Guest guest Posted March 1, 2000 Report Share Posted March 1, 2000 Would like to get some info from the group...I saw an endo 2 weeks ago who upped my glucophage, added actos and amaryl to my regimen. After getting sick on the glucophage extra dose and actos they have left me on the Amaryl. The endo's NP wanted me to go on insulin to get better control of the bg's...she says I can go off it after I get good control and lose some weight. I have been hesitant about this so was going to just use the Amaryl for a while (2mg a.m. and 1 mg p.m.). The question is, did some of the group go on insulin as their own choice and is it easier to use with less side effects? I suspect so...I have had some good input from a CDE but still have reservations. Any input is helpful. Oh, the NP says it would be much less expense for me as compared to all the meds they had me on as I have no insurance. Also is it hard to give yourself a shot the first few times and does it get easier as time goes by? TIA ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2000 Report Share Posted March 1, 2000 TIA, I went onto insulin voluntarily and was amazed at the results, control came almost immediately I wished I had done it sooner. Fp > > Would like to get some info from the group...I saw an endo 2 weeks ago who > upped my glucophage, added actos and amaryl to my regimen. After getting > sick on the glucophage extra dose and actos they have left me on the Amaryl. > The endo's NP wanted me to go on insulin to get better control of the > bg's...she says I can go off it after I get good control and lose some > weight. > > I have been hesitant about this so was going to just use the Amaryl for a > while (2mg a.m. and 1 mg p.m.). The question is, did some of the group go on > insulin as their own choice and is it easier to use with less side effects? > I suspect so...I have had some good input from a CDE but still have > reservations. Any input is helpful. Oh, the NP says it would be much less > expense for me as compared to all the meds they had me on as I have no > insurance. Also is it hard to give yourself a shot the first few times and > does it get easier as time goes by? > > TIA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2000 Report Share Posted March 1, 2000 I went on insulin a year ago last January. I had to go on it as the pills were not controlling my diabetes. [i have type 2]. I recommend the insulin. I feel so much better! I feel much more in control of myself. My main fears about going on insulin was pain from the injections, how could I plunge a needle into my stomach, how could I cope with eating out, what if I went into insulin shock,... I was seeing two endocrinologists (who worked together) and a CDE. They told me if I didn't go on insulin that sometime down the line I would be on dialysis. They didn't recommend Rezulin because of possible kidney/liver damage. I was put on two types of insulin Humalin N and R. The CDE taught me how to mix the two insulins so I would only have to inject myself once for the two types. She had me practice filling the syringe and stood over me while I learned to inject myself - first time with water, and then had me come in when I gave myself my first dose. She would have had me come in for future doses if I was uncertain. I found measuring the insulin difficult at first until I took off my glasses when I did the measuring (I wear bifocals and the bifocal line seemed to hit right where I was trying to read the scale). The actual injection was not equivalent to falling on a sword (as I had feared) but at worst like a mosquito bite. You position the needle and gently push - you have control of the needle and can move it to a new position if you want. The best thing I found was to position the needle, relax, practice breathing in through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth and by then usually find that the needle had gone in to where it was supposed to be. The Drs. started me on a small dose of insulin and gradually upped it until my blood sugar readings were in the desired range. They were very careful in doing this so I wouldn't go into insulin shock. It seemed like a miracle to see those readings go down. I was educated along the way to watch my carbs - if I got a high reading to review what I ate and try to find what caused it. I found this support list which helped immeasurably. I also learned more about low carbing and went on the Dr. Atkins diet. I have been able to cut my insulin dosage by about 1/3rd and have much more energy - take fewer naps, joined the church choir. It's great! It was also nice to get rid of that battery of pills I was facing each morning and evening to control the diabetes orally! My advice on insulin is Go For It! Good luck! Pat Re: Digest Number 550 > > >Would like to get some info from the group...I saw an endo 2 weeks ago who >upped my glucophage, added actos and amaryl to my regimen. After getting >sick on the glucophage extra dose and actos they have left me on the Amaryl. >The endo's NP wanted me to go on insulin to get better control of the >bg's...she says I can go off it after I get good control and lose some >weight. > >I have been hesitant about this so was going to just use the Amaryl for a >while (2mg a.m. and 1 mg p.m.). The question is, did some of the group go on >insulin as their own choice and is it easier to use with less side effects? >I suspect so...I have had some good input from a CDE but still have >reservations. Any input is helpful. Oh, the NP says it would be much less >expense for me as compared to all the meds they had me on as I have no >insurance. Also is it hard to give yourself a shot the first few times and >does it get easier as time goes by? > >TIA >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Shop the web for great deals. Save on Computers, >electronics, Home furnishings and more. >http://click./1/1559/0/_/213497/_/951912354/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2000 Report Share Posted March 1, 2000 Deat Pat, You should be very proud of yourself. Changing from being sedentary to being active is still my biggest struggle. As for testing, I test on the average four times a day. Waking, Lunch, Dinner, Bedtime. I am on insulin so testing four times per day is pretty much an imperative in order for me to dose correctly. I go through about 100-110 test strips per month. Is your doc a GP? an endo? diabetes specialist? I don't know why he would deny you the RX for the additional strips if you want them. Particulary if you are testing different foods for BG reactions. Are you part of an HMO? Doctor's in HMO's can be very strange about anything that costs money. Has he flat out refused? Usually I just bug my doctor until he gives me what I want, LOL, but test strips he has never been stingy about. I think your request is very reasonable. Keep bugging him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2000 Report Share Posted March 1, 2000 TIA, you must learn to adjust your insulin after testing many times a day, so the test strips add up if you are paying for them. The needles are so small they are no more problem than a finger stick. I learned about fat in the diet, and went no fat, gravy, table spread, fried food, my insulin requirement dropped as soon as the fats came out of the blood, a matter of weeks. I was able to go on a small oral a day. Continuing I lost weight, not too easy on insulin, so keep track of youre progress and holler if it isn't happening for you. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2000 Report Share Posted March 1, 2000 I didn't have any problems giving myself insulin shots - the latest 29 guage 1/2 " UltraFine needles are so small that I hardly notice them. Once in a while one hurts, but not much. Can't answer about the meds; I use only insulin. Bob Re: Digest Number 550 > > > Would like to get some info from the group...I saw an endo 2 weeks ago who > upped my glucophage, added actos and amaryl to my regimen. After getting > sick on the glucophage extra dose and actos they have left me on the Amaryl. > The endo's NP wanted me to go on insulin to get better control of the > bg's...she says I can go off it after I get good control and lose some > weight. > > I have been hesitant about this so was going to just use the Amaryl for a > while (2mg a.m. and 1 mg p.m.). The question is, did some of the group go on > insulin as their own choice and is it easier to use with less side effects? > I suspect so...I have had some good input from a CDE but still have > reservations. Any input is helpful. Oh, the NP says it would be much less > expense for me as compared to all the meds they had me on as I have no > insurance. Also is it hard to give yourself a shot the first few times and > does it get easier as time goes by? > > TIA > ______________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2000 Report Share Posted March 2, 2000 Bob, try the 30 gauge they're even better. Fp > > I didn't have any problems giving myself insulin shots - the latest 29 guage > 1/2 " UltraFine needles are so small that I hardly notice them. Once in a > while one hurts, but not much. > > Can't answer about the meds; I use only insulin. > > Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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