By Denise A. Pancyrz – Diabetes & Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Speaker, Author
There are varying opinions on the use of insulin for type 2 diabetes patients. These opinions vary by physician and patient.
Some believe it makes life so much easier to inject insulin to reduce high glucose levels. Some are afraid to even consider the prospect of having to inject insulin every day.
Who is right?
Both and neither.
Insulin is a life-saving drug. Too much insulin can keep you alive but may not keep you healthy.
Insulin can be prescribed as a basal, like a slow drip throughout the day to help manage glucose or be fast working to help manage glucose at mealtime to keep spikes to a minimum. In many cases, both are prescribed when glucose is greatly out of control. This can be a way to lower your A1c.
Why do I need insulin?
With insulin resistance when your body does not effectively use the insulin that is produced.
Your pancreas works harder to get your insulin into cells; then over time cannot produce enough insulin to meet your body’s need. When this problem persists for too long, eventually the pancreas gets too tired to even try. This can be referred to as beta cell dysfunction or burnout.
Many people learn to respond by starting a keto diet to reduce carbohydrate intake. That will work for a while. However, too much unhealthy fat in your diet can also affect how well your pancreas functions. Therefore, also affecting your glucose control.
What is the problem with injecting insulin if I need it?
There is an education problem leading to a usage problem. In my experience, surprisingly a high number of type 2 diabetes patients have not been properly taught when and how much insulin to inject.
How do you know? When your A1c remains above 7.0% that can be an indication that there may be improper use. Are you aware that in addition to high glucose, high levels of insulin can be harmful to your health?
Insufficient doses of insulin keep your glucose levels too high. Too much insulin can cause weight gain or make it difficult to lose weight. You may hear your doctor say, “You need to lose weight,” but you can’t. The effect of using too much insulin to compensate for unhealthy food choices adds to one’s struggle with type 2 diabetes. Your glucose and insulin levels remain high or unstable.
Over time, the use of too much insulin can affect the kidneys causing you to retain salt, water, and uric acid. This all contributes to cardiovascular disease. High insulin in your system can also lead to or be part of your increased blood pressure.
In the beginning of insulin therapy, you most likely notice an improvement in glucose. Over time, it seems to wane requiring increased doses.
I learned firsthand what it’s like to inject four insulin shots each day.
In the beginning, I was horrified and ashamed that I was reduced to having to inject myself. I put those feelings aside and started my medication and insulin therapy as directed.
My glucose levels began to decrease. What a relief!
Until….
I realized it was difficult to balance food with medication and insulin. Frequently my glucose would drop too low. To compensate, I ate something with sugar and then I would have to manage a high glucose spike. I felt like a mouse in the never-ending wheel.
My A1c did improve, however not as good as when I was able to eliminate the need for insulin. Most importantly is how you reach a better A1c. It just became a numbers game. Using more insulin was not the answer.
I learned that I did not feel healthy. Big swings in glucose to reach a ‘good’ A1c was not a healthy long-term solution. Understanding what needed to be changed in my life to be healthy ~ overall healthy, became my goal. That was a challenge I was able to win.
Fighting insulin therapy is just a fight that you may not win. Understanding how to heal your pancreas to decrease or eliminate the need for insulin is a wonderful change in the perspective of reversing the effects of type 2 diabetes.
References:
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism:
https://dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/
j.1463-1326.2011.01468.x?casa_token=nU3FBbyXOcsAAAAA%3ALYbIvGmBkCyk0mHYyFPO70oDqggY6foPcgQ7Hl17ppdJtAHpiTpBrfm2n0R2s–OTlQ5SUpuI3fbYA4G
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism:
https://dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/
j.1463-1326.2011.01469.x?casa_token=bTvyD3LR8cUAAAAA%3AQNOT_aShDzTZlEyLNlLCc6lkoBmYJxUYHm9t7fO3GV4QaLX38Sq-0b3efyNxzk404SZigtJndRezMM56
DENISE A. PANCYRZ’S STORY
National Diabetes & Holistic Lifestyle Coach – Speaker – Author
I was a diabetic who was angered being burdened with diabetes. I was tired of taking medications and four insulin shots per day that did NOT make me feel better. The food I was taught to eat as a diabetic was not bringing me to a state of optimal health. It was keeping me medicated and constantly visiting Walgreen’s, Diabetes Educators and the doctors.
I wanted my life to be different and the medical community told me it was highly unlikely. In fact, I was told the amount of medication and insulin would increase as I age. However, I learned that you could improve or eliminate disease with proper nutrition, not with unnecessary medication.
I feel better and stronger in my 50s, than I did in my 40s. I have more energy, reversed diabetes, eliminated inflammation that was leading me to heart disease, eliminated IBS and intestinal issues ~ no more stomach aches after meals, my seasonal allergies are gone and a slight skin issue on my elbow healed. I almost forgot, I lost weight in the process.
I know it sounds too good to be true that proper nutrition was able to heal me—I’m living proof. As a national coach, speaker and author, my mission is to help others to achieve optimal health through holistic lifestyle changes. Certified in holistic nutrition and homeopathy, I can bring awareness to diabetics to make lifestyle changes for a lifetime and reverse the effects of diabetes.
Visit www.ReverseMyDiabetes.net for coaching and training information, to book a free consultation, or to set up a speaking event | Call (888) 848-1763
Email Denise@ReverseMyDiabetes.net.