Confession...

[pinnig]

I was diagnosed with T2 about 12 years ago. Following various failed attempts to reduce my blood glucose levels I ended up on insulin.

I hate it. Can't ever quite work out how much to take and when so I stopped using it. I feel I never managed to put a dent in it.

I am regularly reminded how I am at huge risk of various conditions although all my other numbers are good. I generally keep good health. Everything is in normal range including my weight, liver and kidney function, cholesterol and BP with the notable exception of my blood glucose levels. My most recent Hba1c is 13.8.

I am a reasonably bright individual in a professional managerial role, well used to giving and taking advice. But I just can't get over myself and bring myself to tackle my diabetes. I don't know where to start.

Regular discussions with various health professionals haven't shifted my stubborness.

Is anyone else in the same boat? Or was and managed to steer a course? Perhaps this is my first tentative step towards doing something about it.

Thanks

 

[Docb]

Hi @pinnig and welcome to the forum.

Forgive me for asking a question as my first contribution. It's just that I do not understand your recent HbA1c of 13.8. That number does not match up with the two units commonly used. If it is a percentage, then it is very high, almost to the point where you should be feeling quite ill. If it is mmol/mol, then it is very low and way outside any normal range. Are you sure you have got the number right?

 

[pinnig]

Hi, thank you.
It's a percentage figure. And way too high. That much I'm sure, but I'm not ill. Perhaps I have just become used to running so high over too long. I've just googled a conversion chart and in triple figures I think it's 315

 

[Inka]

Hi, thank you.
It's a percentage figure. And way too high. That much I'm sure, but I'm not ill. Perhaps I have just become used to running so high over too long. I've just googled a conversion chart and in triple figures I think it's 315

I converted it to 127.3. Off to check again now!

@Docb That’s how results used to be given - in percentages, including with a decimal point. So 13.8 is definitely high. It works out as an average blood sugar level of 19, I think.

 

[Inka]

My 127.3 is correct, I believe.

@pinnig Its interesting that you described your response as “stubborn”. Is it because you don’t feel ill that you’re not controlling your diabetes? Is it because you feel nagged in some way? Or is it simply that you got no support to use the insulin?

What insulin(s) were you on?

 

[pinnig]

I am naturally as stubborn as a mule and my instinctive response to nagging is to dig my heels in. I have in years gone by felt truly awful and never felt the medicines helped with the highs and i couldn't cope with the lows especially when they happened at work.
For the most part I feel absolutely fine and I'm fit and active. My diabetic care in the hospital clinic setting was really poor. Lots of failed promises of support. It's better at GP practice level and I know they despair at my lack of compliance. I just can't seem to get myself into an insulin regime. Answers are probably in my own hands. Just though I would see if anyone had a similar experience they might share that could help

My insulin are Apidra and Insuman.

 

[Inka]

Sometimes being stubborn can be good. I can be very stubborn myself I’d recommend trying to channel that stubbornness, that strength, into beating the diabetes. I take great pleasure in getting good blood sugar results as I see it as ‘one in the eye’ for the diabetes, which I hate with a passion.

Gradually the body gets used to high blood sugars so I wouldn’t let the fact you feel ok make you complacent. Go by your meter. You’d be looking to gradually bring your blood sugar down as dropping it too swiftly can cause problems.

There’s a huge amount of support here, both emotional and practical. Please don’t be worried about asking whatever questions you want about the insulin and how to use it. There is also learning information on the Diabetes UK website and on the Learning Zone at the top of the page.

Someone once said to me that you can ignore diabetes but it won’t ignore you.... It’s a nasty, insidious condition that can cause huge damage, often before you realise it.

Don’t worry about anyone else and their nagging. Control your blood sugar for you. That’s my advice basically. It’s your business, your health and your life. Take control of the wheel.

 

[pinnig]

Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to reply and your advice

 

[grovesy]

Why don't you start with small changes, and build on them.

 

[helli]

@pining I assume if you are not taking your insulin, you are also not checking your blood sugars.
I wonder whether seeing what your numbers look like may provide some motivation.
If that is the case, would it be worthwhile funding a Libre? If you are in to tech, you could set it up to alert you if you are gong low so you can take action to avoid the lows that you (and most of us on insulin) hate so much.

And well done on reaching out for assistance. I often find just telling others is a motivation to do something.

 

[pinnig]

@pining I assume if you are not taking your insulin, you are also not checking your blood sugars.
I wonder whether seeing what your numbers look like may provide some motivation.
If that is the case, would it be worthwhile funding a Libre? If you are in to tech, you could set it up to alert you if you are gong low so you can take action to avoid the lows that you (and most of us on insulin) hate so much.

And well done on reaching out for assistance. I often find just telling others is a motivation to do something.

Hi
No I don't monitor either although I have just been and looked out my meter and taken a reading. Commonly I don't eat until later in the day and my reading is 18.7. I suppose just fishing it out is a small step in the right direction.
I looked at libre after being told at the GP practice that it might be something that would help. At the hospital they said no and I didn't look again.
Funding the purchase and the 'patches' is within my means so I will look at it properly and seriously consider it. Perhaps investing in something like this would provide me with some motivation. Thank you for suggesting it.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Have you ever tried to control your diabetes with diet if you are struggling to cope with insulin. Many Type 2s find that they can dramatically reduce their BG levels through diet and moderate exercise like a daily walk. The key is to having the right advice to achieve that and unfortunately NHS advice is not helpful because they use the low fat "eat well" plate guidance. Many of us here on the forum follow a low carb, higher fat way of eating which takes a bit of getting your head around but is actually really enjoyable once you get the hang of it and therefore sustainable long term, rather than normal diets which you end up yoyoing. You may have heard of the keto diet or the Atkins diet which are both slightly more extreme versions of low carb, higher fat (LCHF) but most people don't need to be that extreme to control their diabetes.
I start my day with coffee with real double cream and often end it with a chunk of cheese and a small glass of red. In between there is meat and fish and eggs and mushrooms and creamy yoghurt and leafy green veg and cheese coleslaw with salads and nuts and the odd packet of pork scratchings (my guilty pleasure) and a few berries. It might sound a bit boring but actually once you get into it, it seems to encourage you to want to experiment. The key is to cut the carbs because they are what is making your BG levels high and your body cannot tolerate them.... or maybe having an option to not taking the insulin might make you feel less stubborn about it.

There is plenty of advice and support on low carb eating here on the forum if you are interested in exploring that option, so please ask.

 

[Lastgr8farouk]

I was diagnosed with T2 about 12 years ago. Following various failed attempts to reduce my blood glucose levels I ended up on insulin.

I hate it. Can't ever quite work out how much to take and when so I stopped using it. I feel I never managed to put a dent in it.

I am regularly reminded how I am at huge risk of various conditions although all my other numbers are good. I generally keep good health. Everything is in normal range including my weight, liver and kidney function, cholesterol and BP with the notable exception of my blood glucose levels. My most recent Hba1c is 13.8.

I am a reasonably bright individual in a professional managerial role, well used to giving and taking advice. But I just can't get over myself and bring myself to tackle my diabetes. I don't know where to start.

Regular discussions with various health professionals haven't shifted my stubborness.

Is anyone else in the same boat? Or was and managed to steer a course? Perhaps this is my first tentative step towards doing something about it.

Thanks

Hi
Hey you mustn't beat yourself up about it.
I've been type 1 for 45 years ( now 53) physically fit, working full time and have realised that if I feel rubbish its usually because I've done something wrong.
I'm happy with this way of coping.
I will not let diabetes get in the way of my life and it doesn't.
I am amazed at fellow forum members commitment to carb counting etc.
Respect !!
I am at the back of the queue as far as thats concerned.
In my defence, nobody knows your body like you do.
Please understand that I'm not trying to lead you astray but simple things like...
EXERCISE
Daily blood testing at various intervals.
Drinking lots of unsweetened water ( not due to a high sugar level)
Don't smoke
Don't dink alcohol
Regular contact with diabetes consultant and GP
Never miss an appointment and BE HONEST with them.
Have made a huge difference to how I feel and my ability to sustain a physically demanding job which I'm still doing through this pandemic.

I've always doubted my commitment to maintaining my diabetic health but
I attended a retinopathy appt yesterday and the staff member said..
I have been a retinopathy test analyst for 10 years and I have never seen such healthy eyes.
So I must be doing something right !!!
Again I stress the importance of physical fitness if at all possible.
I'm very fortunate, I don't have any other health issues.
Please don't be despondant, just take it at your own pace.
Small changes will make a huge difference and will offer you a better understanding of how your body copes/reacts.
None of us are perfect, I'm sure we all may break the rules from time to time.
Lastly
I remember talking to a dietitian about my diet maybe 20 years ago.
I was about 12 stone and bless her she must have been close to 1 1/2 times my weight.
I had to smile.
We all know what we should do but whether we do it is another thing.

I'm not a cynic, I'm a realist.
Best wishes and take good care
Matt

 

[pinnig]

Thanks Matt. Believe it or not I exercise regularly and love it. Walking is my thing and average over 100k a month. My BMI is 25 and despite not adhering to any testing or insulin regime I do attend all appointments. My hba1c is wild but everything else is fine.
I'm going to give some serious though to a libre monitor and a low carb diet and see where that takes me.
Over the course of today I'm clearer that I need to do something and you are quite right, it's on me to do it.

 

[Lastgr8farouk]

Thanks Matt. Believe it or not I exercise regularly and love it. Walking is my thing and average over 100k a month. My BMI is 25 and despite not adhering to any testing or insulin regime I do attend all appointments. My hba1c is wild but everything else is fine.
I'm going to give some serious though to a libre monitor and a low carb diet and see where that takes me.
Over the course of today I'm clearer that I need to do something and you are quite right, it's on me to do it.

Hi Pilning,
When I was younger I used to smoke and drink loads, refusing to accept my condition.
I found exercise (walking and triathlon) a huge release which stopped me drinking and smoking.
My BMI is about 23 so we are similar although you are in a different walking league to me.
I'm still doing 3 or 4 short Tri's a year though and bike events.
I've always had a high Hba1c similar to you, but fortunately it hasn't appeared to have done any long term damage.
More luck than judgement me thinks !!
I think my high level is due to eating on the go while at work.
I'm still educating myself after 45 years.
Being a glass half full type has helped me in many ways but to be honest there are many members on this forum who are dealing with an awful lot more than I am.
Matt

 

[Lastgr8farouk]

Hi Pilning,
When I was younger I used to smoke and drink loads, refusing to accept my condition.
I found exercise (walking and triathlon) a huge release which stopped me drinking and smoking.
My BMI is about 23 so we are similar although you are in a different walking league to me.
I'm still doing 3 or 4 short Tri's a year though and bike events.
I've always had a high Hba1c similar to you, but fortunately it hasn't appeared to have done any long term damage.
More luck than judgement me thinks !!
I think my high level is due to eating on the go while at work.
I'm still educating myself after 45 years.
Being a glass half full type has helped me in many ways but to be honest there are many members on this forum who are dealing with an awful lot more than I am.
Matt

Predictive text apologies pinnig

 

[pinnig]

True. Always someone worse off and a useful leveller. Hats off on the triathlons. Not a cat in hells chance I could tackle even one in a lifetime.

 

[Lastgr8farouk]

True. Always someone worse off and a useful leveller. Hats off on the triathlons. Not a cat in hells chance I could tackle even one in a lifetime.

Too true.
I'm not a fitness freak but have this ability to get off the sofa and do stuff with little training.
I'm not suggesting you ignore the condition and just crack on, but if you allow it to take over your life then it enevitably will.
I was diagnosed in 1976 ( 9yrs old and 9 stone)
18 stone at 20 yrs so I do understand the difficulties many people are experiencing.
I was lucky and managed to lose weight in my 20s.
I believe that having a reasonable level of fitness is of massive importance especially with diabetes.
Best wishes and good luck with your medication
Don't forget to take those meds.
Regards
Matt

 

[Drummer]

The main thing to get right is what you eat - do you plan your meals, and if so how?

 

[pinnig]

@Drummer i plan to eat what's in the fridge then get distracted, usually by work, and then eat what comes to hand when my stomach growls. I think this is where the most drastic changes need to happen. I know what I should and shouldn't eat and will need to be much more disciplined about eating better and more regularly. It should be easier in lockdown so I guess now would be the time to start.