I have been a very lucky t2 for years. I have not had to medicate and basically stopped testing because my numbers were always normal and a1c was always great. I was only diagnosed because of a failed glucose tolerance test.
I have a new doctor and he asked me to test for him, to see where we stood. Well, my numbers are not so good anymore. Fasting has gone from about 80-90 to 100-110 mg/dL. Post-prandial reactions used to never go above 110 but I have seen anywhere from 72 to 170 since I have been testing again. Higher numbers correspond to white bread, white rice, and processed meats like hot dogs.
So I am back on metformin. But I mentioned to my husband that insulin might help. He thinks that insulin is giving up and I should manage with diet, exercise, and metformin.
How do I explain to him that insulin is not the end, and may be easier on my body than the met? That at some point, my body may not be able to produce adequate insulin, even if the met helps my tissues to use it more efficiently?
As I understand it, insulin is not a sign that my diabetes is poorly managed. Do I have it wrong? I don’t want to have to cut out more and more carbs until I can’t have any…
Maybe you could show him all the discussions here about T2s on insulin. There’s also a group for T2 insulin users. More doctors are prescribing insulin than ever before.
Using insulin isn’t any sign of poor management, giving up, or failure on your part! If the Metformin isn’t working well or you’re having adverse reactions, insulin is needed. We need what we need. Whatever route you need for control & to preserve beta cells is the way to go. The goal is being healthy & lowering BG.
Some T2s take Metformin & insulin, or insulin with other oral meds. Some T1s are also insulin resistant & use Metformin.
Perhaps your husband has some fears about insulin that he’ll discuss with you to allay his concerns. Like anyone, he wouldn’t understand how it works. I’m T1, so no option not to take insulin. My husband couldn’t watch me injecting at first because he thought it hurt. Doesn’t hurt at all.
If your doc agrees that insulin would help you, he could explain this to your husband.
Of course, you could try eliminating bread, rice & whatever sends you high to see how much that helps. Using insulin isn’t a free ride to eat anything you want.
Using insulin to eat whatever is really tough and can easily end up with post meal spikes of 170+. Carb reaction is instant where as insulin is 20-30 minutes to take effect. White rice can send you through the roof!
AFAIK, using insulin aids the bodys own beta cells so they dont burn out. When you still have them that is. I think metaformin does the same with the added absorption. Beta cells can only work so hard before burning out. So, essentially it isnt giving up, its saving what you’ve got. That might be something to look into to show your husband how insulin can help and not be the last resort hes looking at.
I started using insulin (Levemir 36 units) the beginning of August. Like your husband, I initially thought of needing to incorporate insulin into my treatment for type 2 as a failure (or giving up) on my part.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Adding insulin has been a turning point for me…and a huge step forward in my approach to self-management.
Along with all the wonderful advice you’ve been given thus far, I would strongly suggest both you and your husband try to get to see a diabetes educator. Their job is to help you understand these very issues and answer what questions you and your partner might have.
If he thinks taking insulin is giving up…tell him he must have given up a long time ago - after all his pancreas is continually giving it to him and his body is using it appropriately, right?!
Good point! I guess the idea of being dependent on it, and never being able to stop taking it, is the hardest bit for him. I think we are all used to taking pills, but not injections. The idea of injections doesn’t bother me as much as 1500mg of Metformin per day.
Thanks for your feedback, Emmy. I’m feeling a bit defensive – most of my numbers are still fine. But that’s not really the point, and I understand it.
I don’t really eat a lot of processed foods. I’ve been testing after every meal since the doctor asked me to start again, as well as first thing in the morning. Most of my numbers are OK, but obviously not as low as I’d like. So I’m taking steps.
But I’m also not ready to take on something like Dr. Bernstein’s diet. I want to find a moderate path, so that I can eat relatively “normally” and be healthy. I don’t really want to give up some things unless I absolutely have to (like sushi, which has white rice). I also don’t believe that diets are healthy long-term or that they result in sustained weight loss. I’m working to raise my level of health, without giving in to the pressure from society to go on yet another ‘diet.’ It’s not easy – there is a lot of pressure that way. But I haven’t gained any weight in the past three years, and I may have actually lost a bit. So that’s a start, at least.
