Reverse Insulin dependency?

[Caseyjones37]

Hi. Those that may of read my first thread will know I’ve just gone on to insulin use & it is having a huge affect on my work life right now. That aside…is it possible to come off insulin? I was diagnosed T2D 18 years ago & did very little about it. A mixture of laziness, stupidity & lack of awareness on my part. Hence I went from diet controlled to oral medication then injecting Ozempic once a week to now using insulin as from a few days ago. Finally the penny has dropped. I need to wake up & get this under some control. I have no choice now. So…again…is it possible for me to come off insulin & reverse the path I seem have gotten myself on or is that just wishful thinking on my part? Thank you.

 

[Guilty]

Possibly. I did it through diet and lifestyle. But everyone is different.

Go for it! Even if you don't end up coming off the insulin. Any improvements you make will have a positive effect on your health. And you may end up reducing the amount of meds (or stop the amounts increasing).

 

[Outlier]

I precede this by saying "don't do what I did" but in answering the specific question:

I was put straight onto insulin when in hospital for something else. I was not told (though I could figure it out that injections in the midriff probably were insulin) nothing was discussed at all, hospital food was very high carb (my usual everyday diet wasn't) luckily I have a family member who has been T2 for many years so I wasn't entirely ignorant of diabetes, but oh my have I learned a lot since! When I left hospital, my bag of prescribed meds included an insulin pen. Very informative.

My GP called that night, arranged an IN PERSON!!!! appointment the following day, and I said I wasn't going to take insulin until I had been on a sensible diet and could see how matters were progressing. He was rather cross but prescribed metformin and an appointment a week later with the Diabetes Nurse, who got rather frosty too when she said (among many other things!) "Metformin isn't going to TOUCH those levels!" She was, of course, right, but I was in nightmare mode by then, and had used that week to research, including coming on here. Very luckily I was given a glucose testing meter.

I'm a nutrition geek, so started keto straight away, because my temperament is better suited to that than going in gently. Within a short timescale (I was taking other non-diabetic medicines as well) my BG has dropped most satisfyingly, and I was losing weight while eating a good mixed keto-friendly diet. Within a slightly longer timescale, my BG went into pre-diabetic levels and I came off the metformin (it was giving me unpleasant issues) since when my BG went into non-diabetic levels and has remained so. I am also off all the other meds except for blood thinners.

So in answer to the question: yes it is possible to come off insulin in some cases while managing T2 other ways. But what I did was risky and I don't recommend it. Much better to do it under proper medical supervision while adjusting lifestyle and diet. Good luck!

 

[Ricku2]

I was diagnosed T2 at the end of January this year, my GP wanted me to try reversing it with diet, i did a course and we were advised to try and stick to no more than 90g of carbs a day, my highest level was 60, on Thursday last week I had an appointment with my GP and I have lost almost 10kg and my number has come down to 46, i use an app called food, measuring out what I eat to get the level of carbs, protein and fat was a bit of a pain to begin with but now use to doing it, it's actually inspired my family to look at what and how much they eat, as they could potentially get diabetes as it can be hereditary, my daughter has lost 1.9kg in her first week, so as previously said by another member you can reverse it and go into remission with normal levels.

 

[GDM06]

The easiest way to reduce insulin needs is to reduce carb intake, exercise can help as well.
I tried this in my second pregnancy by restricting carbs to 100g. My dietician was in support by the way.
I now eat less than 50g of carbs, most days 20-30g
If I eat 100g or more, then I will need insulin, that's just how my body works. I know some people are able to reverse T2, I am unable to reverse mine despite 20-30g daily, but I am able to maintain normal HBA1C with this carb intake and GLP-1 agonist. Try it may be you will be able to discontinue the insulin at the very least, even if you can't stop all meds.

 

[Caseyjones37]

The easiest way to reduce insulin needs is to reduce carb intake, exercise can help as well.
I tried this in my second pregnancy by restricting carbs to 100g. My dietician was in support by the way.
I now eat less than 50g of carbs, most days 20-30g
If I eat 100g or more, then I will need insulin, that's just how my body works. I know some people are able to reverse T2, I am unable to reverse mine despite 20-30g daily, but I am able to maintain normal HBA1C with this carb intake and GLP-1 agonist. Try it may be you will be able to discontinue the insulin at the very least, even if you can't stop all meds.

Carbs are probably my biggest downfall, especially bread. However I intend to do something about that for sure. Today I have had one slice of brown bread for breakfast, ploughman's salad for the evening meal. I know this is going to be hard, temptation, laziness but I really need to make in roads. Walking is something I used to enjoy so I need to make time for that. So much to get to grips with but the incentive is definitely there. This is a very informative & helpful site btw, so thankful for it.

 

[Antje77]

Carbs are probably my biggest downfall, especially bread. However I intend to do something about that for sure. Today I have had one slice of brown bread for breakfast, ploughman's salad for the evening meal.

This sounds like very little food, did you eat enough?
Cutting carbs is not about starving yourself, it's about getting your calories from different foods.

Also, being new to insulin, be very careful you don't drop too low.
Please make sure to always carry your meter and something to treat a hypo with!

 

[GDM06]

Carbs are probably my biggest downfall, especially bread. However I intend to do something about that for sure. Today I have had one slice of brown bread for breakfast, ploughman's salad for the evening meal. I know this is going to be hard, temptation, laziness but I really need to make in roads. Walking is something I used to enjoy so I need to make time for that. So much to get to grips with but the incentive is definitely there. This is a very informative & helpful site btw, so thankful for it.

You can try some low-carb bread. I eat low-carb wrap with 4g of carb per wrap, I eat this with eggs or tuna/mayo or avocado/shrimp. I only get the expected 1-2 unit rise. Even when I have two wraps it's fine.
Make sure u are also eating enough though, fats and proteins to replace the low carb. It's important to monitor blood glucose closely when changing diet on insulin.

 

[Caseyjones37]

You can try some low-carb bread. I eat low-carb wrap with 4g of carb per wrap, I eat this with eggs or tuna/mayo or avocado/shrimp. I only get the expected 1-2 unit rise. Even when I have two wraps it's fine.
Make sure u are also eating enough though, fats and proteins to replace the low carb. It's important to monitor blood glucose closely when changing diet on insulin.

Yes this is what I am trying to learn now, what food gives me what blood reading & how to balance it. I have just tested my blood, am 10.1 4 hrs after eating my lunch. I’ve now had my oral meds & just injected 10ml of insulin. I am obviously aware I need to keep my bloods above 4 but am thinking I wont get anywhere near that yet overnight hopefully. Gotta be honest this is a bit like playing a card game when you aint that sure of the rules. Learning on the go. I have plenty more questions but for now I need to surf this site a bit more & see what is available to me on here. All your advice is very much appreciated indeed.

 

[Dinet]

Hi. Those that may of read my first thread will know I’ve just gone on to insulin use & it is having a huge affect on my work life right now. That aside…is it possible to come off insulin? I was diagnosed T2D 18 years ago & did very little about it. A mixture of laziness, stupidity & lack of awareness on my part. Hence I went from diet controlled to oral medication then injecting Ozempic once a week to now using insulin as from a few days ago. Finally the penny has dropped. I need to wake up & get this under some control. I have no choice now. So…again…is it possible for me to come off insulin & reverse the path I seem have gotten myself on or is that just wishful thinking on my part? Thank you.

oooh I read your post and my my heart went out to u.
I m on a similar trajectory.
"Wishful thinking" on my part, hoping my glucose numbers will go down while i don't change my eating habits.
I find it very hard...