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Type 2 and Insulin questions

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
wakman

wakman

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Is there any type 2's on Insulin on here. I have some questions about what happens when medication is not doing the job.

is this the same as type 1 inject before meals ?

What about the DVLA my hba1c is poo how long do I have to get it right before they say im having your licence.

I have various other questions but I would like to if possible chat to someone who has been on the same path.

Been taking medication now for over 7 years with mixed results, and I think I might be pushed onto insulin.

Thank you

Shaun
 
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I'm sure some T2s will share their experience here, but here's some general points.

Insulin may not always be a panacea for T2s. Many T2s have insulin resistance and adding more insulin therefore doesn't always have a significant effect.

Imagine insulin resistance is a bit like using an umbrella and the insulin is rain. If there's a light shower, you probably won't get wet. If there's a torrential downpour, you will still stay mostly dry, although possibly you'll get a little bit damp.

As for when you inject, it will be similar to how we T1s inject - there'll be an option of two injections a day, which requires you to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at the same time every day, or you'll be on multiple injections, where you do one injection at the same time every day of background insulin and then every time you eat carbs, you inject an amount of insulin in proportion to the amount of carbs you eat.

For the DVLA, as far as I know, A1C is NOT the deciding factor in licensing. What affects your licensing is your vision and your risk of having a surprise hypo while driving.

Generally the DVLA will revoke licenses from those who have had an accident directly related to low blood sugar, or from those who have had a serious non-driving related incident from low blood sugar - say collapsing and requiring paramedic assistance. All of this is linked in to hypo unawareness. I've only got my personal experience to go on but I would have thought a serious hypo that requires someone else's assistance is fairly rare - I've had diabetes for 17 years and I've not once needed help from anyone else.

If you are moved onto insulin, then you must make sure your GP surgery understands that means you need unrestricted access to test strips - you might on paper be a T2 but insulin requires more involvement on your part. For instance, one condition of retaining a driving license on insulin is that you test each and every time before getting into the car and test regularly throughout the journey.

Just as a final piece of reassurance - I know it seems scary but please, please, PLEASE do not look on insulin as a punishment or that you will be 'pushed' onto it. For T2s who don't have insulin resistance, insulin simply replaces what their body should be producing anyway but for one reason or another, isn't. Yes, insulin is a more hands-on treatment and no-one wants to have to deal with needles, but if it is the right treatment for your individual case of diabetes then it is a fantastic option.
 
T2 and insulin no big deal. I just get on with it, nowt else to do
My excellent D nurse left the practice in 1995. Thankfully, before she went she got me started on insulin and found one that suited my needs, Novamix 30. We agreed I was heading that way and she wanted me settled and sorted before she left. with hindsight that was the best and only useful thing my GP and others at the practice have done for my D

I inject twice a day, the amount remains the same each time though it has gone up from the initial dose over the last 20 years and when I require the use of steroids for one of my other little problems I increase/adjust to suit. long since avoided taking much notice of current D staff and use the bit of common sense and experience gathered since injecting started.

Since joining this forum I have been appalled at some of stories from others on it
Seems to be a lot of miss informed medical staff, GP and others about T2 and D in general
Have a good browse through the posts and you will soon get some sensible answers from the people who are at the sharp end 🙄

Needles, I have been using 4mm ones for most of my time on the jab.
No noticeable marks, bumps, scars as I had with the longer needles
most of the time I use across the belly site. Easier to get at. In warmer weather with shorts and short sleeves I will use arm and leg sites

DVLA must be informed when you start injecting insulin
You will be put on a 1,2,3 year licence as they deem is necessary
NOTE...LICENCE REVOKED IF YOU TICK THE WRONG BOX`S...see elsewhere on this forum on how to do it right
and you lose a category or two
Still able to drive car and tow caravan and ride m/bike

as mentioned, you must test before driving and every 2 hours while so doing
Your GP may say you do not need to test much if at all as a T2 and may try to curtail your use of test strips
Rubbish, was my answer. I am required by law to test as required by DVLA so a trip to the sister in laws in Scotland requires a minimum of 4 if traffic allows.
Get refills no problem now

As far as I am concerned I am Diabetic and inject insulin and my care and treatment is just as important to my health as a T1. Something a lot of medics I come across don`t seem to appreciate so do not take no for an answer

Due for D check end of this week. The letter for appointment says as I am in good control I will not need to see anyone if the results are OK. Same as last time....
ps never been referred to hospital/consultant. Always treated by GP, some thing my stays in hospital over the last 10 years have had consultants shaking their heads before they stick drips in before ops:
"We wouldn`t want you to have a hypo while being sliced and diced" being the underlying message 😱
pps keep a sense of humour :D
 
Hi wakman,

I am also T2 and on insulin. Started insulin in August 2014, so almost used to it now.

I use novarapid before each meal and levemir at night. Still not quite got used to carb counting so results a little more variable than some, but A1C numbers down really well so now it is a question of fine tuning results.

Reasonable support from Dr's, and never had a problem with getting strips thankfully, so agree entirely that you may need to press that point.

You may need to d check which monitor you are using as well as you need on that will record and save your test numbers, (for DVLA purposes) and to test every two hours when driving.

One slight difference is that I believe that if driving you need to have tested within two hours, so potentially if only one hour after testing you nip to shops I don't test again before driving, but would do later to make sure 'within two hour' limit kept to.

I resisted going to insulin for a while, and went onto Exenatide for a while, but after that stopped working well had no option, but by then had got my mind round the 'guilt/failing' aspect and realised that was bollo..! and that D is a progressive animal and whatever worked best was the right thing to do.

Ask any Q's you have and I'll be happy to pass on my experiences if they help

Good luck and keep positive
Malc
 
Thank you all

Thanks to you all for your sound advise. I am 45 years old and very active. I cycle a lot and I am a system Engineer. The job requires that I have a licence and I have been doing this for some 17 years. I cannot, and do not want to loose my licence as you can imagine this could end in me loosing my Job. I rely heavily on my car I am a single parent to two Girls. If I have to surrender my licence my life would change dramatically. I suspect I would loose my job and then my house. As you can imagine I am very reluctant to go onto inulin as this just adds another complication.

But again thank you for your advise.
 
You are unlikely to loose your car licence if you have to go onto insulin, Wakman. What do you drive for work?

Retaining a van or minibus licence on insulin is more complicated, but not impossible in some situations. Plus, laws change, so keep following the laws and reapply if appropriate. Key thing is to avoid hypos that NEED help from another person.
 
Thanks Copepod I drive a car so this is a plus point. 🙂
 
Copepod, it's OK to drive anything up to and including 3500kgs on a normal car licence - so you're OK with all sorts of vans as well as cars. We have a motorhome, over 7 metres long, but it's not over 3500kgs - so I can drive it legally either here or abroad on my car licence!

These days it's reasonably easy to get your C1 entitlement back again, as long as you really haven't got anything too wrong with your eyesight and are willing to pay for the medical however often they want you to repeat it - a lot like being 70 a bit early! LOL
 
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I was trying to keep my reply to Wakman simple and reasuring - hence not listing all that can be driven on a car licence. Just checking what he drives for work, and as it's a car, that's the simplest sort of vehicle to retain licence with insulin.
 
I have struggled for 18 months to get my blood sugar levels down, the 10 years up till then I was a star. Now i have done a month of the blood sugar diet but my levels have not really lowered -being really unwell the last three weeks has not helped. I have been told today that the underlying cause could be the diabetes and blood sugar affecting my well-being. I will be changed from metformin, liraglutide and forxiga to metformin and insulin in a few weeks once I get my head round it and have had a chance to research it.
Theses comments have been helpful and is there anything else any experienced D's can supply these would be gratefully received.
 
AnnieN64 said:
I have struggled for 18 months to get my blood sugar levels down, the 10 years up till then I was a star. Now i have done a month of the blood sugar diet but my levels have not really lowered -being really unwell the last three weeks has not helped. I have been told today that the underlying cause could be the diabetes and blood sugar affecting my well-being. I will be changed from metformin, liraglutide and forxiga to metformin and insulin in a few weeks once I get my head round it and have had a chance to research it.
Theses comments have been helpful and is there anything else any experienced D's can supply these would be gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Welcome.
 
AnnieN64 said:
I have struggled for 18 months to get my blood sugar levels down, the 10 years up till then I was a star. Now i have done a month of the blood sugar diet but my levels have not really lowered -being really unwell the last three weeks has not helped. I have been told today that the underlying cause could be the diabetes and blood sugar affecting my well-being. I will be changed from metformin, liraglutide and forxiga to metformin and insulin in a few weeks once I get my head round it and have had a chance to research it.
Theses comments have been helpful and is there anything else any experienced D's can supply these would be gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Hi and welcome to the forum 🙂 please feel free to create a new thread with any questions you have as it may be missed on here x
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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