New to this site

[birdd09]

Good morning everyone

Im new to this site but not new to diabetes. I am 54 and was diagnosed type 2 about 6yrs ago and if I'm honest I was scared and just tried to ignore the seriousness. My diabetes nurse has urged me to change diet/exercise more etc. but I have found diet to be a really hard thing to change. The nurse has suggested I move from taking metformin and gliclazide to insulin which scares me even more, hearing stories of weight gain etc (I am already overweight). Has anyone with type 2 moved to insulin? can you share your experience?

 

[ColinUK]

Hi,
And welcome to the forum.
There’s lots of different experiences on here so I’m sure a T2 who is insulin dependent will be along shortly but meanwhile can you tell us a little more about how you were diagnosed and perhaps the difficulties you faced over the last two years and what’s led the DN to suggest insulin?

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum. A diabetes diagnosis is something which nobody want to get but it is a serious condition which unless you take measures to reduce your blood glucose can result in some unpleasant effects. If you are taking both those medications and have made changes to your diet by reducing carbohydrates then some weight loss and improvement in HbA1C should be possible. Since your diagnosis although the NHS dietary advice hasn't changed much it is now being accepted that the most important thing is to reduce carbohydrates and increase exercise.
What is your HbA1C and how has that changed since your diagnosis.
What are typical meals that you would have as I suspect that your diet is too carb heavy if those meds have not been improving your situation.
A bit of information would help people tailor their suggestions if you are happy to share.

 

[birdd09]

Thanks for replying. I was diagnosed 6yrs ago after complaining of regular peeing, thirst etc. I was put on metformin and gliclazide and have remained on that ever since. Initial HAB1C readings showed the medication was helping and being new to diabetes I was very vigilant, however over the years I have become less vigilant and HAB1C readings and weight led the nurse to recommend Trulicity injections once a week, again these worked in suppressing appetite but the effectiveness wore off and eventually just led to constant indigestion. Lock down has been difficult as Ive worked at home and as a result I have found diet hard to control. Last meeting with nurse was 9mths ago when she suggested insulin, I found this really scary and have avoided the requests for diabetes check up since (stupid I know!!). The biggest challenge I have is that my life before diabetes was unrestricted, I was active, I never had to think about diet etc and I have struggled to make what I think is a big change. I hope this helps

 

[birdd09]

Thanks. Re the question about meals, I think I do a pretty good job. I steer clear (most of the time) of carbs, no longer eat potatoes with dinner, avoid rice/pasta etc. typical meal would be protein and veg. However my biggest issue by far is treats such as crips/chocolate/biscuits at home, especially in the last year when working from home has led to constant grazing! My snacking improves when away from the home but the problem then changes to finding suitable meals and tend to resort to carb heavy sandwiches etc

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks for replying. I was diagnosed 6yrs ago after complaining of regular peeing, thirst etc. I was put on metformin and gliclazide and have remained on that ever since. Initial HAB1C readings showed the medication was helping and being new to diabetes I was very vigilant, however over the years I have become less vigilant and HAB1C readings and weight led the nurse to recommend Trulicity injections once a week, again these worked in suppressing appetite but the effectiveness wore off and eventually just led to constant indigestion. Lock down has been difficult as Ive worked at home and as a result I have found diet hard to control. Last meeting with nurse was 9mths ago when she suggested insulin, I found this really scary and have avoided the requests for diabetes check up since (stupid I know!!). The biggest challenge I have is that my life before diabetes was unrestricted, I was active, I never had to think about diet etc and I have struggled to make what I think is a big change. I hope this helps

The medications you have been taking are not magic bullets and without changes to your diet it will be hard to get your levels down.
Many people in your situation have managed to get thing better.
Low carbohydrate meals and reducing portion size of high carb foods will make a big difference. Just reading what you have said then increasing fats in your meals will help to stop feeling hungry so reduce the temptation to snack. |Many people find the only way is not to have them in the house or find alternatives which are lower carb. Nuts, full fat yogurt with seeds or berries, piece of cheese, sugar free jelly, boiled eggs, would all be low carb snacks.

 

[birdd09]

The medications you have been taking are not magic bullets and without changes to your diet it will be hard to get your levels down.
Many people in your situation have managed to get thing better.
Low carbohydrate meals and reducing portion size of high carb foods will make a big difference. Just reading what you have said then increasing fats in your meals will help to stop feeling hungry so reduce the temptation to snack. |Many people find the only way is not to have them in the house or find alternatives which are lower carb. Nuts, full fat yogurt with seeds or berries, piece of cheese, sugar free jelly, boiled eggs, would all be low carb snacks.

Thanks, Ive had all of those at some point and have no problem with eating these foods, I think your point about not having something in the house is valid as I often resort to the easy and convenient. Those bad foods are not only in the house because of me, my son and wife eat them as well and so the temptation is always there. How do you control you diabetes and do you have experience of insulin

 

[Lucyr]

I’m definitely an advocate for T2s being open to insulin and not being afraid of it, and I do use it to allow me to eat a normal carb diet. But to be a bit blunt, if the main issue in your diet is snacking on biscuits, chocolate, crisps and sandwiches, then using insulin, probably a background insulin at first, is unlikely to give you good blood sugars after those foods.

You’d most likely still spike after eating them, unless you also took a short acting insulin, calculated the carb content of the snacks, and timed the injection at 15-20 minutes before the snacks (or whatever timing worked for you). That is of course an option, but looking at changes to your snacking habits may be a better first step

Thanks. Re the question about meals, I think I do a pretty good job. I steer clear (most of the time) of carbs, no longer eat potatoes with dinner, avoid rice/pasta etc. typical meal would be protein and veg. However my biggest issue by far is treats such as crips/chocolate/biscuits at home, especially in the last year when working from home has led to constant grazing! My snacking improves when away from the home but the problem then changes to finding suitable meals and tend to resort to carb heavy sandwiches etc

 

[BlueArmy]

Thanks, Ive had all of those at some point and have no problem with eating these foods, I think your point about not having something in the house is valid as I often resort to the easy and convenient. Those bad foods are not only in the house because of me, my son and wife eat them as well and so the temptation is always there. How do you control you diabetes and do you have experience of insulin

I stuck a picture of Oscar Pistorius on the inside of the biscuit/crisp cupboard we have for our kids. It puts me off touching them. I know he didn't lose his legs through diabetes, but amputation freaks me right out so it works to remind me of what the worst could be. I also as I have said elsewhere, bulk buy Big D nuts and have a rule of no more than 1 pack a day. I find they help me personally avoid anything else. But whatever works for you I guess. Fundmentally, as suggested by others - you need to address the reasons why your eating stuff you know is bad for you. We've all done it so no judgement, but there is no silver bullet either.

 

[Ljc]

Hi @birdd09 . Welcome to forum. I have just read your other thread about the Nurse recommending you go onto insulin and gaining weight on it.
Insulin doesn’t cause the weight gain , its how much and what you eat that does it, so you will need to cut out those treats, or just have one occasionally.

Please don’t see needing insulin as a failure either.
T2 can be progressive .
Some T2s are not T2 but have undiagnosed LADA instead, it mimics T2 initially, responds to T2 meds’ for a while , then only insulin will do.
With T2s insulin can be used temporarily to reduce high BG levels .

 

[Leadinglights]

The medications you have been taking are not magic bullets and without changes to your diet it will be hard to get your levels down.
Many people in your situation have managed to get thing better.
Low carbohydrate meals and reducing portion size of high carb foods will make a big difference. Just reading what you have said then increasing fats in your meals will help to stop feeling hungry so reduce the temptation to snack. |Many people find the only way is not to have them in the house or find alternatives which are lower carb. Nuts, full fat yogurt with seeds or berries, piece of cheese, sugar free jelly, boiled eggs, would all be low carb snacks.

I decided that a low carb approach was something which I could do as I love vegetables indeed we grow a lot of different fruits and veg as we have an allotment. But eating patterns are very much a habitual behaviour, I never really was one for snacking anyway, when I was working I had breakfast at about 7.30am then lunch at 1pm and dinner at 8pm with nothing other than a drink in between, my job was very active so most days chalked up 20,000 plus steps. Then I retired and the rot set in, less exercise, that piece of cake with the afternoon cuppa. So HbA1C went up to 50mmol/mol. So no meds and diet changes to max 70g carb per day and levels down to 36mmol/mol in 9 months. But it is a regime I can stick to for life not 'a diet' with a start and an end.
But if dietary changes as well as the meds are not working then you may as others have mentioned be Type 1 or LADA, so perhaps you should ask for the tests for that.

 

[Christy]

If, like me, you're tempted by sweets, crisps etc and others in your house eat them then ask them to keep them out of sight to make it less of a temptation and don't let them give you them! It's either that or increasing your willpower. It might be tough but it's your health.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @birdd09

Hope you find comparing experiences, strategies, ideas, and suggestions with others on the forum helps you as you consider moving onto insulin

Keep asking questions, and let us know how your thinking is going 🙂