I have been diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. I have had it for 10 years and it has recently gotten worse. I have had problems with my sugars not getting below 2000. I know that it should be below 100 but I can't seem to get it in the low 100s. I have faced depression because I cannot get it below what I want. The goal is to keep me from going to the shots. I feel as if I can't get it low. I eat how I'm supposed to and check my sugars regularly and take my medicine. I have been on the new medicine for only a week. I feel soo alone on this. None of my friends or family have problems like this. I really need support.
I think many of us get depressed when the numbers are too high. I know I do. Which medicines are you taking? Why don't you want to take the shots?
I have had Type 2 for about 9 years and I'm also having problems with my numbers.One website I found to be very helpful is bloodsugar101.com.
I am on ActosPlus now, I have been taking cinnamon and I was on glucophage. I just don’t think I can give myself shots.
I take chromium which I buy over the counter. It seems to help. I also take a low dose of metformin. I took some other T2 meds and they just made everything worse. I’m not really familiar with the drugs you are taking. I would prefer to have shots but I can understand why you would be worried. If you go to the T2 forum you will find a featured discussion about insulin. There are many members on here who found that it really helped.
Is the metformin over the counter? and how well does it work?
I am a T2. I use insulin. I decided that I would do whatever I need to do to say healthy. Don't beat yourself up because trying to take a pill and eat right/exercise doesn't work. If you gave it 110% and it hasn't brought your blood sugar in line, then it just isn't enough. It isn't a personal failure, it is just the way it is.
ps. Metformin is prescriptions and is contained in the Actosplus you take already.
I've only been doing everything for about a week. When my blood work came back saying my A1C was high, that's when I got the medicine refilled and trying to start over. I just get frustrated when trying to find foods I can eat and how much I can eat. I used to be allowed 1500 carbs a day but that was when I was just border line diabetic, now I'm full diabetic and I'm not sure how many carbs I need to have. My doctor did not tell me. I have an app on my phone that tells me 1200 carbs a day. I'm hoping to talk with my doctor tomorrow and get in contact with a dietician.
I think you app is saying 1200 calories, not carbs a day. Please do not beat your self up!! You are learning a lot and it will take small steps. A good starter website for type 2 is diabetes101.com ( may be .org) It will explain what you can do to get better control, how to eat and other great oints of information.. You alsoprobably could benefir from working with a dietician and a certified diabetes educator ( CDE). would you be able to do that? Also do not view taking insulin as a failure. I know of several type 2's who went on insulin shots and they say they have never felt better in their lives., Now, it is a lot of work to get used to, but tske it one day at a time. And PLEASE, as Brian said. do not beat yourself uo for having a high blood sugars. You are NOT a failure.
God Bless,
Brunetta
Thank you. I live in a small town and I'm not sure that we have a CDE here. I will have to check. It was 1200 calories, I just misread it. I really appreciate everyones comments and I plan on taking everyones advice and finding more information about the different things I can do. Thank you all soo much.
Please dont be afraid of shots, they hurt much less than poking your fingers! Depression and diabetes goes hand in hand and seems to be worse with high blood sugars.
I was doing very well with just diet and exersize for awhile, but then one day my pancreas just quit and it was very unpleasant to say the least. They tried to put me on oral meds, but my body didnt react well to them and it did NOTHING to lowr my blood sugars. It got to the point where I could only eat rabbit food and only what I could fit in the palm of my hand at a time. This went on for 2 weeks and then I ended up in emergency room with blood sugars off the chart and I just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. Thats when I had my first shot of insulin, and withing about 15 mins, I felt better than I have in months!!! It was amazing! I actually had energy! I could actually think clearly! and I didnt feel like there was a black cloud looming over my head! Nectar of the Gods! Yes sirrreee!
And you know what else??? If you happen to be a blood suagr control freak as I am, insulin shots, once you get the hang of it, gives you wayyyyy more control than oral meds!
Diabetes can be progressive. It can also be regressive. If I eat a lot of fresh, organic, lower-carb veggies I feel SO much better, and my insulin requirements drop, drop, drop. Example veggies: broccoli, asparagus, kale, collards, spinach, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, cauliflower, green beans, etc.
If I eat mostly vegetables, a little fruit, a little beans, seeds and nuts? I feel fabulous and I need about 20% of the insulin I needed when I was eating a lot of processed foods, starches, fatty meats, flour products, dairy...I also am losing a lot of weight eating this way, but my insulin requirements dropped BEFORE the weight-loss, not as a result. It was cleaning up my diet that did the trick -- the weight loss is a much-appreciated side benefit.
I do however believe that insulin injections should start sooner rather than later if you have ANY trouble controlling your blood glucose with just diet, exercise and oral meds.
As others have mentioned, learning to use insulin involves a steep learning curve, but you have SO much more personal control of your diabetes when you know how to treat highs without going too low. It's like be liberated from a prison. Really.
I think most doctors start you on a low dose of the long-acting insulin (I prefer Levemir.)
Well I go see my doctor at the end of the month, maybe he will give me the things I need to get the blood sugars down. Before I eat its about 150-170 and after I eat it shoots up to 265-282. This is every time. I don't understand. I eat breakfast and take my medicine. I know that breakfast is the meal I can have more carbs on. I don't push it though, I usually have eggs and a piece of whole wheat toast. That's what I have had everyday this week, some days my sugars are in th elower 200s after I eat but for the past 3 days its been closer to 300.
Been a while since I have visited.... mainly because of my health journey... I read Wheat Belly by Dr. Davis and have been wheat free since memorial day... and my life has changed tremendously ... My morning blood sugars are below 100 and down significantly even 2 hours after eating... Before the book they were 150 in the morning and stratospheric after eating... Not here to sell anything but suggest you visit their blog and read some very interesting stories here is the link.. http://wheatbellyblog.com/ As an added bonus I have lost 15 lbs since memorial day....
I wish I could be on insulin. My doc doesn't think it is necessary for Type 2. I am looking for an endo as I am not satisfied with my #'s. I'm in the high 200's a couple of times a day. I will do anything necessary to get my BG down into a healthy range for me.
Have you read anything about LADA or type 1.5 diabetes? That could be your situation. I'm a "healthy" diabetic who was misdiagnosed as type 2 and now I'm on insulin despite doing all the right things.
It looks like you have a way to go with the oral meds before insulin is needed. It's my opinion that avoiding insulin at all cost is not the best course of action. Oral meds when they work are fine but too many doctors and patients continue with them way past their usefulness. That's when the damage starts and complications begin to form.
If you can't get good control with the oral meds then it's time for insulin. If you ask almost any T2 on insulin they will tell you that that went kicking and screaming over that threshold but once over it they realized that they should have done it sooner. Insulin gives you a powerful tool that will get results if one does their homework and learns how to use it.
If you can get good control on oral meds then continue them but if they no longer get the job done please be open minded and not fight against insulin. And don't think you have lost the battle but rather have picked up another weapon to continue the fight.
Gary S
if there is no CDE in your community I can help you with that, I will try to help you the best that I can, just give me details about your diabetes and we can work on it. I will keep in touch with you and ask some important details and I will teach you how to make plan on your diet,exercise,self-monitoring blood glucose, foot care and medication
Oops, dom006, we have to be careful here not to actually give medical advice.
Hi Lacey, like others here, I'm wondering if you do in fact have a correct diagnosis; so many of us were dx'd as Type 2 when we're actually LADA, Type 1. If you are in fact Type 1, insulin is the answer and not the problem. I am one of those who were first dx'd as Type 2, oral meds did not help, my life changed for the better when I began insulin.
I have called my doctor but no one has called me back. I have switched my meds back to the glucophage, that helped me several years ago, so I’m hoping it will help me now. Thank you all for the support, it means a lot to me.