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suedn

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Type 2
I'm Sue 🙂

Just been told the other day I have type 2 diabetes and have to take insulin and Metformin 😱 so it's all still confusing and a bit scary for me. Never even considered I might be diabetic until just before Christmas, and then I expected to be told to diet and take some tablets perhaps. I am going to poke around now and see if any of my questions have already been answered, such as: How long on average does it take to get insulin levels correct? Will I start to feel better? :confused: Feel different? Hypo!! Scary thoughts about going low as I live on my own.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here 😉 (well, you know what I mean!!)
 
Welcome to the forum suedn 🙂

I can't help with your questions but I'm sure someone who can will be along soon.
 
Hi Suedn, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad you have found us so quickly - hopefully we will be able to ease your concerns and answer your questions, so please don't be afraid to ask!

How did you come to be diagnosed? It's unusual to be put on insulin straight away - what insulin is it? It is still very early days fr you, so you can expect that it will take some time to establish the correct dose of insulin to get your levels under control. They are usually very cautious with doses to prevent you going low, and it may be some time before you start to see improvements, so be patient!

Yes, you will start to feel better! High blood sugar levels affect all parts of you, including your mood and energy levels in particular, so as they improve, so will your sense of well-being. I would suggest reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter to begin with, and do get a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. These will all help you to gain an understanding of what it is all about, and how best to tackle things. Start a food diary, recording the carbohydrate content of everything you eat and drink, so that you can build a true-life picture of your normal diet (we often forget when asked afterwards what we ate and drank, so good to write it down as you do it). You will then be able to llok for areas where things might be improved - let us know if you have any questions regarding any element of your diet.

There are lots of friendly, knowledgeable and experienced people here, plus quite a few who have recently been where you are now, so you are not alone in this. I look forward to hearing more from you. 🙂
 
Hi Sue
Welcome aboard, insulin is quite scary at first but you'll get the hang of it and as Northerner says they start cautious, and it will make you feel much better. I started insulin last January when diagnosed and I feel so much better now than I have for years. Good luck and don't forget to ask lots of questions if you need to 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum suedn.

As you mentioned specifically being worried about going low / hypoglycaemic as you live alone, I'll mention that aspect. Firstly, you are probably gradually building up your insulin doses, so that you won't actually go low. However, as your blood glucose levels have probably been higher than they should have been for some time, your body will feel low when it isn't. That's one reason why you are started on a low dose of insulin and gradually build up, to lessen this problem.

So, it's only if your blood levels fall below 4mmol/l that you need to act. Ideally test first, but if in doubt, eat sugar without testing. The key thing is always to have sugar / sweets / fruit juice to hand eg a few sweets in your pocket or beside bed. You don't want to have to use stairs, get out of bed etc when hypo.

It is unusual to start on insulin and metformin - usually it's diet & exercise first, then add metformin, then try other medications, both oral & injected, with insulin at the end of the process. Did your prescriber explain why metformin & insulin from the beginning?
 
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Many thanks for the welcome and advice

I had thrush (and was feeling tired and thirsty) for quite a while last year, then I found out I might be diabetic, so asked for an appointment to be tested by my GP. The tiredness, thirst AND midnight toilet runs have been with me for years though so I think I have had diabetes, or been developing it, for a long time without realising. The results of my blood test were very high, and the amount of sugar in my urine too, so my GP thought I'd probably run down most of my natural insulin-making capabilities and put me straight on insulin injections as well as the metformin.

I will certainly be taking some sweet things to bed with me, thanks for the advice!! 🙂 ...and it's good to know that, in time, I'll be feeling better than I have for years :D. I have ordered a copy of 'Type B diabetes: The First Year' after seeing your recommendation!! Cheers...

It's early days but I already feel more alert...or is that just wishful thinking? 😉

Sue,

feeling I'm in the right place here
xx
x
 
suedn said:
It's early days but I already feel more alert...or is that just wishful thinking? 😉
Click to expand...

It's that feeling you get when you start to believe you can get in control, Sue - not wishful thinking, but a happier and healthier future for you! 🙂
 
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