Excited for Nothing

Today’s Garfield cartoon over at www.garfield.com seems to be the perfect illustration for how I’m feeling about the problems I’ve been having with my blood sugars and medications lately.

My doctor discontinued my use of Janumet because of the nasty stomach side effects that were wreaking havoc on my life. That medication was doing wonderful things for my blood glucose levels, but the side effects were too much to deal with.

When the doctor said she was putting my back on Glipizide, I was excited about the change because I knew the stomach side effects would go away, and that I’d be on a medication that had worked well on my blood glucose control when I was initially diagnosed. I said, I was excited.

Over the last two weeks, that excitement has morphed into a feeling of desperation, as I’ve realized that while the stomach problems are gone, the medication is doing nothing to help my blood glucose levels.

So, much like Garfield, I was out on a limb, an old “friend” appeared to be coming to help, yet ended up taking a leak on the tree and annoying the hell out of me.

So, now instead of being safely and comfortable back on stable ground, I’m still hanging out on the high limb. Only this time, the limb is coated in lots of sugar. And believe me, it’s making me anything but sweet.

I’m trying to do all the right things. I’m eating well, I’m active, and trying to lose more weight, but the medications are failing, and diabetes is doing what it does best: kicking me while I’m down.

So, I’m at a crossroads. Do I try other oral medications or do I try a combination of oral meds and injectibles? Or do I just say screw it, and tell the doctor that I just want to give insulin therapy a try. I know she won’t like that option, but I’m willing to try anything right now. And ultimately, it is my decision. Right?!

Anyway, I know this rough patch will pass. I just have to hold on to this limb for a little while longer, and hope to hell that the next option to pass my way won’t just take a leak on the tree.

7 Comments

Colleen

05/16/2011 at 6:34 pm

Mike,
You have to do whatever you think will work best for you to control YOUR diabetes.

PrincessLadyBug

05/16/2011 at 6:38 pm

((((((Mike)))))) Poor honey! I feel your pain, dude! For me it was insulin they kept switching around & at the end of several years of experimenting, my numbers were still out of control. Then we found out that my only other blood relative who was T1 (my Grammy’s older brother) had a history of insulin resistance. So oral meds were added & I saw my first low since diagnosis. It was scary, but I was elated because that meant we were doing something right. Finally.

I say it IS your decision. Your doctor has hundreds, maybe thousands of patients, but you are the only patient you have. So you have to be your own advocate. I tell all my doctors that I am VERY vocal about my opinions & VERY involved in my own care. They may have the PhD, but I know my own body better than they do. The ones that don’t agree aren’t my doctor for long. Some of the old school kind of doctors are not comfortable with me as their patient. Doesn’t make them a bad doctor, just makes them bad doctor for me. 🙂

So I say call your doc or go see her & talk about it. Discuss options. Maybe there is a new oral med out there that will work. I know all the guessing & experimenting can really get you down, but hey that’s what we’re here for. To prop you up when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just don’t give up. There is ALWAYS an option. And if this doc doesn’t have one for you, then find one that will.

You gotta take care of you, Mike, because the DOC can’t do without you. Stay strong, buddy. I know you can’t see us, but the entire DOC is standing under that tree ready to catch you if you slip. And I promise no one’s pissing on it. We made them go down a couple of trees to do that. 😛

Crystal

05/16/2011 at 7:26 pm

Mr. T would never take a leak on your tree. Or you. I Might be able to get him to leak on the Doctor….wait, no, it’s not her fault. 🙂
Hope I sort of made you chuckle.
Sorry you’re going through all this.
Hope things settle Soon. Hang tough, Dbro. ((hugs))

Natalie Sera

05/16/2011 at 9:28 pm

Why do you think the doc will be opposed to insulin? If the sulfonylurea doesn’t work, it means your pancreas CAN’T make enough insulin to meet your needs, and you may need injected insulin. The caveat is that you may need a lot, and some docs think that a lot of insulin is dangerous to the arteries.

There ARE other oral meds out there, but none without side effects. So you are between a rock and a hard place, but having high BGs WILL kill you eventually. I really hope you find a solution where the pros outnumber the cons.

Scott S

05/18/2011 at 8:34 am

Type 2 Diabetes Drugs have a lifespan for most patients, meaning they may work for a few years but it doesn’t usually last forever, so this is an unfortunate reality. However, many people do find great success with products like Byetta and Victoza do work very well for them. so whatever it takes to stay well is the correct path. The concerns over injections, BTW, are overrated … take it from the type 1 community!!

Raquel

05/28/2011 at 1:26 am

Hi, I have type 2 and also what some call syndrome X: high cholesterol (those nasty little tryglicerides!!) and a tendency towards high bloos pressure as well as hypothyroidism). Just wanted to say I feel your pain. I did very well on metofrmin and Avandia for about 5 years, until I was taken off Avandia because it was recalled. I turned out to be allergic to Actos (I blew up like a balloon and my blood pressure went up) and could not tolerate Januvia (major stomach upset, constipation, gas, and the worst: dizziness). After an unhappy meeting with my doctor I decided to keep taking metformin and my other meds but no other type 2 drug. I began exercizing every day for at least 40 minutes every day. I previously had only exercised sporadically. I hate exercise. But I have kept at it and kept at it (stubborness has its benefits) and have lost weight (from 158 to 147) and have been able to keep my bg under 200. I am now trying to keep them under 180. I have also kept a stricter diet, with mixed success. I don’t know what will work for you, but you ARE your own best advocate, you know your body best and how you feel. If the doctors won’t listen to you, give ’em hell! BTW a lot of type 2 drugs also cause weight gain and make weight loss more difficult, which in my mind ruins them for type 2 diabetics, since it is well known and documented that weight loss is imperative for type 2s as it will lower bg. Also insulin therapy may cause weight gain andmake weight loss more difficult. But definitely check out all your options with your doctor.

Raquel

05/28/2011 at 1:28 am

Oh also with Januvia my bg were consistently in the 200+ range. ugh.

Colleen

05/16/2011 at 6:34 pm

Mike,
You have to do whatever you think will work best for you to control YOUR diabetes.
PrincessLadyBug

05/16/2011 at 6:38 pm

((((((Mike)))))) Poor honey! I feel your pain, dude! For me it was insulin they kept switching around & at the end of several years of experimenting, my numbers were still out of control. Then we found out that my only other blood relative who was T1 (my Grammy’s older brother) had a history of insulin resistance. So oral meds were added & I saw my first low since diagnosis. It was scary, but I was elated because that meant we were doing something right. Finally.

I say it IS your decision. Your doctor has hundreds, maybe thousands of patients, but you are the only patient you have. So you have to be your own advocate. I tell all my doctors that I am VERY vocal about my opinions & VERY involved in my own care. They may have the PhD, but I know my own body better than they do. The ones that don’t agree aren’t my doctor for long. Some of the old school kind of doctors are not comfortable with me as their patient. Doesn’t make them a bad doctor, just makes them bad doctor for me. 🙂

So I say call your doc or go see her & talk about it. Discuss options. Maybe there is a new oral med out there that will work. I know all the guessing & experimenting can really get you down, but hey that’s what we’re here for. To prop you up when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just don’t give up. There is ALWAYS an option. And if this doc doesn’t have one for you, then find one that will.

You gotta take care of you, Mike, because the DOC can’t do without you. Stay strong, buddy. I know you can’t see us, but the entire DOC is standing under that tree ready to catch you if you slip. And I promise no one’s pissing on it. We made them go down a couple of trees to do that. 😛
Crystal

05/16/2011 at 7:26 pm

Mr. T would never take a leak on your tree. Or you. I Might be able to get him to leak on the Doctor….wait, no, it’s not her fault. 🙂
Hope I sort of made you chuckle.
Sorry you’re going through all this.
Hope things settle Soon. Hang tough, Dbro. ((hugs))
Natalie Sera

05/16/2011 at 9:28 pm

Why do you think the doc will be opposed to insulin? If the sulfonylurea doesn’t work, it means your pancreas CAN’T make enough insulin to meet your needs, and you may need injected insulin. The caveat is that you may need a lot, and some docs think that a lot of insulin is dangerous to the arteries.

There ARE other oral meds out there, but none without side effects. So you are between a rock and a hard place, but having high BGs WILL kill you eventually. I really hope you find a solution where the pros outnumber the cons.
Scott S

05/18/2011 at 8:34 am

Type 2 Diabetes Drugs have a lifespan for most patients, meaning they may work for a few years but it doesn’t usually last forever, so this is an unfortunate reality. However, many people do find great success with products like Byetta and Victoza do work very well for them. so whatever it takes to stay well is the correct path. The concerns over injections, BTW, are overrated … take it from the type 1 community!!
Raquel

05/28/2011 at 1:26 am

Hi, I have type 2 and also what some call syndrome X: high cholesterol (those nasty little tryglicerides!!) and a tendency towards high bloos pressure as well as hypothyroidism). Just wanted to say I feel your pain. I did very well on metofrmin and Avandia for about 5 years, until I was taken off Avandia because it was recalled. I turned out to be allergic to Actos (I blew up like a balloon and my blood pressure went up) and could not tolerate Januvia (major stomach upset, constipation, gas, and the worst: dizziness). After an unhappy meeting with my doctor I decided to keep taking metformin and my other meds but no other type 2 drug. I began exercizing every day for at least 40 minutes every day. I previously had only exercised sporadically. I hate exercise. But I have kept at it and kept at it (stubborness has its benefits) and have lost weight (from 158 to 147) and have been able to keep my bg under 200. I am now trying to keep them under 180. I have also kept a stricter diet, with mixed success. I don’t know what will work for you, but you ARE your own best advocate, you know your body best and how you feel. If the doctors won’t listen to you, give ’em hell! BTW a lot of type 2 drugs also cause weight gain and make weight loss more difficult, which in my mind ruins them for type 2 diabetics, since it is well known and documented that weight loss is imperative for type 2s as it will lower bg. Also insulin therapy may cause weight gain andmake weight loss more difficult. But definitely check out all your options with your doctor.
Raquel

05/28/2011 at 1:28 am

Oh also with Januvia my bg were consistently in the 200+ range. ugh.