Hi
@Steveh1970 ,
Let's start at the beginning: what type are you? Because being insulin dependent doesn't tell us much. I'm a Type 2, so I'm going from the perspective of one, and maybe that'll help. If you're a T1 however, ignore me entirely, and wait until someone actually useful comes along.
Being insulin dependent due to hyperglycemia is a bit, well... Yeah. Okay. Being a diabetic means your have hyperglycemia, otherwise you wouldn't be diabetic. The way you tackle it though is through insulin. If you know, however, that you aren't exactly trustworthy when it comes to taking enough of it, and on time, it may be an option to look to other methods. If you're a T2, then changing your diet could make a world of difference. As in, you might not need insulin at all if you cut down on, or cut out carbs completely. Because you know.... I have a bunch of conditions too. Rheumatism, hypothyroidism, migraines, PCOS, clinical depression, penchant for kidney stones, just to name a few... And guess what...? Diabetes is the ONLY condition I managed to get in control of right quick. Mind you, when there's a lot of physical stuff going on that can cause depression, if it's not present already (in my case, it was), and that makes self-care rather hard. But with T2, it was so easy to get my blood sugars back under control.. And with that, fix my non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, I got my cholesterol down, and my moodswings are a thing of the past. (I was a right dragon sometimes!). Not only that, it improved other conditions as well. Carbs are inflammatory by nature, so my rheumatism improved loads! Same with my irritable bowel issues and whatnot... Going low carb, well, it's not a cure-all, but it sure made a difference across the board. And not just for me either, many here have felt those effects.
The thing is, T2 doesn't seem like much. Until you don't do anything about it for too long. Then your kidneys fail. Your veins, your heart, they get damaged. Blindness is no fun. I don't usually use scare tactics, but T2 IS something to take seriously. My nan's aorta was torn from her heart, there was no saving her. My best friend's mum's heart ruptured. My uncle lost both his legs up to the knee. The phantom pain was one thing, but he had to sit on massive haemorrhoids all day. And then, of course, his heart gave out too, eventually. I know you're aware of the long-term implications, but
have you looked at those in combination with what you're already dealing with? Can you afford to add all that onto what is already going on? Isn't it all enough, or too much even, as it is? So if T2 is do-able, why not tackle that so you can focus on other things?
Like I said, I have clinical depression. So self-care is an issue. But, I saw how my aunt had to lift my uncle in and out of bed, help him take a ****, and while she moved mountains on her own, they still needed a nurse about the house. I'll be damned if I put my husband through that. And make him an early widower? I lost my partner when I was 18. I'll never,
ever put him through that kind of grief, if I can, at all, help it. Find your motivation, inside or outside of yourself, because diabetes really is no joke... And like I said, if T2, there's such an easy fix.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ might help. And keep in mind that if you do make changes in your diet, you absolutely HAVE TO test... Because you can and likely will hypo if you start cutting carbs blind. And the idea if that you get better, not comatose or dead.
Also.... You don't have to do this alone. There's a whole forum here that can support, help, or just listen.
Good luck eh.
Jo