Hi all, I am really quite concerned really as I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabeties for over a year and despite a few changes in medication- from gliclides to byetta to now bydureon alongside my 2 twice dailys metformins my blood sugar levels are still constantly high from 15-20 and my hba1c started at 95 and my latest one last week was 109. I am overweight around 25 stones and my diet has been looked into numerous times where I do try and watch my carbs etc and I have increased my excercise doing more walking and swimming. My weight has slightly come down but roughly has stayed the same. Is it time I demanded insulin because I feel awful and this last week I have been sleeping way too much and felt so slugish and although the bydureon has made my appetite less I am constantly craving sugary foods. No matter what I seem to of done more exercise and being really strict eating less carbs etc nothing seems to be making any effect and at my doctors I keep being turned down for insulin if I suggest this. I am also taking statins for cholestrol and in the last few months they doubled my ramaprils from 5 to 10 and still my blood pressure is going up now around 153/97 Any help/suggestions would much be appreciated. I am 32.
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Blood sugar levels hba1c very high, time for insulin?
- Thread starter markuze
- Start date
- Status
Redkite
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Hi Markuze and welcome to the forum. I am no expert on type 2 (being the Mum of a type 1 boy), but I do get the impression that there are many in the medical profession that look on insulin for people with type 2 as a last resort and some kind of failure. It sounds to me that with Hba1c's of 95 and 105, and high BGs, you clearly aren't making enough insulin of your own, despite the meds which are supposed to stimulate the pancreas and increase insulin sensitivity. Has your doctor indicated what would be the point at which he/she would prescribe insulin?
On the weight side of things, I'm sure you'll find plenty of helpful advice on here. Many people find joining a group such as Weight Watchers gives the motivation and staying power to lose their weight. There's no doubt also that exercise is beneficial not just in losing weight, but also in increasing your sensitivity to the insulin you are still making. When you eat a meal, insulin will be secreted, and if you go for a brisk walk straight after eating, you will be helping that insulin "work harder" (in layman's terms!)
When in the day do your check your BG levels? It's good to know your fasting level when you wake up, but it can also be helpful to you when choosing foods if you experiment with testing your levels before AND 2-3 hours after a meal, to see the effect on you of different types of foods. Then you can work out what causes you the most problems and what you can eat more frequently.
Good luck, you'll get there 🙂
On the weight side of things, I'm sure you'll find plenty of helpful advice on here. Many people find joining a group such as Weight Watchers gives the motivation and staying power to lose their weight. There's no doubt also that exercise is beneficial not just in losing weight, but also in increasing your sensitivity to the insulin you are still making. When you eat a meal, insulin will be secreted, and if you go for a brisk walk straight after eating, you will be helping that insulin "work harder" (in layman's terms!)
When in the day do your check your BG levels? It's good to know your fasting level when you wake up, but it can also be helpful to you when choosing foods if you experiment with testing your levels before AND 2-3 hours after a meal, to see the effect on you of different types of foods. Then you can work out what causes you the most problems and what you can eat more frequently.
Good luck, you'll get there 🙂
Dory
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Mark,
I can't provide too much advice I'm afraid as I was hit with T1 when 8yo so have never known the 'proression' from T2 -> T1.
However I do know that healthcare professionals only like prescribing insulin when all other resorts have failed. I would think that the reason the docs have turned you down in the past is because of your weight (ie they may think that if you can lower that; this will suffice). I have to agree with them on that front; simple fact is (especially for T2s) that the lower your weight/BMI, the healthier you are and the less your need for insulin (which may mean that the limited amounts your body may be making, in addition to your current meds, would suffice). It's a hard thing to think about but I strongly discourage the 'straight to the insulin' route, especially when, IMO, diet and exercise may well help you in this case.
If you're having problems with dieting/exercise, why not take a look at the respective threads on this forum? A lot of T2s use slimming world/weight watchers and have had great success with it. similarly, there are lots of exercise tips on here which cover everyone's taste and fitness level. I think the tip is to commit to something, then you can't say no! Whether it's to have run a mile by the end of 12 months, or just to have stopped using the lift and always use the stairs in work, etc etc. little things build up and before you know it you'll see a real difference.
I can't provide too much advice I'm afraid as I was hit with T1 when 8yo so have never known the 'proression' from T2 -> T1.
However I do know that healthcare professionals only like prescribing insulin when all other resorts have failed. I would think that the reason the docs have turned you down in the past is because of your weight (ie they may think that if you can lower that; this will suffice). I have to agree with them on that front; simple fact is (especially for T2s) that the lower your weight/BMI, the healthier you are and the less your need for insulin (which may mean that the limited amounts your body may be making, in addition to your current meds, would suffice). It's a hard thing to think about but I strongly discourage the 'straight to the insulin' route, especially when, IMO, diet and exercise may well help you in this case.
If you're having problems with dieting/exercise, why not take a look at the respective threads on this forum? A lot of T2s use slimming world/weight watchers and have had great success with it. similarly, there are lots of exercise tips on here which cover everyone's taste and fitness level. I think the tip is to commit to something, then you can't say no! Whether it's to have run a mile by the end of 12 months, or just to have stopped using the lift and always use the stairs in work, etc etc. little things build up and before you know it you'll see a real difference.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi markuze, welcome to the forum 🙂 How long have you been on the Bydureon? Byetta and Bydureon don't work for everyone, and it could very well be that your pancreas is simply unable to keep pace with the demands being placed on it despite the help from the medication. I would certainly expect insulin to help with your blood sugar levels, but there is a concern that it can lead to weight gain rather than weight loss which may be what is stopping your GP from recommending it. Perversely, your body is craving sugary items because your brain believes you are short of energy, when the real reason is that you have plenty but can't use it properly. I found that snacking on savoury alternatives, or sugar-free jelly helped me enormously with this.
I would suggest starting a food diary writing down everything you eat and drink, particularly the carbs involved, plus your before meal and one or two hour post meal readings so you can build up a picture of where you currently stand. Then you can look for areas of improvement - it can be good to get input from people here as some advice from some dieticians can be a bit overgeneralised and may not be suiting you as an individual. So please feel free to ask any questions you may have or run things by us 🙂
Sounds like you are making good efforts to increase your activity levels - again, some of the members here may be able to give suggestions on the best times to exercise, as frequently the timing can affect how helpful it is to your blood sugar levels.
Vicsetter
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Doctors will prioritize your conditions, and I would suspect that your GP has prioritized your weight as a bigger problem than your blood pressure than your diabetes. If you lose weight you should improve your blood pressure and your blood glucose. At least thats the theory. The practice is somewhat different. As Alan has said putting you on insulin will make it harder to lose weight. Has your GP given you any help with the weight problem, there are things they could prescribe (like fat capture products) that might help. Is there a weight loss support group or have you considered weight watchers?
Well done on the exercise front, you just have to watch that it doesn't make you hungry😱
Sounds like the ramapril is not doing the job, maybe you should ask your GP to try something else or add something else, there are lots of blood pressure pills out there and it shouldn't be too hard to get that down.
Other than that I can't help as I struggle to lose weight and insulin and Victoza.
Well done on the exercise front, you just have to watch that it doesn't make you hungry😱
Sounds like the ramapril is not doing the job, maybe you should ask your GP to try something else or add something else, there are lots of blood pressure pills out there and it shouldn't be too hard to get that down.
Other than that I can't help as I struggle to lose weight and insulin and Victoza.
Hello Markuze, welcome. Do come and join us in the weight loss forum. There's a thread created by Sazzaroo called 'To PROGRESS or not progress' which is well worth a read from the very beginning.
For me, it was having to go onto metformin after several years of mostly ignoring diet and exercise that scared me into tackling my weight problem (my BMI was 46). After 13 months with Slimming World (Original, lower carb plan), and nearly 6 stone off (BMI 30.5), by blood glucose readings are now within non-diabetic range. Not everybody's D reacts quite so well, but it shows what can happen if you tackle it. Good luck!
For me, it was having to go onto metformin after several years of mostly ignoring diet and exercise that scared me into tackling my weight problem (my BMI was 46). After 13 months with Slimming World (Original, lower carb plan), and nearly 6 stone off (BMI 30.5), by blood glucose readings are now within non-diabetic range. Not everybody's D reacts quite so well, but it shows what can happen if you tackle it. Good luck!
- Status