sad with insulin

[cdpm]

Cdpm - I notice in your profile that you live in Canada. In which province? If you live in Ontario, Quebec or the Yukon, and using insulin, you can get the Libre system through the provincial health plan - so no need for strips.

I have been diabetic for 13 years, and have used insulin for 11 and a half years. This means more than 12,000 injections during that time. What I found is do not hesitate when injecting the insulin. That helps not to hurt. Occasionally, I would hit a nerve, it would hurt somewhat.

Also, since I have been eating low carb for the last 4 years, my insulin needs have decreased dramatically. For instance, this past week, I only had to give myself 4 Novorapid injections. I do give myself though a Tresiba injection daily.

i had a libre and i really liked the no finger poking
it just kept reading low and when comparing it with
my regular freestyle lite the freestyle always said a good
number
i wasnt able to get that and the strips so comparing had to stop
so it just didnt work out for me
i saved one sensor to use if i get really ill and cant tolerate finger picking
for a few weeks

 

[cdpm]

i forgot to mention the other problem
with always being hungry---
how do i know when i really need to eat?
do i wait til i get to a 4(72)?
that can be an awfully long time sometimes
and not even every day

 

[Marie 2]

I always wait to eat until I am below 5.8. My preferred range is 5.2-5.8. Everyone has their own range they prefer to be at. If I am staying higher I take a correction dose to bring me lower.
Being at 4 is sort of low and personally if I were to wait to eat until I hit a 4 I would be starving and eat too much. Plus I generally don’t try to go to a 4 unless I made a mistake with dosing.

 

[jonathan183]

i forgot to mention the other problem
with always being hungry---
how do i know when i really need to eat?
do i wait til i get to a 4(72)?
that can be an awfully long time sometimes
and not even every day

I think you really need to get the insulin dosing right ... I think leaving eating until blood glucose drops to 4mmol/l is cutting it close ...

 

[cdpm]

here are my medical suggestions i got so far
when i asked for help with the extreme hunger--

try to eat three to four times a day-- dr said
eat every 2 hours--nurse said
eat 1 cup of food every hour-- a counselor said
weight loss surgery-- an er dr said
lets do some bloodwork first-- 2 drs said (then after done completely refused to do a thing but gave no reason)
1200 calories of a high carb diet-- dietician said

so no help really
for various reasons like how can i be taking rapid insulin every hour or 2 to eat?
weight loss surgery not possible because i cant be knocked out
so i quit asking for help with it
its disappointing though because i had this impression
that drs help ppl especially with meds they give you

 

[Member496333]

Setting aside for a moment the issue of insulin safety, in my opinion, as a type 2, I think regular eating is the very worst thing you can do to your metabolism. One or two hearty meals per day is best. Ideally just one if you can. Or some days even none if you can cope with fasting. Your liver will thank you in the long term. But again, as an insulin user it goes without saying that you must be extremely vigilant.

All the above is only my opinion and not medical advice!

 

[jonathan183]

here are my medical suggestions i got so far
when i asked for help with the extreme hunger--

try to eat three to four times a day-- dr said
eat every 2 hours--nurse said
eat 1 cup of food every hour-- a counselor said
weight loss surgery-- an er dr said
lets do some bloodwork first-- 2 drs said (then after done completely refused to do a thing but gave no reason)
1200 calories of a high carb diet-- dietician said

so no help really
for various reasons like how can i be taking rapid insulin every hour or 2 to eat?
weight loss surgery not possible because i cant be knocked out
so i quit asking for help with it
its disappointing though because i had this impression
that drs help ppl especially with meds they give you

I'm sorry you are getting conflicting information.
As I already said the insulin dosing needs to be sorted out and unfortunately that is something which I think you will need to sort with your medical support team.
You might also find Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution useful. It has a couple of chapters on insulin regimens, and some tips on pain free injection.

 

[cdpm]

I'm sorry you are getting conflicting information.
As I already said the insulin dosing needs to be sorted out and unfortunately that is something which I think you will need to sort with your medical support team.
You might also find Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution useful. It has a couple of chapters on insulin regimens, and some tips on pain free injection.

unfortuneatly since the covid thing
i only have a phone in dr service to use
its where i call one of the participating pharmacies
and ask them to call one of the participating walkin drs
so no 1 dr is doing my care or drug repeats
i didnt have a dr be4 covid but i could at least go
see one and now with the prices of other things gone up too
much (due to covid price increases) i have to do the appts by phone
i had to switch my transportation budget to get a phone to do them by phone
this all leaves me having to sort it out on my own
i can see if i can get a copy of the book you mentioned though

 

[cdpm]

many many wonderful suggestions
thanks

the single easiest thing i have found so far
is not using the insulin
i felt so much better not being so hungry
and i know theres a risk of complications
but if we get honest about it
there can still be despite all the pills and injections we take
so what have i to lose?
why cant i do what feels better?

 

[Marie 2]

If you are a type 2, there is a good chance you could change your diet or eating pattern and solve your blood sugar issues. If you are a type 1 you have to have insulin.

High blood sugar thickens the blood and damages the vessels of the body. The most susceptible to damage are the kidneys and eyes. You honestly don’t want that.

It sounds like they just called in a standard prescription making sure you had enough. You need to get your proper insulin need sorted out.

 

[Fenn]

many many wonderful suggestions
thanks

the single easiest thing i have found so far
is not using the insulin
i felt so much better not being so hungry
and i know theres a risk of complications
but if we get honest about it
there can still be despite all the pills and injections we take
so what have i to lose?
why cant i do what feels better?

That’s the spirit

 

[cdpm]

so heres my latest plans
i try for the rest of this week
to reach a dr by phone
one of the ones i have not asked for help from yet
regarding the ravenous insulin caused hunger
if i get the same results of no help

1) i drop the insulin
how i'd eat will depend on the resulting numbers
OR
2)
drop the insulin
and eat just 1 can of beans or soup
or chili as long as its just 1 can of something everyday
regardless of numbers

this seems drastic
but i dont want 3 or 4 ppl having to
come in to clean me
and i dont know how else to prevent it
to stop the weight gain from being
so hungry


i will try to post what happens

(this likely is a moot question anyway
as in a few months i run out out of
needles with no funds to continue buying them)

 

[jonathan183]

You need to sort the insulin dose requirements.

I suggest you discuss with the doctor control using diet and whether you can do this without insulin, initially need a combination of diet and insulin/other medication or whether you are likely to always need insulin/other medication.

High blood glucose causes damage - including to the beta cells in your pancreas, eventually leading to you being insulin dependent. I do not recommend ignoring high blood glucose levels ...

Hope the latest discussions with the doctor work out well.

 

[cdpm]

soooo
my dr discussion didnt go well
i didnt get the help i needed
so i guess its just a day at a time
as to what i eat my 1 time
a day
i imagine after a week i wont be so hungry
as thats usually what happens when i dont use
insulin
pretty depressed now though

 

[cdpm]

hunger going down
weight down by 4 pounds
and not so tired
so far seems im right again
me using insulin was causing alot of undesired effects
while rarely letting me reach goal
(im a very results oriented person-if i dont see results
why am i doing whatever or taking whatever?
especially after many years)

havent measured blood glucose yet though
in a few days

 

[Hopeful34]

Not feeling hungry and losing weight could be because your blood sugar is too high. The only way you'll know is by regular testing before a meal and 2 hours after the first bite.

 

[cdpm]

Next time on your trip add some lettuce and a few low carb veggies to add to your meal. Canned string beans are pretty low carb and the canned ones are usually soft and easy to eat. Canned asparagus is more expensive but very soft usually too. If you can get frozen spears of asparagus they are usually softer, the whole spear can be harder to chew. Lettuces would be great and add some bulk. Fresh or frozen broccoli and cauliflower can be cooked well and made soft and cauliflower comes in rice cauliflower that looks like rice. Just cook everything really well to soften so it's easier to eat.

It would open up more variation in food. Cheese over veggies, veggies mixed with your protein. Protein with rice cauliflower. If you get some coconut cream you can grill the coconut cream with the cauliflower rice to change it up. Low carb plain yogurt mixed with veggies as a sauce can change it up too.

I also suggest you start using your blender. You don't really need to learn a blender. You just learn what you like to put in it. If and when you get your teeth pulled it will be invaluable for food. A low or no carb protein powder, you can get them flavored mixed with milk. Also even low carbers usually will eat some berries which is a nice treat over yogurt.

A crockpot is also easy, you just throw stuff in it and cook over time. It would be great to throw some veggies and protein in it to soften up because of it's slower or longer cook time. If you have any spices you like you can experiment with adding a little to change up the flavor.

i finally got some veggies
just canned green peas though
as it fits the budget and storage
plus its my fav. one
not sure how im having them yet
maybe heated with cheese slices

 

[cdpm]

restarted the insulin
very ravenous
struggling not to just give in to the hunger
very very discouraged and hopeless

 

[cdpm]

You need to sort the insulin dose requirements.

I suggest you discuss with the doctor control using diet and whether you can do this without insulin, initially need a combination of diet and insulin/other medication or whether you are likely to always need insulin/other medication.

High blood glucose causes damage - including to the beta cells in your pancreas, eventually leading to you being insulin dependent. I do not recommend ignoring high blood glucose levels ...

Hope the latest discussions with the doctor work out well.

the only medical help i have is
the walkin drs that i get a drugstore to call
to have them call me back
and so far they are saying i need to be seeing an endo.
i keep telling them the nearest one is approx. 12 hours
away by car and no train or bus to use here where i live
so they wont help as they say they cant see me
and need to see me to help?
i dont get that cause they also call from many miles away
i couldnt see them anyway
its been a total mess medically since the covid thing
so im on my own to sort it out
plus the cdes here say they wont do medication adjustments
the best i get is refills and maybe 2x a year an order for an a1c
from the phone drs
here is the best support i have
thanks everyone

 

[cdpm]

another issue with being so hungry from insulin use
is that im still hungry and the action time is said to be 4 hours
but by the time 2 hours is up im barely hanging on
lots of times im guilty of insulin stacking
but never a hypo from doing it
thankfully
i really regret doing a thing when i was first diagnosed
as i was at least 50 pounds lighter
eating 2000 calories a day and losing weight easily
im not totally wrapped up in weight loss
its the stupid extreme hunger
which by the way is present no matter my blood sugar level
unless im not using insulin
anyway thanks to everyone who is still reading this thread