Deciding to go on insulin

Sam_Alexander said:

Hello, I’m new here and looking for advice. I’ve been diabetic (T2) for approximately 12years, currently on Gliclizide, Sitigliptin and Metformin, plus a statin and Blood Pressure meds. I’m on large doses of these, unfortunately my diabetes previously well controlled by these meds, but on my recent review both my blood sugars, cholesterol and blood pressure are seriously out of control. My GP has suggested a switch to insulin to prevent and damage to my internal organs. I am overweight and sedentary, these issues I can address, but, it will take time to achieve this, and I don’t think it’s on my side. Is it possible or advisable to go on insulin until these issues are sorted and then revert to meds / diet controlled, or is it a case of once you’re on insulin that’s it. Also how complicated is it to take insulin? Apologies for the long post, my heads spinning and I just don’t know what to do. Thank you

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Hi, sorry you are struggling, I have just been put onto insulin, Iwasnt really given a choice, I was also on max meds and couldnt get my numbers anywhere close to where they needed to be.

For a week now I have been injecting, its so easy to do, I wouldnt pretend its a pleasant experience but after the first time, its no worse than a finger prick test, possibly easier or less painful at least.

My bg is finally coming down, I am feeling alot more positive abut everything and feel like it was a very good move for me, it is early days but so far so good.

There is an argument for not taking insulin if you are insulin resistant because you would technically already have enough, I dont know about that but I do know one thing, high blood glucose over long periods is doing us no good at all and something needs to be done before things start to go wrong for us.

I am an insulin newbie so just wanted to say in my very short experience, its nothing to worry about, best wishes

Im not on insulin so cannot answer your question about how complicated it is to start it, but I would see insulin in the same light as other medications - as a tool to used as and when needed but at as lower dose as needed and for the shortest time necessary. - sometimes long, sometimes short
I would not see going onto insulin as necessarily being a one way street - blood sugar control can be affected by many things of which medication is only one part. When I was first diagnosed, I was in hospital and put straight onto an insulin pump as my sugars were so high but was I was off it in a couple of months or so and have remained insulin free for the last 22 years.

This is a tricky one for you. Welcome to the forum btw!
Your doctor i s right that high bgs will damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nervous system.
If you start taking insulin it will help but before too long you will need to take more of it as you become increasingly insulin resistant (its like giving alcohol to an alcoholic to take away the shakes). It is dubious that insulin or the gliptin you are taking will reduce your risk of complications (studies done 10 years ago showed this). They merely treat the outward symptom of insulin resistance which is high blood sugars by taking the sugar out of your blood and putting it elsewhere in your body. Other symptoms o f insulin resistance (also known as metabolic syndrome) are a fatty liver, disordered lipids and high blood pressure all of which are doubtless being treated with separate pills?
Yes you could lower your blood sugars temporarily at least but it will likely not help you lose weight (most people gain weight). I am sure some insulin users will reassure you about getting used to injections, blood tests and hypos but I wonder if it is worth it in health terms?
he drugs you are taking now are not helping to mitigate the risks and nor will extra insulin. IMO you need to get your own insulin working well again via the kind of dietary interventions you will see on this site (go to Success Stories for inspiration).
What are your other options as far as you are concerned? What are you ready to chagne in order to avoid the jabs?!

The good people above should be listened to before myself, as I say I am a newbie and very happy to be ignored

Fenn said:

The good people above should be listened to before myself, as I say I am a newbie and very happy to be ignored

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I think your comment upthread is a valid one. Although you too are new to insulin use you have way more experience of insulin than I do so keep commenting on your experiences as this gives invaluable info.

Jaylee said:

That's not even to mention certain days or times of the day where insulin sensitivity may change too, along with other "variables." (Like activity levels.)

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Also if in the UK, then the DVLA has to be informed

I wasnt promoting it as good idea, for me it is a last resort, no one in their right mind wants to inject themselves or take the risk of having hypos, all I know is, today my bg has been 7.1-7.8, 6.5-9.5, 6.9-? Before last week I was seeing 18’s on average, so I was just trying to reassure OP that it isnt all bad, or hasnt been for me so far

Hi and welcome Sam. I know nothing personally about insulin use but no one has touched on diet. Sam have you thought about any adjustments you could make in your diet? I don’t know if you already restrict you carb intake, but I found doing that reduced my blood sugars, enabled me to lose a shed load of weight and get my blood pressure down to the point where I halved my BP meds and now have a text book reading.

Have you tried anything other than meds? Eg low carb/ exercise? Are you ready to do so? Now? These things if not already in place could happen alongside temporary insulin therapy or instead of it. You could ask to be reassessed earlier it you do lifestyle alone eg in one month or two to see how much difference it makes rather than wait a longer period of time where more damage could be done if it doesn’t work for you.

If you do both the advantage I see is hopefully a quick response. The disadvantage is it’ll be harder to tell which therapy is doing what and you’ll be needing to constantly readjust the insulin levels.

We always have a choice in type 2 if we’re still producing insulin and haven’t tried everything else. Look at your life and your ability to manage whichever options you have and choose the best there is for you.

My personal choice would be to try very hard to avoid the complications of insulin if I had a viable alternative even if that was hard work. If I didn’t have that option then I’d accept it, be grateful it existed and work **** hard to make that choice work well for me.

Sam_Alexander said:

Hello, I’m new here and looking for advice. I’ve been diabetic (T2) for approximately 12years, currently on Gliclizide, Sitigliptin and Metformin, plus a statin and Blood Pressure meds. I’m on large doses of these, unfortunately my diabetes previously well controlled by these meds, but on my recent review both my blood sugars, cholesterol and blood pressure are seriously out of control. My GP has suggested a switch to insulin to prevent and damage to my internal organs. I am overweight and sedentary, these issues I can address, but, it will take time to achieve this, and I don’t think it’s on my side. Is it possible or advisable to go on insulin until these issues are sorted and then revert to meds / diet controlled, or is it a case of once you’re on insulin that’s it. Also how complicated is it to take insulin? Apologies for the long post, my heads spinning and I just don’t know what to do. Thank you

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I would suggest that anyone who has excess weight tries to get that down thru low-carbing before moving to insulin. Taking insulin if and when insulin resistant may not be very effective and add insulin when not needed and require very large shots. Going onto insulin is not as bad as it sounds but it is a constant worry about going hypo particularly when driving.

@Sam_Alexander welcome to the cross roads, where you decide what to do about your health.

I decided to go low carb to try and get rid of my insulin therapy but it wasn't enough. I exercised extra too but ended up with a nipped nerve where my back meets my pelvis and very bad scatica for 3yrs, I think, now. I also developed fast heart beat so had to double up on betablockers which cause dizziness and weakness/fatigue. Hence I now walk in pain so I'm not as active. I need a walking aid for my unsteadiness.
Are you able to exercise freely and why don't you already keep active? Is there a reason for your inactivity? Also is dieting a problem to you?

I'm not advising this but I've come to the conclusion weightloss is my answer, for me. I'm awaiting a bariatric bypass. Low carbing and my restricted walking and swimming isn't enough for my severe insulin resistance.
I need the extra weight off ASAP, if I want to see grandchildren and them grow up.

Even on insulin you have to watch your diet and get in as much exercise as possible.

Going on insulin makes me feel capable of exercise when I wasn't taking betablockers and all other meds... and no back/pelvis horrendous pain.
In pregnancy I was full of energy, in both.

I have no energy or I'm in considerable pain currently. Weight loss will change that for me. I'm constantly told.
I'm just waiting for an op date.

Insulin stops damage to the whole body. I wouldn't risk no insulin therapy now. I'd have to see hypos all the time to consider even reducing units.

Hi @Sam_Alexander, From experience as a Type 1 diabetic who has read a bit, not as professional advice or opinion.
How are you going to manage weight loss and your lifestyle? Have your tried any particular weight loss therapies in the past? Did they work?
What has your doctor and DSN recommended in terms of weight loss strategies.?
Have you done your own looking up of diet therapies.?
This website has a number of diet and recipe topics on the home page under Type 2 diabetes, and Food and recipes.
Please read them and also look up Dr Unwin, UK GP regarding his management of persons with Type 2 diabetes.
As others have said, insulin might help to better control your BSLs but if you are overweight and sedentary, any therapy likely has an uphill battle.