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Refuse to take my insulin

I have been doing injections for 4 months now, have neuropathy and feel anxious and awful, aleady ready to give up, but please d andon't. It's extremely hard just getting through each day with work etc. on top and being constantly reminded of your being ill, injections ,pills , hospital appointments. Just try and get through the morning, the afternoon, and the day. Its the only way I 've found. Take care please.
 
Hi. I appreciate your situation is complex. Note that insulin does not increase your weight or make you feel ill. Any weight gain with insulin will be due to eating too many carbs. Do try to set yourself a daily limit - perhaps 150gm/day? You MUST use a meter with insulin to avoid hypos or extreme highs. I think if you can take some control of the blood sugar by taking the insulin you will feel better but only if you control those carbs. We all get annoyed at times having to inject and test but it does work. Have a look at the ingredients in the food you buy and the Total carbs. Sandwiches are often high carb due to the rubbish bread they use and sugary sauces but there are some good ones and when I worked I used to make my own and freeze a batch.
 
Jaspreet said:
I haven't checked my levels as I don't want to know it. How does everyone cope?
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I suspect part of your problems are the lack of control you feel? That was certainly a feeling I had - I had been cursed with this disease which was slowly killing me and there was nothing I could do - I've tried dieting and exercise before, but just couldn't shift enough weight to make any difference, and of course, being overweight makes exercise harder. It's a vicious circle, and to be frank, the NHS doesn't really help much other than giving you meds.

However, since I decided to take control - and test my blood sugar against what I ate - and subsequently found the Low Carb High Fat diet and various support groups, books and websites, I've now lost all the weight I didn't need, reduced my blood sugar down to non-diabetic levels, and given up most of my diabetic meds (just taking a single Metformin), got my cholesterol levels down to normal and stopped statins, got my blood pressure down to normal and stopped the meds for that too. I've also got rid of a hiatus hernia and knee problems - probably due to the weight loss. I took up exercise joyfully because I felt I wanted to and could do it without too much effort - not carrying around 10kg any more adds a massive spring to your step. I've now lost a further 7kg and run 5km practically every day.

Another thing that's changed is that I'm happy now. I realised one day about 3 months in. I kept crying / laughing over the smallest things and I felt weird. When I talked it over with my wife, I realised it was happiness and I'd been low level depressed and incredibly pessimistic thinking about all the consequences of diabetes I could expect.

It's a great feeling being in control, you get to choose how your life pans out to a great extent. All I had to do was start to treat carbohydrates - bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, sugar - as foods that were unavailable to me and everything else fell into place. I eat fantastically well - I love my new diet of full-fat yoghurt, cream, mayonnaise, eggs, avocado, nuts, meat. Carbs are generally the most boring part of a meal after all. Having more fat makes a lot of boring diet food actually pretty great - A salad with loads of mayonnaise is a very much nicer meal than a low fat one. Full fat Greek yoghurt is creamy and delicious on its own with no sugar and has only a few grams of carbs.

My advice would be to get a blood glucose monitor and the book "The blood sugar diet" by Michael Moseley as a first step. You can ask any question in here, you'll get loads of help and experience - though my advice would be to ignore any advice that mentions 'superfoods' or 'organic' - there's quite a few people who just don't understand science and believe marketing hype or that 'natural' = 'good'.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that you can completely give up your meds, you sound like you have a complex set of problems, but you stand a good chance of massively reducing the problems of diabetes by following the low carb diet and it's likely you will improve in all sorts of ways if you do that. I've never had to take insulin, so I can't judge, but I would suggest that not taking insulin and continuing to eat high amounts of carbs is a recipe for disaster.

You should also talk to your doctor - more and more of them are knowledgeable or sympathetic to the Low Carb / High Fat approach and they're supposed to help you choose the treatment that's right for you. If you're suffering from the course of action they've recommended, they have a duty to work out a better one. You might find yours is one who tells you it'll be bad for you - but there is a wealth of evidence that shows that's not true and very little that supports that position.

You sound like you're basically giving up and want to let nature take its course, but that you've come here with a cry for help as you know that's a bad choice. You'll find a broad wealth of knowledge and experience from people who've been in the same boat as you, but you really have to take the first step and decide you're going to take control and not just let things happen.
 

Hey you could do something else ; go down on 1200 calories a day and fast from 19 o´clock till next day 12 o´clock that will get your own insulins down and get you more sensitive to your own insulins But do it at least 1 month and dont cheat
 
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Please dont eat sandwich bread it is just as bad as pure sugar
 
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@Jaspreet

Hello and welcome to the forum Here is the information, as mentioned above, which we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful to you. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help, in addition to the great responses you have had so far.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 210,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
Jaspreet said:
I just want to feel like a normal person.
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Me too. I want a lot of things that aren't going to happen - like working only 40 hours a week (my current schedule is 80-100), having a daughter who isn't facing the threat of a dozen or so different cancers on top of a liver transplant, and a spouse who isn't in the early stages of dementia of some sort, and so on. Life really sucks sometimes

The best I can do - and it's actually pretty darn good - is to control what I can control. I know it's harder with T1, but I know a lot of T1 folks who have been able to gain remarkable control (and cut down the need for insulin) by carefully watching the carb content of what they eat.

When I was at one of my cyclical low points (unrelated to diabetes - but to another health issue), I managed to fool myself into regular swimmming (critical to resolving the restricted blood flow in one arm) by finding a pool that was only 5 minutes out of my way to work. I reasoned that if I went swimming on days I needed to shower anyway, all I had to forfeit out of my already too short day was the actual time in the water. It took a good part of a year before it made any emotional difference (I'm not open of those folks who gets a high from exercising) - but it wasn't much of a burden during the year and the emotional benefits were tremendous.

Perhaps you can find a way to do that with eating and insulin. Discovering I had diabetes and getting my BG under control made a tremendous (and nearly instantaneous) difference in my level of fatigue and emotional outlook - I just had to muster up the energy to take that first step.

Hope you find a way to move forward - since I'm pretty sure the path to feeling like a normal person doesn't include putting blinders on to diabetes.
 
Thank u so much. IM going to try the low carbon hight fat diet from 2mrw.
 
Freema said:
Hey you could do something else ; go down on 1200 calories a Day and fast from 19 oclock till next Day 12 oclock that Will get your own insulins down and get you more sensitive to your own insulins But do it at least 1 month and dont cheat
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Again it sounds like a good idea. Definatly will try this out
 
Thank u all for ur support. I was at the end of my tether and the ideas given has given me a lot to think about and try.
 
chalup said:
Sounds like he loves you. Why not give him the chance to show it. I have 2 sons aged 26 and 28, they are amazing young men, I bet your son is too.
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He'd threaten to tell my parents and take away my vape pen till I take my meds. I'm a bit of a rebel don't like to be told what to do.
 
Jaspreet said:
He'd threaten to tell my parents and take away my vape pen till I take my meds. I'm a bit of a rebel don't like to be told what to do.
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I don't like to be told what to do either and no one touches my vape pen lol We need our coping mechanism. Don't think that makes you a rebel just an adult
 
Jaspreet

Good on you for finding the forum and talking to us.

Gaining some control now can, on a positive note, help to possibly stave off some further complications/problems. Future problems could as you are probably aware going to need further intervention either surgically or with more medication.. So gaining a new perspective to want to help yourself is great. Well done. Glad you are here.
These are the tablets I take each day and also at least 8 injections currently... So I know its a hard journey and to be honest, it feels darn unfair sometimes.


If you are on injections then it really means that you need insulin to reduce your blood levels. not testing is the probable cause of feeling bad and even possibly "narky" sometimes if your levels are running above 8.0.

If you could do just one test initially it would give a start point to improve on.

If you drive and are taking insulin then you are required by law to blood test before driving.. But you may not drive, so don't wish to confuse matters.

You can gain great help here. Its good to read you've started to look at low carbs and some higher fat foods.
That is a good starting place...

Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing...
 
Thank u. I'm so glad I came on to this forum. Everyone has been so supportive.
 
My partner has been in and out of hospital over the past few years with non diabetic problems. He had a partial and now a full knee replacement. What struck me was sitting out front of the hospital are the number of diabetics in wheel chairs hooked up to drips etc. Everyone telling the exact same story. Diabetic, did not attempt to follow any control, drinking, smoking, eating what they liked etc.And not one of them cared that they may or have already lost limbs, have ulcers, gone blind or have gangrene due to poor control. For me this was the major wake up call. I want to be able to walk when I'm 90, Still be able to read a book and live a healthy life. Take your medication. Use it as a buffer and sort out your diabetes and ailments one step at time. You only get one life. Live it.
 
Hello, I was in hospital yesterday, in the Endo and diabetic unit. I noted the exact same thing, in fact the gentleman sitting next to me in the waiting area was a type 1 diagnosed in 1962.He had just had his foot amputated because he had stood on a screw. He was unable to use his fingers, they they were stuck he couldn't open them and was on crutches, I got talking, he was exceptionally accepting of things, but did say a couple of things which struck me. Firstly, when he was diagnosed there was no way of monitoring bg levels yourself then when that did come about it was strips which either told you were ok or not ok from sugar in.your urine. The insulins and syringes were basic and made from pig pancreas's. Anyway the point is, had the insulins and bg meters been around in his day, he would have jumped at the chance of using such technology. It struck me how lucky we are with the tools we have and it would be foolish not to use them. I am not attempting to be preachy, just saying I know how you feel, but small steps now may pay you huge steps in the avoidance of pain in future. God bless. Hope you start to take care of yourself.
 
It's really hard. I've had type 1 for over 40 years. I'm also asthmatic and have chronic fatigue. I'm currently in plaster after breaking my ankle. It's difficult to juggle diabetes with a normal life. But the only person you're going to harm is yourself if you don't take the recommended medication. I too wish I could stop my meds but in my heart I know I can't. Do you have someone supporting you with this? Please don't give up!
 
Jaspreet said:
Thank u. I'm so glad I came on to this forum. Everyone has been so supportive.
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How are you doing @Jaspreet?

You will get support, thats all of us genuinely concerned.. And wanting to help.

How long have you been on antidepressants? Glad you taking these, but do you see your GP to review the dosage etc?

Have you tried talking to a Counsellor at all?
I know this may sound a daft example but I had a great Counsellor who gave me a way to be able to tell people I am hypo... I've never been able to do this in 30+ years... And sometimes it's better being able to tell people.. Anyway, she has been the only person in 30+ years (and numerous diabetes people etc).. And she wasn't diabetic herself either! So just explaining something so stupid and getting it off my chest to a total stranger really helped. She helped me a lot for lots of other things but that was the greatest free gift (of help) that I have ever had....

Thinking of you and hoping that you are reading genuine responses of friendship and people caring...
 
@Jaspreet I'm so sorry. I have been there as well, I was done. I was at my lowest of lows in life and threw in the towel. That ended me up in the hospital for about a week. I am lucky to still be here, it was my wake up call. I did not realize at the time how my health was affecting my family and that is when I made the the change. I still have bad days where I may cry, ask why me, get angry and frustrated but I think that is pretty normal and human. But I am no longer ashamed and I now know I can't just stop, otherwise it wins. I will not let this disease win. One day at a time, one breathe at a time. My daily reminder to myself is "I am greater than my highs and lows. I have diabetes but it does not have me." I hope you know that there are soooooo many support groups out there like this one and you are NOT alone. It will and does get better my friend. Sending love and light to u.
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