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Should I move to Insulin?

C

candj23

Member
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5
Hi All,

Been a member of Diabetes UK for some years but never used the forum! Sorry...

So hoping some of you can offer a bit of advice. I have been type 2 since 2004, I have controlled this with diet and then subsequently with the usual array of Drugs, Metformin, then Metformin PR Gliclazide etc. However over the last 6 months things have got a little difficult, and the numbers just wont come down. Not major but certainly higher than the "Professionals" or I would like. I have been asked to consider Insulin, its been made pretty clear to me that this is an inevitable move at some point so i should consider it now. I don't think I am scared of it, I just want to make an informed decision. I should also add that my Diabetes Guru tells me she will let me decide on whether I go for slow release or fast acting.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated and greatly received.

Thanks
PS Also been reading about Byetta, Bydureon [the extended release version of Byetta] and Victoza. Any thoughts?
 
Some people are concerned about going onto insulin but I think it's much easier to control your diabetes with injections. You basically inject according fo how many carbs you eat and what your blood glucose is. Only downside are the actual injections and more testing. Worth it though in my opinion.


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Hi I was diagnosed around the same time as you and have 'all' of the usual tablets, Met, Glic and Sitagliptin which haven't done much for a few years. If, like me, you are already having a low carb, small portion diet then you are ready for insulin. I went onto it 2 months ago and am really pleased I did. It's had an enormous effect on my sugars and I've been able to be more relaxed about what I eat. My DN has put me onto once a day long-acting (Basal). She chose Levemir marginally over Lantus. Levemir only lasts for about 18 hours max. I inject at bedtime so towards the end of the day and main meal time my sugars do rise a bit. Splitting the dose i.e. night and morning helps smooth day and I may change to that. I may ask to go on to short-acting as well or instead of splitting (Bolus) to cope with meal spikes. Personally I would go for long-acting first and then add short-acting as well or later. It's easy to do the Basal at bedtime as the pen is by my bedside. If you just do short-acting you have to have the pen with you when you travel during the day. I find injecting a doddle. Obviously multiple injections is more of a nuisance. I use a cartridge pen (Novopen 4) with 4mm needles as I'm thin. Go for it, but do tell the DVLA and you do need to check levels before driving.
 
I know i should go on insulin and the doctors would say that too but i cant get over the potential weight gain. In already overweight. If i put more weight on i know i ll just be depressed and unhappy....

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Claymic, I have been on insulin now for 6 months, in that time, I have lost 8lbs.
Just stick with lowish carbs and watch your calories and you will be fine.



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Hi Diabell,

Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated and low carb small portion! But I am a little worried about the weight gain. I do okay and would not consider myself overweight but I know I have the potential to be! This does concern me a little but I suppose I shall have to find out that for myself.

Thanks again for the input.
 
candj23 said:
Been a member of Diabetes UK for some years but never used the forum! Sorry...
Click to expand...

Hi candj23 and welcome to the forum, no need to apologise to us though as this forum is nothing to do with Diabetes UK, it is simply a diabetes forum that is using its web address of Diabetes.co.uk as its name. So similar in name but no connection what so ever :D

candj23 said:
Any advice would be hugely appreciated and greatly received.

Thanks
PS Also been reading about Byetta, Bydureon [the extended release version of Byetta] and Victoza. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Many people say that insulin is going to be a natural progression for all T2 diabetics but that is simply not true for everyone, my MIL is in her 70's and has been a T2 diabetic for many years and she is still controlling her diabetes with just Metformin, my sister who is in her 60's the same and also many people here who have been diabetic for many years are still controlling their condition with just a minimum of medication.

That said if your condition has seen your pancreas stop producing insulin which can be a common condition with T2's with high bg levels then it may be that insulin is the only course of action. However there are as you mention sa couple of other alternatives that you may find that would suit you, but of course only a doctor with your medical history can really advise you on that, but it is something that you could ask your doctor or diabetes nurse about.

Should insulin by your only option though you will be instructed how to use it and will soon get used to the new regime, most people do honestly :D I was placed straight on insulin after my diagnosis and was using it for about 12 months but managed to wean myself off it but I assume I still have reasonably good pancreatic function or I doubt I could have stopped the insulin treatment.

Many people here try to reduce the carbohydrates that they eat as it is the carbs in our diet that makes our bg levels rise so by eating fewer carbs we are able to control our bg levels better. Also if you are overweight it will help reduce your insulin resistance if you can lose some weight and reducing the carbs in your diet can help with that too, up to a point. And its not just overweight people who have insulin resistance as it is caused by visceral fat around the internal organs so it is not fat that can be seen which is why only 80% of newly diagnosed diabetics are overweight.

So there are other alternatives to look at perhaps some other injectable medication as you mentioned and or a change of diet, but if it has to be insulin then try not to worry as thousands of T2's do use insulin every day, they soon get used to it and find it very helpful in controlling their conditions.
 
Pilgrim22 said:
Claymic, I have been on insulin now for 6 months, in that time, I have lost 8lbs.
Just stick with lowish carbs and watch your calories and you will be fine.
Click to expand...

I too managed to lose around 4 stone or 56lbs in the 12 months I was using insulin, so it is not a given that you will put on weight :D


ps.....still losing some weight now 4 years on, in fact I just bought a new suit as my "other two" are now too big for me, the "other two" were bought after I lost the initial 4 stone. :thumbup:
 
Hi candj

I was diagnosed type2 December 2010 I was dka very bad rushed straight to icu any way I was put on novarapid and long acting insulin for around 6 months I picked it realy easy injections no probs not painful I was bit apprehensive at time but I was more in shock at being diagnosed just watch your readings especially if u drive Hypos can quickly creep up u so keep dextrose or sugar drink handy and chocolate at all times when I've had hypo I've always delt with them myself never needed assistance or medical help with 1but if u follow the advice of ur hcp u should be ok moving onto the needle

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I am here to tell you first hand ..In the words of my doctor. Insulin use causes weight gain. I gained almost 40 pounds on insulin. Was using it for 6 years. I finally seen a specialist and he is now wanting me to depend on pill and weekly bydureon shot. If you must move to needle which is a scary thing. It causes in the long run more illness. I am an example of pumping insulin in up to 7 times daily. It is scary at first using needle. It is so easy once you get used to it. It is very tiny and using my lower stomach was the best way to do it. Although there are other sites. I pray you think about it. I finally feel almost free. Just because you have diabetes does not mean you are doomed to shots. Now a 24 hour is not a bad thing at all. God Bless on your journey.
 
I have been on byetta for three years now. So obviously that is not working either. And i know me...if anything causes weight gain...i will gain weight :( i am very overweight as it is....if i had to gain 40lb...omg i don't think i ll bear it

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Hi. If you follow the NHS recommended diet for diabetics then you will most likely put on weight with or without insulin. If you follow the diet guidelines on this forum i.e. keeping portion sizes down, low-carb and low-GI carb then you should gradually lose weight or maintain a reasonable weight unless you are suffering form another medical condition as well. The national recommended daily calorie intake is far too high if you have any tendency to add weight. So a GP who says 'insulin causes weight gain' is simply wrong as a generalisation. It's what you eat that causes the gain and the good side of insulin is that you can eat and control blood sugar but the downside is that it can cause weight gain if your calorie intake is more than you need for your daily routine.
 
Hi All,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the information and comments, I can see I have some big decisions to make and will have to do a bit of research as well. Got a whole raft of information from IDDT (Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust), they have been brilliant and I would highly recommend them if anyone wants info (http://iddt.org/)

I'll be back in touch with more once I have had chance to digest, so big thanks to all who took the time to share your knowledge it is greatly appreciated.
 
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