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About to start Insulin

Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,

I'm looking to hear from people's experiences and what to expect.

I've been t2 for 2 years and had it under control. Over the last few months this has crept up and during September it never dropped below 12. My diet is very good, bmi 21 and exercise regularly so no reason for the increase.

Doc says my Pancreas can't produce so doubled my glicazade and if this doesnt work after 4 weeks to go onto an insulin shot once a day. This worked for a week as dropped to around 8, though I did fast a couple of times.

Now with no changes I'm up at 16 for the last few days and seemly heading for an insulin shot.

So what can I expect?

Many thanks.
 
Hi,

I’m type 2 ans started on inusulin a year ago after my low carb diet stopping working and my blood sugar steadily increasing. I was given very little information at the time, just left to follow the information leaflet in the packet.

So I recommend you ask them to show you how and where to inject. You also need a sharps bin to store used needles, and information on how to dispose of it once full and get a replacement. Insulin you are not using should be kept in the fridge, but the pen currently open is kept out of the fridge.

You need to inform DVLA if you drive. They will want to know you haven’t had any hypos which need help from another person, and that you are aware of hypo signs. I was able to do that on line and they issued me a new license which needs renewing every three years.

I expect you will be started on a low dose, and this will be adjusted slowly until you get to a good result.

I would make sure you always have hypo treatments on hand just in case.

The actual injecting is fine, I find no more than a momentary prick and sometimes a slight stinging.the pens are easy to work.

What else would you like to know?
 
I agree with @lovinglife @Jordy McKirgan . 2 years is a very short period of time from diagnosis to insulin for T2. Without having a C-Peptide test there is no way of knowing how much insulin your pancreas is producing. I would ask your Dr for a C-Peptide test.

C-Peptides are tested rather than insulin because C-Peptides are far more stable outside of the body than insulin is. C-Peptides have a direct correlation to insulin production and C-Peptides are by product of insulin production. If your C-Peptides are low in relation to your blood sugars then it would show your pancreas’ insulin production is low. Then your Dr may suspect LADA/T1. T1 would be confirmed with an autoantibody test.
If your C- Peptides are found to be high, which would mean your pancreas is producing a lot of insulin then a T2 diagnosis would be likely.

Edited spelling
 

dvla is pretty much nice and easy grab form from post office diab1 still allowed drive normally (unless u marked hypo's). whilst waiting on license. I'll add something i think is pretty important. Hypo's which need help from another person... that means you actually were in a position unable to treat it yourself. If you were able to treat but had help you do not require to let them know.

 
Thanks lakeslover. This is the type of feedback I was looking for. Kind of serious and not to be taken lightly, so will do plenty of research now.
 
Thanks Melgar. You really have to be prepared when you speak to the nurse! Thank you for this and I'll read up before my appt.
 
Thanks for this. Much appreciated
 
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