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At wits end

J

janemarie71

Member
Messages
24
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi

I’ve been T2 for nearly 20 years and have never been able to get my bs under control. I have been intolerant of every medication/injectable available with the exception of Ozempic, but I’m not allowed it anymore due to changes in the back of my eyes.

I was under a specialist team but they have discharged me back to my gp as I won’t take insulin due to weight gain/constant hunger.

I feel like I’ve been deserted. I feel like giving up. I’m trying low carb but find it difficult because I don’t eat meat.

sorry it’s a long, depressing post, but I feel I have no options, other than insulin and to be honest I’d rather die young than take it again.

Is there anyone who can help or has been in a similar situation?

Many thanks xx
 
janemarie71 said:
I feel like I’ve been deserted. I feel like giving up. I’m trying low carb but find it difficult because I don’t eat meat.
Click to expand...

It's not impossible (particularly if you're prepared to eat dairy or fish.

Are you overweight at all? Some people gain remission via weight loss, but honestly the most successful non medication route by the T2s on here appears to be low carb. There's a vegetarian section here.

Vegetarian Diet Forum | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

Please don't give up. Lots of virtual hugs.
 
Hi, sorry you are having a rough time, have you tried low carb combined with the insulin? Maybe you can at least keep your weight steady? Hunger in my opinion is in the mind, I also struggle with hunger and my weight and numbers even with insulin, hold on, in fact, I’m not going to try and suggest insulin is the best way forward, I’m gonna wait for your replies for advice for me lol, best wishes, I hope you (we) find a route to get control :)
 
Last edited:
Hello. It is not clear if you are Vegan, Vegetarian or WFPB. These groups may help you lower your carbs https://www.facebook.com/groups/vego.keto, https://www.facebook.com/groups/320351758396552. I am part of these groups as a carnivore as I can still use some of the recipes along with my preferred proteins.

It can't be sugar coated, plant based Keto is more difficult. If your meat view is anything other than religious, other areas such as cancer risk or the environment have counter arguments that make more sense.
 
Plant based keto would be challenging, but I'm a bog standard vegetarian (happy to eat eggs and dairy) and have no problem finding things to eat. Quorn is nicely low carb as well so there are plenty of recipes out there to use.

My staples are plenty of above ground vegetables - cucumber, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli - with eggs and cheese. Cheese omelettes are my easy, go-to meal.

(Disclaimer, I have added some fish back into my diet, but for the Omega-3s rather than dietary variety. I have it once a week at most)
 
EllieM said:
It's not impossible (particularly if you're prepared to eat dairy or fish.

Are you overweight at all? Some people gain remission via weight loss, but honestly the most successful non medication route by the T2s on here appears to be low carb. There's a vegetarian section here.

Vegetarian Diet Forum | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

Please don't give up. Lots of virtual hugs.
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for your reply. I do have weight to lose. I’ll check out the veggie link. Thanks again xx
 
Fenn said:
Hi, sorry you are having a rough time, have you tried low carb combined with the insulin? Maybe you can at least keep your weight steady? Hunger in my opinion is in the mind, I also struggle with hunger and my weight and numbers even with insulin, hold on, in fact, I’m not going to try and suggest insulin is the best way forward, I’m gonna wait for your replies for advice for me lol, best wishes, I hope you (we) find a route to get control :)
Click to expand...

haha! Fingers crossed for both of us!!
 
If you are still eating a lot of carbs, I would expect cutting them would be your first and best option. I appreciate that may be easier said than done, but if you're in such dire straits medication-wise, I'd say it's got to be worth a try.
 
Mbaker said:
Hello. It is not clear if you are Vegan, Vegetarian or WFPB. These groups may help you lower your carbs https://www.facebook.com/groups/vego.keto, https://www.facebook.com/groups/320351758396552. I am part of these groups as a carnivore as I can still use some of the recipes along with my preferred proteins.

It can't be sugar coated, plant based Keto is more difficult. If your meat view is anything other than religious, other areas such as cancer risk or the environment have counter arguments that make more sense.
Click to expand...

I’m vegetarian. I don’t eat meat as I don’t like it. Thank you for your suggestions - will check it out.
 
Widgets said:
Plant based keto would be challenging, but I'm a bog standard vegetarian (happy to eat eggs and dairy) and have no problem finding things to eat. Quorn is nicely low carb as well so there are plenty of recipes out there to use.

My staples are plenty of above ground vegetables - cucumber, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli - with eggs and cheese. Cheese omelettes are my easy, go-to meal.

(Disclaimer, I have added some fish back into my diet, but for the Omega-3s rather than dietary variety. I have it once a week at most)
Click to expand...

Thank you so much!
 
Geordie_P said:
If you are still eating a lot of carbs, I would expect cutting them would be your first and best option. I appreciate that may be easier said than done, but if you're in such dire straits medication-wise, I'd say it's got to be worth a try.
Click to expand...

thank you
 
It is easy to do low carb if vegetarian although I little harder for vegans.
Eggs, cheese, some nuts and seeds plus loads of green veg and salad. Also mushrooms and cauliflower (rice or mash),
Add butter or a decent oil to salad and veg.
Have Greek yogurt with a few berries.
 
I also find it easy to control my blood glucose levels without eating meat. I base every meal around protein and add in healthy fats and lots of above ground vege. Protein sources include fish, seafood, eggs, cheese, full fat plain yoghurt, Quorn, pulses and nuts and I aim to have three different sources a day.
I know Type 2 people who have even been able to come off insulin and all other medications except Metformin by following this type of eating plan. A surprising side effect is also often weight loss!
 
janemarie71 said:
Hi

I was under a specialist team but they have discharged me back to my gp as I won’t take insulin due to weight gain/constant hunger.
Click to expand...
"Practice two things in your dealings with disease: either help or do not harm the patient." Hippocrates Epidemics.

I wouldn't take insulin for the same reason you wouldn't and put the same problem to our Diabetic Nurse 'Am I not producing insulin or am I insulin resistant?' She had no idea and seemed to me to have stumbled at the first hurdle. Of course T2s are notoriously insulin resistant, so unless a medic knows the patient is not producing insulin there isn't much point in giving it. It's like passing a drowning man a pail of water.
 
janemarie71 said:
Hi

I’ve been T2 for nearly 20 years and have never been able to get my bs under control. I have been intolerant of every medication/injectable available with the exception of Ozempic, but I’m not allowed it anymore due to changes in the back of my eyes.

I was under a specialist team but they have discharged me back to my gp as I won’t take insulin due to weight gain/constant hunger.

I feel like I’ve been deserted. I feel like giving up. I’m trying low carb but find it difficult because I don’t eat meat.

sorry it’s a long, depressing post, but I feel I have no options, other than insulin and to be honest I’d rather die young than take it again.

Is there anyone who can help or has been in a similar situation?

Many thanks xx
Click to expand...
You don't need to eat meat in order to low carb. On the main forum menu there is a section for low carb vegatarians. I eat little meat myself
 
TriciaWs said:
It is easy to do low carb if vegetarian although I little harder for vegans.
Eggs, cheese, some nuts and seeds plus loads of green veg and salad. Also mushrooms and cauliflower (rice or mash),
Add butter or a decent oil to salad and veg.
Have Greek yogurt with a few berries.
Click to expand...


Thank you, Tricia xx
 
johnme said:
"Practice two things in your dealings with disease: either help or do not harm the patient." Hippocrates Epidemics.

I wouldn't take insulin for the same reason you wouldn't and put the same problem to our Diabetic Nurse 'Am I not producing insulin or am I insulin resistant?' She had no idea and seemed to me to have stumbled at the first hurdle. Of course T2s are notoriously insulin resistant, so unless a medic knows the patient is not producing insulin there isn't much point in giving it. It's like passing a drowning man a pail of water.
Click to expand...

interesting!! Thank you.
 
Dr Snoddy said:
I also find it easy to control my blood glucose levels without eating meat. I base every meal around protein and add in healthy fats and lots of above ground vege. Protein sources include fish, seafood, eggs, cheese, full fat plain yoghurt, Quorn, pulses and nuts and I aim to have three different sources a day.
I know Type 2 people who have even been able to come off insulin and all other medications except Metformin by following this type of eating plan. A surprising side effect is also often weight loss!
Click to expand...

Fab! Thank you so much! Xx
 
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