Publication Date: 4/1/2007
Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I am an almost 57 year old male who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I am 6 feet 1 inch tall, and I weigh 200 pounds. My diet, exercise and stress have been pretty much unchanged,a and I am in good physical condition. (In July I hiked Pikes Peak -- 9 hours, 12 miles, elevation gain from 6,800 feet to 14,200 feet).I have been relatively well controlled with oral medications (Glucophage XR and Amaryl), but, over the past six months, my levels have been high (e.g. 295 mg/dL [16.4 mmol/L] this morning). My doctor is talking about starting insulin, but I know I can do somewhat better with diet, exercise and stress control. I would like to consider something other than insulin first. Would a change to some other oral medications be beneficial?
Answer
My question to you is "What's wrong with insulin?" It always works to control blood sugar, has very few side effects, and can allow you normal or near-normal blood sugar levels. Sure, it's a bit of a hassle to learn to adjust doses, and inject the stuff, but it's lifesaving for people with type 1 diabetes and should be strongly considered for anyone who has type 2 diabetes and is having problems with diabetes control without it.
