I often recommend membership in One Touch Gold – they have good articles and a lot of free book downloads. When I got this month’s newletter in my email, I was kind of excited to see the article, Transitions: Moving from Oral Medications to Insulin because I’m in the process of doing just that. I expect I’ll always be on some oral meds too, but that’s another issue.
I was really frustrated with One Touch Gold on this. The article linked was not the right article, it was part 1 in a series and nowhere obvious did I find a link to the correct article (part 2). After searching, I did finally find the article I wanted but then – well, then is when I really got annoyed.
This oh-so-freaking-helpful article explains that type 2s are reluctant to take insulin shots “because they remember the tetanus shot they got in the third grade.” Apparently, for no other reason. There’s nothing about the inconveniences of taking insulin such as weight gain, always having your kit with you, keeping your insulin cool away from home, increased monitoring, and increased risk of low blood sugars. The article does suggest that your doctor may want you to learn carb counting – since apparently as a type 2 you’ve never learned about carbs.
I know that some doctors (and patients) treat type 2 diabetes and oral medications as though it’s a minor inconvenience that needs to be monitored once per year. But come on! This article has no useful suggestions for the transition. It suggests I may need to take a diabetes education class and learn what hypoglycemia is. And since people on oral meds apparently never have hypoglycemia (tell my bg that!) – I might need to carry some hard candy with me.
Children with Type 1 diabetes often begin giving themselves their own injections as early as age five or six. You can do this! It’s not as bad as you think.
Over all, I find this article really offensive. Type 2 diabetes is far too often painted as some form of punishment for being a bad and lazy person. Now, it’s also apparently a childish problem with a silly fear of needles.
Wow, that article sounds fairly insulting to readers.
Some people just don’t like needles. It probably has nothing to do with a particular shot. Yes it’s possible to get over this. Treating your readers as children isn’t the way to do this.
By: Bernard Farrell on April 3, 2008
at 4:46 pm
I didn’t have any problems transitioning Ed from oral meds to insulin. I’m not sure how Ed felt about it. ;D When it comes time for me to make that change it might be a bit harder. My doctor’s office does a lot of research. I got a letter from them a few weeks ago inviting me to join a study having to do with pumps – seems as though I’m a good candidate. I wondered if this was a subtle way of telling me I need shots or just a failure to read the file and learn that I’m not taking insulin. I saw the doctor shortly after that and he did not suggest that I need insulin at this point. Although I would be happy to participate in the study if I did need the shots. A free pump, medical care, and meds for the duration of the study seems like a good deal to me.
By: adamswife on April 4, 2008
at 11:16 am
Well having made that transition i can say that I have always hated having needles and yes it could have happened in my child hood.
Having all those ‘free’ needles at primary school didnt help.
I held off from insullin for ages untill i was in hosptial and the doc wouldnt allow me to go home without having ’stabed my self’. Which i did.
The one thing i can say the needle guage i was is a fine one so most of the time i dont feel it.
Untill i hit a nevere bundle. Yes i started to put on weight too
I hope this helps a bit, when you gotta do something you end up doing it.
(ps) photos have been updated and the last instalment is comming soon
By: pug2n on April 21, 2008
at 2:16 am
Yes, I agree with y’all. It isn’t, btw, that I think that the needle phobia issue isn’t real – it’s that it’s not the only issue. Most people are going to have some issues giving themselves shots for the first time. I’ve been doing it in one form or another since high school so it’s not an issue for me. I wouldn’t have been upset at that part of the article if they had explored other reasons why some folks might not want to take insulin.
And sorry I haven’t been around much lately. I’m falling down on the job…
By: Zazzy on April 22, 2008
at 10:30 am