To be (on insulin), or not to be? That is the question!!

[taylor marley]

Hi, I guess you must be in a desperate state to be asking this question at 2.16am.

I hope this helps. Last week I went for my review for type 2. My bg's have been from 12 - 16 all the time since diagnosis 6 years ago. I was told they wanted to put me on insulin and this was the kick up the backside I needed. I am also obese and after stopping smoking and many other life issues along with depression food became my friend. When down, lonely, bored or anything else, food was the only thing left to turn to.

I begged for a last chance before insulin which they gave me. I lost half a stone, had more energy, not tired constantly and my bg's range from 3.2 - 6.9 which I have never been close to before. All that improvement within a week. All I did was set my mind on avoiding insuin. I don't eat all the chocolate, cakes, chips and everything else I knew I shouldn't be eating. I am also restricted with green leafy veg, brocolli and lettuce as I am on warfarin so this limits the veg and salad. My new friend is wholemeal toast and lean ham sandwiches with wholemeal bread.

I must confess I was a proper pig and a gluton until last week. Now I hardly have any carbs or sugar and I honestly don't want them. I want to carry on losing (loads more to go). Good luck I was in exactly the same boat as you a week a go. If I can do it ANYBODY can and that includes you. I want updates please as to how you are getting on. Jx

 

[rhinos01]

i was in the same situation as you, i started on insulin 4 weeks ago after my brother saying i should have gone on it earlier after 2 or 3 weeks i feel ten times better hardly tired at all

 

[Unbeliever]

No disrespect to anyone but I too, made a decision to ry to stay off insulin for as long as possible and what srikes me about the Op and some of the others is how lucky they are to have such room to manoeuvre!
I am not saying it s easy because we know that carbs ARE addictive - the more you eat ,the more you want but you are lucky to have this choice.

I was not overweight I ate a GI diet with reduced portions and I exercised. My HBA1C was in the nine's at one point due to stress and being unable o exercise because I was temporarily blind and my husband was on crutches and coudn't help/
The only reason I was being pushed to go on insulin was so my DSN could reach her targets!
Whatever, I was given a few months to bring doewn my HBAIC with very little leeway.
But I did it. By low carbing and finding ways o walk safely/ish as walking seems to be the best way to reduce my levels. Within a week I was having o reduce my medication to prevent daily hypos and this meant that the weight I had gained on the medicaion {while still being well within healthy BMI limits}dropped ff very quickly which also helped.
My HBA1C dropped by 3.5 in a few months and has continued to drop albeit much more gadually.

This required an anormous effort to begin wih. If you domn't eat much or many carbs already exercise {under diffficulty}
then it can be very hard work indeed to find a way of reducig your levels. But I did it and I am very glad I did so.

It must surely be a little easier to reduce your carb intake if you are eaing a lot, to sar eercising alittle if you do none at all ec.
You can make gradual changes which will probably show immediate results and be more susainable.
I thik I was motivated by anger because I felt the decision to ry to get me onto insulin was ot made in my bes interests and
without consideration for my difficulties at the ime. The bonuses offered o practices for encouraging patients to swih=ch to insulin also played their part.

I do no at all and never have underestimate he difficulty of losing weight and changing one's diet but for some posters it appears to be a straight choice for them. Puddings pies and wagon wheels or insulin.
They might remeber that everyone does not have hat choice - and T1s have none at all.

 

[Grazer]

Could you post that again in case anyone missed it unbeliever? :lol:

 

[Unbeliever]

Somewhere else perhaps :lol: I just tried to edit my post {magnifier in hand} and thought my retinopathy had entered a new phase! Maybe someone could help by deleting the others and I could then edit THE ONE REMANING post to make it legible!

Please!

I can't see my own typos immediately. Maybe I have developed quadruple vision? Or are here more more than four?

 

[Pneu]

I have removed your duplicates for you

 

[Unbeliever]

I have removed your duplicates for you

Thank Pneu, thanks Pneu , Thanks Pneu......{only joking}

 

[Grazer]

Thank Pneu,

Sounds like saying "thankyou" with a cold!

 

[xyzzy]

I wonder if our friend Geoff ever came back and read this thread?

It would be good to get some feedback.

Or perhaps the wheels have fallen off his wagon...

 

[snurger]

My thanks to everyone who took the trouble to respond to my plea!
I have been overwhelmed with the constructive comments that you have been kind enough to leave me.
My thanks to "xyzzy" for giving me a nudge to make my update.

J "Taylor Marley" spotted my plight very perceptively, in that my post was made at 2.16am, and was able to relate and empathise with my situation.

For those who intimated that I should face up to the situation, be less selfish, and consider my wife and family and how diabetes if not given appropriate effort on my part, could be devastating; I thank you too.

For the last few days I have been doing what I should have been doing for some considerable, because of course I knew "in my heart of hearts" what I needed to do.

I have joined a gym.
I have sweated profusely on the treadmill, and exercise bike followed by a few lengths of the swimming pool.
I have purchased a book on calories and carbs.
I have assisted my wife in sorting out what I should and must not eat.
I am eating five fruits/vegetables a day.
I am eating 4-portion controlled meals a day at regular intervals.
I have not eaten chocolate for 10-days.
I will no longer be eating biscuits, cake, puddings, except for one monthly treat!!

In short I have lifted myself out of my "poor me" and "I can't be bothered to help myself" modes, and have regained my positive attitude, and am looking forward to:

Reducing my BG levels - this is already happening.
Having a healthier life and maybe a longer one than I can currently expect.
Getting my HbA1c results down to 7.2 by the mid-April 2012, and reducing this from then on to acceptable/normal levels.
Getting rid of my ridiculously fat belly
Chucking out all my 3XL gear, and moving down to 2XL, followed by XL and hopefully in the not too distant future losing a total of 4-5 stones.

So finally, my sincere thanks to:
xyzzy
J (Taylor Marley)
Stephen (borofergie)
Swimmer 2
Helena
Smidge
AM Brennan
Grazer
Catherine Cherub
Sue R
Pneu
Borderter(rier?)
iHs
rhinos01
unbeliever
cjmen

My very best wishes to you all, and good luck with your own endeavours.

Geoff

 

[xyzzy]

Brilliant Geoff

Have a really long wonderful and healthy life.

Keep posting to let us all know how you're getting on.

 

[catherinecherub]

Wow, what a positive post :clap: :clap: :clap:
Thank you for thanking me in your list, I am so glad we have been of help to you in deciding the way forward and I promise that you will not regret it.
Keep posting and keep us updated.

More claps. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[smidge]

Nice one Geoff :clap:

You've done the really hard bit in assessing your lifestyle and deciding it need to change! It won't be easy along the way, but when you see the pounds dropping off and the BGs coming down, I'm sure it will spur you on.

Good luck with it and if you're ever feeling like falling off the waggon, come back and tell us - we'll try to get you on it again!

We're all rooting for you!

Smidge

 

[Grazer]

Well done Geoff, great post.

 

[noblehead]

Great news Geoff :clap:

 

[DR MICHAIL]

Well I am exactly the same as you. I am 64 man, overweight and tall and been type 2 for 24 years. Firstly treated with tablets and now on insulin. I went through the same psychological experience as you although I am a doctor and should know better. I kept deferring the insulin treatment for a while despite my HbA1c was high and then my GP pushed me and asked me not to see him again unless I change my mind about Insulin.
I switched to Insulin with no problem and nowadays it is very easy to take and carry on your Insulin. I am a traveller and enjoy going every where and it never stopped me travelling. You can actually carry on normal life. However Insulin is not the answer, you should follow other measurements regarding your diet and exercises which unfortunately I did not. Actually I did attend exercises for a while and felt great. My BS went down including my BP and Cholesterol .But then I neglected my self and my weight went up again and ended with nerves damage and more seriously heart attack and needed urgent bypass heart operation 2 years ago.

The good news now is that there are other medication could be chosen before going on Insulin such as a drug called VICTOSA but that subjected to your treating team and their recommendation. Also even if you go on Insulin this Victosa can be given to you to help you lose weight which it did with me. I lost 2 stones in 3 months. It just suppress your appetite
I can not make more emphasis that you should stick to a healthy diet and exercise
Good luck

 

[Unbeliever]

Great to hear that Geoff, I am sure you will see fantastic results very soon and this will motivate you to carry on.

As you said you knew exacly what must be done really it just felt so daunting. You are ot alone. We all feel like that at times.

Look forward to hearing how you are geing on.

 

[Unbeliever]

Thank Pneu,

Sounds like saying "thankyou" with a cold!

BAH!

 

[Crafty74]

Geoff Glad to see things going well. :clap:
I'm a type2 diabetic for about 8yrs. Unluckily on insulin nearly straight away as allergic to Metformin. Also struggled to keep levels down as overweight and insulin not working to well since begining of last year. The good news was I was put on Byetta (exenatide) in October since then my Hba1c gone down by 2 and I have also lost nearly a stone, which I feel alot better for. :thumbup:
There are other meds that can help which do not have the driving restrictions that Insulin does. Speak to your Diabetic Specialist to discuss all options.
Hope control gets better soon.
Nigel