Would you ever ask to be put on insulin, why?
I am a type two diabetic.I am a type two diabeticI have been diabetic for 10+ years. I have been on the worst meds and some of the best ones to control sugars. I have lost over 80 lbs now, and although I still carry that carb mid section, I am feeling well. My last A1C was 6.7 --- not bad, not good for me. I swim four days a week for 45 minutes and walk for 15 despite the arthritis in my knees. I am down to 80 carbs a day.....I take janumet, amaryl for the diabetes and several anti inflammatories for the arthritis. I'm doing as I was told, my my daily numbers don't prove that. FBS is about 130; dailies can run from 90 - 180...so I am considering asking to be put on insulin to get back in control again.
I have questions, let's say my doc goes for it, and I gain weight....I will bawl very loudly, because this is the thinnest I've been in 30 years. So what do I have to do not to get the "insulin weight".
Is it true that once you go on insulin, you're committed, you don't come off of it?
I am thinking this is the best treatment change for me, if we can get the numbers down, and I get this under control again.
Ideas, thoughts please.
I have questions, let's say my doc goes for it, and I gain weight....I will bawl very loudly, because this is the thinnest I've been in 30 years. So what do I have to do not to get the "insulin weight".
Is it true that once you go on insulin, you're committed, you don't come off of it?
I am thinking this is the best treatment change for me, if we can get the numbers down, and I get this under control again.
Ideas, thoughts please.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by wynot on -
I'm kinda talking outside my knowledge, but...
Both my parents were insulin dependent T2. I was diagnosed a few years ago, but have avoided so far having insulin dependence.
I have asked my dr several times about at least having some insulin around for emergency use (like when my morning sugars were just going nuts through morning effect). Part of my logic is that maybe my beta cells could use a rest or a little help now and then.
He looked at me and said, I have never seen someone actually ask to go on insulin and that was the end of the conversation about it. It's not like I want to be on insulin - I don't fear it, but I am willing to be in control of my diabetes, rather than it control me.
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Permalink Reply by jims on
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Insulin is totally adjustable and can be sized to carbs eaten.
Pills are pain in ass and like using hammer - one size fits all and you have to eat extra to match up
to any excess body insulin generated by pill.
I found insulin shots vastly better and tigher control and able to maintain diet and not gain weight.
count carbs to size shot size.
I use humalog lispro - 4 units breakfast, lunch and dinner.'
Also on metformin.
oh yes pancreas working well.
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Permalink Reply by solo79 on -
I think there are a lot of people that look bad on insulin because it's a shot or because of being insulin dependent. I don't mind needles so insulin to me is easier than the side effects of most pills. I took pills for years, and slowly my Dr. put me on a long acting and a short acting and still I was all over the board... I am now on a pump and I am glad not to have to inject so many times a day. I won't lie it's an adjustment in your life no matter what you choose but the numbers are the most important part. If it helps it is worth it in the long run. RIght?
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Interesting comments.
Long acting insulin - 75/25 with 12 hour interval are right pain in ass. Short acting insulin much easier and tracks a meal
and digestion time and one gets to change again after short interval. 12 hour humalog is like the 10.5 hour glyburide - both pains kin the ass.
Pill you have no idea how much extra insulin gets generated on a pill. WIth shot you get to control.
Either by pill or needle one is on insulin. Ony diff on pill is that ones own pancreas is used.
If ones pancreas is still working and I found mine kicking butt, it is much easier to use needle and calibrated shots and in fact add dose after eating so that one does not get big low from pancreas doing its job during meal and injected insulin at same time. I wait till I see BG climb up to 140 and above showing gut digesting and providing glucose and that
way I do not get premautre lows.
Here again; if pancreas still working - pills are pain in ass.
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Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on -
I DID ask to be put on insulin, and the reason was simple: Glucotrol, a sulfonylurea, was not doing a bloody thing after 5 months of trial. My fastings were around 180 and postprandials were around 250, and although the doc thought that was all right, I DIDN'T!
At the time, there were no other drugs to try, so insulin was the only answer. But it sounds like, even with the newer meds, you're not getting the results you want, although your numbers don't look THAT bad -- one reason your doc MAY be reluctant to put you on insulin. (Not putting you down, just trying to anticipate how your doc may react so that you can go prepared to argue!)
Some people DO gain weight on insulin -- it's a major fear for Type 2's and their docs. In my case, though, I LOST weight, I think because I was no longer so hungry and eating the refrigerator. At the time, I was clearly producing insulin, just not enough. I think other people's comments on not feeding the insulin and knowing your ratios are right on the money.
Another thing to think about is reducing the carbs further. I'm averaging about 60g a day, and I have cut out all grain products as well as potatoes, corn, and peas. If I would give up the Greek yogurt, I could get my carb count even lower, but the yogurt has done my bowels a lot of good, so I accept the carbs.
Type 2 is a tough battle, not to mention how the arthritis complicates matters. I hope you get what you need! :-)
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excellent response and fully responded too.
With the pills you have to eat sufficient or get lows.
With insulin, one gets full control, can reduce carbs and wit hearty exervise loose weight.
Mentality of pills is fine for those who have it work. For me - pain in ass.
The comment about BG numbers and how high and not accepting the high numbers is critical.
The higher numbers usually indicate body is loaded up with glucose and insulin resistance being held on by elevated numbers. ie body muscle cells constantly topped off with glucose and no room for more glucose and BG numbers elevated.
Cutting back on carbs and increasing hearty exercise and fixing any medical issues - leaky liver etc is key to getting BG back down and clearing out excess glucose around body is super critical.
lap band, bariatric surgery/bypass, small intestine liner and tight (staravation ) all point to hauling back on calories load input gives body opportunity to heal and get back in control. Leaving calorie inpout elevated simply ensures BG will remain out of whack and insulin resistance remains trapped on.
Hunter gatherer gene digestion system was optimized 10,000 years ago for poor and low volume food supply with bouts of starvation. AFter second world war we have tons of high grade farm food and each and every day - easy to overload calories to body.
On top of that we have cars, lap top computers, video games and HD TV - satellite couch potato games, exercise all dropping energy burn.
The results seem obvious.
In my case, syopping leaky liver, reduced cars and 1200 calorie diet and one to two miles walking daily all helped me to
stop the actos, drop excess insulin/starlex ,stop body rot and eye damage.
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Permalink Reply by Jest on -
I am type 2 and take Lantus and Metformin. I have been able to continue losing weight with the Lantus. Lantus or a basal is great for the fasting bgl. I never want to give up my Lantus...LOL
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Permalink Reply by zebedeebear on -
I didn't ask to be put on insulin but I did ask to stop the oral medication on top of it. I was having a lot of swings that I couldn't control where with insulin it was much more control able. I start with slide scale just to treat blood sugars over 150 usually due to medications.
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Permalink Reply by LAURA MANTLO on
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I've been in your shoes. I was originally diagnosed with T2 and was just put on Metformin. Early last year, I began to lose weight. I was taking my meds regurally and sticking to a diet. I went to my doc and my A1C was 12.0!!! Very bad! It upset me. So he increased my Metformin and put me on Amaryl. Very stupid with my opinion. Two months later no improvement with my sugars. I would wake up and my fasting would be 300...and it would be like this for months. So I finally went to the ER because helpful people on this site would tell me that I might be going into DKA. So I went to the ER. I was pretty much asking to be put on insulin because I couldn't control it with TWO medications. Now, today, I am completely insulin dependent. I am on Lantus and Humulin R. I have much better control now. But, lately, I've been thinking about going on the pump for more stable control. If you think insulin is right for you, just go to your endo. I did, and he finally put me on insulin because he didn't like my A1C results. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on
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Sounds like a classic case of LADA, which is really Type 1. Just ask Melitta about it. I'm sorry you had to go through the torture of misdiagnosis!!! :-(
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It's ok. I have a new endo now. I ended up losing 40 pounds during the whole thing.
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