New

[jlquilter]

Hi, I am new to this, just not diabetes. I have had diabetes for seven years now. When I was first diagnosed I did real well. The doctor put me on Amaryl. I began to lose weight (which is now one of my big problems). Had more energy, and felt good about myself. Then my sugar went down to 50 and the school nurse (I was a teacher, now retired) took me to see my doctor. He changed my med to glucophage. I didn't take that long as I wound up in the hospital with a reaction to it. From there I gained all the weight I lost back and more. I don't seem to be able to get it under control. Now I have been told the my eye sight is being affect with my lack of control. Last test was over 10. That was last year. I am now due to have my blood work done again and I know it won't be good. My doctor says I only need to test once a day. I feel as if I need to do it more often. I need help, advice and/or what ever to help me get it under control. I don't want to lose my eye sight. When I complain to my doctor, he:o just ups my meds. I am currently on Novolin 70/30 twice a day, with 28 unit in the morning and then again at night. I am also taking Rosiglitazone Maleate 4MG twice a day. My sugar jumps from 60 to over 200 somedays (more often then not) I ay add that I have a thyorid and high blood pressure (under control as long as I take my meds).

[duck]

Welcome to the forums.

Ugh. I hate to see when a "Type 2" (sorry, I really am not trying to label you) comes here with these kinds of stories. You need to test MORE if you feel you are not well/your diabetes is getting the better of you. It kills me that doctors will tell Type 1's (like me) to test at least four times a day (and more), but if you are Type 2 you don't need to test. There are 24 hours in the day for both you and me, right? And the more detail we have about what is going on with our sugars, the more control we can attain. So my first word of advice to you is to test more often, regardless of what your doctor says. Test upon waking, before each meal and two hours after each meal. Test before sleeping as well. This can become a lot of testing, I know.

Second: How much Amaryl were you taking before you were taken off of it? 1mg or 2mg? Was it ever considered that you could cut the does in half, maybe? I'm a little shocked that because of ONE hypo, your entire medication strategy was changed. Couldn't someone have advised you to drink some OJ or something?

Third: the 70/30 Mix is terrible. I have read some good arguments regarding who it can possibly help, but in my mind knowing exactly which insulins you are taking is better than dealing with the mix..For example, you take a 28 unit shot at 8AM...Two hours later, you feel "weird". Is it your 30% of 'fast-acting' insulin (now down to half since it has worked its way out of your system) that is making you feel weird, or is the 70% 'long lasting' insulin? It could be either. And how much of each is left? Let's do the math: No, let's not, it will take too long...See my point? If you had said it was working for you, I wouldn't be attacking it, but if it is not, you may need to consider other alternatives, like using Novolog and Lantus, or one or the other.

Do you have hypo or hyper thyroid? Many of us here have thyroid issues as well, (I do) so welcome to that club as well!

You can get a handle on this...It may take some time, but the group here can help you get to feeling normal again, or at least as close to normal as possible.

[4519]

Welcome to the forum.

Testing for a type 2 is quite different than for a type 1. Testing once a day might work for someone that has their program down pat and just wants to keep an eye on things. Sometimes i test just once, and then again sometimes not at all. But, and there always is a but, when you are working at getting into control you have to test a lot more often. I have my meals down to where I don't have to test just because of them. Taking insulin surely makes testing more important.

I don't know why having a hypo would prompt the doctor to change your medications. Low blood glucose levels is part of the equation, not necessarily a reason for dropping it. Especially when you are doing well on it. Metformin usually works the other way - weight loss. None of that matters now.

As you probably already know - now the best and only thing you can do for yourself is get in control - get your numbers down as soon as possible - make the lifestyle changes that have to be made. You know them already, you are probable just like the rest of us - we don't want to makd drastic changes - is it just not any fun.

If you are already experiencing complications you have to handle them as the come. Do whatever you can to head off any more. I suggest reading Richard Bernstein for an overall education on extreme control and try to get as close to that as you can. If complications are already setting in this is not the time to watch and see what will happen next - that is well documented - take a very aggressive approach.

[Penny]

When I first joined this forum, Duck and others told me the same thing he is telling you. My doctor said test once a day, and the only reading that mattered was the fasting one. It was hard for me to do, but I talked to my doctor about this. I told him I felt I did much better testing more, I also told him I felt I did better trying to cover what I ate with my insulin, instead of just taking a set amount before meals. He surprised me by telling me to experiment. It has made a big difference, in my BS and how I have felt. The last time, people here told me to split my Lantus, I gave that a try, and it made a difference. My point is, if things aren't working the way you are doing it, tell your doctor you want to try something else. Change one or two things at a time, and see what works. Some of the things the forum told me to try didn't work, but most did. But you have to figure out what works for you.

And welcome to the forum. :hello:

[valc3]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I have to agree with the advice you've already been given. Ask as many questions as you need. Hope to see you around.

[mg_2204]

It kills me that doctors will tell Type 1's (like me) to test at least four times a day (and more), but if you are Type 2 you don't need to test. There are 24 hours in the day for both you and me, right? And the more detail we have about what is going on with our sugars, the more control we can attain.

You would make an excellent endo! Please reconsider a career change? :)

T2s and T1s will both feel awful with elevated blood sugars. They will both be at risk for complications. I too noticed T2s aren't told to test as much. I was told it was alright for me to test 3 times a week...




Hello and welcome to this wonderful forum JlQuilter by the way!!!! :)

[Jaclyn]

Hi all, Im T2 and I was told to test before breakfast and after dinner. since im still so new to D and get 100 strips a month I started and still do test pretty much before and after all meals and just random tests. Im still trying to figure out all this and what effects me and what doesnt but I really wish I had more strips:proud: Ive been dropping down to the 80's latly and not feeling well while that low so im glad I get osme extras. I feel its important to test alot.

Jaclyn

[duck]

You would make an excellent endo! Please reconsider a career change? :)



I don't have enough patients to be a doctor. :D

Seriously, I probably criticize the medical pros here too much; Most of them do a good job most of the time. But in situations like ours, where we have a condition that is always working to get the better of us, we need more care and maintenance than any one doctor can provide, probably. And then you add on that they deal with hundreds of other patients who expect to be treated as unique, and we get this disconnect of having a very broad template applied to us in a one-size-fits-all manner, and it often doesn't work. Hence, the popularity of support groups. But we always have to remember none of us here are qualified to dispense medical advice, and those of us seeking advice need to remember that.

Still, there is nothing like learning from other's experiences...

[mg_2204]

But we always have to remember none of us here are qualified to dispense medical advice, and those of us seeking advice need to remember that. Still, there is nothing like learning from other's experiences...

Well said! As wonderful as this forum is people must consult with their doctor and when in doubt the doctor should be the first person to turn to.

But it is also great to read from other people going through the same things. You feel less alone!

[John Earle]

Welcome Jlquilter. This is a very interesting thread to read. I was diagnosed in the hospital after a little high of 1,189. In the hospital, someone came by to make sure I knew hot to test but I was so out of it I neglected to ask how often I was to test. If it had not been for the internet, I would have had no idea how ofter I was to test, or why I was testing. Thank God I was able to find information on the internet. However, I agree with you regarding the doctors. My BS is under very good control. I expect my next A1c to be between 5 and 6. As a result, my doctor told me that I could test only 2 or three times a day. This of course following a complete revamp to my meds. I told the doctor that I would continue testing 7 times a day so "I" would know what the change in meds was doing to me. To be honest, I have decided that I have to tell the doctors what I feel I need to be doing, listen to their advice, and then make a decision about how I will live this life. They work for us after all. Hope you will find this site as helpful as I have. Keep plugging away.

[grace girl]

You've been given some great advice here....all I would add is that I just came off of 4 horrible years on Humalog 75/25. Blood sugars daily anywhere between 50 and 400! My Dr at the time told me the same thing your's tells you....just take more! It never worked. I personally would like to see them get those mixes off of the market. If I were you, I would definately talk to my Dr about getting off of the mix and onto something more stable.

[duck]

I could go on forever about those mixes, but the big problem is lack of precision...The makers market the mixes as convenient. Yeah, convenient if lack of control is what you are looking for.

Here's what I mean: All mixes are less fast acting/more long-lasting insulin. So if you take 10 units of 30/70, you get 2 units of fast and 7 of long lasting. What if you needed 5 units of fast? Then you have to compensate for the additional two units of long lasting you took. Or vice versa...What if you diagnosed that you needed more long lasting, three units worth? So, you do the calculation and take 14 units of mix...now you have to eat more carbs right after your shot. If you need insulin, it is better in my opinion to use seperate insulins for the added precision.

And last, the 'long-lasting' is NPH, and the best thing I can say about NPH is that it's inconsistent and arguably dangerous.

[jlquilter]

Thanks for the great wecome. It does help to talk about it. I have some questions now to ask my doctor. I guess I was just thinking of myself and not my doctor. I do know that he sees many patients each day. I need to be more prepared when I go in to see him. Like I said thanks again:five: :five:

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the forum!

Karen