Type 2 Stabbers

Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
Hi all, are there any T2s out there who partake in a little stabbing? I'd be interested to hear your views on it since you started stabbing. It's certainly not a level playing field once you're on insulin (my initial thinking was that it would be). I've had periods of stability and periods of ridiculous highs. At the moment, I'm going through a moderately high period (last HB1CA was above normal levels - the last 4 or 5 before that were within range). I'm on NovoRapid for my bolus and Insulatard for my basal. At the moment, I have no idea what's going on. I'm strict on my bolus in terms of not overdoing it - basically, being better at carb counting. But by basal dose is the thing that is screwing everything up. Sometimes I wake up low before breakfast - in the 4s - and other times I wake up high. Sometimes when I wake up before breakfast, I do feel like I've had a hypo and am rebounding back up. Other times I feel I haven't had a hypo and my readings are high (9 -12). I've adjusted my basal accordingly at the same time ever night and am thinking perhaps I need to change the time I inject it. I was lucky to have had one appointment with a DSN and she really knew her stuff - normally I have a lovely nurse who I get on with really well, but she does not specialise in this area. I remember the DSN explained about the timings of the basal injection but I cannot remember the exact details. So my question is, apart from wanting to hear from other T2 stabbers, can anyone educate me regarding the times for injecting basal?

Thanks in advance :pompous:
 
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
Apologies for not posting on the Type 2 Insulin forum!!! Is there a way to move it?
 

Mep

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,461
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
@NoMorePizzaBlues - yes I have highs and lows like you do. My problem is I keep getting added illness on top of my usual stuff which makes managing diabetes and getting my basal right hell. I have been sick continuously since beginning of December. I just thought I was starting to get a break and I've just being diagnosed with another UTI and I started antibiotics again yesterday. **** it. Also I've discovered since being on insulin (was placed on it February 2010) that there isn't the same education available on how to use insulin as there is for type 1's. I tried recently to see if I could attend a DAFNE course here and I got a reply saying sorry you have to be type 1 to attend. It seems people who are insulin dependant are only thought about if they have one type of diabetes. I know there is more than one type that needs insulin. So the exclusion doesn't just apply to type 2's, but 1.5's, 3c's here and even gestational diabetes where they have to use insulin. So really I've just had to do a lot of guess work. My endo just tells me what basal units he wants me on. He also just tells me when I'm sick to adjust the units by 2 at a time for a few days either increasing or decreasing. That's what I do. Sometimes it works, other times it seems I can't get it right. When the basal isn't right I tend to use more or less bolus instead. Even then I don't always get it right. I don't really know the tricks, etc. The educators here told me I don't need to know how to carb count and to just do what my endo said (yep they said that when I asked them to teach me). Maybe I should try my luck again and see if I can find a smart educator. I just feel like I fly blind a lot of the time. Being told what to do and what happens in reality is often 2 different things. So I hear you about how frustrating it is. If you're in UK from what I've read on this forum to date you may be able to get in to the DAFNE course there which should give you more tips. There is a discussion thread for DAFNE on here too which you might find helpful. I wish you the best. :)
 
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
@NoMorePizzaBlues - yes I have highs and lows like you do. My problem is I keep getting added illness on top of my usual stuff which makes managing diabetes and getting my basal right hell. I have been sick continuously since beginning of December. I just thought I was starting to get a break and I've just being diagnosed with another UTI and I started antibiotics again yesterday. **** it. Also I've discovered since being on insulin (was placed on it February 2010) that there isn't the same education available on how to use insulin as there is for type 1's. I tried recently to see if I could attend a DAFNE course here and I got a reply saying sorry you have to be type 1 to attend. It seems people who are insulin dependant are only thought about if they have one type of diabetes. I know there is more than one type that needs insulin. So the exclusion doesn't just apply to type 2's, but 1.5's, 3c's here and even gestational diabetes where they have to use insulin. So really I've just had to do a lot of guess work. My endo just tells me what basal units he wants me on. He also just tells me when I'm sick to adjust the units by 2 at a time for a few days either increasing or decreasing. That's what I do. Sometimes it works, other times it seems I can't get it right. When the basal isn't right I tend to use more or less bolus instead. Even then I don't always get it right. I don't really know the tricks, etc. The educators here told me I don't need to know how to carb count and to just do what my endo said (yep they said that when I asked them to teach me). Maybe I should try my luck again and see if I can find a smart educator. I just feel like I fly blind a lot of the time. Being told what to do and what happens in reality is often 2 different things. So I hear you about how frustrating it is. If you're in UK from what I've read on this forum to date you may be able to get in to the DAFNE course there which should give you more tips. There is a discussion thread for DAFNE on here too which you might find helpful. I wish you the best. :)

First of all, thank you for your reply - it's much appreciated. And secondly, I am really sorry to hear about your illness. It must be really rotten for you and you have my complete sympathy. I just hope that it gets better soon and that you manage to find some answers as to what is going on with you.

I had previously thought, mistakenly, that this disease was pretty much OK to manage. However, I'm now beginning to understand that it is an unstable and unpredictable pain in the f****** ****. For me, I just want somebody professional to speak to but I also understand that that is not necessarily the answer. Perhaps we just need to immerse ourselves in education - I know there are plenty of good books out there. It's just finding the time to study!!! Lets just hope that those boffins can come up with something to alleviate the worry (and pain etc. for some people) that we go through.

Thanks again and take care for now.
 
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Reactions: 2 people
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
Health care in this country is amazing. I've been to many developing countries and the standard of health care (i.e. lack of) is shocking. I suppose when I have been running well over acceptable BG levels since January, it doesn't really matter does it? Some people have no diabetic care whatsoever. I should be thankful and I should not be bitching about it on here. Do you think this is what the government would like to hear? Would the staff of the NHS like to hear this? What do you really think?
 
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
Well in response to me previous post (may as well just respond to myself), I think you may have a point. Stop bitching and just get on with it. Thank you and goodbye.
 

Mep

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,461
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
@NoMorePizzaBlues - I can't comment about your NHS or government as I'm not in your country. I'm sure people aren't ignoring what you've said. People just don't come here all the time is all. Keep on posting and sharing, someone will respond to you eventually. I wish you the best :)
 
Messages
17
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!
Just hit a dead end now - last appointment with DSN was cancelled after waiting a month and a half for it. Guess I really do just have to accept abnormally high levels and deal with the consequences when they arise i.e. blindness, limb loss, kidney failure etc. etc. Surely it would be more cost effective to manage diabetes before getting to the stage when you're really sapping NHS resources. Oh well, could be worse.
 

Mep

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,461
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Just hit a dead end now - last appointment with DSN was cancelled after waiting a month and a half for it. Guess I really do just have to accept abnormally high levels and deal with the consequences when they arise i.e. blindness, limb loss, kidney failure etc. etc. Surely it would be more cost effective to manage diabetes before getting to the stage when you're really sapping NHS resources. Oh well, could be worse.

I hope you're able to find another diabetic team that can help you. I agree it's better to help you control than wait until you have complications.