Is it too late to change?

Hi. I’ve never asked for forum type help before, but I’m feeling like I’ve failed myself. I was diagnosed with diabetes 2 about 10 years ago. I lost about 50 lbs in the first few years. I don’t remember my original A1C at diagnosis, but with initial weight loss and medication I stayed under 7.0 until late 2023. However, I still needed (need) to lose another 40 lbs. I didnt. I got way too comfortable with the a1c level being controlled. I was taking Ozempic during 2023 until it became scarce and I was switched to Trulicity. In Dec 2023 I was violently I’ll on Trulicity and also Ozempic even starting at the lowest dosage. My PC Dr has had me on various multiple medicines last year. I’ve had a number of other medical issues including mental ones. My primary Dr and my psychiatrist retired early last year. My husband has been working out of state off and on for a few years. In 2024, I was caregiving for my dad. He went into nursing home care mid year until he died. I’ve been a wreck. I know I procrastinate about doing well regarding eating, exercise, organization. I have developed the “I’ll do better tomorrow”, but I don’t. I know I’m using excuses, but I wonder if it’s just too late to change. I’m 55 and I don’t really know why I stayed under 7 A1c and now it’s nearly 10.0, as I wasn’t eating great at either level. My new Endo has overhauled everything medicine wise and I have been eating much better (or rather not eating things I shouldn’t), but I don’t have anyone in my life to understand. My Dad died of pneumonia, diabetes complications, and had recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer. If I didn’t see him everyday, we talked on the phone. We were best friends and even though I’m crying now, none of this explains why I don’t do better for myself. No one understands how lost I feel. *I was going to shorten and format this, but somehow I posted instead. Sorry.

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I’m sorry you’re feeling so helpless.
From your post, it sounds like you had a great dad. Maybe it could be motivating to think about what he would want for you. I’m sure he would want you to do your best and he definitely would not think it was too late for you to make changes.

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You are a long way from too late. I beat myself up over why I don’t do better for myself for 20-ish years. I think knowledge finally finally broke that cycle, I took the time to figure out some diabetes stuff and haven’t stopped figuring things out since. I also take breaks from the diabetes management grind. I saw my PCP shortly after Christmas and got the “is your A1C where you want it” question in a tone that clearly meant it wasn’t where he wanted me to be. I didn’t care, Christmas was delicious and I was already back on the wagon.

Couple of things, did your new endo do tests to make sure you aren’t headed to being a type 1? If you have the cash to spare a CGM can really help you focus your efforts on the things that’ll affect your A1C the most. Dexcom has one anyone can buy for $100 a month at stelo.com Take Control of Your Diabetes is my favorite diabetes edutainment site with lots of good articles and videos. Last thing, come back here and tell how things are going or ask a question at least once a week for a little encouragement and accountability.

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Welcome to our community and no it is not too late to change. You appear to possibly be the perfect candidate for Virta Health. I am not recommending them, but please look into what they do as they specialize in your type of situation and have had great success over the past few years.

Keep the faith!!! You can do this and you have a vast community here to help and support you along your journey. Just don’t give up and please check out Virta. I have no affiliation with that company.

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First I’d like to welcome you to the community here. Second, it is not too late to change. Third, you are under a lot of stress with the passing of your Dad, your husband having to be often away and the loss of your PCP and psychiatrist.

Stress raises blood glucose levels in everyone with or without any type of diabetes mellitus. In the ICU with my wife shortly after her open heart surgery, I watched her nurse do a finger stick and give her a couple of units of insulin. He noticed my interest and said that BG levels will rise above normal even in non-diabetics after the trauma of major surgery. My wife has no kind of DM.

For us with type 2 insulin resistant diabetes mellitus reducing stress is a major part of having better BG management. Taking a few minutes to sit still and pay attention to your breathing. Yoga is good, For me long bike rides are the ticket.

T2DM is driven by genetic variants in our cells causing them to resist insulin abnormally. The best way to increase our cells to accept insulin is regular exercise. However as our cells aren’t getting enough glucose to fuel them properly we don’t feel like it.

How do we do exercise to increase our cells acceptance of insulin while experiencing fatigue? Start nice and easy. Walking is best. Put on a good pair of walking shoes, go outside and take a stroll of 5 or 10 minutes… Work yourself up to 30 minutes. Then you can pick up the pace. Not running or jogging just more brisk.

Along with this you should start restricting the starches and sugars (carbohydrates) you eat. This will reduce the glucose entering your bloodstream from the digestive system.

As to oral or injectable pharmaceuticals, none of them work well without proper diet and regular exercise.

As to weight-loss that will probably happen in a more natural way. Cellular insulin resistance causes blood glucose levels to rise, causing our Beta cells to secrete more and more insulin. This combination does overcome some of the cells resistance but not enough. High insulin levels and glucose levels with cause the liver to store some glucose with the remaining glucose converted into triglycerides to be stored in fat cells.

By increasing your cells acceptance of insulin and glucose, you will experience more energy, a greater sense of well being and overall improved health.

The only 2 drugs I know that increase cellular insulin sensitivity are Metformin and Actos. But as I said, not drugs work well without proper diet and exercise.

If you are still with me, I will share my story and how T2DM can progress over time.

#4 years ago my eyes wouldn’t focus. My PCP was on vacation, but I did get to see the ophthalmologist who examine my eyes. He said I was 20/50 with my glasses and while he could write a new prescription, I should have my fasting blood glucose tested.

fBG was around 450mg/dl with an HbA1c of more than 14%. I was prescribed Micronase, received very good diabetes classes, began eating properly, walking daily, and bought a road bike.

I began having hypos from the Micronase and was weaned off of it. This drug stimulates the Beta cells to secrete more insulin.

For 10 years my BG was normal with a carb restricted diet and daily exercise.

1st progression - BG and HbA1c began rising regardless of how few carbs I ate or miles I rode. I was prescribed Metformin. As the progression continued I was soon on the Max dose. At this point I was prescribed a long, once per day insulin.

The dose was increased over time and I was prescribed rapid meal time insulin as well. So I was doing multidaily injections of Lantus (long) and Humalog (rapid) while still taking Metformin and eating correctly and exercising.

Later I transistion to a pump.

My whole point of sharing my story is to illustrate how T2DM can progress, it is not a given. The only failure is to not do what will keep BG as close to the normal range as possible. My last HbA1c 2 month ago was 5.4%. That’s likely to rise on the next test as I am taking a corticosteroid for an unrelated condition. Corticosteroids are the stress hormones.

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You have lots of good suggestions above. I agree with all of them especially @CJ114’s recommendation to check out Virta Health. Their lifestyle program has earned great success, better than any medication!

It’s never too late to start healthier habits. I finally took control of my diabetes after 28 years. That was 13 years ago and I don’t think I would be alive now if I didn’t. I’m 71 now and see people 55 years old as young!

Good luck and please check in here and comment if you can.

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Hi,; I was 55 when diagnosed with t2 27 years ago, so that sounds young to me now at 82. I changed my lifestyle completely to deal with it. BG was 350 and I was 40 pounds overweight. I started walking for a few minutes after/between meals (anytime before the next meal) and gradually increased my speed and distance. By the end of the first 6 weeks I had my BG in normal range, and by the end of the first 6 months I’d lost all 40 pounds of excess weight. I kept on controlling my BG with “only” well-balanced low carb diet and daily exercise for the next 11 years (with A1cs in the 6% range before needing oral meds (metformin and glipizide). While the meds helped, I still needed to exercise every day, because exercise was the thing that helped the most to keep A1cs in the 7% range, and I was able to do that until 2 years ago when I added insulin. I eat small portions of lower carb foods and cut back to 2 meals per day with an occasional snack. So my suggestion to you would be to look at it as a beginning, make a fresh start, and see what you can do. Take it slowly, and work up to more gradually as you build stamina, gain fitness and health, and find out what works the best for you. Somebody suggested a CGM, and that’s a fantastic tool that you can use to find the right balance of food and exercise for you. My Freestyle Libre 3 + is just a little over $99 for two sensors a month. The regular Libre I was using before that was a little over $89. It has been well worth it. Wishing you all the best on your new journey!

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You’re not alone, and you haven’t failed. You’ve been carrying so much, and it makes sense that your health took a backseat. It’s never too late to turn things around, and the fact that you’re here, reaching out, shows your strength. Be kind to yourself—you deserve support, and you can move forward, one step at a time. :blue_heart:

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