Insulin is My Preferred Treatment

by Page
(USA)

I have Type 2 diabetes. When initially diagnosed, my blood sugar was in the mid-600s. I tried medication and dietary changes initially but suffered greatly from medication side effects, and did not see an appreciable reduction in my blood glucose readings. I became proactive, researching different treatment modalities. I found the book, "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed," by Gretchen Becker an invaluable resource. I went to my primary care physician, explained my reasons for wanting to discontinue oral medications and begin treatment with insulin, and my physician agreed to prescribe insulin. I use two different forms of insulin. Humalog, a short-acting insulin, is used at mealtime, three times daily. It begins working within 15 minutes of injecting, and covers the blood sugar peak at approximately 1 hour after a meal. I also inject a long-acting insulin called Lantus, once daily. This form of insulin gives me a baseline and helps to moderate the peaks and valleys that can occur with blood glucose over a 24-hour period. My diet has changed significantly. I eat balanced meals, and watch the amount of carbohydrates in each meal. I am aware of the glycemic index of most foods and endeavour to eat foods with a low glycemic index. An example is Dreamfields Pasta, which has a lower glycemic index than most other store-bought pasta. It is metabolized more slowly, therefore avoiding a blood glucose spike after it is eaten. Mild exercise is another component of my treatment plan. I take short walks daily. In the four years since my diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes, I have instituted these methods for maintaining a healthy blood sugar level and it has paid off in good hemoglobin A1C levels and better all-around health. Diabetes is manageable.