How I Cut My Insulin by Nearly Half in Just 10 Weeks

When I began this quest, I really didn’t know what I was going to be up against. I started with the idea of losing 50 lbs in 6 months by eating healthy and getting exercise. I had the idea more than a year before we even started it. The only real goal was to lose 50 lbs and see where it led. Simple, right?

Setting Simple Goals

As I actually began the quest, I added one more goal: walk 45 minutes per day. My goals were simple. At the end of 6 months I wanted to weigh 50 lbs less, be walking 45 minutes per day, and be eating healthy foods. I figured that if I could do that I would set a precedent that could lead to healthier change over time. I knew I wouldn’t want to stop at 50 lbs less. I wanted lasting change in my life, not just in health but in my mind and my finances as well.

Facing My Health Reality

My health was so bad that I had a hard time standing for more than a few minutes, and walking was something I could only do for a short time before needing to sit down. I was on so many different medications and honestly felt that I was going to die soon enough. In that almost dire emergency, I did things most people would call crazy in order to start the quest.

I had doctors telling me that someone with diabetes, high blood pressure, and the medicines I was on could never lose weight and that it was hopeless to try. I was suffering, and the solutions they offered were more meds or stomach staple surgery. I didn’t want either. I think my doctors had given up on me. Maybe I should have given up on them too.

Preparing for Medication Changes

The only medicine I knew I would have to drop was Trulicity. I had a limited supply, and I wasn’t willing to pay for it out of pocket. When my supply was gone, it was gone. I figured I would have enough time to get my quest started before I had to deal with going off Trulicity. I didn’t consider any other medicine changes.

About seven weeks into the quest, I ran out of Trulicity. By that point, I had already dropped my insulin usage to about 160 units per day. As the Trulicity left my system, I noticed my glucose numbers rising. I realized I might have to stop reducing my insulin or even start increasing it again. Increasing insulin would mean weight gain and more problems. I discussed options with my favorite doctor, Dr. Charles Gippity, MD, and he gave me some ideas. One suggestion was Trajenta, which was available, not expensive, and worked well with my other medicines and health conditions.

Stabilizing My Blood Sugar

Within a few days of starting Trajenta, my blood sugars stabilized. I began researching with Dr. Gippity other medicines I was taking. I knew I needed to drop my blood pressure medicines since my pressure was running on the lower side. I found out that Metoprolol was causing some of my health issues with its side effects. I was on a high dose, and reducing it was already planned, but Dr. Gippity suggested Nebivolol, now generic, which could offer the benefits of Metoprolol without side effects like high exercise intolerance. I tapered off Metoprolol over a week while starting a lower dose of Nebivolol. My blood pressure is a bit higher now but still ranges between 115 and 130 over 75 to 85.

Rethinking My Metformin Dose

Next, I looked at my Metformin dosage. I was on 2000 mg per day, which is quite high. I knew the high dose caused issues for me and affected my B12 absorption, which led to neuropathy and burning mouth syndrome. High doses of B12 had restored my ability to eat spicy foods and my neuropathy was slowly improving, but I still knew the dose was too high. After consulting with Dr. Gippity, I realized I could reduce my Metformin without noticeably affecting my glucose numbers.

I kept my morning 1000 mg dose and reduced my evening dose to 500 mg. I also optimized the timing. I normally took it when I first woke up and in the evening before bed, but Dr. Gippity helped me see that these were less effective times. The best timing for me turned out to be after the first bite of breakfast and dinner.

Reducing My Insulin

Today I am down to 130 units a day of insulin. That is impressive considering I started this quest taking 240 units or more per day. I was taking 105 units of Insulin Aspart, 100 units of Lantus, and then adding large doses of R, N, or 70/30 to cheaply supplement what my prescriptions covered.

Finding a Sense of Freedom

I never thought I would be able to reduce my medicines like this, and it gives me a real sense of freedom. I need to write a followup about how I have dealt with coming out of the brain fog and depression that had held me for so long, but that will come later. This update is about cutting my meds.

FYI: None of this is medical advice. It's just my own story of what I've done.

This post also appears on the BLQ Substack