Stopped using Insulin

Ruskie · Aug 22, 2020

Hello All

First post .....

I have been T2 for 20 years and on insulin for 3 years.

After a third 'serious' low sugar incident ( ie required medical support ), I decided to come off insulin as I believe that this has partly been to blame for the low sugars.

Over the last 4 weeks my bloods have been up and down, but never higher than 12 and have been close to normal on many occasions. I put this down to not eating as much ( simply not as hungry ) and avoiding certain sugary / high carb foods. My average reading for the last month is 9.2 and I have lost over a stone in weight.

I test every 4 hours at the moment during the day and sometimes I have gone from a reading of 7 to over 10 and I don't understand why. Does anyone know why and how I can avoid it happening ? It's not because of what I have eaten or anything had to drink.

Could it be because of lack of carbs in what I am eating ?

Would welcome suggestions on maintaining / reducing sugar levels.

Thanks

PS - Hospital Diabetic Clinic is aware that I decided to come off insulin and is happy with bloods so far.

HSSS · Aug 22, 2020

Ruskie said:
Hello All

First post .....

I have been T2 for 20 years and on insulin for 3 years.

After a third 'serious' low sugar incident ( ie required medical support ), I decided to come off insulin as I believe that this has partly been to blame for the low sugars.

Over the last 4 weeks my bloods have been up and down, but never higher than 12 and have been close to normal on many occasions. I put this down to not eating as much ( simply not as hungry ) and avoiding certain sugary / high carb foods. My average reading for the last month is 9.2 and I have lost over a stone in weight.

I test every 4 hours at the moment during the day and sometimes I have gone from a reading of 7 to over 10 and I don't understand why. Does anyone know why and how I can avoid it happening ? It's not because of what I have eaten or anything had to drink.

Could it be because of lack of carbs in what I am eating ?

Would welcome suggestions on maintaining / reducing sugar levels.

Thanks

PS - Hospital Diabetic Clinic is aware that I decided to come off insulin and is happy with bloods so far.

Insulin, or to be specific more insulin than you required at that point in time, is entirely responsible for hypos. Less insulin, if it is not actually required, will be assisting weight loss as insulin in excess helps fat storage and hinders fat burning.

Testing before and after your meals will give you more information that set time intervals. You want a rise of no more than 2mmol 2 hrs after eating. If it’s more then the meal was too high in carbs for you.

Rise in blood sugar can be food, sometimes delayed by fats for example. Also illness, liver dumps if it thinks it’s lower than usual, tiredness, some exercise, stress etc etc. Lack of carbs will never cause a rise except perhaps short term due to a liver dump whilst you adjust to lower (more normal) levels. Once the liver realises this I s the new normal it will behave better. Think of it as a tantrum.

Can you see the links below in my signature in red . Well worth a read for how to lower levels as a type 2.

Are you now on any meds?

Ruskie · Aug 22, 2020

HSSS said:
Insulin, or to be specific more insulin than you required at that point in time, is entirely responsible for hypos. Less insulin, if it is not actually required, will be assisting weight loss as insulin in excess helps fat storage and hinders fat burning.

Testing before and after your meals will give you more information that set time intervals. You want a rise of no more than 2mmol 2 hrs after eating. If it’s more then the meal was too high in carbs for you.

Rise in blood sugar can be food, sometimes delayed by fats for example. Also illness, liver dumps if it thinks it’s lower than usual, tiredness, some exercise, stress etc etc. Lack of carbs will never cause a rise except perhaps short term due to a liver dump whilst you adjust to lower (more normal) levels. Once the liver realises this I s the new normal it will behave better. Think of it as a tantrum.

Can you see the links below in my signature in red . Well worth a read for how to lower levels as a type 2.

Are you now on any meds?

Hello and thanks.

Still on Metformin and Glicazide, but I plan to get a review of all medicines to ensure only take what's needed.

Coming off insulin has removed my 'crutch' and mentally feel more in control and that it's up to me to sort things out.

R

HSSS · Aug 22, 2020

Glicazide can still cause hypos, so be sure to monitor carefully whilst cutting carbs and be ready for a hypo with treatments just in case. Well done for all the progress you’ve made so far. Information is power to make good choices. Your meter is your best friend in this respect.

Stopped using Insulin

Ruskie

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Ruskie

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Stopped using Insulin

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Ruskie

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