Double Diabetes

3005 Views 4 Replies 2 Participants Last post by Richard157, Mar 5, 2009

Richard157

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2009

When I started using modern day insulins in the late 1980s I gained weight. By the mid 1990s I had gained 57 pounds. I started having much higher blood sugar and my insulin dosage eventually increased by 40%. I was still high much of the time. Finally, in the late 1990s tests were done and I was diagnosed with insulin resistance even though I am Type 1. I was then a Type 1 with that Type 2 charactteristic. That is called "double diabetes". It is also known as Type 3. My doctors do not use either of those terms. They prefer calling me Type 1 with insulin resistance. It is also possible for a Type 2 to become a double diabetic. I have been taking Avandia for 10 years and my insulin resistance gives me very little trouble now. My insulin dosages returned to normal in 1999.

The following link comes from a site that is primarily intended for parents of children with diabetes. It is an excellent discussion of double diabetes. In the discussion references are made to children but diabetics of all ages can become double diabetics. My double diabetes was diagnosed when I was 59. Here is the link:

children with DIABETES - Double Diabetes Summary

Richard

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meurtelken

· #2 · Mar 4, 2009

Richard157 said:
When I started using modern day insulins in the late 1980s I gained weight. By the mid 1990s I had gained 57 pounds. I started having much higher blood sugar and my insulin dosage eventually increased by 40%. I was still high much of the time. Finally, in the late 1990s tests were done and I was diagnosed with insulin resistance even though I am Type 1. I was then a Type 1 with that Type 2 charactteristic. That is called "double diabetes". It is also known as Type 3. My doctors do not use either of those terms. They prefer calling me Type 1 with insulin resistance. It is also possible for a Type 2 to become a double diabetic. I have been taking Avandia for 10 years and my insulin resistance gives me very little trouble now. My insulin dosages returned to normal in 1999.

The following link comes from a site that is primarily intended for parents of children with diabetes. It is an excellent discussion of double diabetes. In the discussion references are made to children but diabetics of all ages can become double diabetics. My double diabetes was diagnosed when I was 59. Here is the link:

children with DIABETES - Double Diabetes Summary

Richard

Hi Richard!

I believe I'm a double diabetic, just like you. Type 1 and insulin resistance. The other month, I attended a study about Type 1 and insulin resistance.
My doctor hasn't given me any medication to deal with the insulin resistance. I'll ask him about Avandia. Did you lose weight taking these meds? Has your need for insulin decreased quite a bit? I used to take 85 units of insulin a day, since day 1 and my A1c was still in the 8% range. Now I use around 65 units a day, because I eat low-carb (my doctor is not happy with that

) and my last A1c was 7.4
I still need to lose quite some weight and it really irritates me that it's so hard. But I also believe that the amount of insuline is the trick. What do you think?

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Richard157

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 4, 2009

Well hello there stranger! Lol! I'm happy to see you posting again. I had increased my insulin dosage 40% before I found it was insulin resistance. That disgnosis was made in 1998. I had gained 57 pounds due to modern day insulins (primarily Humalog). I have taken Avandia for almost 10 years and it has been a wonderful medication for me. Some doctors do not prescribe Avandia because it has caused heart problems in some patients. It is a very small percentage that have had heart problrms though. People with pre-existing heart problems or who have relatives with heart trouble are more likely to develop heart problems with Avandia.

I found it impossible to lose weight at first. I bought a treadmill and began doing a lot more ecxercising. I cut my daily carb intake from 180 to 130 per day. I did that gradually over a several month period. The carb reduction combined with walking 3 miles per day resulted in my losing 26 pounds. I still need to lose 31 pounds. (I fluctuate due to liquid retention.) For the last two years I have neither gained nor lost any more weight. If I increase my carbs or get less exercise I gain a few pounds.

Avandia has the reputation of causing weight gain. I know some Type 1s with insulin resistance take Metformin because it is more likely to cause weight loss. I have read about people saying they are less hungry and eat less while taking Metformin.

Stick with us, I missed you!

Richard

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meurtelken

· #4 · Mar 5, 2009

Hey Richard!

I just contacted my medical team and they tell me I cannot use Avandia in combination with insulin. That upsets me, because what else can I do to lose weight and to cope with the insulin resistance???

I eat an average of 100 gr carbs a day (they want me to eat 220 gr carbs a day!). I have several other problems like a slow metabolism and PCOS and slow digestion. That is not helpful at all in losing weight or in getting better control. Plus that I can measure no more than 5x a day

I normally test around 8-10 times a day (and night included). That gave me better control and finally I got an A1c below 8%. I'm sure my next A1c will be higher than 8 again, because I can't measure that much! My team wants me to rely on my instinct to know my BG levels. As if!!!

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Richard157

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 5, 2009

That sounds rather typical for European countries. I know there are some important advantages to socialized medicine. I am posting on a relatively UK site and they support the health care system there . They also make fun of it and get frustrated like you are now. It is a mixed bag. I don't have those problems in the USA because I have wonderful health insuranc, but I have to pay monthly for it. There are millions here who are unemployed or work only part time and they have no health insurance at all. Many of them may die due to those circumstances. It is sickening to even think about it!

Richard

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