going onto insulin

Proper diabetic doctor is probably an endocrinologist. Specialists like that tend to be more knowledgeable than GPs, as they have to know about fewer things so they can know more details about what they do know.

Is the metformin you are on the slow release version? If not it's worth trying that, the side effects are less. With the slow release you might still need insulin, but it will reduce the amount you need.

Is it just metformin you are on? They usually try other tablets too first before insulin.

Don't let people tell you that you are a failure for going onto insulin, and that you should just eat properly and loose weight - it is worth trying to improve your diet and loose weight if possible and if you need too, but this isn't possible for everyone.

Some things that I would have liked to know as soon as I started insulin:
- have both glucose tablets and lucozade to treat hypos, the glucose tablets are more portable but if you are ill eg vomiting the lucozade works quicker
- if you think the disposable pens look horrible don't worry, reuseable pens (the insulin comes in cartridges) are available
- 4mm needles are available if you think the longer ones look scary
- don't worry if your blood sugar is a bit high to start with, they will deliberately start you on a low dose so you don't have hypos

Also don't keep insulin that is in use in the fridge - it does say this all over the insulin instructions, and I assume they will tell you this at the appointment (I was told), but some people still assume it needs to be in the fridge all the time (I think some older insulins needed to be in the fridge all the time?).

How did you get on?

I have a similar pattern to you, and am heading for the hospital to start insulin on 15/2.

Just interested to know how it went?

Richy

Well good luck, i had loads of problems with tablets, then i refused all treatment, went a few months without anything. the my DNS and Consultant agreed i could try insulin

i took the 4 injections a day option because its a little more flexable, i started early december, and in january although it wasnt under control yet they agreed my understanding of dose adjustment was enough to go it alone and decide the doses for myself

still not totally under control but i have been slowly increasing doses so that my levels do not lower too much in a short period where i have been used to being high for so long

The want to see me in may, possibly for the last time before discharging me back to my doctor

not sure if you have noticed it yet, but i lot of the pain i was having eased off within a few days, i didnt get so hot and sweaty over night so started to sleep better.. infact the only problem i still have is that my arms still feel tired a lot of the time

but it feels good to start having the energy to do things again

once again good luck, hope you start to see the positive effects soon

garnock said:

Hi Richy

Well I am now on insulin. Started Novomix30 at 8 units twice a day (breakfast and evening meal)
That was increased to 12 units a day last Friday. Also BG testing four times a day. Have to phone diabetic clinic today with BG reading over weekend so expecting to increase insulin units again.
Have no problems with test strips or meters. Was given two immediately. One to use and one as a spare for workplace. I have been told it will take a while before I reach my ideal dosage but after that I will self manage deciding on how much to use.

Best of luck

Dave

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I have been postponing going on insulin because it is initiated in the gp's surgery in this area .
None of the Gps in the practice have an uinterest in diabetes so all is down to the DSN.

She insists that there is no downside to taking insulin- everyone always feels much better and here are no problems wih taking other medication with it. I would love to be able to believe this but commmonsense forbids. i am glad to hear that some people do feel beter wih it but I have been old hat I will have o continue with all my present medication too. As they have not managed o get this right over 4 years I can't see how the situation will improve- insulin would just be adding something else o he mix- wouldn't it?
Glimepirides have caused my once slim self to put on two sones over he last few years- what will insulin do to me?
I am allready low carbing, and had followed he Gi diet for years before diagnosis.
A GP in anoher pracice old me some ime ag that insulin had health implicaions for me . I don't know what these were and noone else seems willing to tell me. Any ideas or houghts please?

Unbeliever said:

i am glad to hear that some people do feel beter wih it but I have been old hat I will have o continue with all my present medication too.

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I don't see why you would need to continue with any drugs that you are on that make the pancreas produce more insulin (because you would be getting the insulin from injections instead) but anything else you would probably want to keep taking eg metformin as it would still have a beneficial effect.

HLW said:

Unbeliever said:

i am glad to hear that some people do feel beter wih it but I have been old hat I will have o continue with all my present medication too.

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I don't see why you would need to continue with any drugs that you are on that make the pancreas produce more insulin (because you would be getting the insulin from injections instead) but anything else you would probably want to keep taking eg metformin as it would still have a beneficial effect.

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The DSN said that they would ry to utilise any insulin I had left by coninuing to take the meds.
This would reduce the amount of insulin I would need . Eventuallly I might be allowed to drop one glimepiride pill per day. I take 3 as well as metformin and sitaglptin. I can see myself suffering
constant hypos under such a regime. See why I am worried!

Unbeliever said:

The DSN said that they would ry to utilise any insulin I had left by coninuing to take the meds.
This would reduce the amount of insulin I would need . Eventuallly I might be allowed to drop one glimepiride pill per day. I take 3 as well as metformin and sitaglptin. I can see myself suffering
constant hypos under such a regime. See why I am worried!

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Oh I see, I thought they just made the pancreas make more insulin, I see they do other beneficial things too from looking on Wikipedia.

You'd only suffer constant hypos if you injected too much insulin. It would be no different to anyone else on insulin, everyone has hypos if they inject too much insulin. Being on tablets would mean you would need to inject less, but the nurses know this, they would start you off on a deliberately too low dose, and then help you increase it to the level you need.

I am having constant hypos now. readings of 3.2 etc.

Oh, I assumed that insulin had been suggested because you had high blood sugar. Why'd they suggest insulin then, what were their reasons? Better control?

Thanks for your concern HLW. It just seems to be their policy to try to put anyone wh might possibly qualify onto insulin. I have only been with the praciice for about 18 months. so don't know hem all that well.
I think the fact i have macular oedema frightens them but I have sufffered macular oedema when my sugars have been brought down too quickly or when my medicaion has been changed not because it has been too high. They don't read the notes so I have to go through the whole story each time. Since diagnosis I have enered quite a urbulent period in my life and this is reflected in the HBA1C. If it goes up just a little they jump on this and rty to push me onto insulin. if i goes down a point or two they decide to eave it a while. I worry because I have mostly low readings wih he occasional spike. which sends up the average of course..
I feel as though I am fighting a batle rather than consulting people who will help me. I have asked lots of questios etc and old hem abou my fears but each ime i go to the clinics ec i have o start again from scratch.