Finding help for diet, use of Glucose monitor and generally stopping use of insulin.

[Thomas Cahill]

Hiya,
I just got a Frestyle Libre 2 monitor, paid for by me, as my diabetes nurse said I would never get one from the NHS. I need help setting it up (the first try failed) and then using it to change may diet and exercise so eventually I am not dependant on insulin. My diabetes senior nurse says that it is impossible for a 79 year old pancreas to work well, and that it is hopeless to try. I don’t even know who else I can find in the NHS or elsewhere to “do something” intelligent and practical. Any ideas for NHS recommendations or non NHS.

 

[Thomas Cahill]

I can almost laugh, but it turns out that my iPhone SE is one with problems for Libre 2 app, somehow. Apparently the very courteous guy who walked me through from step one to the point where the app just does not give us a buzz to say it is awake. Really fun when you think about it. I have the cheapest phone Apple make, and maybe they just left it low on the list of compatibilities.

 

[EllieM]

I can almost laugh, but it turns out that my iPhone SE is one with problems for Libre 2 app, somehow. Apparently the very courteous guy who walked me through from step one to the point where the app just does not give us a buzz to say it is awake. Really fun when you think about it. I have the cheapest phone Apple make, and maybe they just left it low on the list of compatibilities.

It might be worth asking Abbott to send you a reader if your phone won't work with it???

Some of the UK T2s here do get NHS libres, but they have to jump through some heavy duty hoops and I think it also depends on the health authority. But that was also the case for UK T1s for a long time, so I wouldn't necessarily give up hope on that policy changing.

Can I ask what type of insulin(s) you are taking and how long you have been taking them ?

Good luck

 

[Thomas Cahill]

Abbott is sending me a reader. Hoping it will work and I can remember to carry it with me everywhere.
I have been taking Humulin. Taking it for about two years.
Next trick will be to find someone who can tell me there is hope for a 79 year old pancreas to recover and with diet and exercise, might help me get rid of diabetes. I suppose there is really no hope, as I my specialist nurse said.

 

[EllieM]

Abbott is sending me a reader. Hoping it will work and I can remember to carry it with me everywhere.
I have been taking Humulin. Taking it for about two years.
Next trick will be to find someone who can tell me there is hope for a 79 year old pancreas to recover and with diet and exercise, might help me get rid of diabetes. I suppose there is really no hope, as I my specialist nurse said.

Which type of humulin? R, N , 70/30???

There are short and long acting and mixed dose versions...

I suppose I'm trying to work out how much of your own insulin you are still making. Reducing carbs should reduce the amount of insulin you need but I have no idea how much you are still making. Have you been given any advice on diet to go with your insulin? And be aware that if you decide to reduce your carbs to try to reduce your insulin needs you really need to discuss dose adjustment with your DN.

 

[VashtiB]

Hello and welcome @Thomas Cahill

I would never ever say no hope- but I agree if you do decide to reduce your carbs to reduce your insulin you need to discuss it wth you DN.

Having a CGM is a great start. I also self fund from time to time.

Good luck

 

[Resurgam]

Abbott is sending me a reader. Hoping it will work and I can remember to carry it with me everywhere.
I have been taking Humulin. Taking it for about two years.
Next trick will be to find someone who can tell me there is hope for a 79 year old pancreas to recover and with diet and exercise, might help me get rid of diabetes. I suppose there is really no hope, as I my specialist nurse said.

Well, my thyroid has perked up in the last few years, after decades of taking 200 micrograms of Thyroxine a day I am down to 125. I am 72.
My pancreas seems happy enough to do without any medication now, but it only has to stir its stumps twice a day, sometimes less than that, and it suffered, I am sure from the insistence on carbs being essential, even though there was indications of my being unable to deal with carbs for a very long time - even test results with + against them - but they put a stop to that by not doing the tests.