I joined Tudiabetes because I had stopped my meds and I was very afraid. My intent was to rid myself of the side effects. When my numbers dropped from double digits to singles, I was shocked! It’s been over a month and, with the help of the tips on here, I am having mostly normal readings. How can I tell if this is a honeymoon? (I still have DP)
thanks. Have you ever had a honeymoon?
I don’t think a honeymoon really applies to Type 2 … I’ve only heard it used in reference to Type 1, in which case it’s the period of time after diagnosis that the pancreas continues to produce a tiny (or sometimes not so tiny) amount of insulin, which then makes control significantly easier. When the honeymoon ends and the pancreas is producing no insulin, minute changes in everything affect the blood sugar level and there’s a lot more highs and lows.
If you are on no medications, then clearly your pancreas is still producing insulin. So, if a honeymoon can apply to Type 2, I would say you are definitely still in it.
Thanks Jen. I ditched the three diamicron all at once but I’m now weaning myself off Metformin. I’m beginning to think it was the progression of the drugs rather than the D. I didn’t know it was only Type 1. Thanks
The term “honeymoon” doesn’t apply to Type 2, BUT if you’ve been careful about diet, and exercising, and taking better care of yourself than you did before your diagnosis, your beta cells can regain function. When BGs are high, beta cells fail because of something called glucotoxicity – but when BGs come down for a few weeks or months, they can recover and start producing insulin again. If you keep BGs down, and eat and exercise conscientiously, then your diabetes may become very stable, and you may go for a very long time without needing medication.
I don’t think it was the medications that caused your high BGs – I think they may have helped your beta cells recover, and lucky you, you got it controlled early enough that you still have good insulin production! I am so happy for you!!
Thanks Natalie. In April and May the numbers just shot up and I couldn’t stand it. School Assemblies were torture and I had to stand, clap, chat etc. just to keep myself awake. I would literally nod off. I can’t imagine what it’s like for those on here who go through that for years! I too am happy! Thanks!
I have gone through periods where i have needed a lot of medication and some where I have needed lower levels of medication. When I was first diagnosed I used insulin. As I changed my diet and dropped some weight and took away the stress levels I no longer needed insulin and for a couple of years I did not need much. The problem I had was that I did not test regularly to determine that as my bad lifestyle returned to bad my numbers were creeping back up again. After two years of not seeing a doctor and not taking anything I thought I did not have diabetes, bad thought in my part. At one point I had frequent urinations and it scared me that I was returning to diabetic mode. I would up at the ICU with a blood glucose of over a 1000 when i was first diagnosed and was in ICU for 3 days. I produced no insulin at the time of diagnosis and the symtoms returning really made me scare.
I went to the doctor after 2 years and I had an A1C of 11. Thinking I was ok at that time I was not. At another point I was on januvia 100 and metformin 2500 a day. That combination tore my stomach apart and my mind. i started to excercise and watch every calorie I ate. I managed to lower my medication and my A1C to a 6.2 with only 1000 of metformin daily. One in the morning and one in the evening.
So my advice to you, if you are trying to get away from some meds I suggest that you check your glucose levels at least 3 times a day for a while because you never know when your pancreas will slow down again. Now the problem will be going to a doctor and telling them you stopped your meds and you still need prescriptions for test strips. Now explain to your doc what you are doing will be a challenge also. Since you have 15 minutes to 30 mintues to show your doc that your pattern is steady. When I slowed down on the meds I had to bring in all my charts showing my numbers. I test at least 10 times a day to adjust meals and excercise based on the number the meter tells me and allows me to chart my patterns. So going off medicine becomes a different challenge because if you are not testing enough to show your patterns you wont know what your body is doing and you could be walking around with a higher a1c that you would like and a potential life endangering problem.
How many times do you test a day to verify that your numbers are normal? Are you testing before meals and two hours after meals and in the morning to check your overnight fasting?
Wow! That must have been a terrible experience. I keep reading about people being hospitalized and I can’t imagine going through that. It’s understandable that you thought you no longer diabetes because that’s the myth that is still around. Change your lifestyle and you will cure it. Hmm…I’m 3rd generation so it was never a matter of “if” but “when”. In my case, in 2004,I quit smoking, drank tons of pure OJ and was diagnosed soon after.
I do test a lot and always did. I’ve never had a script for strips because the doctors have always told me just to test in the morning because that’s when the numbers are high. I did know better than to do that and my first RN told me to do random test throughout the day. I don’t do 10 times though I manage about 7. I was testing when the numbers shot up. They stayed high all day and nothing I did would bring them down.
All through May, I worked and slept and I had to force myself to eat even small amounts.
I think it’s great to hear that you have recovered more than once. It must have taken a lot of hard work. For a month I really didn’t do anything but stop the pills. I’m on holidays now so I am trying to follow Jenny’s plan.
Thanks so much for the good news and encouragement. I hope you continue to have success.
Thanks so much for researching this Emmy. I hope you soon find something that works for you. Your experience does sound like a honeymoon to me. I’m starting with a new GP this month… he seems nice but we’ve only done that initial interview thing. I want to make sure that I know what I’m talking about. It’s so hard to keep doctors around here. Maybe you can relate?
So sorry to hear about your mom. That’s tough. It probably would have helped to have a consistent doctor. My aunt is in TO. She’s had 7 doctors in the last 10 years and still manages with diet and lifestyle. I’m in awe.
My aunt was 2nd generation…no denial. She was taught low carb…eat to your meter. Of course we are more “enlightened” now. lol