Hi all,

I've been Type 2 diabetic for about 10 years and about 6 months ago my doctor said it was time to think about injecting insulin.

This shook me and I have worked at getting my HbA1c down as best I can. I was at 92 in May, got down to 84 in August and today I'm down to 69. I have been eating much more mindfully and I'm getting more and more active. The doctor says that my kidney and liver functions have improved markedly as well.

However, he still wants me to start injecting insulin - I currently take 2000mg of Metformin a day (2 x 500mg tablets breakfast and dinner) and 50mg of Vildagliptin.

If the doc says injecting is what I have to do I will do it, but as my blood sugars are on a downward trajectory and I can only see them getting better I can't help but ask for a second opinion out there from any GPs who love a bit of free moonlighting.

Should I hold off for another 3-6 months or take the needle?

What difference would 3-6 months make other than money?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Not sure an internet forum the best source for life decisions like this. There are a variety of insulin type therapies available these days is not always the daily or twice daily injections of the past. If the treating physician indicates it is time and they know your history and are used to treating this disease then their advice likely to be the most useful, second opinions if sought should be sought by another appropriate specialist.

I've no idea what those numbers mean, I'm type II (barely) and am on metformin, but we use a completely different scale for HbA1C.

laklak wrote:I've no idea what those numbers mean, I'm type II (barely) and am on metformin, but we use a completely different scale for HbA1C.

There are two scales for blood glucose in use around the world one is in Deciliters (mg/dl) and the other Millimoles ( mmol/L).
I am assuming the rate for HbA1C quoted is 9.2 and 8.4 not 92 and 84 as HbA1C of more or equal to 8.0 is considered 'poorly controlled'.

You can do two things: find another doctor and get a second opinion, or try insulin injections and observe your condition. Insulin is not addictive, although it depends on the drug. I think that you will be prescribed an intensive drug from among those prescribed for people with type 1 diabetes.

Challenger007 wrote:Insulin is not addictive

Diabetics tend to find it quite moreish.