Going off of insulin

[lil_miss_bad]

Can a type two diabetic go from insulin back to pills?

The reason I am asking is this: I am currently on insulin. I am 23 and have been diabetic since I was 19. I was put on insulin quite frankly because I asked to be put on it because I thought it would be easier to control my diabetes while eating more of the foods I want.

What I am finding now is, I cannot lose weight. I am currently on the Atkins diet, which has worked wonders for both my energy levels AND my blood sugars. I am religiously between 4 and 7 all the time (7 is usually after I have had a meal), so my diabetes is in good control under atkins.

The problem is I cannot lose any weight. I have been reading various articles that say that metformin help people to lose weight. Along with my diabetes, I have poly cyctic ovarian syndrome -- and studies have indicated that metformin helps people with PCOS lose weight.

So, what I'm wondering is: could I go back to the metformin? Even if I miss a dose of insulin here and there (doesn't happen very often -- I've once or twice fallen asleep early in the evening without taking my NPH) my sugars are normal as can be.

I really don't want to be a "fat" diabetic anymore...or for that matter I don't want to be "fat" in any sense anymore.

Sorry for the long post!

Thanx,
-LMB

[KatakaNiki]

Hello,
I am type 2 and started using insulin about 4 months ago. I have done nothing but gain weight since I started using it! I think what the problem is, is that it makes you hungry. I was not overweight when I was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago and have never been overweight in my life. I now am about 20 pounds overweight from changing my diet and taking drugs.

As far as taking metformin to lose weight........ I also take metformin right now. This is what I started taking when I was first diagnosed. I lost a little weight the first month, but then it stopped working. <I think it was from the shock of the diagnosis> I don't know how this got started <losing weight from metformin> or anyone who has lost weight from it.

I understand your frustration. My numbers have been pretty good since taking the insulin, but the nonstop hunger and cravings for sugary sweets is killing me. So this means that I probably won't die from diabetes but I will die from a heart attack from being fat and miserable.

I think about this everyday and I have no solutions. I have thought about just stopping ALL drugs and seeing if i could just eat normally like I use to, but I figure my numbers will go sky high again. I try to diet every day of my life and can never last more than 3 days. I think the insulin constantly works on your brain telling you to eat, eat, eat.

My husband told me he can't imagine having to take a drug that makes you hungry. It's hard enough to lose weight.......

If you have any ideas please let know.

Frustrated here, Kat

[CobaltBlue]

LMB,

One problem that is common in individuals with PCOS is impaired thyroid function. Perhaps, that could be one of your difficulties w/r/t losing weight?

As for coming back off of insulin and onto metformin--the answer is that it all depends--which is not the answer you would like to hear...

If your beta cells are underproducing insulin, or not producing insulin, then you will need insulin, regardless. If your beta cells are still functioning (enough production of insulin), such that if you lost weight, and such that your insulin senstivity became increased through that oral med and/or with increased exercise, then yes, you could come off of insulin.

I am not able to give you the full answer on that, though, because really those are things that would be specific to you and your case, and you might want to ask your physician. You could ask those very questions from above: 1) how is my thyroid function, 2) is my diabetes related to insulin resistance, pancreatic in nature, or a combination of both?

Finally, if the diet works for you and you can follow it and keep the weight off, then great. It sounds like you like Atkins, but I hope that you remain open to alternatives. I don't want to say much other than I am not really a fan of that approach, though I do understand that it works for some--just not for me. An ongoing study of people who have lost weight, and kept it off (30 lbs plus) for 3 years or more indicates clearly a number of things. The first, is that it needs to be a lifestyle modification and behavioral change in eating habits. The most startling result, however, was the type of "diet" the participants followed: 95% controlled calorie, low fat, and less than 3% with a low carbohydrate, or Atkins based approach.

Originally Posted by KatakaNiki

So this means that I probably won't die from diabetes but I will die from a heart attack from being fat and miserable.

Actually, I have been there and tried that approach (I was 35 at the time) . I lived, and fixed my weight and misery issues. The heart attack was the only thing that did motivate to fix the real problem behind my diabetes. I played the game with diet alone, and no exercise. It nearly cost me my life and I really thought I was getting away with something. I do hope that you find a way to help reduce your risk, and that you not take the same risks I did.

[lil_miss_bad]

Thanx for the input, guys

I'm pretty sure my beta cells are still working -- although I base that off the fact that I've only been diabtic for 4 years (I know this because I would be sent for blood glucose test every year since both type two and one is VERY common in my family -- so my fasting BS went from 7 one year, to 11 the next). When I was first diagnosed my doc went on vacation and sent me to another GP, and he told me that young people, regardless of their type of diabetes, will go on insulin under him. My other doc put me on metformin, but then advandia because I found I was tired while on the metformin (although it's probably because I wasn't eating properly rather than the metformin itself), and then I asked to go on insulin because I thought it would be the easy way out. Now I realise that that was a really stupid reason to go on it. I should have stayed on pills as long as I could. Let's just say I've grown up and realised that my health is more important than taking the easy way out.

Anyway, I have my suspicions that the diabetes and insulin resistance is in part to the PCOS, so *hopefully* I'm more insulin resistant than not producing enough insulin.

I think a referral to an endochronologist is a good idea -- last time I saw one for my PCOS I was given a prescription for metformin -- at that time though I thought it was because of my diabetes. Today I'm much more informed!

Again, thanx a lot for the replies

Ubernier -- I'm very open to all kinds of "diets" (I hate the word "diet," don't you?). I'm giving atkins a whirl right now because it's pretty close to my regular eating habits (what I like to eat and such). I don't really miss the breads, and pastas, etc... because they don't really agree with my digestive system. We'll see where this goes, and if it doesn't work out, I"ll try something new

Best of luck, Kat!!! I know cravings are terrible! The way I've gotten rid of one was by taking some unsweetened chocolate (one square -- it should be the pure, unsweetened chocolate) and sweetened it with a bit of splenda (and some sugar twin) and a little bit of "just peanuts" peanutbutter and a tiny bit of cream and melt it in a small pot. Then I put it in a pan sprayed with some cooking spray and put it in the freezer until it hardens. It's makes quite a lot and really helps with the sugar cravings (mainly because I find splenda tastes just like sugar -- actually I like splenda better!) It's not exactly low in fat, but it shouldn't have a HUGE affect on your blood sugars

[Rick49]

...If your tpye two diabetic and also taking insulin? Sounds like a double dose of insulin to me. My understanding of type two diabetes is that the pancreas secretes too much insulin because the insulin isn't as effective as it should be. Hard for me to imagine a doctor ok'ing such a thing but I am new to this.
...I highly recommend that you find a site that explains carbohydrate metabolism to substantiate what I'm about to say so here goes. Insulin controls high glucose levels by turning glucose into glycogen. If the glycogen levels continue to increase, the glycogen will eventually turn into fat. when blood sugar levels start to drop from the insulin two things have to happen to keep the blood sugar from falling too low. Either we have to eat or the Pancreas Secretes Glucagon. The glucagon changes the glycogen back into glucose.
...There's a catch however, if there is still insulin in the blood stream, the pancreas will not secrete glucogon so your either left with waiting for the adrenal gland to raise the glucose levels or you have to eat. As you can see, if your always in the mode of making fat, it's going to be very hard to lose any.
...A low Glycemic index diet can alliviate the hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia if you are insulin resistant. The atkins accomplishess the same thing by restricting all carbs and not just the high glycemic ones.
..Anyway, type two diabetes usually means that your insulin resistant and are hyperinsulinemic. That's a big Usually, as there may be other conditions for type two diabetes that I don't know about. That's where it is imperitive for everyone to know their disease or condition. It also helps to know how the metabolism works or it's easy to get stuck in the trap of always making fat which makes it impossible to lose any.
...Research, research, research...
later,
Rick