Type 2 Diabetic - To Start on Insulin - Help!!

Hi Chouse
I am also type 2 for several years and started on insulin injections 3 months ago, yes at first it feels catastrophic and the worst thing that could happen. I am quite scared of needles at the best of times, but as its turned out, its been much easier than I would have expected. I only have one injection a day at the moment, of long acting insulin, levemir, plus ongoing metformin. I have read it elsewhere and found it to be true, that the injection itself is usually less painful than doing the finger prick, most times you don't actually feel it so once you've got your head around the idea of injecting yourself, you will be astounded at how easy it becomes and part of the everyday.
So, I think its one of these things that looks horrific in anticipation but you can only understand it when you start to experience it. Worth taking the plunge with it though and getting the levels down, when your health is in good order and there are fewer concerns about complications and so forth, life is a lot better.
good luck with it all and keep in touch. At the start its all new and there are many questions you might have, and sometimes need to ask more than once as it all settles in.
bruce

I have to agree with rainbow fish. I too was terrfied of injecting at first but now, it's just like brushing my teeth....just part of my twice-daily routine. My finger-pricking is more painful but even that is not exactly a bother.
I was actually glad to come off of tablets because I'm an absolute hopeless case when it comes to oral medication......I need two glasses of water to get down just one tablet. :roll:
I think most people are nervous of making the change to insulin but trust me, you'll be fine.I have just come back from America and there is no problem in that direction either. Just a couple of things to bear in mind.Firstly, always keep your insulin in your hand luggage. It should never go in the hold of a plane. Secondly, you need to have a written letter from your G.P. to verify you have diabetes and need to carry insulin and needles. If you don't have this, they could stop you getting on a plane. (Having said that on this last trip it wasn't checked but I have heard of people being stopped boarding without such a letter, so make sure you get one.)
Long haul trips do muck up your body clock of course, so you have to adjust your insulin-taking to fit in with that and your diabetes nurse should be able to help with that. If she can't, I can recommend reading a book in the At Your Fingertips range..... "Diabetes" (Professor Peter Sonksen,Dr Charles Fox and Sue Judd). This book is written in a question and answer format and I found it invaluable when first diagnosed.
Good luck.

Hi chouse, I too am type 2, just started on insulin after 2 yrs on tabs (triple therapy). Flew to Marsaille today, no probs at security- just told them the only liquid in my hand baggage was insulin. They had absolutelly no probs with that, just make sure you tell them. I did`nt have a letter from Doc., but carried a copy of my repeat prescription on me just in case.
Injecting is no problem either. I was nervous at first, but just "bit the bullet" and did it, could`nt really feel it at all! Needle is only 8mm and probably 2-3 times thicker than a human hair! So don`t worry about it, it`s really very simple and easy. B/S`s now well under control. Its the best move i could have made. Good luck, and i`m sure everything will be fine.

I know it seems scary but as others on here have said, it really isn't so bad. I too am on Levemir with tablets to supplement. Needles are nowadays extremely fine and injector pens have made the whole process much simpler and relatively painless. Indeed, finger pricks are often much worse. Just remember to rotate your injection sites daily and always use a fresh needle every time (I am constantly telling my parents to do this...it's like talking to a brick wall, but it really is best!!)

My whole family are on insulin...it's like a 'shooting gallery' in our house at dinner times!!

Good luck

hi i am type 2 and iam on insulin and tablets i found it very scarey at first but it's not too bad now you see i'm metformin sr 500mg 2 at lunch and 2 at dinner pluse i'm on the insulin 3times to 4 times aday i tried alsorts of insulin before i found the one i'm on now and it is brilliant and very flexable i have breakfst only twice aweek my units are 9 and at lunch i'm on 22 which if i don't want to have lunch then i don't have to take the insulin as long as i have the others i takt 22 at dinner and i have a long acting bed time one which is also 22 but it lasts for 12 hrs throughout the night my blood sugars a pretty good now i have been a diabetic for 9 yrs and still learning the once i'm on which i recamend you asking your doctor about is humalig and lantus they are brilliant speak to the and see what they say it was the best thing i ever did i now have a bit more freedom, sorry this is so long i hope i have helped you let me know what happens.

from maria

New to Insulin

Hi - I'm new to this forum and to insulin injections.

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes about ten years ago and have been injecting twice a day for the last fortnight (previously treated with oral medication). I have a couple of questions:-

Occasionally I've noticed a small drop of insulin leaking from the injection site. Is this normal? Should I be concerned about it? I read somewhere that pinching the skin first can prevent/reduce leakage.

Also, I've been feeling quite tired and occasionally 'spaced out' from time to time. I wonder if I might be doing something wrong!

Otherwise, the injections are a breeze and all of my anxiety about them was groundless (I hope this might help anyone else worried about switching treatment).

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Stallance (Nigel) :shock:

Hi Nigel,
Your feeling tired and spaced out could be an indication of high blood sugar. Do you test BS levels regularly, and particularly when you experience these symptoms?

Re: Type 2 Diabetic new to Insulin

Thanks Dennis,

I've been testing my BS every few hours during the first couple of weeks and in the main, they're delightfully low (compared with when on the tablets) - they're averaging around the six mark. It may be that my perception of feeling odd is hypersensitivity (or psychosomatic!) about the change. Or maybe I'm still getting used to having reasonable BS levels!

Stallance Nigel :shock: