Will I feel better on insulin?

[MontyScooby]

As above, T2 for 12 years. (Age 53).
Diet and medication (metformin and canagliflozin).
I stopped taking my morning Metformin due to intolerable side effects (afraid to go out due to stomach issues).
Diet wise, don't do low carb, but eat protein and vegetables mainly.
Hba1c last year 53, now 67 (obviously not great).

So I'm seriously considering insulin. Will I feel better? Less side effects?

TIA.

 

[miahara]

You really need to discuss your specific situation with an endocrinologist. Diabetes is a complex range of conditions and causes and there's no single one-size fits all answer.

 

[Maco]

Personally I would say if you can avoid insulin then do it, it’s certainly not as easy as jumping on a type of insulin injecting a number of times a day and having perfect control. I really wish it was. I’m type 1 my dads type 2, he’s swapped and changed before metformin & insulin and if I’m honest his control is absolutely terrible with insulin compared to tablets.

 

[MontyScooby]

Thank you for both replies. I haven't seen an endocrinologist and mainly see a diabetes specialist nurse. I have tried other medications including trialling a weekly injection. Pancreas was not happy. I'm listening about the insulin but ultimately worry about the long term effects of high sugars on the body. In many ways I feel that I don't have enough studies to read to know what's best. Do you guys have any links of interest. Thankyou

 

[ert]

I only take insulin because my life depends on it. It's certainly not the easy option.

 

[Maco]

Thank you for both replies. I haven't seen an endocrinologist and mainly see a diabetes specialist nurse. I have tried other medications including trialling a weekly injection. Pancreas was not happy. I'm listening about the insulin but ultimately worry about the long term effects of high sugars on the body. In many ways I feel that I don't have enough studies to read to know what's best. Do you guys have any links of interest. Thankyou

My advice would be to speak to your diabetic nurse, ask if they could refer you to a consultant at the hospital but with everything going on that could take forever. I haven’t seen my consultant for 18 month now and it’ll probably be over 2 year by the time I do get round to seeing him. I do yearly check ups but because of COVID everything has been cancelled. I can understand your concern because what your doing obviously doesn’t seem to be working. You’ll get 100’s if not 1000’s of different answers on the internet and forums because everyone’s body is different. Good luck and I hope your sorted soon.

 

[MontyScooby]

I only take insulin because my life depends on it. It's certainly not the easy option.

My first problems started during pregnancy 27 years and I've tried almost everything in that time. My daughter thinks I'm type 1.5, I had no idea I had walked around with sugars at 120 on meds. I feel as though options are limited.

 

[MontyScooby]

My advice would be to speak to your diabetic nurse, ask if they could refer you to a consultant at the hospital but with everything going on that could take forever. I haven’t seen my consultant for 18 month now and it’ll probably be over 2 year by the time I do get round to seeing him. I do yearly check ups but because of COVID everything has been cancelled. I can understand your concern because what your doing obviously doesn’t seem to be working. You’ll get 100’s if not 1000’s of different answers on the internet and forums because everyone’s body is different. Good luck and I hope your sorted soon.

You make a very good point about forums. Thankyou for the support. Stay well.

 

[bulkbiker]

Diet wise, don't do low carb

Could I ask why not give it a go and see if you get better levels.. what do you have to lose?

 

[JoKalsbeek]

As above, T2 for 12 years. (Age 53).
Diet and medication (metformin and canagliflozin).
I stopped taking my morning Metformin due to intolerable side effects (afraid to go out due to stomach issues).
Diet wise, don't do low carb, but eat protein and vegetables mainly.
Hba1c last year 53, now 67 (obviously not great).

So I'm seriously considering insulin. Will I feel better? Less side effects?

TIA.

I'm not reading a reason why low carb wouldn't be an option. Your blood glucose isn't good, but it's not devastatingly awful. Low carb could be all that's needed to get you back into the normal range. Lord knows mine were worse than yours are, and I got mine back down just fine on diet.

It's not just a forum thing, by the way, the varying answers... Your needs are specific to you. Your insulin resistance, sensitivity and production are unique to your person. That's why it's advisable to just test around meals and see what happens. You're aiming for a rise of no more than 2.0 mmol/l between before the meal and two hours after the first bite. If it's higher, you had more carbs than you could process. The thing with t2, the bulk of us are insulin insensitive... We make a lot of the stuff, and aren't sensitive to it anymore. So if you start adding in even more insulin, it might help to get your blood sugars down, yes... But it'll just mean ever increasing amounts will be needed to get the desired effect. Assuming, of course, that you indeed are a T2 and not a T1,5. That's a whole different ballgame.

All in all... Bulk made a good point: what have you got to lose?

 

[Daibell]

Hi. You really must consider keeping the carbs right down. To be honest it's not really an option it's almost a must. Exercise will always help. You are likely to be insulin resistant with that BS level and taking insulin my not help much as your body may already have a lot and can't use it. If you are slim, however, there is always the possibility of being T1/LADA in which case still go low carb but insulin may be a great help. BTW did you try Metformin SR (Slow Release) instead of the plain version?

 

[Fenn]

After 2+ years (I think) on insulin, No! Do everything else you can, no upside to insulin im afraid, Do everything else first.

Ok having a magic way of bringing down bg is kinda cool but everything else is rubbish.