you are taking it and start getting brain fog or getting more and more tired, get off it ASAP. Do not accept tweaks, they do not work. I, myself, was too zonked to take action, thank goodness my husband got fed up with his 'zombie' wife and petitioned my doctor with the data and medical observations."

• 092...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "It controlled my blood sugar, but I gained weight at an alarming rate. 40 lbs in 8 months. Plus, my nose was always running, coughing, and sinus problems. All this plus exhaustion. Not worth it!!!"

• Jov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "This is the second day on this insulin. Woke up and my stomach was bloated, lump in my throat, and lethargic with flu-like symptoms. Waiting on a call back from my doctor."