Thanks folks for giving me the courage to ask for more…meaning the idea of insulin rather than messing around with this regime. I have to admit that right now (I REPEAT RIGHT NOW) coming to these boards scares me more than help me. The information and almost scary information is more a stressor than anything. So I do thank you for your not so scary information.
I am in great need of support and encouragement rather than “you shoulds or you shouldn’ts” So thanks.
And good luck to you my friend.
Hi Emmy,
Wow…what a difference a month makes. You’re spot on about the morning numbers being the key. This morning’s was 96! It really, for me, depends on what I’ve eaten for dinner the night before and the amount of carbs.
I took it upon myself to start testing my bg 8-10 times a day (thankfully my doc agreed and wrote a new script for more test strips), before and usually 2 hrs. after each meal and at various times throughout…along with some random late night/early morning times.
Doing my testing this way has given me a much clearer picture of what the insulin is doing in my body and how my body reacts to different foods and activities.
I can say, after over a month on insulin, I don’t regret for one moment the decision to add this tool to my diabetes treatment regime.
Thanks for the helpful and supportive words you and others have offered.
Hi. I was fearful also when I got on my two different insulins. I went from pills to insulin in a matter of two months after diagnosis. Insulin has been a God send for me! I feel sooo much better and have much more engery than I had before starting treatment. You need to remember not everyone can manage their diabetes with diet and pills alone. Look at the big picture you need to keep your blood sugar down to avoid complications from diabetes and insulin is an excellent tool for doing that! Insulin is not a punishment or a sign of failure it is a tool in wich to keep your blood sugar where it should be! Its been a wonderful tool for me where I was struggling in the 200,300 range before my two insulins now I’m running perfect with a nice tight control! So instead of looking at insulin in a negative way look at the positive benifits of insulin! I’m greatful for my insulins because I no longer strugle with my numbers. When I do go high I correct it right away with my insulin. I’m also on a 24 hour insulin I take in the mornings. This helps a lot! When you do learn to inject remember to rotate your injection sites daily ok ? It might take a while to find the right dose for you but don’t give up! Once you find your dose you will feel a lot better! Good luck to you! Keep us posted on how your doing ok? Hang in there!
I was on oral meds for 12 years, A1c’s almost always in the 7’s. Then in 3 months, my A1c went from 7.1 to 8.7, with no change of lifestyle. Beta cell exhaustion. I did injections for a bit under a year, then switched to a pump.
My last 15 A1c’s have been between 4.9 and 5.4.
Insulin is an opportunity to take control of your diabetes.
-Lloyd
Hi. I was fearful also when I got on my two different insulins. I went from pills to insulin in a matter of two months after diagnosis. Insulin has been a God send for me! I feel sooo much better and have much more engery than I had before starting treatment. You need to remember not everyone can manage their diabetes with diet and pills alone. Look at the big picture you need to keep your blood sugar down to avoid complications from diabetes and insulin is an excellent tool for doing that! Insulin is not a punishment or a sign of failure it is a tool in wich to keep your blood sugar where it should be! Its been a wonderful tool for me where I was struggling in the 200,300 range before my two insulins now I’m running perfect with a nice tight control! So instead of looking at insulin in a negative way look at the positive benifits of insulin! I’m greatful for my insulins because I no longer strugle with my numbers. When I do go high I correct it right away with my insulin. I’m also on a 24 hour insulin I take in the mornings. This helps a lot! When you do learn to inject remember to rotate your injection sites daily ok ? It might take a while to find the right dose for you but don’t give up! Once you find your dose you will feel a lot better! Good luck to you! Keep us posted on how your doing ok? Hang in there!
it is not a step back and when i was first dx i was put on insulin and i had such a hard time with it because i have a needle phobia believe me it was the best time of my life when i eventually managed to get off insulin and go to oral meds through diet and exercise, but same thing this past year things started going haywire and the doctor finally wanted to add another oral med after doubling my metformin, i requested insulin instead and i have never been happier my a1c is dropping back down and my management is much better. i would suggest you try it before you knock it am sure you wont regret it.
Hi all...
Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed to this thread. The stories and suggestions have been so helpful, you have no idea.
Just a quick update; things are going great with the insulin and I don't regret for one moment going forward with that decision. I'm still adjusting the dosage...trying to find the "sweet spot"...and learning what it feels like to have "normal" readings.
My most recent A1c was 6.4 down from 7.6 and still dropping...along with the weight....YAY!!!!
I won't say it's been a bed of roses...this is the first time I've experienced lows in the 40's and I'm having problems with other medications and side effects....but no regrets whatsoever.
Again, thanks everyone for all the advice and support.
Since 58% of protein eventually converts to glucose it might make sense to replace some of the protein with fat. thus decreasing the amount of glucose your pancreas needs to deal with. The Bernstein book explains this in depth. It could probably adapted to the Paleo approach.
This approach is criticized by some on the grounds that it will hurt their blood lipids. Although its counter intuitive, most of us who use this approach have seen an improvement in blood lipids, and this is backed up with recent research.
There are numerous posts on this forum that present both sides of the low carb/high fat argument. By reading old posts you can see both sides of the argument and decide for you self.
A good place to start reading about the pro side is the Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Solution Group