Scared to take Insuline
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| Tue, 11-23-2004 - 5:48pm |
Hi, my Name is Nancy, I'm 25 and from NB Canada. My husband Stephane is also 25 and we're both Type 2 Diabetics.
So at our doctor's appointment today, our doctor told us that we BOTH should really go on Insuline right now. We've both been diagnosed with diabetes in December 2000, and we both have TRIED to control it (to no avail) since then with oral meds. The doc said that it's our choice to start insuline treatment or not, but that it's what he recommends, and that it's better for us to take the insuline than try to control it with diet and exercise and oral meds (and fail to do so), and go blind or have a limb amputated in the end.
I understand all that... but I'm scared to death as well. I asked the doctor if we take the insuline, and that our sugar levels normalize, then we'll have a lot more energy, and if we lose weight and are able to control our sugars better, could we eventually go off insuline ? He said I doubt it... It's so terrifying to me the thought of injecting myself 4 times a day for the rest of my life. :( Even though I've NEVER been able to have normal readings ever since I was diagnosed... Normal levels are 6, and I've been having 15, even 21 last week... . The ONLY way I get get down to 8, maybe 7 is to do a strict atkins induction (no fruits, no milk, no yogourt, no pasta, rice, potatoes, starchy veggies, even whole wheat products..) but that's SO hard to do to just eat meat and veggies and other stuff allowed. I really missed apples hehe
II know my mom is going to freak out. She thinks that it's all my fault and that i'm a failure as a person if I have to resort to insuline. Bah, tears are welling up again, and I'm at work, better post now.
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«´¨`·.¸¸.*Nancy*.·´¸¨`»
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Nancy,
Welcome to the board. My name is Mary Frances and I am one of the community leaders for this board. I am a registered nurse and a type 2 diabetic and I am on insulin.
I was diagnosed 15 years ago and at the time the doctor told he thought that I would need to go on insulin. I managed for 6 years to control my diabetes with diet and exercise and then one med and then a second added. I finally got to the point where I couldn't keep my blood sugar under control and so on March 1st this year I was started on insulin.
I wish I could give both of you a huge hug because I understand what you are going through. My doctor couldn't understand why I was in tears. He explained to me that I couldn't go on living the way it was and my disease was getting worse. I drew up the first dose of insulin and stood there looking at the syringe. My husband wanted to know if I wanted him to give me the shot. I reluctantly said no and finally gave myself the injection. I would not be telling you the truth if I didn't
Oh, honey, first off ((((((HUGS))))))
Second, welcome.
As far as your mom, how awful for you to have to deal with that.
Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)
Thank you so much you both for the warm welcome, it makes me feel so much better to talk to someone else going through the same thing.
A month ago, I went to see a naturopath doctor, and she gave me some documentation to read. I dug it up last night and read 2 of them. The first one was "Insuline, your passport to accelerated aging", and "Insuline and it's metabolic effects".
Both articles really shocked me. They really leave me feeling as though insuline may lower my blood sugar, but could also bring me a whole other set of problems... (I read that insuline makes blood clot easier (I have blood clotting problems), and that it can raise blood pressure too, among other things.)
I couldn't sleep all night... all I could think of is that yes, I've tried diet and exercise for a LONG Time... but I've never given it my all. So I'm thinking of maybe asking the doctor if I can put off the insuline for 3 weeks, and in those 3 weeks really really give it my all. I find it so hard to eat well all the time and exercise, but in the grand scheme of things, I'd much rather hate doing exercise than inject myself 4 times a day. (It was going to be a mix of Type N and Type R insuline). I was even thinking of FRAMING my insuline prescription and hang it in my gym to motivate me LOL
To be completely honest, I think that sometimes I eat worst than a non-diabetic person. I have bouts where I'll eat super healthy for 2 weeks, then fall off the wagon and eat cakes and chocolate and pasta and rice and ice cream and chips and popcicles for 4 weeks. And since the beginning of this year, I've had more of the latter phases......
Oh, Nancy.....
Nancy,
There is so much to say to you and I don't want to make you feel worse by anything I say.
In my opinion your doctor is telling you that s/he doesn't think that you can lose enough weight to be able to get your diabetes under control and that the diabetes is really damaging your body. It is vitally important that you get your diabetes under control and at this point, based upon your blood sugar readings and your weight you will need to be on insulin. If you are able to lose the 150 pounds that you need to lose you most likely will, in my opinion,
Hi Nancy,
I was diagnosed as a Type II diabetic in 1998. This past Jan. I started on insulin, and I was so scared, too. It was a big change, and the transition has not always been easy. I totally agree with the feedback you are getting from others to educate yourself about diabetes and to get as much information about diabetes management before starting insulin. It DOES work. I do feel better and am in better control. But, the reality is that insulin makes it hard to lose weight. Partly it is due to the fact that with blood sugars lower, my body is actually using the fuel I'm putting in my mouth. Insulin also just simply makes it harder to lose weight. People warned me about this, and it is true.
Insulin is a good choice and the right choice for me, but it is not an easy, simple choice. I had tried all the meds. I didn't have a significant amount of weight to lose. I exercised every day. I did need to cleanup my diet....all that said, insulin was my best option to manage my diabetes.
Please know that your feelings of fear are normal. My doctor didn't seem to understand why I cried injecting myself the first time. I do know how you are feeling.
I'm not a doctor, so please take my experience and the rest of the board's feedback and work with your doctor to get as healthy as you can get. That's the ultimate goal: to feel better and to have a better chance of staving off diabetic complications.
I'm rooting for you to focus on getting in better health.
Good luck,
HMBalison
Hi
To start out with I am a type 2 who is controlled by diet and exercise. I have lost about 128lbs in almost 2 yrs. I started at 310 and I am down to 189. (Had a change of scales in there so I am still adding onto the lost weight of the old scale) My A1c has gone from 11 to 6.2 to 5,6 You just need to start eating a healthy well rounded diet. I joined Weight Watchers to lose my weight and to learn the healthy way to eat. It has made the biggest difference in the world to me. Fasting I am always un the 70's and 80's. Personally I think if you started eating right all the time and started walking a little everyday that would help lower your blood sugars. AND then you would be in control. Diabetes is something you need to take seriously, once I did that I have been in control. Good luck.
Lynn
Lynn,
What is your goal weight? When did you start to see the changes in your blood sugar readings? After 20 pounds or did it take more than that before you started to see the real changes?
You are such an inspiration to all of us. Congratulations again on your success.
A huge Cheer!
Mary Frances
cl-maryfrances40
Co-CL Diabetes Board
Maryfrances
I say a big difference after I had lost about 30lbs. After I lost about 35 I went off all oral meds. I was on 500mg of glucophage xr. They went from 120 or more fasting to 100 then just kept dropping. like I said they are 70-90 now. Consistantly. Right now I have lows here and there but I can tell when it is a low and eat something to improve it. Occationally if I dont' have a snack before bed I will be in the 60's in the morning.
At about 2olbs I definately started feeling a lot better. The more I lose the better I feel. My goal weight is 165...I discussed it with my dr. I have huge bones and will have some skin so she thought that was a good place.
Thanks for the compliment...Anything I can do to encourage control with diabetes is a good thing. One thing I have learned..it is easy to be in denial. But very difficult to do the right things. But they can be done.
Lynn
Hi there Nancy ,
You are definitely not alone.
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