Type 1 1/2 or something,

[chrisd1]

Hello all, I am looking for a little bit of advice. Two years ago all of a sudden I became type 2 diabetic. For 18 months I was able to control my blood sugars at an average of 6. Then all of a sudden my sugars went out of control and there was nothing I could do to bring them down. The medications really did nothing to improve my numbers. So after a visit to an endocrinologist it seems that I may be type 1 1/2 or something. So now I am having to try insulin which has upset me a lot because I really didn't want to do that. So I'm looking for advice now as it seems I was misdiagnosed. The insulin I am on is a slow release insulin and I have to inject myself at night before bed. So my questions are can anybody give me any tips on being insulin dependent. Any advice on foods I've been eating no carbs until now. My weight is perfect for my size so I don't want to lose any weight. So yeah if anybody can give me any pointers any advice or anything I would be very grateful as I'm struggling to come to terms with having to use insulin now.

 

[jonathan183]

Yes - suggest you read Dr Bernstein's diabetes solution. You can stick with low carb or even no carb if you want. Suggest you get some glucose tablets to treat low blood sugars if/when they occur.

What type of insulin have you been given?
For maximum flexibility and probably better blood glucose control you want:-
a) a long acting insulin - this covers your basal insulin requirement (you would need this even if you ate nothing at all)
b) short or rapid acting insulin - this covers meals and also correcting high blood glucose.

For a) I have Levemir and for b) I have NovaRapid but you may have been given something different.

Some people are put on a mixture of long and short acting insulin - it allows them to have fewer injections but less flexibility in terms of what you can eat. It is also a compromise in terms of blood glucose control.

Ed: you may also find this useful

 

[jonathan183]

If you drive you will also need to let both your insurer and the DVLA know. You will need to check your blood glucose before driving and at least every 2 hours.
Anything else you want to ask about ?

 

[Deleted member 527103]

Whilst you can follow the Dr B low carb way, insulin gives you the flexibility to eat “normally” once you have fast insulin as well as slow.
If you are eating low carb, you will need to remember that protein will become sugar and affect your blood sugars so will need insulin. And different types of protein need different amounts of insulin. I find low carb diet far more complex to manage with insulin for me than normal eating.

 

[chrisd1]

Yes - suggest you read Dr Bernstein's diabetes solution. You can stick with low carb or even no carb if you want. Suggest you get some glucose tablets to treat low blood sugars if/when they occur.

What type of insulin have you been given?
For maximum flexibility and probably better blood glucose control you want:-
a) a long acting insulin - this covers your basal insulin requirement (you would need this even if you ate nothing at all)
b) short or rapid acting insulin - this covers meals and also correcting high blood glucose.

For a) I have Levemir and for b) I have NovaRapid but you may have been given something different.

Some people are put on a mixture of long and short acting insulin - it allows them to have fewer injections but less flexibility in terms of what you can eat. It is also a compromise in terms of blood glucose control.

Ed: you may also find this useful

Hello,


Thank you for taking the time to read my post and get back to me. They have given me a humulin Kwikpen insulin ISOPHANE, biosynthetic – pen. Instructions to Start small at 2 units a night and move up to five as needed. I believe this is a slow acting insulin. I have another meeting with the endocrinologist in February. My GP put me on this yesterday. I will check out doctor Bernstein and watch some of his videos.


Many thanks- Chris

 

[chrisd1]

Whilst you can follow the Dr B low carb way, insulin gives you the flexibility to eat “normally” once you have fast insulin as well as slow.
If you are eating low carb, you will need to remember that protein will become sugar and affect your blood sugars so will need insulin. And different types of protein need different amounts of insulin. I find low carb diet far more complex to manage with insulin for me than normal eating.

Thanks I'm going to be checking out doctor Bernstein. That's interesting what you say about low carb and normal foods so to speak I'm going to look at that.


Many thanks- Chris

 

[chrisd1]

If you drive you will also need to let both your insurer and the DVLA know. You will need to check your blood glucose before driving and at least every 2 hours.
Anything else you want to ask about ?

I live in Canada but it's the same here yes I have to let our driving insurance corporation know and I have the documents to fill out.


Many thanks- Chris

 

[jonathan183]

Thanks I'm going to be checking out doctor Bernstein. That's interesting what you say about low carb and normal foods so to speak I'm going to look at that.


Many thanks- Chris

My overview of Dr Bernstein's approach is to keep blood glucose in the normal range, the target of 83mg/dl with rise or fall of less than 10mg/dl which is challenging (but he and his patients seem to do well with it). Divide mg/dl by 18 to get mmol/l.
The suggest approach is 3 meals a day with low carb content of 6 grams at breakfast and 12 grams for each of the other two meals. It also requires sufficient protein. Both the carbohydrates and protein require insulin. The approach requires small insulin doses.

The exact impact of carbs on blood glucose value and timing varies with meals, and the impact of insulin on blood glucose also varies in value and timing. By keeping the carbs and insulin doses low the variation in blood glucose is low - Bernstein refers to this as the law of small numbers.

With the combination of carbs and protein using the Dr Bernstein approach the protein content of the meal should be taken into account for the insulin dose. If instead you are eating a higher carbohydrate meal then you will be using more insulin and the change in blood glucose due to protein will be relatively small compared with carbs and is usually ignored.

Dr Bernstein also indicates preserving beta cell function if it is still present makes blood glucose control easier, normalising blood glucose helps preserve beta cell function - he covers this in one of the videos (see the link I posted).

Whether you choose to adopt the approach is up to you, even if you do not the book is full of useful information based on Dr Bernstein's experience of being a type 1 diabetic (diagnosed at around 11 and now in his 80's) and treating his patients.

All the best.

 

[becca59]

Just to point out @chrisd1 isn’t on a fast acting insulin as yet so working out carbs and protein amounts for insulin at the moment is irrelevant. Better to stick to his original low carb diet which he was content with and adjust the long lasting til a suitable level is arrived at that keeps numbers in check.
@chrisd1 Please do not be upset at having to take insulin. Your diagnosis has changed, your pancreas is failing through absolutely no fault of your own. No diet on earth will help stop this, but the insulin will allow you to keep living. A fabulous gift to those of us who need it.