Won’t prescribe Testing Strips and Lancets anymore

[grovesy]

Well I know I can’t live this way,it has affected every aspect o& my life. There is something else that bothers me about type2 in that we constantly hear people get typ2 because they are overweight and/or obese. While this is true in many cases. Typ2 diabetes is in my family history going back 50 years or more, when it was described “late onset”: I can honestly say not a single relative of mine was or is overweight, even mildly. One of my uncles was skinny, my brother who is 10 years my junior, never had a weight problem and has been diabetic type 2 for 15 years. On the other hand I have been on and off diets all my life being the only one to ever have a weight problem, but not obese.

There is a common perception that you only get type 2 because of your lifestyle choices. I used to be a very outdoor person, walking literally for miles. I have very painful arthritis in my spine and both hips, meaning I cannot even take my dogs walking, and pay someone to do that. But more and more I so miss the exercise I got from walking, even a short distance. I also know if I could it would help my health but it is just ou5 of my reach!

I think that is too simplistic to say it is down to being overweight, there was a period a few years ago where it was being reported that they were finding differnt Gene's implicated in Type 2 Diabetes. There is a team of researchers in the South of England who have said that have identified over 50 varations ofTypes 2 and they respond to differnt treatments.

 

[Annette&Bert]

Grovesy, that is extremely interesting, and I have to say does not surprise me.

 

[AndBreathe]

I think @AndBreathe says she attended a talk by a Diabetic Specialist who said there where lots of different options, I seem to remember a number in the hundreds being quoted.

Yes, it was something 400 hundred combinations or oral meds, prior to considering insulin.

Note; that is combinations, so not individual drugs.

In my view, many of those advising on diabetes do so within their own comfort zones, preferring to prescribe medications and escalations of meds they are familiar with. To an extent that's understandable, but not always to the advantage of their patient.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Really sorry to hear about what you are going through @Annette&Bertie - and yes, you absolutely must make an appointment and discuss how you are feeling, and how the meds you are taking are impacting your quality of life, and to ask about alternatives.

I wonder if insulin might be much easier all round for you? I know some people have a slight resistance to the idea of insulin, but in no way does it indicate any kind of failure on your part.

Interesting too that while diabetes runs in your family, it is not often accompanied by extra weight... and that you have arthritis (RH being auto immune). Do you think there might be an autoimmune aspect to your diabetes? Like LADA which is so often mistake for T2? Or MODY which has a genetic component. Have you ever had your cPeptide checked to see how much insulin you are producing yourself?

 

[Annette&Bert]

“no” but when I was first diagnosed one of the things I remember the nurse practitioner telling me was about different meds (this was my old practice) and she said that the one thing I wouldn’t want to be on was insulin as it causes weight gain!

I have since later yesterday developed a very itchy rash on my chest and between my breasts driving me mad. First call tomorrow to get an appt with GP!

 

[silentsquirrel]

“no” but when I was first diagnosed one of the things I remember the nurse practitioner telling me was about different meds (this was my old practice) and she said that the one thing I wouldn’t want to be on was insulin as it causes weight gain!

I have since later yesterday developed a very itchy rash on my chest and between my breasts driving me mad. First call tomorrow to get an appt with GP!

Weight gain is not inevitable on insulin at all. It is more likely if you are on a mixed insulin, because you may have to "eat to the insulin", with fixed doses. If you can go onto MDI (multiple daily injections, also known as basal/bolus system), you inject more often but have much more flexibility about what and when - or if - you eat.

Don't be afraid of insulin, the injections are very rarely painful at all. Too many nurses seem to use insulin as a threat.

For me, control was massively improved, and I am heartily glad that I started insulin - about 14 years ago - before the use of the flozins was popular. Over the past few years I have lost over 4 stone.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I completely agree with @silentsquirrel - I’ve been using insulin for almost 30 years, and while my weight has risen and fallen during that time, it hasn’t been an inevitable one way street, and what made me put weight on was eating more - not taking insulin!

 

[Annette&Bert]

Well i went to GP managed to get an appointment today at 12. Got cream for my severe rash, also big discussion about several things then it dawned on me that you are not supposed to be with the doctor for more than 10 mins, but he was very nice and understanding. During this discussion he also told me weight gain was not a given on insulin, and given my family history, it may have been inevitable that I get Type2.

Interestingly, he also told me there is an injection i can probably get at some point which is a once weekly injection, so will look forward to a bit more information on that.

I always get good information from the members on here. Thank you!