Type 2 starting the insulin

[emil.popa]

Hello,
I am 55 yo.I was diagnosed 5 years ago with diabetes type 2.Since then I am keeping the sugar under control with diet and exercise.I adjusted the sugar level from 14.5 to 7(fasting) . My a1c=6.9 for last 4 years.Since my family doctor is telling me that I am doing great and I shuld not take pills,the specialist is giving me serious warnings to take medications to prevent associated risks.While the a1c is about constant, I have noticed in the last year that it is harder to keep the same levels of sugar.With the same diet and exercise, I get 7-7.3 in the morning, versus 6-before.I do believe that the pills will slowly harm my body-if taken .At the same time I am afraid that overall the sugar level is a bit high.I do have some hard palpitations(I had them before but no heart problems discovered) but also lately I feel my pulse in my body especially in the afternoon/evening.This feeling is also not new but before I had it only when exposed too much to the sun or high heat.I am keeping my weight around 80 kg,I am 176cm height(lost 5 kg since diagnosed)I am wondering if helping the body with low doses of insulin(while keeping the diet and exercise under control) is a good idea.Nobody answered to the question so far: will the insuline help the pancreas and extend his life or the insulin will make the pancreas lazy-which will shot down slowly(because it is smart,and lazy anyway).Currently the sugar goes from 7 before meal to 10-11 after eating(sometimes 12.5 if eating sweets).I was thinking to start a small dose of insulin(with effect for up to 24 hours) with the target of getting a1c=6.5.Could you please provide your advise .

 

[DaftThoughts]

Hey emil

There can be numerous reasons for increased fasting levels, or higher overall levels. Stress and environmental changes can do that. It doesn't look too worrying to me, but if you have Type 2 and insulin resistance, you may need to take another look at your diet.

Before we can give you more info, can you tell us what your diet and exercise regime is? What tablets do you take?

Nobody answered to the question so far: will the insuline help the pancreas and extend his life or the insulin will make the pancreas lazy-which will shot down slowly(because it is smart,and lazy anyway)

The whole 'your body gets lazy when you give it insulin' (and even vaccinations) thing is a bit myth. Your body's functions don't get lazy because you get outside support.

In my personal experience, I was on gliclazide because my DSN told me it prolonged beta-cells life and functions. However, as soon as I started taking it, my insulin production went down incredibly fast. Now I'm LADA and I would be insulin dependent either way, but I feel that overworking my remaining beta cells made them degrade faster. The few that were left had to work thrice as hard to keep up after all. The harder you work, the faster you wear out, and the same goes for your cells. This is anecdotal evidence but I have seen many others shared this experience on this forum, so I do believe there is truth in it.

I was thinking to start a small dose of insulin(with effect for up to 24 hours) with the target of getting a1c=6.5.Could you please provide your advise .

I think this is something you need to discuss with your health care team first, as they're the ones who will provide you with insulin if needed. However, the numbers you' put down make me think that a diet adjustment could be more beneficial to you. You're likely insulin resistant, which means that you need a lot more insulin to move the glucose in your blood around to your cells than non-IR people. You can prevent needing more insulin by reducing your carb intake - not just sugar and sweets, but also grains and starches. If there isn't a whole lot of glucose to move around, then your body doesn't need the extra insulin.

 

[CherryAA]

Hello,
I am 55 yo.I was diagnosed 5 years ago with diabetes type 2.Since then I am keeping the sugar under control with diet and exercise.I adjusted the sugar level from 14.5 to 7(fasting) . My a1c=6.9 for last 4 years.Since my family doctor is telling me that I am doing great and I shuld not take pills,the specialist is giving me serious warnings to take medications to prevent associated risks.While the a1c is about constant, I have noticed in the last year that it is harder to keep the same levels of sugar.With the same diet and exercise, I get 7-7.3 in the morning, versus 6-before.I do believe that the pills will slowly harm my body-if taken .At the same time I am afraid that overall the sugar level is a bit high.I do have some hard palpitations(I had them before but no heart problems discovered) but also lately I feel my pulse in my body especially in the afternoon/evening.This feeling is also not new but before I had it only when exposed too much to the sun or high heat.I am keeping my weight around 80 kg,I am 176cm height(lost 5 kg since diagnosed)I am wondering if helping the body with low doses of insulin(while keeping the diet and exercise under control) is a good idea.Nobody answered to the question so far: will the insuline help the pancreas and extend his life or the insulin will make the pancreas lazy-which will shot down slowly(because it is smart,and lazy anyway).Currently the sugar goes from 7 before meal to 10-11 after eating(sometimes 12.5 if eating sweets).I was thinking to start a small dose of insulin(with effect for up to 24 hours) with the target of getting a1c=6.5.Could you please provide your advise .

Hi there,

Take a look at the website of Dr Jason Fung -
https://idmprogram.com/

you do not need to join the actual program, there is plenty of info in the blogs and lectures, that might give you some ideas around how to get to the next level of control.
In terms of the changes that you foods are making it looks like you may still be eating too many carbohyrdates - look at options for Keto or LCHF such as www.dietdoctor.com

good luck !

 

[emil.popa]

Hey emil

There can be numerous reasons for increased fasting levels, or higher overall levels. Stress and environmental changes can do that. It doesn't look too worrying to me, but if you have Type 2 and insulin resistance, you may need to take another look at your diet.

Before we can give you more info, can you tell us what your diet and exercise regime is? What tablets do you take?



The whole 'your body gets lazy when you give it insulin' (and even vaccinations) thing is a bit myth. Your body's functions don't get lazy because you get outside support.

In my personal experience, I was on gliclazide because my DSN told me it prolonged beta-cells life and functions. However, as soon as I started taking it, my insulin production went down incredibly fast. Now I'm LADA and I would be insulin dependent either way, but I feel that overworking my remaining beta cells made them degrade faster. The few that were left had to work thrice as hard to keep up after all. The harder you work, the faster you wear out, and the same goes for your cells. This is anecdotal evidence but I have seen many others shared this experience on this forum, so I do believe there is truth in it.



I think this is something you need to discuss with your health care team first, as they're the ones who will provide you with insulin if needed. However, the numbers you' put down make me think that a diet adjustment could be more beneficial to you. You're likely insulin resistant, which means that you need a lot more insulin to move the glucose in your blood around to your cells than non-IR people. You can prevent needing more insulin by reducing your carb intake - not just sugar and sweets, but also grains and starches. If there isn't a whole lot of glucose to move around, then your body doesn't need the extra insulin.

Hello dear (I didn't catch your name,sorry)
thank you for your words,I haven't chat at all until now,I am an old fashion guy..I don't know a lot of staff, abreviations, terms but I will get them on the road..Ok some details about my diet,I am not good in calculating the calories but from my description you may be able to evaluate my diet.In the morning I eat a moderate portion(250gr) of organic oats-still cut, not boiled, mixed with blueberries and almond milk-home made plus 5-10 wallnuts . Before lunch(sometime after) I have a smouthy-aprox 250-300 gr made of 1 lemon,grapes,apple,other fruits.At lunch-chiken soup/beans soup/other suop/ and/or rais with some fish or chicken,vegetable plus a large salad made from tomatos, cucumber,onion,peper. Dinner ,around 6.30:1 slice of bread with soup or second dish,1 apple or similar fruit.I was eating 4-5 fruits until now, now try to reduce to 2-3.My daughter is just finishing Nutrition course,I believe the food quality is OK or above.Can I reduce the bread or amouuts of fruit even more?Yes.Bottom line is that I have already reduced dramatic the starches, bread-which I like a lot.I cut also some fruits(watermelone,other sweet fruits)I understand that this battle is for life,I am mature and perseverent, but admitting feeling frustrated sometimes.In regards with exercise:at lunch 30 minfasr walking, in the evening going to gym, fast walking for 10 min then some exercises for musclesush ups, weights,etc etc.Observations:The one that counts for droping the sugar level is walking or running and not exercises for muscles(at least the reading after gym showing that),Generally if the sugar level is 10 after dinner,I walk outside during the summer for 1 hour and get 6-6.5 sugar level . In the morning I used to get 6 but now is 7 or 7.3.What is LADA?Whay is Gliclazin?Why do you believe that after takinh gliclazid your insulin level dropped fast?You don;t believe in "lazy" mith but it may be the case.I don't take any pills. Why?Very probably if I take the pills I don't do exercise and more indulgent with sweet staff.I my mind was this: as time as my a1c is below 7 it means that the diabetes is well under control.Why should I take the pills that will damage my liver or other side effects? why shouldn't I take small dose of insulin which is much close in nature to what the body produces?I believe that the doctor was trained to prescribe pills insted of insulin just because the pills are more expensive..Plus after 10-20 years of pills you will definitely need other pills in attempt to resolve the damages already made..Why the people continue to take pills once they are under the insulin? Isn't the insulin able to proper reduce the sugar level?I believe it is, but the pills are more expensive.. sorry about my theory.I am falling asleep but continuing later.Thank you again for your words!!