i keep injecting too much

[gerardvdk]

hi, i'm new to these things and barely know how to use the internet. can only do this thanks to face book thing. my wife keeps nagging at me because i inject too much insulin, especially after drinking alcohol. ive been diabetic for 5 years now and i can't get my head round it. i act brave to my wife but i can see now its getting to her. she keeps telling me that she won't stick around to watch me kill myself. personally i think she is over reacting. i am usually high cause i don't like hypos. my test thing is about 13 (sorry can't remember name of that 6 month test). i often scare myself because i hate having to inject, i've always been scared of needles and sometimes find myself injecting too much to shut her up. i also found that i seem to sleep better when i inject more than my dosage. but a few weeks ago she called 999 and they were apparently with me for over 2 horus. i was so low it scared me, but them sometimes wish it had killed me cause i hate being told i can't drink, can't eat chocolate. i do the opposite and eat and drink too much. i never test before injecting. how do i get my head round it all and would it really kill me or does it jsut help me sleep better. I'm 44 and want a normal life. want to do what i want.
thanks
sp. it took me ages to write this, as i use one finger typing.

 

[cugila]

Hi gerardvdk.
Welcome to the forum. That's as good as it gets.

With a HbA1c reading of around 13% you are already well on the way to first of all complications and then ultimately no doubt death. Do you want to lose your feet, lose your eyesight, and many other things ? That's what uncontrolled Diabetes means.

i often scare myself because i hate having to inject, i've always been scared of needles and sometimes find myself injecting too much to shut her up. i also found that i seem to sleep better when i inject more than my dosage. but a few weeks ago she called 999 and they were apparently with me for over 2 horus. i was so low it scared me, but them sometimes wish it had killed me cause i hate being told i can't drink, can't eat chocolate. i do the opposite and eat and drink too much. i never test before injecting. how do i get my head round it all and would it really kill me or does it jsut help me sleep better. I'm 44 and want a normal life. want to do what i want.

That's just it. We all want to do what we want, but life 'aint like that. We have to do what we need to. I have to inject and soon got over it, it's no big deal. Testing before injecting is a fact of life for a Diabetic. Do you really want to kill yourself, isn't it worth just a little effort from you to get control of your diabetes and get your life back ? Drinking and eating will kill you if you do not moderate all that you do. Your wife is right, you need to get your act together, and NO, she isn't overreacting. Time to stop messing around and get proper help, NOW.

Coming to this forum is the best thing you could have done. We can advise you and support you. We can help you turn your life around. It is up to YOU. YOU have to make the choice.....it is basically between a life or a slow death. I know what I chose, that's why I am here trying to help you.

 

[Fujifilm]

It has to be said, you are being pretty selfish, if going so low scared you, what the hell do you think it did to your wife

Acting brave never did anyone any good, get down to your doctor and explain what you have just told us. There is nothing wrong with asking for help and you made a big step coming here. I don't drink so its not a problem I worry about, but I do still eat chocolate and the bad stuff but it has to be in moderation and I have to consider what it will do to my BG.

You really should be checking yourself before injecting insulin, diabetes can be a total pain in the bum, but if you continue down the road you are on, not only will you have diabetes but a host of complications to go with it. Get yourself sorted now and with luck you will avoid the complications. Nobody gets it right straight off. I have had it twenty years, still learning and it still annoys me but you got to get on with it.

You will get loads of help and advice here you just got to help yourself, you can't fight diabetes, you have it and thats that.

Sorry to be harsh but listen to your wife. Not that I ever listen to mine. :lol:

.

 

[howie]

mate you need to sort yourself out, your 44? you got db at 39? learn the ropes and you'll escape complications.

i'm 22 i got db 4 months ago, the only good thing is that at the age i am i thought i was mature enough to take this seriously and look after my BG"s (i thought i was lucky). most people on here were unfortunate enough to get this before puberty.

i drink alcohol, just as much as i did before diagnosis, you need to put in the effort an learn about T1 and insulin etc. i put in the effort and i got an a1c of 5.9

howie

 

[Patch]

You definitely need to wise up, mate. Sleep is great - but you're in a position where you might go to bed one night and never wake up. Too much insulin before bed is wreckless and stupid.

Your wife is not over-reacting. At a real, REAL basic level - to much insulin over the short term can kill you quickly (Diabetic Coma - when the body uses all the available BG (Blood Glucose), and excess insulin continues to try to draw on the now depleted glucose), and too little insulin can kill you slowly (high BGs will lead to all the common diabetic "complications" over time, amputation/blindness/heart trouble, etc...)

I don't want to scare you - but this is all information you should already be aware of. Diabetes is not something that you can just go to the doctors to sort out - you need to take complete responsibility for yourself and get your act together.

Stick around here - this is definitely the best place for help with you Diabetes.

Good luck, I hope you manage to get it under control.

 

[suzi]

Hi Geralddvk,
Harsh words from people who don't know you, but have taken the time to care. Here's my pennys worth, sorry if it hurts. Realistically, no you didn't ask for diabetes to enter and rule your life, but then neither did my 11yr old son, who was diagnosed almost 4 yrs ago. He manages HIS diabetes, HE checks his bs frequently, and HE injects himself when needed. HE is also managing to learn his own carb counting ratio and is living a normal life. If he can do it at 11yrs old, then so can you.
Take care, and learn from the people on this forum.
Take care and best wishes,
Suzi x

 

[glitterzoe]

OMG injecting too much just as bad as not injecting at all. I understand where you are coming from but you need to get a grip, :? maybe it will take something very bad to happen to you make you realize that the only person you are hurting is you. You can still have a drink and eat chocolate but you need to be in control of your diabetes FIRST, if you cant tell what your bodys saying to you then how are you going to react, being drunk as the same effects as having a hypo (low bloods) how will you know whats happening if you dont sort yourself out first. I know being diagnosed later in life is often a pain and all of the advice seems like people are just "preaching" to you but trust us we know. When your incontrol you will feel much better and hopefully be able to come back and let us all know your ok

 

[sugarybibs]

i have had type 1 for 39 years and am now in my fifties.Ok when i fisrt got it as a teenager i just did what all teenagers do.Drink smoke enjoy life holiday party etc.My blood suga.rs were great well so i was told when i used to go to my clinic.We didnt have blood glucose monitors in the early 1970s!!anyway i do everything by the book now but my blood sugars can sometimes rise to 19 no matter how good i try to control myself.And i test and adjust al day long.I have a lot of bad stress in the last couple of years and of course that plays hell with ones diabetes.Yes i do tell my hospital consultant but they are not really bothered and my family doctor knows nothing about type 1 diabetes.I have to do all my adjusting myself.We have to look after ourselves because no one else will and the only people who understand are other type 1s.Besides all my moans i love my life enjoy myself work go out socialising and hope to for many years more.i know its not very nice having diabetes but we all have to get on with it because no one else can really help except ourselves
:wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[jopar]

You can’t change the past, but you can start to change your future, so don’t dwell on it, but learn from it so that you can move forward…

For what you are saying, and I would assume that the 13 is 13% HbAc1 which is rather high indeed, but with what you are saying about injecting too much insulin would suggest that in fact you are bounding from low and very low BG’s to very high BG’s… It sounds as this lack of control is based around not really understanding the connection between food and your insulin and other factors used to create good control…

So how does one learn?

You need to get hold of either your diabetic team, or GP (this could be the surgery DSN) explain what is happening i.e you don’t understand and you want to… Ask if they have a carb counting course you can attend, DAFNE or similar course, also ask to see an dietitian to get the ball rolling…

What you can do straight away….

You need your Blood glucose diary, paper, pen, test strips and if possible a set of scales… Invest in a carb counting books such as collin gem carb counting very cheap indeed..

This will enable you to build a picture of your control,

You need to mark down your BG’s before meals (also upon waking if you are having a delayed breakfast, and before bedtime I tend to keep this test at a pre-selected time every night)

Then you note down what you are eating..

Use the carb counting book and scales, so weigh what your foods work out the carb count (itemise carbs for each item at first) also note down any snacks you eat between meals

Note down the insulin injected (this normally is done in the blood glucose diary)

2 hours after your meal take another Blood glucose, note it down.. Also at any point you feel hypo or high check your BG, write it down (also note reason for checking)

Note down with your meals whether you feel unwell, or you’ve exercised or going to exercise, make a note whether it’s low, medium or high impact or and how long you’ve exercised..

This will not only give your clinic good amount of data to work with, but it will give you a very good idea how your insulin, food and daily activity are all reacting in your control, it will also help you understand how carbs effect your control, and identify how the different types of carbs react… Which will give you a good guide into how any of these can be managed to produce good management..

I would suggest at this point, reframe from drinking alcohol and tucking into chocolate bars, once you are settled into good management they you can reintroduce these in a managed and safer way…

 

[LittleSue]

i hate being told i can't drink, can't eat chocolate. i do the opposite and eat and drink too much. i never test before injecting. how do i get my head round it all and would it really kill me or does it jsut help me sleep better. I'm 44 and want a normal life. want to do what i want.

If you think you're restricted now, just wait till you get all the complications! When you've got no feet, gone blind, in hospital 3x per week for kidney dialysis, and they can't fix your heart problems because you're too ill for the treatment, then you can moan about what you can't do. That's if the hypos don't get you first.

Overdosing on insulin is stupid and selfish and if you've had alcohol as well thats a recipe for a fatal hypo.

The more attention you give your diabetes, the less trouble it will be. Get a grip now, you'll feel better and start enjoying life. Once under control, moderate chocolate and alcohol is okay. DAFNE would help but its not a magic wand, you need to show you're motivated before you can go on an official course. It takes plenty of testing, analysing the results and careful adjustment.

 

[Gazhay]

Firstly,

Welcome, you've made the first step, you have recognised you need help and have come here looking for it.

The good news is, with a little effort, and I mean a little, you can improve your life greatly, and guess what, be able to eat pretty much what you want - if that is what you decide.

You need to get hold of a Diabetes team, either through your GP or hospital. Don't waste time here, every second counts, besides the sooner you get a team, the sooner you get the mess sorted out.

Once you have gotten the advice, it really can be as simple as adding some numbers and doing a quick division, something like 20+20+20+20 all divided by 20 = 4 units of insulin.

To be frank, if that's too much effort for you, you are in big trouble.

 

[SophiaW]

You really do need to take control of your diabetes if you want to live a healthy life. It must be pretty miserable for you with blood sugars running so high, experiencing serious hypos and basically having no idea or control of your health. If your Hba1c is running at 13% then you're almost certainly going to run into complications and start noticing a considerable decline in your wellbeing some time in the future if you don't make changes. I really urge you to learn about carbohydrate counting and getting some control over your diabetes. If you can achieve good control then you should seldomly run the risk of serious hypos and I'm sure you'll have a much happier wife too. Seriously, learn as much as you can about your diabetes and how to control it well. It will take a little bit of effort on your part to learn this information and to count the carbs in your meals but it will really make a big difference. If my 8 year old daughter can cope with these things in life then I'm sure you can too.

 

[gerardvdk]

hard words from everyone but why doesn't it hit home. why doesn't the thought of dying scare me? if i'm really honest to myself i just don't believe i'll loose my sight, or a foot. my eyes haven't changed, feelings in my feet haven't changed and my brother has it for 25 years and he's still ok. :roll:

one doctor refused to treat me anymore if i didn't reduce my %. After my wife was crying during every appointment i promised to stick to a routine, it lasts days and i can't be bothered anymore. as for having to test before driving, i am always in and out of hte van. its impossible for me to test everytime, so i run myself high. life really does feel too hard to carry on like this

 

[cugila]

Why doesn't it hit home ?

Now, if we could answer that you would be laughing. Only you know why you think like you do. Have you no thought for what your wife is going through ? Can you not see the evidence before your eyes ?

As for the thought of dying not scaring you.....you better think again. I have watched strong young and old people die and the one thing that sticks with me is how scared they were. Bravado is great down the pub, reality is a little more complex.

I could take you to see a type 1 diabetic who thought for over 30 years that he was doing everything right. Didn't bother testing, didn't bother what he ate or drank. Put his wife through hell because of his stubbornness.

I had to help restrain him the other week when he had a hypo and was fighting with everybody who was trying to help. This a man who is normally placid, sensible. Did I not mention he also only has one leg ?

First started suddenly some 8 months ago with nerve pains in his foot, then he was hospitalised and had to have the toes amputated, a month or two later he had his whole foot amputated, a few months later he was in a wheelchair after having his leg amputated just below the knee. Do you still think that it is a figment of somebody's imagination. I could take you to see many more with all sorts of conditions. ALL caused by uncontrolled Diabetes. Something YOU think doesn't happen.

I could give up on you. I could walk away, but I can't see somebody who has everything to live for just throw it all away because they cannot see the truth, even when it is staring them in the face.

 

[fergus]

Hi gerardvdk,

Well, thanks to all who have posted already, there's little left to say.
There are no certainties in life other than death and taxes, but an HbA1c of 13% will qualify you for a whole lot more. Everyone here knows what they are and I think you do too.
I think everyone has been very discrete and as supportive as they can be. If that's not enough to get you to sort yourself out, get yourself down to your nearest major hospital.
Visit the dialysis ward and count the diabetics. Then the cardiology department and add some more. The eye surgeon will tell you who his main clients are. The prosthetics department will be busy, but tell them you're diabetic and they'll make room for another 'frequent-flyer'.
Seriously, get yourself down there. It's an experience you'll never forget.

All the best,

fergus

 

[scotchpie]

Hey there.
You should really listen to these guys, they know what they're talking about.
Not so long ago i was posting my tales of diabetic woe in various forums across the web but got nowhere until i came here.
I too had no idea how to manage my diabetes but after following the same advice as has been offered to you, i was soon on the mend.
The collins gem carb counting book costs less than £3 from WH Smith and once you've had it for a couple of weeks and filled the pages with post-it notes to mark the foods you eat the most :lol: it becomes so quick and easy to use that you dont even realise you're doing it.
Digital scales cost less than £7 from Argos and once you cook a meal and weigh it write the carb content per portion on the post-it note on the corresponding page of your carb book and It becomes even quicker!
I've been doing this for about three weeks and i rarely have to get the scales out at all
It does seem like a wee bit of work initially but trust me it is Soooooo worth it :!: :!: :!:
After only 3 weeks there is a marked improvement in my eyesight, mood, blood glucose levels, amount of hypos, foot pain and general well being.
Taking responsability for your diabetes is of utmost importance not just for your own sake but for everyone elses too. Spare a thought for the family of the person you hit with your van as you drift into a coma while speeding down the motorway.
Think about your wife as she stands by your graveside.
These things and worse can and will happen unless you try to control your diabetes.
I know that you said that you dont care that you might die or become ill but i believe that you do care. If you really dont care then how come you're reading this? That's at least three visits to this forum. Kinda frequent for someone that does'nt, would'nt you say?
It can be done mate and we can help you do it.

 

[gerardvdk]

you've all certainly given me something to think about. the person who said about the pains in foot leading to leg gone below the knee made me realise that maybe my ankle pains that i get daily are something more serious then a twisted ankle. does that mean its too late. hvae i ruined my life already, if i have then my little boys life is ruined too, and how will my wife feel pushing me about. why didn't i listen? to anyone reading this, i hope you listen before its too late. one thing that does scare me, not being able to provide for my wife and child. they're young enough to start again, i'm not, and specially with one leg.
time to think.
sleep well and please don't let diabetes beat you like it has obviously beaten me.

 

[Fujifilm]

Its not too late, so don't give up. You need to control your diabetes and not let your diabetes control you.

Pains in your ankle does not mean your legs coming off. :shock:

Some people abuse drink all their life, some smoke all their life but have no problems, its pretty much luck of the draw, you maybe one of the lucky ones and abuse diabetes and get away with no complications. But do you want to take that chance.

As I said before I have been diabetic 20 years I am now 45, my control has not always been as good as it could be, I am after all only human and at 25 I was indestructible and 45 was a long way off, and old gits were 45

I personally think no matter how perfect your control, diabetes is going to cause some damage it's up to you to keep that to a minimum.

I can see your thinking in running high BG because of your driving, also you may read some of the threads on the forum and lose the will to live when you see people with good diets, low BGs etc and you can't get yours sorted. There is nothing more depressing than seeing all these peeps with low numbers when yours is 13% but they all had to work at it to achieve them.

The way I sorted myself out years ago was to try and run my BG at under 10 and I found that aiming for that figure I was able to get some balance without fear of hypo and soon found I could keep it pretty constant at around 9, from there I aimed for under 8 and do manage that most of the time, I am never going to have a BG average under 6 my lifestyle, fear of hypo etc. means its not going to happen but if I can keep between 6 and 8 I am happy and of course I will work on achieving lower.

Not saying its the right way to do it or its what you should do, what I am saying is find a point where you are happy and work from that point.

Some of us may have been harsh (me included) with our comments especially as we don't know you, but most of us have been in your shoes, I went a few years where I could not give a toss about the diabetes never checked BG reguarly, probably BGs were mid teens, anyway I got an ulcer on my big toe, unrelated to diabetes but obviously diabetes stops things healing quick especially feet, anyway to cut a long story short the doctor said if the infection is as deep as the bone your toe is coming off. :shock: :shock: :shock:

That got my head sorted pretty quick. I am by no means your perfect diabetic but I do my best to look after myself.

A day at a time and you will get yourself sorted. You will find as you get it right you will feel better, and that will spur you on. Besides you probably have another 40 years of getting your ear bent by your Mrs. :lol:

by gerardvdk
please don't let diabetes beat you like it has obviously beaten me.

Its not beaten you its just giving you a hard time. :mrgreen:


.

 

[cugila]

you've all certainly given me something to think about. the person who said about the pains in foot leading to leg gone below the knee made me realise that maybe my ankle pains that i get daily are something more serious then a twisted ankle. does that mean its too late. hvae i ruined my life already, if i have then my little boys life is ruined too, and how will my wife feel pushing me about. why didn't i listen? to anyone reading this, i hope you listen before its too late. one thing that does scare me, not being able to provide for my wife and child. they're young enough to start again, i'm not, and specially with one leg.
time to think.
sleep well and please don't let diabetes beat you like it has obviously beaten me.

Hi
I too am one of the harsh ones. It was me who basically used 'shock tactics'. To try and bring you to your senses. Reading what you said above it seems to me we have had some effect on you. Now we have you thinking a little more rationally maybe we can start to help ?
Fujifilm has made a great post. All true.

You are in your 40's I believe, yet here you are talking as if you are finished...? I was diagnosed with Diabetes in 1997 aged 49 yrs and followed the NHS advice regarding eating a healthy diet etc. At that time I weighed around 13 and a half stone. I kept putting on weight, feeling awful all the time and then just got more and more complications. I developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, eyesight problems, started to find walking and exercising difficult. I got out of breath, I had chest pains. I developed Angina. I became a physical wreck and weighed nearly twenty stone. All with this so called 'healthy' diet.

In 2004 whilst on holiday in France I was taken ill. I couldn't walk more than a few yards without feeling like I was going to die. As soon as I was back home I was admitted to Hospital and had a triple coronary artery by-pass graft (yes, I became a CABG - otherwise known as a member of the 'zipper club !)

When I came out of hospital I vowed I would do nothing to wreck the wonderful surgeons handiwork that had saved my life. But I hadn't reckoned with the NHS. They got me back on the same diet that nearly killed me before. Again I got worse.

Then I came to this website, I had been reading it for months before. I had listened to people who daily were proving that Diabetes isn't a curse, isn't progressive. In fact it seemed to have been a catalyst to change their life for the better. Most of those people were low carbers. I became one too. Within a week or two I was feeling much better, I was losing weight, I felt fitter, livelier. Just because I changed my diet.....amazing.

Then I was put on a wonder drug, Byetta. This too has helped me get my life back. I don't class myself as a true low carber anymore, but I know the benefits of REDUCING carbohydrates. I don't eat high fat, I have concerns about that side of it. I am low GI/GL, low fat, low salt etc. That works very well for me.

The other morning I weighed myself and I am now 15 st 6 lbs. What a difference a few months has made. Just by listening and taking some advice from people on here. I'm 61yrs and have never felt fitter, livelier, healthier and just generally so full of the joys that life can bring. Happiness, contentment, romance.....it's all a part of my new life.

That, I owe to this particular website and people like Fergus, Dennis, Sugarless Sue, Trinkwasser et al. Some still around as fellow Moderators, others elsewhere.

I am not going to sit back and watch people come here and then give up. I want to try and give them the chances that were denied to me, give them help to change THEIR lives.If I can get motivated and have the willpower to change my life around then so can you. You have to be open and more receptive to us. We want to help. Bit by bit we can guide you, help you. You have to help yourself, help your wife, help your kids....?

So. Ask us questions. Not too many all at once. Bite size slices which will allow it all to sink in. If you need to, get the help I talked about before. Counselling can help resolve many issues, I know. It helped me in the not so distant past. It could help you, along with us. This is your turning point, your road to a better life.

We are your friends, good friends. Trust us.

 

[SophiaW]

Would your wife be able to give you some help with managing your diabetes? If you're not trying to do it all alone, certainly in the beginning, then it might make it easier for you to start getting into the swing of things. When we first started carbohydrate counting for my daughter it seemed like a lot of effort, but now just a few months in it's pretty quick and doesn't seem as difficult as it did in the beginning. I guess that's because it's become part of our daily routine, just like getting up in the morning and brushing your teeth, well we have a couple of extra things in our routine but it's not a lot extra and it's something that's become second nature. If you made yourself a packed lunch for work then you can calculate the carbs in that lunch in the morning or evening before, that way at lunch time when you're busy and don't have time you don't need to work out figures, it's all worked out for you already and all you need do to is inject your insulin. If you go onto a basal/bolus regime (you might already be on one) then if you eat lunch late it doesn't really matter, if your doses are worked out correctly your readings will hold steady until you eat lunch, you shouldn't experience highs or lows because you're eating a meal late. We've found it gives us a lot of flexibility about meal times. I think if you can get your insulin worked out properly then you shouldn't need to "run high" because you're driving and your diabetes can pretty much fit in with your lifestyle. I found a book called "Type 1 Diabetes in children, adolescents and young adults" to be very useful when we were learning about how to adjust insulin doses and generally learn about T1 diabetes. It told us a lot more than our diabetic consultant ever could in the short appointment times we had, and being able to dip in and out of sections and refer back to them has been very helpful in our quest for knowledge. Good luck with taking control of your own health and wellbeing, your wife and children will be very proud of you for that.