New to Insulin

[Mithrandir]

Hi All,

I have been reading through the forum and have found it helpful... thank you all for sharing your lives.

I have been diabetic for around 10 years and can honestly say that I have never really had it under control for longer than a few months at a times and then it has spiralled again. My current GP surgery is a one man band and only has a Nurse for Flu Shots and other minor things, so I haven't had access to a Diabetic Specialist for over 6 years, despite my requests for a referral.

Earlier this year, my GP finally decided that he had done as much as he could and it was now time for me to be referred to the Diabetic Nurse Team. He warned me prior to going that it would probably be a case that I would be put on Insulin in short order. I had resisted this for as long as I could as I personally felt that it would be a failure on my part for not trying hard enough to fix myself.

After my first visit, the DSN asked that I try Xultophy as an Insulin Therapy to replace Liraglutide that I had been on for some years. I agreed readily as it wasn't the full Insulin option. However, the side effects of Xultophy were by and far not worth the compromise. On my next visit, I explained what had happened and it was decided that NovoMix 30 was the first step to try and get some kind of control. It appears that I have some kind of mutant strain of Diabetes that has been medication resistant up til now

I started on the Novomix a few weeks after the appointment as I was working and a Pharmacy mistake, I had a couple of days off work and I decided to take the plunge. On Xultophy I was checking my Bloody Sugar Once a day before my evening meal as it was just a once a day shot and that was a pain in the finger as I hadn't had a testing regime prior to that, but I took it on the chin and just got on with it.

Once I started on the NovoMix I am had to test before Breakfast and before my Evening meal. I quickly started to find that just the testing was becoming too much for me to handle. Add to that I now have to literally check the nutritional values on pretty much everything I eat and so many things that I still carried on enjoying as occasional treats were now out of the window.

Last week I had a really stressful week at work and to add on top of that I was dying for a Twix and I couldn't adequately explain to anyone the rage I felt inside without being a real nasty idiot to them, I didn't make many friends last week.

Is it possible to get Burnout/Fatigued in such a short period of time? Is this normal for someone moving over to a more regimented plan... or am I just a cranky middle-aged geezer who should crank his neck in?

I apologize for the length of this, but I am feeling rather lost.

Thanks

 

[kokhongw]

Carbs and sugar are highly addictive for many of us.

But it does becomes easier when we learn to find joy in Roast pork belly...

 

[Alison Campbell]

Burn out can hit you at any time, for me I see it as an inability to truly care for and prioritse our own well being so actually you may have had it for a long time.

It really helps to have people to talk to who understand especially those who understand what you are going through so feel free to share as much as you need to on here. Talk to your doctor and DSN about how you are feeling/what you are struggling with. Burn out is really quite common with long term health conditions.

Can you break it down into the smaller issues you are having? Eg better food choices or effective testing routines. There is a wealth of information on this forum through years of experience and if you can't find what you need just ask.

It can seem overwhelming trying to sort out diet, testing and new medication all at once. Be kind to yourself, prioritise and take small steps to reach your goal.

 

[Alison Campbell]

You might find reading the post in the section helpful
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/type-2-with-insulin.57/

 

[Janr20]

Hi All,

I have been reading through the forum and have found it helpful... thank you all for sharing your lives.

I have been diabetic for around 10 years and can honestly say that I have never really had it under control for longer than a few months at a times and then it has spiralled again. My current GP surgery is a one man band and only has a Nurse for Flu Shots and other minor things, so I haven't had access to a Diabetic Specialist for over 6 years, despite my requests for a referral.

Earlier this year, my GP finally decided that he had done as much as he could and it was now time for me to be referred to the Diabetic Nurse Team. He warned me prior to going that it would probably be a case that I would be put on Insulin in short order. I had resisted this for as long as I could as I personally felt that it would be a failure on my part for not trying hard enough to fix myself.

After my first visit, the DSN asked that I try Xultophy as an Insulin Therapy to replace Liraglutide that I had been on for some years. I agreed readily as it wasn't the full Insulin option. However, the side effects of Xultophy were by and far not worth the compromise. On my next visit, I explained what had happened and it was decided that NovoMix 30 was the first step to try and get some kind of control. It appears that I have some kind of mutant strain of Diabetes that has been medication resistant up til now

I started on the Novomix a few weeks after the appointment as I was working and a Pharmacy mistake, I had a couple of days off work and I decided to take the plunge. On Xultophy I was checking my Bloody Sugar Once a day before my evening meal as it was just a once a day shot and that was a pain in the finger as I hadn't had a testing regime prior to that, but I took it on the chin and just got on with it.

Once I started on the NovoMix I am had to test before Breakfast and before my Evening meal. I quickly started to find that just the testing was becoming too much for me to handle. Add to that I now have to literally check the nutritional values on pretty much everything I eat and so many things that I still carried on enjoying as occasional treats were now out of the window.

Last week I had a really stressful week at work and to add on top of that I was dying for a Twix and I couldn't adequately explain to anyone the rage I felt inside without being a real nasty idiot to them, I didn't make many friends last week.

Is it possible to get Burnout/Fatigued in such a short period of time? Is this normal for someone moving over to a more regimented plan... or am I just a cranky middle-aged geezer who should crank his neck in?

I apologize for the length of this, but I am feeling rather lost.

Thanks

We have all been there. We work so hard and there comes a point when results don't match effort put in you can get fatigued. I have a good GP she is patient and is one step ahead of me.

I'm still getting used to both long acting and short acting insulin. Just when I think I have got it sorted I learn new things. I struggle when I travel or when I have a viral illness and how it affects my blood sugars and insulin doses . But I find to keep my head up and not let it get to me I set small achievable goals and a long term that involves travelling to a new destination around the world. I have also purchased a Fitbit Charge 2 device to check my exercise progress.

Don't let diabetes rule your life. You must enjoy life now. Testing for blood sugars can be frustrating. It's important but it must not rule your life . Insulin is important but you need to understand how it works and can impact on your life. This forum is one of the best places to come for support and to find out you are not alone

Recommend also the hypoglycaemia awareness program I found it very helpful. So live life, enjoy life, focus on the positive things in life. I celebrate one good thing each day. Above all don't let diabetes rule your life

 

[Wshelledy]

I'm also new to the increased testing and injections. I wonder if you have someone in your life that can help? I struggle with blood and needles in general so my husband has stepped up. Somehow its easier to let someone else poke me than to do it myself sometimes. I have now gotten to the point that I do most of it but when its taking me 5 minutes to press the button on the lancet he recognizes my struggle and steps in. For me it seems to be hardest when I'm stressed about other things in my life. So I try to do a bit of deep breathing and meditation right before a poke. Keep trying and don't beat yourself up when you aren't compliant. Just start again!