Okay, I know that it is not likely anyone can give medical advice, but opinions and stories about your own experience are welcome.

So here's my story:
I've been type II for over 15 years. At first, I controlled it with diet and exercsise. Then pills that worked wonders for 3 months. Then higher dosages. Then new pills. Then higher dosages of those pills. Then combinations of pills. All of it worked when changing for about 3 months. Then gradually, my BG would rise again.

Finally I started on insulin. Then more insulin. At present, I inject 15 units of R and 35 of N every morning, 6 units of R at dinner, and 14 units of N at bedtime. Yep. 3 shots a day. I also take 45 mg of Actos, plus blood pressure meds and a statin for cholesterol.

And I test 4 or more times a day. Until three weeks ago, my averages were around 265 all day long. Sometimes I would be way over 300. Never below 200. Then I started the LC diet. Even though I read Protein Power, I decided to follow the more restrictive Berstein recommendations. I basically eat meat and fat, with an occassional tomato or salad.

So after a few days of the LC diet, my BD dropped to around 180. After a week, it dropped to 165. After two weeks, I dropped to the 145 range. And after three weeks, it's hovering around 120. I've had a couple of reading over 80 and below 120, but mostly I hover between 110-130.

I haven't lost any weight (ok, maybe 5 pounds of water weight). I still take all the insulin and all the pills. I'm sure 3 weeks isn't long enough pitch the insulin and pills, but I think the insulin and pills might be what is preventing me from losing weight. My overall calories are reduced, and I've been careful to avoid "hidden" carbs. My weight does fluctuate a lot depending on water retention.

So when can I start cutting back on insulin? I've been toying with the idea of cutting back, see what happens, then keep cutting back more, and just do this one step at a time. When I'm eating less than 5 carbs per meal (usually), I can't imagine that I need as much as I'm injecting. I'm surprised I haven't had a low BG reading.

I'm going to keep at it, if for no other reason than it is the ONLY thing that works to lower my BG. I was diagnosed with mild retinopathy at my last eye exam. I've had 14 years of no retinopathy, then this development just knocked me flat and drove me back to the LC WOL. I tried it once before, but got talked out it by "professionals" who discouraged me. I've done the exchanges and tried to make that work for years. All I've done is gain 50 lbs. that way.

I'll stick with the LC WOL, even if lower BG readings is all I get from it, but I really would like to have the weight loss that everyone beams about, and I can't figure out what is preventing this for me. Could it be the insulin and pills?