Treatment>>>

[kingleonidas]

Can both, type 1 and 2's be treated with insulin ? Have any of you heard of a type 2 starting treatment with insulin?

As my doc didn't know which I had at diagnosis last week, she started me on lantus insulin at a dose of 7 at night. Test will be in this week to find which one I have.

Is one worse off to have, or does treating both of them the right way equally reduce the risks of diabetic complications?

I know I ask alot of questions, but I hope that I too, can contribute to this forum as time goes on.

Thanks alot !! BTW BG reading tonight .. 136. A heck of a lot better than what it was at diagnosis. Only after 3 nights of treatment and diet change !

[enigmalady777]

I have been a type 2 for over 15 years now and started insulin therapy a little over a year ago.

I have better blood sugar control than I have EVER had on oral meds alone.

As I understand it, Diabetes is a progressive disease. Eventually oral meds lose their ability to control glucose levels and at one point or another, most type 2 diabetics will need the help of insulin.

I actually wish I had been encouraged to start insulin sooner, not later. If I had done so, perhaps I would have avoided the painful neuropathy in my feet. The damage is now done and is not reversible.

[kingleonidas]

Insulin many times a day or once ?

[sridder]

I was diagnosed type 2 in april and I started with 2 types of insulin at first diagnosis because my A1C was so high -- to bring it quickly under control. No longer taking either type of insulin. Got off Novolog first and Lantus just recently.

[foxl]

It does seem to be a rising trend, based on the current literature, to treat T2 with insulin right off the bat -- and perhaps a GOOD one. All meds have side effects, even analogue insulins, though the insulin ones seem to be less common. Maybe?

I was DKA at diagnosis, the treating Endo put me on 2 days of insulin and then switched me abruptly to oral meds only. Reading the literature, he did me no favors.

Most people start T2s on basal, only, ie one or two injections per day; others start on bolus only to control spiking after meals. Apparently either can work.

[morrisma]

The goal is as close to normal blood sugar as possible. If diet works or Met or insulin the goal is still the same. I know lots of T2's on insulin.
Mike

[SteveFromIowa]

Insulin many times a day or once ?

I'm a 12-year Type 2. I started insulin May of this year. I take one 15 unit injection of Lantus (long-lasting Basel) insulin in the evening before bedtime. And I take 2 - 6 units of Humolog (fast-acting Bolus) insulin before meals and higher carb snacks with the dosage being determined by they carb-count of the pending meal/snack.

I can't tell you how fantastic it is to have control of my disease since starting on insulin. It's the best thing to happen to me healthwise and I (like EnigmaLady said before) wish I had been encouraged to get on it at least 2 years sooner.

[erik316]

When i was diagnosed in the hospital they had me on insulin while I was in there to help control it more quickly and get the numbers down.