Oddities with type 2

[David Jacques]

Dear Forum,

I was diagnosed 7 years ago as type 2 and now inject 37 units of insulin every morning plus a Diamicron Uno 60 tablet. I had a job to wean my diabetologist off Metformin - the stuff makes me as sick as a dog but is the preferred drug in all relevant protocols.

I find exercise reduces my BS to an almost dangerous level, making me wonder whether I should drive home by car from the fitness studio. Without exercise I can maintain a decent BS but exercise cuts the amount of insulin needed.

Things I wonder about

Why isn't there a single method of measuring BS? Here in Germany it's mg/dl but HbA1C is mmol. No idea why. This may make sense to the medical profession but it seems insane to me.

Why is there no table of foodstuffs diabetics can eat? What's all this with BE? BE would be handy if I knew how many BEs are allowed per day. As I don't - and no one can tell me - what's the point?

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, David Jacques.
When you say mg/dl in Germany - those are the units used to express capillary blood glucose (home meter / finger prick test), and units used in UK for that test is mmol/l.
HbA1c is a completely different test, laboratory test to record approximate level of control over past few weeks. The units used in UK and internataionally now are mmol/mol; previously, UK used %.
So, you are confusing two different types of test and have stated incomplete units.
Diamicron is a trade name for glicazide. Metformin is nearly always the first drug tried for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, because it is cheap and effective in treating insulin resistance. Many people do find that nausea side effects lesse over time, particularly if they reduce carbohydrate content of diet and take metformin with meals. If gut symptoms (nausea, farting etc) persist, then slow release metformin is sometimes better tolerated.
Why is there no table of foodstuffs diabetics can eat? Well, because there are many types of diabetes, and foods that suit a young person, underweight at their diagnosis with type 1 diabetes, are less likely to be suitable (at least in the same quantities) for an overweight person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a (usually) older age. Not that all people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight at time of diagnosis, of course. So, basically, all foods are potentially suitable for people with diabetes, although portion sizes and frequency (every day / treats) of eating certain foods may need consideration.

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi David, welcome to the forum.....

I'm wondering if the Diamicron is contributing to your lows, sulfonylureas work by artificially stimulating the pancreas into secreting insulin.... The exercise may be depleting your BG & along with the extra insulin may be causing adverse effects. Personally I had a tough time on Glyburide to the point where I cut the dose in half (Dr.was OK with this), then I quit it entirely (Dr. was also OK with this). In the last 6 months I have had no Hypo's.

 

[trophywench]

Dear Forum,

What's all this with BE? BE would be handy if I knew how many BEs are allowed per day. As I don't - and no one can tell me - what's the point?

Have never heard of this, haven't a clue about them!