Type 2 and Fed Up

[ricke17]

Hey guys,

Kind of a newbie here - been lurking for a while.

So I am a type 2 for about 10/12 yrs. Started on the usual medication (Metformin) and had various other oral drugs added over the years with the usual side effects (the runs & weight gain being the worst).

I was started on Levemir about 5 yrs ago and in November 2008 I had a Gastric Bypass operation as my BMI was over 50 (6ft 3" and about 32 st at my biggest). The surgeon, quite wrongly, said my diabetes would go overnight and I have latched onto his wrong words ever since.

In fact my diabetes has got worse and am now on Victoza, Levemir and the dreaded Novorapid. 6 Jabs a day and I am also on 1g twice a day of Metformin (the sachet version as my pouch cannot tolerate the Glucophage pill).

I also gave up smoking recently (wish I hadn't tbh) and have regained about 3.5st and feeling dreadful about it.

I have been the worlds worst diabetic since I am a "sweet-tooth" kinda guy. I have recently reached rock bottom in my life (anniversary of my late mum's birthday, crapola with taking my "happy pills", abusing alcohol big stylee, complete breakdown of my relationships with my only living siblings - the list goes on) whereby I took yet another massive Novorapid/Levemir overdose (basically ALL my stock - about 3 packs of Novorapid and about 6/8 packs of Levemir) - was admitted to my local hospital and when I'm hypoing I, apparently, become agitated and lack "insight and rationality" - after a day or so in the hospital I wanted to discharge myself and just go home - I played the game and saw the on-call medical doc who said I couldn't go home. I saw red and said well I am off - see ya! She said she could detain me under the Mental Health Act 1983 for medical treatment which is totally wrong (ironically I used to be a Psychiatric Nurse so I know, unfortunately, the Mental Health System that I am now the patient of) and that she could get security to restrain me and bring me back which is wrong too as they cannot touch me as that'll constitute assault. I saw red and left. Long story short - I was picked up by the police and then brought back to the hospital/ward and the staff then said I was medically fit for discharge and removed my venflons (you can imagine how agitated and pi*sed off I was at this point) - then I was carted off to the funny farm after now being detained under a Police Section (136) and narrowly avoided being further detained under the Mental Health Act. I have subsequently fallen through the net again although I have a very supportive GP and Mental Health Support Worker.

As this is Diabetes Week, I just wanted to vent my frustration at the LACK of any specific diabetic psychological support out there. I have NEVER accepted my diabetes and basically "do my own thing" without looking at the consequences. In my eyes, the positive thing about have very high blood sugars is the lack of gaining weight as I am peeing out sugar. I don't want/need stable sugars as I don't want my body to hold onto the "stable sugars" that I am producing thus making weight loss difficult and weight gain moreso (especially being on the novorapid).

Totally fed up at being type 2 and wished it went away.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

So sorry to hear your story. Hope you manage to find a way to finally accept your diagnosis and get the psychological support you need.

Incidentally, regarding weight gain... My (limited) understanding is that insulin (natural or injected) has a tendency to store excess BG as fat - so as far as I understand it high BGs will not help you lose weight. There are obviously other factors in play, but insulin by injection does not *necessarily* mean weight gain.

 

[ricke17]

Thanks 🙂

 

[Vicsetter]

Sad story rickie, hope you can find a way out. I would like to add that in my understanding, insulin per se does not cause weight gain. The only way to lose wieght is to either reduce your food intake or increase your exercise. What usually happens with insulin, especially rapid insulin is that you think OK I can eat that sandwich and inject enough insulin to balance the carb intake, which can be done, but at the end of the day the carbs will get turned into fat if you don't expend the energy obtained from the food.
I have found reducing your eating habits is as hard as giving up smoking. I am sure you found that hard but well done for doing it as you were probably heading for disaster with that lifestyle.
One other point about having high blood sugars are the long term complications, of which I am sure you are aware and also the short term of yeast infections and others.

Good luck.

 

[Steff]

Ricke hi and a warm welcome to the forum so sorry to read how tough things have been for you, depression and diabetes come hand in hand in my expereince for me if my diabetes aint going well your dam sure my mood is also going down hill to.I was on Victoza for a short while how are you finding that?

Giving up smoking is a great achievement so well done on that smoking certainly is not good for us diabetics,if theres anything more we can help with then please just shout this place is has an amazing array of friendly people so use us to your advantage x

 

[RachelT]

Hi Ricke,

Well done for giving up smoking, it's a real achievement and will have long term health benefits. Pat yourself on the back. Although i grew up in your town, i left before i got diabetes so i don't know much about local care, for diabetes or mental health. I do have to say though that most of my family's dealings with Frimley Park have left a bit to be desired. My mum has recently been diagnosed as "borderline" or something such and she just has to go for a yearly check up and they tell her she's doing all the right things. My mum has also worked with people with behavioural/emotional problems in the past, and i don't think she's terribly impressed with the kind of support they got either. I think there is a Diabetes UK group who meet at Frimley Park, (i'm not sure, i used to work there, but at the time i wasn't paying much attention to diabetes, it was just something my grandparents had....oh, the irony...) they might be able to help you. There are also some other forum users in your area who might have some advice about local support. I think the NHS is starting to pay more attention to the psychological effect of having long term conditons like diabetes and asthma, and it can be tough. have a look in the library, Gretchen Becker's "the first year with type 2 diabetes" has some useful stuff in it, even if you are more experienced and i found other books helpful too.
Otherwise, feel free to come here for a rant or a moan, diabetes is a pain in the proverbial for all of us.

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum ricke17 🙂

I can't really add anything else to what has been already said, other then to say that this is a great place to come and I've always found it full of friendly knowledgeable people.