[Philly Bud]

Hi, I am a newbie here.

I want to learn how to get my Type 2 Diabetes under better control.

I'm a graying, aging middle-aged 56 year old baby boomer -- and guess what?!? -- I am not ready to throw in the towel and start shopping for a cemetery plot just yet!!hwell:

When I was first diagnosed 6 years ago at age 50, I was given Metformin (also Glucotrol) and everything was fine. It was like my "honeymoon period" with Diabetes ... checked my blood sugar, took my pills ... and it was under control!

Earlier this year my numbers became higher. Doc upped my Metformin dosage, but I couldn't tolerate it ... had constant and persistent diarrhea - just from going up from 850 mg to 1000 mg twice a day. Doc insisted I see the Endocrinologist. Endo has now put me on Lantus Solostar insulin pen.

I feel like a total failure and a pathetic loser. I can't believe I now have to inject insulin. I tried to be very careful about following a low carb diet, but I confess I would "cheat" now and then (I'm not the most disciplined person) but I did join a gym and started exercising more, lost a little weight ... I am "engaged in my health" as my Doc says ... but I still can't get the blood glucose under control!

Yikes!

Well, so far I'm NOT a "success story" and feel a bit depressed and think I'm just a sorry-a$$ failure who couldn't get with the program well enough.:Cry:

What next? Foot amputated? Blindness? Heart Attack or Stroke? Sheesh!

 

[diabetes86]

Hi and welcome

Diabetes is a progressive disease, it gets worse over time. You did nothing wrong, it has progressed and now you deal with it.


for me its bean all about carbs and exercise. If your on Lantus that takes care of your background insulin. You will need a insulin to take care of your food, carbs in particular. A fast insulin like Aprida or Novalog. That insulin is taken before food to counter the BG rise from the food. your BG numbers will not be stable until you get a fast insulin.

It take time to work out.

test, eat, test 1 hour after and 2 hours after you eat. That info will tell you when your BG is the highest (spike) and how well you body liked that food.

When you get your fast insulin you can then use it to counter the carbs and keep your BG steady.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Welcome to the forum

i hope that you visit us regularly. This is by far, THE best place for us diabetics to talk freely and openly about whats going on with us.

Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have, as i feel that there are no "dumb" questions

You can do this, you can.

-Eric

 

[onaughmae]

Hi, I am a newbie here.

I want to learn how to get my Type 2 Diabetes under better control.

I'm a graying, aging middle-aged 56 year old baby boomer -- and guess what?!? -- I am not ready to throw in the towel and start shopping for a cemetery plot just yet!!hwell:

When I was first diagnosed 6 years ago at age 50, I was given Metformin (also Glucotrol) and everything was fine. It was like my "honeymoon period" with Diabetes ... checked my blood sugar, took my pills ... and it was under control!

Earlier this year my numbers became higher. Doc upped my Metformin dosage, but I couldn't tolerate it ... had constant and persistent diarrhea - just from going up from 850 mg to 1000 mg twice a day. Doc insisted I see the Endocrinologist. Endo has now put me on Lantus Solostar insulin pen.

I feel like a total failure and a pathetic loser. I can't believe I now have to inject insulin. I tried to be very careful about following a low carb diet, but I confess I would "cheat" now and then (I'm not the most disciplined person) but I did join a gym and started exercising more, lost a little weight ... I am "engaged in my health" as my Doc says ... but I still can't get the blood glucose under control!

Yikes!

Well, so far I'm NOT a "success story" and feel a bit depressed and think I'm just a sorry-a$$ failure who couldn't get with the program well enough.:Cry:

What next? Foot amputated? Blindness? Heart Attack or Stroke? Sheesh!

Stop stop stop!! Stop blaming yourself You did nothing wrong. Diabetes tends to be a progressive disease, esp in T2. SOme progress more than others and faster than others. There are some that will be able to be diet controlled forever...it depends on *your* level of resistance and *your* pancreatic function. No two diabetics are exactly alike. I am T2, but I am completely insulin dependent now as my pancreas no longer produces insulin. That doesnt happen to all of us...but it does to some to varying degrees. You probably have some decreased pancreatic function and/or increased insulin resistance. The bottom line is...do what you have to do to control your blood sugar. Getting some regular moderate exercise will help lower your resistance and if your pancreas is still functioning fairly normally, lower your insulin requirement. It might not eliminate it...but it might lower it.

As long as you are healthy and your blood sugar is under control, then you *are* a success story. No matter what medicine your body requires. Dont feel like a failure if you are never able to go off of meds. SOme of us cannot. I will have to take insulin the rest of my life no matter what. But, my blood sugar is under control so...I am a success

Please feel free to ask all the questions you need...we are all here to help each other out

 

[ColaJim]

Philly Bud, you lasted 6 years on Metformin, WOW

Philly Bud, you lasted 6 years on Metformin, WOW

i hear that metformin is good for maybe 2 to 4 years, then they switch you to metformin and glyburide until they burn out your pancreas, then if you don't have advanced neuropahty yet they put you on insulin basal but no bolus until you develop a surgical condition that they can make some really big money on.

or maybe i'm just upset that the VA had me on 2 metformin 500 mg plus 20 mg glyburide and i complained about the horrible hypos, so they just took away the glyburide and left me with only 2 metformin 500 mg, after all i was only at A1c 7.7%. kinda made me feel like my VA doctor was either trying to kill me or else she was a completely ignorant idiot.

just my opinion

Hi, I am a newbie here.

I want to learn how to get my Type 2 Diabetes under better control.

I'm a graying, aging middle-aged 56 year old baby boomer -- and guess what?!? -- I am not ready to throw in the towel and start shopping for a cemetery plot just yet!!hwell:

When I was first diagnosed 6 years ago at age 50, I was given Metformin (also Glucotrol) and everything was fine. It was like my "honeymoon period" with Diabetes ... checked my blood sugar, took my pills ... and it was under control!

Earlier this year my numbers became higher. Doc upped my Metformin dosage, but I couldn't tolerate it ... had constant and persistent diarrhea - just from going up from 850 mg to 1000 mg twice a day. Doc insisted I see the Endocrinologist. Endo has now put me on Lantus Solostar insulin pen.

I feel like a total failure and a pathetic loser. I can't believe I now have to inject insulin. I tried to be very careful about following a low carb diet, but I confess I would "cheat" now and then (I'm not the most disciplined person) but I did join a gym and started exercising more, lost a little weight ... I am "engaged in my health" as my Doc says ... but I still can't get the blood glucose under control!

Yikes!

Well, so far I'm NOT a "success story" and feel a bit depressed and think I'm just a sorry-a$$ failure who couldn't get with the program well enough.:Cry:

What next? Foot amputated? Blindness? Heart Attack or Stroke? Sheesh!

 

[breezeonby]

Hi, I am a newbie here.

I want to learn how to get my Type 2 Diabetes under better control.

I'm a graying, aging middle-aged 56 year old baby boomer -- and guess what?!? -- I am not ready to throw in the towel and start shopping for a cemetery plot just yet!!hwell:

When I was first diagnosed 6 years ago at age 50, I was given Metformin (also Glucotrol) and everything was fine. It was like my "honeymoon period" with Diabetes ... checked my blood sugar, took my pills ... and it was under control!

Earlier this year my numbers became higher. Doc upped my Metformin dosage, but I couldn't tolerate it ... had constant and persistent diarrhea - just from going up from 850 mg to 1000 mg twice a day. Doc insisted I see the Endocrinologist. Endo has now put me on Lantus Solostar insulin pen.

I feel like a total failure and a pathetic loser. I can't believe I now have to inject insulin. I tried to be very careful about following a low carb diet, but I confess I would "cheat" now and then (I'm not the most disciplined person) but I did join a gym and started exercising more, lost a little weight ... I am "engaged in my health" as my Doc says ... but I still can't get the blood glucose under control!

Yikes!

Well, so far I'm NOT a "success story" and feel a bit depressed and think I'm just a sorry-a$$ failure who couldn't get with the program well enough.:Cry:

What next? Foot amputated? Blindness? Heart Attack or Stroke? Sheesh!

Welcome to the forum! Come on in and make yourself comfortable, we are here to help and support you! What are your blood sugar readings like? What was your last A1C? How many carbs are you eating per day or per meal? We have a tendency to be a little nosey, but it is just so that we get a better idea of how things are going and how we can help you. We are not doctors, but many of us have been managing this disease for many years and there is a wealth of information here. Please take the time to visit often and take care!

 

[Shanny]

Welcome, Philly Bud . . . please try to adjust your sights, because you are not a failure by any stretch of the imagination. If using insulin meant failure, we'd have a lot fewer members here, because many need insulin to survive at all. You can gain control of your blood sugar and insulin will help you - it's just one more tool in our big diabetes toolbox. And you aren't going to need a cemetery plot any time soon!

Take care and visit often . . . we're here to support you all that we can.

 

[Philly Bud]

Thank you everyone ...

When I posted yesterday it was because I checked my blood and the number was something like 195!!!

In June my A1c was: 8.5 (I was only taking 16 units of Lantus.

In Sept. it came down to: 8.4 (By now I'm taking 38 units!)

Can you see why I'm so demoralized and frustrated? I try to limit carbs to 100 - 120 per day (about 35 per meal). I eat a lot of salads, steaks, fish, chicken ... but no bread or pasta; and very very small portions of rice or corn or beans.

----

A couple of questions:

? How about cinnamon and apple cider vinegar? Do they help lower the blood sugars? Should the cinnamon be taken in concentrated pill form?

My morning (fasting) numbers are always much higher than the rest of the day. Has anyone ever heard of "Leaky Liver"??? Any ideas on lowering the morning reading?

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Try to get your carbs to under 50 a day, total (remember, veggies have carbs too)

what kind of daily exercise are you getting?

 

[Shanny]

An A1c of 8.4 actually converts to an average BG of 194, so your reading yesterday was about right on target. The quickest way to get lower glucose is to eat fewer carbs, and you'll also use less insulin if you take in fewer carbs.

As I've said, I'm not on insulin, but some people have reduced their dawn phenomenon by adjusting basal insulin. I've only heard the term "leaky liver" from one source, which I prefer to not think about.

 

[jameshendrix]

An A1c of 8.4 actually converts to an average BG of 194, so your reading yesterday was about right on target. The quickest way to get lower glucose is to eat fewer carbs, and you'll also use less insulin if you take in fewer carbs.

As I've said, I'm not on insulin, but some people have reduced their dawn phenomenon by adjusting basal insulin. I've only heard the term "leaky liver" from one source, which I prefer to not think about.

my reading this morning was 6.7 BG. i am learning something new just every time i come on here. have a good day.

 

[onaughmae]

When I posted yesterday it was because I checked my blood and the number was something like 195!!!

In June my A1c was: 8.5 (I was only taking 16 units of Lantus.

In Sept. it came down to: 8.4 (By now I'm taking 38 units!)

Can you see why I'm so demoralized and frustrated? I try to limit carbs to 100 - 120 per day (about 35 per meal). I eat a lot of salads, steaks, fish, chicken ... but no bread or pasta; and very very small portions of rice or corn or beans.

----

A couple of questions:

? How about cinnamon and apple cider vinegar? Do they help lower the blood sugars? Should the cinnamon be taken in concentrated pill form?

My morning (fasting) numbers are always much higher than the rest of the day. Has anyone ever heard of "Leaky Liver"??? Any ideas on lowering the morning reading?

If I understand correctly, you are only taking a basal insulin and still having trouble with high post prandial blood sugars...have you and your docs considered adding a fast acting insulin to cover your carbs at mealtimes? That really is the most effective use of insulin therapy that I have found no matter what type of diabetes you have. If your pancreas cant keep up..it just cant keep up. You have to help it out. I think I remember you are T2...please correct me if I am wrong. You are taking metformin I imagine (all t2's benefit greatly from it to lower resistance}, you have tried controlling and limiting carbs, and now you are having to add insulin also. So, it would appear to me that your pancreas needs a little more support also.

Leaky liver sucks. Gotta love that liver dump in the mornings. That liver dump is actually a very normal reaction for the liver to do...it just doesnt understand that since we are diabetic it is hurting us more than helping us. I cant really offer any advice on that since I battled that myself for years..the only thing that finally fixed it for me was going on the pump because I now use a higher basal rate from 3am to 7am to counteract it.

 

[Philly Bud]

Thanks, Onaughmae ... I guess your real name is Pam (?) ...

Yes, I'm a Type 2 ... diagnosed 6 years ago.

Just to show you how ignorant I am, I confess I was under the impression the "pump" was for Type 1s only. Since I hate manually injecting myself, I'm wondering if maybe that's an option for me?

-- Buddy

 

[onaughmae]

Thanks, Onaughmae ... I guess your real name is Pam (?) ...

Yes, I'm a Type 2 ... diagnosed 6 years ago.

Just to show you how ignorant I am, I confess I was under the impression the "pump" was for Type 1s only. Since I hate manually injecting myself, I'm wondering if maybe that's an option for me?

-- Buddy

There are a lot of T2's that use a pump. I was taking 5-6 injections a day (sometimes more depending on what and when I was eating) and still having a hard time with control...the pump was a good option for me.