As part of our Diabetes Week questions, here's a question for people with type 2 diabetes who have gone onto injections -or are considering going onto injections.
How did (or do) you feel about switching onto injections?
Did/do you have any worries about going onto injections?
If/when you made the switch, how did you adapt to being on injections?
- was it easier or harder than you thought?
- was there any part of it that struck which you hadn't considered before going onto injections?
This question covers injections for insulin or for incretin mimetics like Byetta, Victoza and Bydureon
I was very reticent to move to injections of insulin, as I genuinely felt that I was sliding down a very steep and slippery road to ill health and death! I know that sounds irrational, but it is what I had in my mind, clearly informed by my own ignorance and completely wrong view of insulin.
I started on Lantus about a year ago, and despite a lot of reservations, I have to say that until recently, this has 100% helped me get my BG under control. I had been clinging to the notion of tablets doing the job, but in the end, by stats were showing everyone (except me) that my numbers were too high, and I had no option.
My worries were:-
- My life was going to change forever - yes it has, but not in a bad way, but in a good way, in that I know that my BG is better managed.
- I would be embarrassed to inject if out and about - again, unfounded. Get yourself a good high quality carry kit, with the appropriate sections for pen, needles, monitor and strips, and just take yourself off to the loo and test/inject.
- I was concerned that the injections were difficult or would hurt - I use 0.5mm needles with my pen, and apart from occasionally hitting a small vein and causing a slight bleed, or the occasional "stingy" injection, I have found on the whole it to be pretty simple and painless.
Adding everything up, I have no regrets moving to injections, they have helped me keep my BGs down, and they could for you too.
I personally have experienced through friends, that the insulin mimic products, such as Victoza, which I believe are synthesized products, caused a lot of side effects. Would be worth investigating before you see your GP/Diabetic Practioner. My GP wanted to put my on Victoza, but when I checked it out, and discussed with my Diabetic Practitioner, we agreed an alernative path.
Good luck and nothing to be concerned about - and remember - never use a needle twice, always inject at different sites, and remember to test regularly to check your numbers!