Injections

[Bridie9408]

Hi everyone I have been on 2 injections a day for many years now and my diabetic team wants me to think about going on 4 injections a day . I am on humalog mix morning and evening. The thought of more injections and counting carbs just puts me right off and reminds me that truthfully I have never accepted been diabetic but I know I just have to live with it. Would appreciate any information on carb counting and taking more than 2 injections a day. To the ladies out there can any of you recommend anything that will help with hair loss and thinning . I am just feeling sorry for myself and a bit down but I will get over it. We all have good days and bad days. My blood sugar is very up and down at the moment. Sorry for the long post and thank you everyone in advance.

 

[FreidaMercury]

Hi @Bridie9408

I can’t really help with the injection side of things as I only do 1 a day but I can relate to the not accepting it. I’ve been in denial for the best part of 10 years and have only really got my head around it recently as I’ve had a cranial nerve palsy due to diabetes which has caused me to have temporary loss of vision in one eye. It has been a real shock and has really made me look and think hard about my diagnosis.

I’ve started trying to eat a low carb diet and it’s much easier than I thought it would be! Are you type 1 or 2?

I’m not surprised you are feeling down, and with your sugars all over the place doesn’t help much. What’s your diet normally like?

Have you asked your team why they want to split your doses to 4 a day? Perhaps they can work out an alternative schedule for you if they know you are not happy about it? I’m lucky that I have a really good diabetic nurse and my GP is great when I talk to them about things, I know a lot of people are not so lucky.

For the hair thinning, do you take any vitamins or supplements? I take a supplement called Menopace which has made my hair much better. I wasn’t losing it so much, but it had thinned out quite a bit. Maybe it’s worth speaking to your GP and asking for some bloods to be done to check if you are lacking in anything?

Good luck with everything and I hope tomorrow is a better day for you


Edited due to random words in the wrong place!

 

[jaywak]

Possibly with the extra injections you will have better control and you may see your general health improve hence your hair loss may improve .

 

[EllieM]

If it's any consolation I had the same conversation with my doctors over 40 years ago when I moved from my childhood 1 or 2 injections a day to 4. They sold it to me as improving my control and also giving me much more freedom in choosing when and what to eat. (Though as a T1 I was already carb counting, fixed amounts at fixed times of day.) I certainly found it a massive improvement.

Also, if you are doing MDI (multiple injections a day) there is a (small) chance you may qualify for a continuous glucose monitor, which is much more convenient than a glucometer.

Good luck with it all.

 

[Lakeslover]

Hi,

I managed to convince my diabetic nurse to move me from just a basal (long acting) insulin twice a day to a MDI regime in January. It was the best thing I did. Although I was already carb counting to try and control my blood sugar….which wasn’t working. For the carb counting itself there are apps that can help.

With bolus(short acting) insulin as well I have more flexibility in what I eat, and my blood sugars are the best they’ve been for years. As @EllieM says I was also prescribed a libre. I had been self funding as I find them very useful.