Type 2 needing insulin

alicia kerr

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
For those who have kindly answered my previous threads in the Type 2 forum I have now at last seen a consultant who was very efficient in her consultation. However, she worked for Central Manchester Trust. I was also in the meantime referred to the Specialist Diabetic Nurses at South Manchester Trust who were to start me on insulin, as I have now had no successful oral treatment for my diabetes for longer than three weeks since May 2018. My latest HbA1c was 85!
Firstly I was told they could not treat me until I had a consultant from the South Manchester Trust and then that they required a diary with blood glucose readings of 4 times per day for a period in order for them to assess what I needed. As I eat twice per day my readings reflected that but were of no use and I stupidly didn't realise this requirement. I now have another appoint for 6 weeks time.
The message I am getting is that my blood sugar levels may be high, they may be affecting my eyesight, my lymphoedema in my legs and feet, my fibromyalgia and shooting pains in my feet, thought by my podiatrist to be signs of diabetic neuropathy and a host of other medical problems I may have, but thats ok, I can wait another 6 weeks for perhaps another assessment, but still on no treatment. Therefore my diabetes is not important!
So can I safely say that all the hype about looking after yourself to avoid diabetes is not worth bothering about? 21months of no real treatment and waiting to be seen seems to point to that.
This forum has been great to air my upsets and disappointments but I feel now that the NHS is well and truly useless to me and if I died while waiting for treatment due to complications, no professional would really care, but they may breath a sigh of relief to have me off their books because they cant deal with my complex history of multiple chronic illnesses. The ethical principal of first 'do no harm' doesn't seem to exist anymore (I might have said that before).
I feel quite low with a Christmas tide of misery before me. My inclination is to behave as though I didn't have diabetes (eating drinking and being merry) until Im next seen in January, but I know no one else will care about the consequences but me and my family.
Im only writing because I feel so desperately upset and low at the moment, so sorry. Will of course try to get an appointment with my Gp tomorrow, but that may take a few weeks before Im seen there. It will make my 11th medical appointment this month. Any solace out there?
I am posting here as well as in type 2 as responses may be different.
 

Marie 2

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Pump
I am sorry to hear that it has not been an easy journey. And I am sorry to hear you are so down. Big hugs your way.
Please do call and tell them how depressed you are and hopefully they fit you in sooner than later. Do keep in mind if you go too high and are worried go to emergency for immediate treatment. Or in too much pain etc. That also might bypass the wait some for treatment.

Honestly what doesn't help with your mood is high blood sugar, it can be the cause of being so upset. But while the NHS has let you down, it is you that will pay the consequences. So you need to brush it off and figure out the next best way to help yourself. That in itself should help your mood some, when you have a plan of action and don't feel so helpless? Maybe it's going to emergency, maybe it's changing what you eat until you get insulin but maybe a plan of action will help.

I really hope you feel better soon, I'm very sorry to hear you are so sad. I am not in England but I believe I remember hearing they have some organizations that you can call and talk to. Someone should be along that can help you with that and is also more familiar with the NHS system.

I think it's night there right now but I will tag a few moderators so they see this when they are here and maybe they know who can help you more.

@Diakat @Juicyj @urbanracer
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: urbanracer

alicia kerr

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thank you Marie. Being abroad and it being night here doesn’t make any difference to me as I went to sleep about midnight and woke at 2 ish. I’ve been awake since as I’m too upset to sleep. I’m getting up now after a nightmare of a night. I have deploying self help in the absence of adequate medical attention since May 2018. I’m physically mentally and emotionally frazzled now and dont really want to bother with them anymore. Thank you for responding
 

urbanracer

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
5,186
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
Hi @alicia kerr ,

I am a little surprised by your story as the NHS don't usually wait around when somebody needs to go on insulin. Maybe it's because a T2 is not likely to have DKA that they are less worried about the time factor?

I don't want to start a political debate about the NHS but I think we all know that despite the best efforts of the men and women who work in it, it is struggling to cope with the number of patients it has to see. I have now been waiting 2 years for an immunology appointment. So you are not alone in feeling frustrated.

I can only suggest that you try to get your carbohydrate intake down to the bare minimum for the next few weeks. This will help to relieve your high glucose levels a little.

Hang in there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marie 2

Diakat

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
5,591
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
The smell of cigars
@alicia kerr it sounds like a very difficult situation. Can you put all these points in writing? The pain, the waiting time and the fear of high sugars damaging your body? Then copy it to your go, consultant and nursing team. It should make them realise that you need to be seen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marie 2

Juicyj

Expert
Retired Moderator
Messages
9,015
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Hypos, rude people, ignorance and grey days.
Sorry to hear your feeling low @alicia kerr its hardly a surprise considering the circumstances, I know your feeling deflated but if you let it go and blow out over Xmas it will make you feel much worse so please try to take care of yourself, get out for a walk and try to eat sensibly, if you can do some gentle exercise and take care of yourself you will cope better mentally.

If I was in your situation I would do as suggested above and write it all down, go back to your team, explain it to them, sometimes when we are at our lowest we need to work harder to be heard, don't leave until you've been seen and heard but focus on asking for support and getting it, let us know how you get on, also it may help if you see someone else there too, so good luck hun stay strong x
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marie 2 and Diakat

DumfriesDik

Well-Known Member
Messages
224
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Carbs
Hi @alicia kerr, my heart goes out to youm it sounds like a nightmare for you. I hope you can have this escalated, we are always told how serious diabetes is and it is so frustrating when the system doesn't seem to support you as you would hope it would.

Fingers crossed things start to move for you soon.
 

want_to_be_well_

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Have you tried low carb diet and fasting ? From what i have learned insulin makes things worse for T2 diabetes and prevents weight loss. Low carb and fasting - Lower insulin levels - lower insulin resistance and greater fat burning capacity. I was 17/12 stone and I am now down to 14 stone 4. If you are overweight then extra insulin will make things worse. See video's on You Tube by Dr Jason Fung.
 

alicia kerr

Member
Messages
22
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thanks guys for all your support. Finally yesterday the 12 December I won a small but depressing battle and was prescribed a background insulin Toujeo. Its 4am and i'm about to look up side effects as I've just woken and had to take my wedding ring off as my left hand is twice the size it should be. Hey ho I must have been so wicked as a child haha.
 

Marie 2

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Pump
@alicia kerr That is not a "normal" side effect of taking insulin, something is wrong. Maybe you are allergic, maybe it is not diabetes related, but get to a doctor to get checked!
 
  • Like
Reactions: NaijaChick