• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Should I go onto Insulin?

S

skreechy

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I had the most diabolical review I've had yesterday at my local hospital, not because my levels were up or anything bad like that, but because it seemed like the Nurse just wanted to go home.... :x
I'm there for a 6 month review, and I had to ask her what my Hbac1 reading was...
I have debated going onto insulin,as if I have carbs, my levels rocket, I've expressed this to the hsopital numerous times, as I'd like to gain some weight, as I'm one of the slim, not type 1 or type 2 diabetics.
The nurse suggested I eat "normally" (with carbs) so they can see what happens to my BS levels even though my BS diary is well filled in, I told her when I eat like this my levels rocket, she said
"it will be fine to have yr levels in double figures for a few weeks :evil: "
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so I decided to leave when the nurse had finished, agreed to come back in a month to see someone about going on insulin, but I won't be running my levels into double figures for anyone, not anymore.
At the moment I'm lo carbing, and my hbac1 level has come down, so
my question......
do I stay lo carbing, and taking less meds, or go onto Insulin, dependant on the review in a month?
Any suggestions or thought would be appreciated.

Thanks :)
 
Hey skreechy

you didn't tell us what your HBA1c results was - but I would have said if a low carb diet is doing the trick you should stick with it.
Personally speaking I would say that insulin should be considered as a last resort for a T2.
 
skreechy said:
I had the most diabolical review I've had yesterday at my local hospital, not because my levels were up or anything bad like that, but because it seemed like the Nurse just wanted to go home.... :x
Click to expand...

Is this another one to add to 'The can't be bovvered and not very well informed' Nurses and GP's handbook ?? As Aadrgon says, Insulin should be the last resort.

Ken

Tubs, please don't give me another headache. :D
 
cugila said:
Tubs, please don't give me another headache
Click to expand...

Someone has to be able to answer with sufficent detail we are fortunate that Tubs is one of them
but to save yourself some time Ken just slam your head in the door a couple of times now :twisted: :lol:
 
My current hbac1 is 7.2 this has come down slowly over the last year,
but i've taken myself off of the repaglinide now as the low carbing doesn't affect my levels to a point where I have cause for concern.
 
Hi again skreechy

sounds like your results are moving in the right direction. a value of 7.2 is still a bit on the high side
Do you test you blood glucose during the day ? It may be that there are still parts of your diet that need adjusting slightly to fetch your HBA1c down lower.
 
Skreechy
If you don't want to go on to insulin with its attendant problems, you should be able not to.
Low carbing is good for T2s, T1s and non-diabetics alike. Keep on track. 7.2% and dropping is good!
 
skreechy said:
The nurse suggested I eat "normally" (with carbs) so they can see what happens to my BS levels even though my BS diary is well filled in, I told her when I eat like this my levels rocket, she said
"it will be fine to have yr levels in double figures for a few weeks
Click to expand...
Hi skreechy,

That's an interesting comment for her to have made. I didn't think the new act to allow assisted suicide had been passed by parliament yet!!

As she has explained, if you eat "normally" i.e. high carb diet, then your BS will almost certainly hit double figures. And for a member of the medical profession to say that is a good state of affairs is absolutely scandalous. The level at which diabetic complications can start is a BS that remains consistently above 7.5mmol. A BS consistently above 10 is pretty much a guarantee of retinopathy and neuropathy.

You know that what you are doing works for you so and your HBA1C results are steadily reducing, so just keep doing what you are doing. Don't let the medical profession kill you!
 
Dennis said:
That's an interesting comment for her to have made. I didn't think the new act to allow assisted suicide had been passed by parliament yet!!!
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll stay low carbing then, I do have a strict(ish) routine, it can be difficult to follow, and I'm still weening myself off of the carbs, but some meals (breakfast) I'm having trouble with, as I don't have the time (actually, I'm not a morning person :oops: ) to cook something, so I have 2 weetabix. The rest of the day, I'm getting used to the lo carbs, plus, this review I had only been lo carbing for 6 weeks out of the 6 months since reading many a great post on this forum, it's great to actually interact with people who are in my boat :D

Does the introduction of fast acting insulin promote weight gains?
My hbac1's should be below 7 right?
 
Hi skreechy
Try making yourself a loaf of Fergus's bread ( recipes thread) and then you can have toast for breakfast with VERY FEW Carbs. weetabix is a bit high, like all breakfast cereals. I make myself a double Fergus, ( double ingredients) every few days and it makes life easier. Tou need to order the Wheat Gluten from low carb Megastore online.
 
Hi skreechy,

A slim diabetic with elevated blood sugars may well have reduced pancreatic function and for that reason insulin may be the best solution. However, I think you'd be wise to try reducing your carb intake as far as necessary to get your bs into line first. If that doesn't do it, insulin will be your best bet. It's nothing to be afraid of, but if you can avoid taking it, so much the better. It does promote weight gain, it's about the only hormone that does!

fergus
 
Thanks for the answers and suggestions, I see how I get on over the next 3 months, I'll stay lo carbing, and delay the insulin for the moment and report back with my progress,
 
Another thing worth considering

http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/diabetesgenes/index.htm

some forms of MODY may have presentation similar to either Type 2 or Type 1 and they usually respond well to *low* doses of sulphs.

I also suspect Byetta may have major uses in certain forms of prediabetes as well as diabetes if your incretin system is broken, where your pancreas is still comparatively undamaged but no longer responds to the signals to generate insulin.

OTOH so long as you have your insulin resistance well controlled so you don't need megadoses, insulin can be very controllable.

Second opinion from someone who actually knows about diabetes would be a good plan . . .
 
Back
Top