Hi Pamela Jane,
I see Catherine has considerately placed your comment on a whole new thread..nice.
I wonder if you saw my message on your profile. Just felt compelled to respond to you wee post on the morning level thread....about your 12.3 reading and your possible injections ahead...I tired sending you private message but you must have that facility blocked, and there's not enough space to say much on your profile, but I didn't want to enter into a whole dialogue on the thread..so a new thread is ideal, and you will get more responses (hopefully useful stuff).
You don't appear to be getting much help/support from whoever's "advising" you medically (GP, nurse, whoever), sadly not uncommon. So, in which case, it's not surprising you're scared. Now, while I myself don't inject, I hear from many who do, and who not only cope well with it but who feel they can cope better on insulin than purely on pills - and it lets them eat a more varied diet. Loads of Type 2 diabetics are on insulin for a very long time without complications - seriously.
That said, I'm wondering when you were diagnosed, what your level was then and any HbA1c test results (as that is a stronger picture of your overall position (ie. average level over the last 3 months)...more important than daily readings for overall accuracy. In my first few months I was regularly getting readings varying from 6.5 up to 115.5 and sometimes as high as 18.5...but my first HbA1c showed an average of under 9.0. I thought I would need insulin injections, but got my levels down
Now, you may well be more experienced than I am picking up but, on the off chance you haven't considered other changes....I got my levels down, not with medical help at all, by cutting out lots of carbs. In fact, as soon as I cut out toast and cereal on top of all the obvious sweet stuff - my levels fell dramatically. This is the case with many many Type 2s on this site. Also, recording my levels before I ate and 2 hours after (along with what and when I ate) let me know what was pushing my levels up...and...it armed me with info to show my doctor. Not only have I avoided insulin thus far, and I have spent periods off my pills....my latest HbA1c test shows my average as 7.1 and dropping.
Maybe, I'm talking to someone who has tried all that. Sorry, if I'm not helping at all...I just wanted to make sure you have looked at other possibilities and at ways to take further control when you are getting no real help.. and coz you sound...scared. Point is, if it has to be injections - so be it - you may well really benefit. I have personal friend who has no problem with it at all. But - I thought I'd make sure you were aware of ways to try changing things before that..in case you were totally new to the whole idea.
Anyway, if my words don't really tell you anything you didn't know...at least...don't worry so much. it's just life happening. If, on the other hand, there is anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask. I remember how I felt when diagnosed after a kidney transplant - you need to know what you can do. being in control is everything, and being informed is how to get there. Good luck, and all the best for the new year to you and yours.
Paul
