Wishing you success!! Especially because I know how hard it is! 
To answer your question, Natalie, yes type 2ās can skyrocket when they donāt take insulin, or if they cut way back.
During my last massive weight loss (130-lbs) and regain, I went off of Lantus as my insulin resistance improved to the point where I didnāt need diabetes medication at all (I had an unmedicated A1C of 5.4 during that time.) Frankly, I put off going back on to Lantus when I really needed it again. My insulin resistance came roaring back due to weight re-gain, lack of exercise after an injury and a really nasty reaction to a cortisone injection into my injured shoulder.
I saw readings over 500 at that time (before I went back on Lantus). My BGās usually bounced around between the high 200ās and the low 300ās, but a big-carb meal could send me up into the 480 to 520 range. Of course I felt awful and drank gallons and peed constantly. I never went into DKA, but it was bad, bad for a few months there.
Whatās weird is that being that high certainly didnāt make me lose weight. Far from it. I gained like crazy.
Sometimes I do think that my T2 insulin resistance is so different from a T1ās lack of insulin that they really are almost like two different diseases.
Well, what Iām curious about is what happened WITHOUT the cortisone. When you say your BGs bounced around in the high 200ās, low 300ās does that mean that they did come down on their own (although not to normal) after a reasonable meal? When you went up into the 500ās (a truly icky place to be!) did they come down, at least somewhat? What Iām trying to figure out is whether your own insulin production had any effect at all.
The weight gain points to hyperinsulinemia. Which makes you gain weight. The reason low-carb works better is that you donāt need as much insulin, and therefore donāt store as much fat.
And yes, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are a totally different ballgame from insulinopenia or lack of insulin. The only thing that is the same is the end result if you donāt take care of yourself. Type 1ās die faster; Type 2ās die more slowly, but they look the same in the cemetery.
The cortisone was only supposed to last in my system for <= a month, so yes, some of these super-high numbers were two months plus after the last injection. ??? Who knows how long it really lingered. He injected it into my shoulder joint capsule and itās possible that when I started doing physical therapy, more of it came out. ???
Yes, Iām sure that my own insulin had an effect (at that time when I was on zero diabetes meds) or else I would have stayed in the danger zone or gone into DKA, right? The problem is insulin resistance, not 100% insulin rejection. I was eating very poorly at that time (hungry ALL THE TIME) and I would have been in the 1200ās without some insulin coming from my poor, beleaguered beta cells.
Now that Iām actually getting truly educated about diabetes (not an easy task!!!) Iām sure that my hyperinsulinemia, the cortisone injections (2 of them, a month apart) and my own elevated stress hormones from being in so much pain and being completely incapable of exercise due to the injury/agony, all conspired to make me crave carbs, carbs, carbs.
If I donāt walk, walk, walk, walk, walk I quickly become very resistant to insulin, I start feeling really stressed out and become a carb-craving machine.
I sure understand about the hunger. Youāre not the only one Iāve heard talk about that. For me, making sure I get enough protein really damps down my hungry feelings. And then I donāt crave carbs. But Iām sure this is another YMMV issue.
I am type 2 so I have no idea how to do the insulin shots etc. What I will say is that half my plate is colorful veggies, 1/4 plate is lean protien, and 1/4 grain or starches. Now, the starches I am referring to is half a baked potato.
Also my veggies are LIGHTLY steamed or raw is even better as it takes longer to digest and therfore slowing your BGās.
I have a small piece of fruit or 2 cups of berries for dessert. my snacks are fruit or nonfat yogurt.
Make sure you read lables carefully. Most foods that say LOW or NON FAT are loaded with sugar. And also, foods that say SUGAR FREE are loaded with fat.
There is no getting away from this so make sure you pick foods that are a high source of fiber (4grams or more per seving)
and things with sugar 6 grams or less. It takes getting used to and for the first little while i was spending a lot of time at the grocery store, but you can get the hang of it really quick and it is soooooooooo worth it.
Exersize is extreamly important. at least 20 mins per day. If you are walking onlyā¦ walk fast!!! swing your arms and hum a tune or singā¦ or if you with a friendā¦ try to have a conversation at the same time. ( if it is too hard work up to that)
you can do this!!! also while your doing all thisā¦ visualize yourself they way you want to beā¦ that is very important!!! your brain does not distinguish between real or imagined thingsā¦ and as we all knowā¦ our brain controls our entire body!
Good luck!
Thanks Karebear, but I already do all that. I learned early on sugar-free was not diabetic friendly. I eat mostly veggies in my diet, then 2nd on the list is lean meat, no dairy, very little fruit, no bread products, no processed foods, I always cook for myself, if I eat out it is a salad ( very careful with dressing) or a steak. I also exercise daily. LOL. Sooooo, for me I am trying to cut back from 60g of carbs to 30g, but on days when BG goes low it is a wash.
Hello Natalie, if I donāt take my insulin, especially for meals, my BG rises sky high, but, the purpose of this thread is that I am cutting back on corrective bolus 2-hours post, so, what that means is that I take my correct amount of insulin for meals, but if I am a little high 2-hours post instead of the extra insulin I will drink lots of water and go for a walk, or some other form of exercise, so far I am 98% successful at doing this. I am T2, not sure about IR probably but not really bad, I create very little insulin so even exercise in more than moderate amounts causes a rise in BG.
Clear as mud right?
It was just a curiosity question. Iām trying to organize the different forms of Type 2 in my head, because it is clear that it is not a homogeneous disease. Thanks for your response!
Just 1 of many articles on insulin and its role in fat and storing of fat. I was told this too by my diabetes educators. Not to say that insulin alone is the culprit, but it makes it very difficult in some of us to lose weight. Some studies think it is the IR that makes it more difficult because we have an access of insulin.
My personal theory is that human insulin made by the pancreas works in conjunction with the body systems so it is excreted as needed and does its job according to the bodyās needs. Injected insulin is not human, it is synthetic, it works very quickly at lowering BG so it snatches up anything we eat with a quickness and stores it. When injecting it doesnāt give the body a choice. If I were normal I could eat a meal, go to the gym and probably not need to excrete much insulin, if I inject for a meal then the decision is made.
does that make sense? It is just my theory.
I am not sure how insulin is excreted by the kidneys? I need some info on that.
Why does insulin resistance cause weight gain?
People with insulin resistance often make too much insulin in response to eating. They may also produce too much insulin in order to maintain normal blood sugar (blood glucose) levels.
The body cannot excrete excess insulin made by the pancreas; excess insulin is stored as fat in the body. This is just one of the reasons why people with insulin resistance gain weight more easily than those who are not insulin resistant.
A simpler explanation is this:
- Insulin is a fat storing hormone ā it triggers the body to store more fat;
- Insulin itself can be stored as body fat; and
- People with insulin resistance often make too much insulin.
Insulin is cleared somewhat by the kidneys and basically removed from the blood stream and excreted. Insulin is mostly cleared by the liver which metabolizes (breaks down) the insulin. Defects in clearance can cause problems for us diabetics. Darn Phenomenon can happen when higher than needed clearance takes place overnight. This study notes that most (80%) of insulin is cleared by the liver, 15% by the kidneys and 5% by muscles. I think I have an overactive liver.
Have you read Gary Taubes new book āWhy We Get Fat: And What to Do About It?ā
Thanks BSC!
I just ordered the book. I am kind of sick of research and reading but there is always something good in each thing I read. It sure canāt hurt. :o)
Thanks again
This is a very recent post and I must say, it has helped me tremendously to figure out this ratio thing!!! Iām so excited about the information I am getting from this post. I will definitely try the 1:15 ratio example and then progress from there. I think I have been overdosing with my correction bolus. I, too am trying to lose the weight. I a couple of years ago, I was removed frm using insulin and was placed on Byetta. While I did lose 50 lbs. on the Byetta, my A1c suffered tremendously. Since being back on insulin, the weight is slowly creeping back. I exercise like a maniac but no weight loss. This should help me achieve my goals of weight loss and keeping it steady. I am a Type 2 and would like to find the key to this diabetes nightmareā¦THANKS, JeanV!!!
I tried it andā¦IT WORKS!!! WOOHOO!!! You have no idea how good this is !!! AND THIS IS BEFORE LUNCH!!! I was 159 and within 1 hourā¦I am at 116!!!
Clee your insulin to carb ratio should have been given to you by your diabetes educator, or endo, or dietitian. I had to work for weeks with my educator to get the correct numbers. It took many recordings of foods and carbs along with insulin injected and 2-hour post readings. All though once they decided what was best for me I had to figure out a few things on my own, like eating out took a lot more insulin, fruits and veggie carbs did not metabolize the same for me. Bread,or bread like products, forget it. No processed foods for me, all home made except for the smart ones meals with 15-20g of carbs. I keep them on hand for when I am too tired to cook.
My ISF (according to my doctor) is 1:25ā¦andā¦I have tried what you just suggestedā¦and sure enoughā¦it came down by 25 points per 1 unitā¦manā¦you are goodā¦lolā¦I tried it before I read your post though, but all and allā¦it is exactly as you sayā¦BUTā¦it came down over the course of one hourā¦do you think this is good?
Yes, itās great, because insulin injected under your skin takes a while to reach the circulation, and even longer to reach the liver. So BGs are never going to come down instantly!