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A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Rocky Face, GA
March 10, 2025
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In type 2 diabetes, the body initially produces insulin but cells become resistant to it over time. At first, the pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin to overcome this resistance. However, as the condition progresses, some people's pancreas can't make enough insulin to keep up with their body's needs.

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In type 2 diabetes, the body initially produces insulin but cells become resistant to it over time. At first, the pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin to overcome this resistance. However, as the condition progresses, some people's pancreas can't make enough insulin to keep up with their body's needs.

When cells become increasingly insulin resistant and the pancreas can't produce sufficient insulin, blood glucose levels rise. Without enough insulin, cells can't take in the glucose they need, leading to high blood sugar that can damage nerves, blood vessels, and organs. While some people can manage their type 2 diabetes through diet, physical activity, and oral medications, others may need insulin injections when their condition becomes more severe. This typically happens when other treatments aren't enough to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Your doctor can help determine if insulin therapy is needed and recommend the best delivery method, such as pens or pumps, based on your specific needs.

March 10, 2025
A DiabetesTeam Member

I am perhaps odd. I advocated for insulin because my liver was not doing well at all on Metformin. For me, my body understood what insulin was, even if it wasn't human insulin. My body does not understand Metformin. I realize that many think insulin must be awful with the shots. I will tell you that between the insulin and changing my diet, I reversed a Liver situation that could have led me to an early end of my life.

March 10, 2025
A DiabetesTeam Member

My Aunt tried the "eat all the chocolate cake you want and just dial a few more units" back before the time of insulin pumps

She died of Kidney Failure about 3 years after starting dialysis 3 or 4 days a week so it's a dangerous game

About 1 in 5 Type 2's end up on insulin for a few different reasons - some just have "parts wear out" (pancreas) as we age and all the oral/injectable meds on the market won't be sufficient if we are producing little/no insulin any more

So will just not even try to manage lifestyle and when they max out on everything else that is the only option between them and amputation/advanced heart or kidney disease or death so they have no choice if they want to live

Others "opt" to go on it when there were still Tier 2 or 3 medication options available because it is the superior treatment and comes with significantly less side effects

When it's time to medicate I will go on insulin as my "first choice" - leave the Ozempic and the rest for the "off label" market looking for a shortcut to lose weight

March 10, 2025
A DiabetesTeam Member

Some type 2 diabetics do insulin so they can eat as many simple carbs and complex carbs as they want.

They often have an insulin pump that delivers what they need. I knew someone 35 years ago who would shoot extra insulin so he could eat submarines, or pizza and fries at lunch, always with a regular Coke.

He had a hypo one day while driving home and totaled his car. So I drove him home for 6 weeks. Every day he asked me to stop for an ice cream about 20 minutes after he shot himself up with insulin.

When I questioned him he said he could eat as much sugar as he wanted as long as he shot up insulin. Of course he was 5'6"(167 cm) and over 300 pounds (137+ kilos).

In my last job there was another guy who was diagnosed diabetic with A1C of 6.9. 3 months later his A1C was 7.0 and he had an insulin pump. He was eating anything he wanted. He was adding weight almost daily.

He was having constant highs and lows. I told him that he needed to moderate his eating before he had a heart attack.

Even with the insulin pump, his A1C was 8.6 in 3 more months. He asked me what to do. I emailed him and printed it out. Then a month later I retired.
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Of course there are those type 2s that have no choice but to use insulin because their overworked pancreas burned out.

Then there is me. I should already be on insulin, but I will hold off till I cannot control my numbers to the nondiabetic range of 4.0(72 usa) to 7.8(140 usa).

Then insulins are my choice of treatments. It is natural, what our bodies whant and need. And close to our own human insulin. It is slightly different for shelf life.

About 20-30% of type 2s are projected to progress to insulin use.

Good luck.

March 10, 2025 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

We are all different and our diabetes journeys are at different stages.

What is the medication and dosage.

March 14, 2025 (edited)

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