hi everyone (and 'hi' TweetyPie)

BestBuddy checking in

I am type 2 diabetic, insulin injecting and 48 years old.

I started this forum as a way that diabetics can help each other.

Hi Muffle - welcome to the forum

I think Diabeta is the same as Gliclazide (a Sulfonylurea based med)
If so, I was on the same medication before I went on to insulin - worked for me for about 6 years then started to be less effective.

I chose to go on insulin because of the extra freedom it gave me to eat a more varied diet (yep, and sometimes eat a dessert )

It makes life easier, but it makes the weight watching a touch more difficult

I am a type 1 diabetic have been since I was 7-am almost 31 now.I am on an insulin pump-fought it until last year.It's been a really good decision though.
I've had so many problems from diabetes but I am a fighter and things are better now than they were in my 20's.I have lost one eye to diabetic glaucoma and retinopathy(I have a scleral shell so you can't tell.)Previous to gastic bypass in 2005 I had insulin resistance as well.I was taking 400 units of insulin a day and my blood sugars stayed between 300 and 500.I am down to between 70 and 100 units a day now.The gastric bypass has caused alot of problems in itself but when I had it done I was 28-they said I wouldn't see 30.My 31st birthday is in a few weeks and I am 137 pounds lighter. I have spent my whole life going round and round with doctors and have learned to depend on myself for help with my health because I am the one who pays the consequences.A drunk driver hit me in 98 and almost killed me.My ex-husband was abusive-we split for good in July 2004.One month later I had a D&C.One month later I lost my eye.One month after that I lost my home.By December of 2004 I knew I was going to die if something didn't change.The stress was overwhelming.The weight just kept piling-therefore the need for insulin kept rising.My general doctor had tried to convince me for a year to have the bypass.I had to wait until Jan 2005 for my insurance to cover the procedure.I had the surgery in April 2005.I felt great for the first 4 months.Then malnutrition set in(I think being a diabetic makes that worse)-it took (me) until last month to figure out most of the "new" problems I was having was because my body wasn't absorbing the vitamins I was taking.I suffered from constant weakness(felt like my blood sugar was low but it wasn't and the feeling didn't go away.)Eventually that got so bad I couldn't stay at work-I could barely hold my head up.I went to 2 endocronologists as well as my general doctor all the time.I have been to the emergency room and had umpteen tests and labs done.I was seeing doctors at least 4 times a month.They never find anything.At the same time the weakness developed I stopped sleeping and now I get debilitating headaches sometimes a month at a time.The doctors aren't much help.I am always searching for different things that will help.The health food stores know me by name.I still can't sleep(only a couple hours when taking a sleeping pill)and I always have the headaches but things are better.Anyway just wanted to say hi and to say I've been there done that-don't let it get the best of you.I have my days.When I feel good I am very active.I love to workout at the gym or go walking or dancing.There are days I can't get out of bed.You do what you can when you can.Good luck to all.

Oh, moderation on this not withstaniding

The weight loss thing has become quite interesting.

Until recently, weight loss was measured through Body Mass Index - see here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/your_weight/bmiimperial_index.shtml

But the problem is that muscular people - like rugby players, are showing up as grossly
overweight in the BMI index. When they 'aint When I went to my last
Diabetic Nurse Appointment (GB) They measured my waist - in a place I thought I wouldn't
think I'd expect jeans to fit. Don't wear my jeans that far up......

I'd go by your weight - try and keep it to 12 uk stone or below, assuming a height of about 5'10"
for a fella.