Diabetes, Your Input Required, Please

[Saltamontes]

Alright, a bit of background, then a couple of questions.

I was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a couple of days ago. I had noticed I was constantly extremely thirsty, then felt the urge to urinate all the time, my eyesight has deteriorated a bit, I now wear reading glasses, and have lost some weight (25 lbs) in the past 6 months, all symptoms of diabetes. I am 47 year old latino, a smoker, but have always been very healthy, no history of diabetes in the family.

Here is where I am a bit puzzled...

After a 10 minute visit with my doctor, a prick to my finger and getting a blood sugar reading of 13.7, he says to me we'll have to put you on insulin. He ordered a full set of tests, which two days later confirmed I am a diabetic.

My question is:

Why am I being prescribed insulin? when I asked my doctor he said "because you are not overweight", I'm 5'9 and weigh 180 lbs.

Needless to say I'm not happy with this. I understand there are other forms of treatments out there (pills), why is insulin the first thing that my dr. prescribed? I can accept the diagnosis, it is the treatment that I am having a hard time accepting.

If any of you have any experience dealing with this subject, please voice your opinions and comments.

I am scheduled to go for some diabetes classroom training in a couple of days, and I will have plenty of questions. I am considering going for a second opinion, the diabetes is there and that cannot be denied, but to me anyways, the treatment seems a bit drastic, I would have thought perhaps an alternate treatment (pills)would have been the first choice and then if this did not control my sugar levels, then insulin would seem like the step to take.

Saltamontes

[acurrie]

It depends on a couple things, the first of course is what type of diabetes? Is it Diabetes Insipidus or Mellitus? They are both different and require different levels of treatment. Here is a link to Wikipedia explaining the differences (in the first 3 paragraphs) Diabetes Insipidus .

 

My opinion is that you need more blood chemistry testing and a urinalysis... at least. I would also go for a second opinion.. as that can never be a bad idea.

 

My Father is the Western Regional Manager for Medtronic Minimed, which specializes in the education and sales of Insulin Pumps. IF you want his contact info or anything like that just shoot me a PM. (he can probably put you in contact with some people who are "experts" in the field of Diabetes)

[bigbowtrout]

^^^^^ And that is why I love this site. just ask and someone will help.

[jack]

Been Type II for 8 years. I exhibited none of the usual symptoms prior to diagnosis. Totally controlled with metformin and glucanorm tablets. 13.7 is not real bad. If indeed you have type II, it should only take pills, proper diet and exercise to get it down to 5.5

j

[SilverDoctor]

My wife was just diagnosed with type II. Like Jack she has had no typical symptoms. We have changed our diet (I'm following the same eating habits as her which is good) and she is now just on pills. We are learning ot live a different life style.

[ladystrange]

i do know a fair amount because of my job. but i am not a dr so i wont go in to a lot of details.

 

the one website that has a lot of information about DMII is drmirkin.com

 

he is very good at explaining thing and recommened a lot of diet change and provides good information about it.

[Castuserraticus]

Look into nutrition based treatments. Dr. Bruce Hoffman is a MD in Calgary. His practice is almost entirely based on nutrition. His nutritional plans are based on extensive scientific, biochemical testing. He has helped my family and several friends with chronic conditions, put their conditions into complete remission through changes in diet. I am uncertain about his record with diabetes but I know his treatments are effective for Meniere's disease, inflamatory bowel disease, acid reflux, lupus, and arthiritis. Compared to the potential side affects of many pharmaceuticals, the initial inconvenience of nutritional change is minor.

 

Conventional medical treatment = conventional results.

 

 

[mvdaog]

Usually patients who initially present symptomatic (as you did) are started on insulin to get the glucose levels in control. Afterwards, with good diet control and lifestyle changes, there's usually an attempt to wean the patient off insulin while using the oral agents which increase insulin sensitivity and release. Eventually insulin SC therapy is dropped from the regimen if appropriate. Its a game of give and takes - every patient is unique, and hopefully the physician will monitor and assist in gettin the glucose levels under control, adjusting the therapies as needed. But as far as I know its standard practice to start symptomatic patients on insulin at first.

DM is a serious disease, it can lead to very serious complications, and I would advise you to stick with evidence based medicine and don't take the great medications out there for granted. It can't always be controlled by diet alone, and it's not worth the risk, IMHO.

But you'll learn all about it soon from your training thing. Good luck!

[bowriverguy]

My son is a Type I diabetic and so I know a bit about diabetes. I would suggest you ask your doctor to try oral medications such as metformin, before going on insulin. Personally, I would not go on insulin unless told to do so by a specialist (endocrinologist). My sister is a Type II and has been on metformin for years and it keeps her blood sugar level around 5 or 6.

[Inconnu]

My wife is Type 2 and uses metformin with good success. Insulin is usually perscribed only if metformin does not do the job.