Why do people avoid insulin?

Question

I don't get why people who have type 2 diabetes put off going on insulin as long as possible. Why? Don't they want medicine that will make them feel better?

Answer 1

Because type II diabetes is Insulin Resistance. Our bodies produce insulin, but it doesn't do its job properly. It would be best to increase the efficiency of our insulin if possible, by increasing our activity and being careful with our diet.

Answer 2

I hate to say it, but it is not just the cost or even the needle that causes people to avoid insulin. I have seen it time and time again. Patient is told he needs to take a pill for blood pressure, or cholesterol, or diabetes, or any other chronic disease, and they hate taking meds. It seems as though they think that "if I take a medicine, it means I am not healthy, and only healthy people live full productive lives." People don't want medicine period. That's why you have all this"don't believe your doc-take this herb and be cured" stuff. I know some alternative medicine is beneficial, but since it hasn't been studied rigorously, there is no way in good conscience that docs can advocate it. Not to mention the fact, that if you take an herb, it is still a medicine. It just happens to have unknown side effects, and unknown drug interactions, and unknown efficacy.

Some problems I noted with prior answers: Insulin gets sugar into the cells, it has nothing to do with the breakdown. Doctors don't start with insulin in type 2, not because they know patients don't want it, but because insulin is not the best answer. Type 2 is a resistance problem. The pills helps the body use the insulin they are producing more efficently. When the resistance gets to be more than the meds can handle, that is when you need insulin, often in super high doses, to help overcome the resistance. Too much insulin leads to more resistance though, due to increased weight gain.

Answer 3

We are not avoiding insulin at all. We r maintaining it actually. Anyways if you are talking about the insulin being injected. When I was first diagnosed for Type 2 diabetes my doctor put me into insulin. I prefer it more than oral medications. Though she said I don't need it and just need oral medication so that my body will not get used in insulin only. Because for some type 2 diabetes we can still produce some insulin inside our body unlike Type 1 diabetes their pancreas can not produce any insulin anymore. Though there r type 2 diabetics that are still using insulin (those who cant control eating bad things that make their blood sugar very high)....

Answer 4

Dr.s put off prescribing insulin because there are medications that can help control the diabetes along with a good diet. Once on insulin your chances of kidney desease and other complications rise. So maintaining your sugar levels is very important, along with your weight & diet. Eventually some people who are type 2 MAY become type 1 diabetics whereby they are dependent on the insulin to break down their sugar because they can no longer produce it naturally. granted the new medications, faster acting insulin, and more compatible sources of insulin are helpful in this battle. The maintenance drugs for type 2 diabetics help the body to naturally maintain itself and not depend on a shot every time that perosn eats or snacks on something. I hope this helps with your question it may not answer it but it does give some insight on type 2 & type 1 diabetics

Answer 5

The normal progression is from diet, then pills then insulin. While most people don't like getting shots, not everyone wants to be dependent on something for survival. It's not like it's food or water. It something they must inject to live a "normal" life. Moreover, most doctors don't want to start a newly diagnosted person with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy. While it might be the best solution, many doctors don't want to scare their patients, so they provide pills as an interium solution, knowing that they will eventually need insulin. Only a few doctors will start with insulin.

Answer 6

Because the most effective treatment for type 2 diabetes is to help the insulin work better. Insulin is a last resort.

Answer 7

I use insulin when my glucose reading is to high.My doctor says:the pills I take for type 2 diabetis,are doing a good job 99% of the time.But.. there are times when I have a little too much sugar. then I use insulin to bring me back into controll..I have asked to be put on a pump,and my doctor says no..you don't need it yet..excerise,and diet will keep you off the pump,and the need for insulinfor a long time.I am now 62 years old,had type 2 for 12 years,and still don't need the pump,or very much insulin.....

Answer 8

when you are told , you are going on insulin from a doctor,! scared,dependant,life threatening ,complete life style change,WHY?you know others on insulin,but why me?what can i do? Can i still go out to eat?Will i have to change when i eat and what i eat.? will i be able to eat with others and what they eat.Is this for life?will the diabetes shorten my life? if i am sick do i still take the insulin?do i get dizzy then? I guess i am stuck with the insulin.

Answer 9

Insulin is expensive, and you have to either have pens or needles (either way, it's a shot) and you stick yourself consistently. The test strips are expensive, needles are expensive, insulin pens are expensive. My meds are expensive however, I feel a lot better when I take those shots.

Answer 10

there are lots of problems wiht insulin and getting used to it and as others have ponted out type two is resistance to the insulin