Most people with type 2 diabetes will also eventually need to use insulin.

sheepie123

Well-Known Member
Messages
106
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I keep reading this on various medical forms. I am 28 and it appears I am likely to be on Insulin by the age of 45 which is extremely sad for me.

Can someone tell me though, I know people who are on Type 1 who struggle to keep their blood levels right even with Insulin so why is it painted that people with Type 2 dont experience the same problems?

Does anyone else have diabetes around my age - I feel so hopeless perhaps I can make some new friends here.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi,

It is very common to be told that T2 is a progressive disease and that insulin is inevitable. But you know what? It isn't. Providing your pancreas is still working there is no reason for it to progress, and every reason for it to improve and even go in remission. Plenty on this forum have done that. The reason the powers that be think it is progressive is because most of the patients they see do progress. We have to ask ourselves why, and one very good reason is we are told to eat carbohydrates with every meal. So patients eat carbs. Their diabetes worsens and they are given more pills and told to eat carbs. So they do. They worsen and then all that is left is insulin. Of course some patients just carry on regardless, eat what they have always eaten and take the pills.

All carbs convert to glucose once inside the system. Fact. So why are we told to eat them? It is ridiculous and just puts more and more glucose in our bloodstream that our bodies cannot cope with. Result - high glucose levels and more medication. Answer - cut the carbs right down which means less glucose in the bloodstream and less medication needed.

T2 is a dietary condition. Solve the diet and control the disease with less carbs and less medication.

Of course, if the pancreas isn't working well enough, medication is needed but diet is still the key.
 

TallLeeds

Active Member
Messages
29
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have to disagree with that prognosis. ...I was diagnosed with T2 in Jan this year after struggling with the symptoms for six months.....I am now 'non diabetic' following three months of Low Carb High Fat eating. Unfortunately the diagnosis is for Life. ...but...Following this regime allows me to live a normal life as long as I continue to follow the LCHF food regime. I originally found the answers on an American site. ...now three months on I have discovered this UK site which is advocating a regime which my Doctor said he could say Nothing about. I am truthfully passing on my experienceand knowledge....it worked because I followed it. Simple. Give it a go.
 

TallLeeds

Active Member
Messages
29
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have to disagree with that prognosis. ...I was diagnosed with T2 in Jan this year after struggling with the symptoms for six months.....I am now 'non diabetic' following three months of Low Carb High Fat eating. Unfortunately the diagnosis is for Life. ...but...Following this regime allows me to live a normal life as long as I continue to follow the LCHF food regime. I originally found the answers on an American site. ...now three months on I have discovered this UK site which is advocating a regime which my Doctor said he could say Nothing about. I am truthfully passing on my experienceand knowledge....it worked because I followed it. Simple. Give it a go.
I should have said thatI have been prescribed Metformin. ...originally 6 tablets a day...I only took 4 as I didn't want to take so many pills. I am now taking 2....on doctors advice. ...reducing to 0 in a month or so...Good luck
 

Alison Campbell

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,443
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Please don't feel hopeless, things are changing so fast in the world of diabetes.

Focus on what you can do now to be as healthy as you can for as long as possible. There is some great advice and support available on this forum.
 

TallLeeds

Active Member
Messages
29
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I keep reading this on various medical forms. I am 28 and it appears I am likely to be on Insulin by the age of 45 which is extremely sad for me.

Can someone tell me though, I know people who are on Type 1 who struggle to keep their blood levels right even with Insulin so why is it painted that people with Type 2 dont experience the same problems?

Does anyone else have diabetes around my age - I feel so hopeless perhaps I can make some new friends here.
Also.....cheer up. ....it's not a death sentence. .just a diagnosis. ..and as long as you do the right thing you'll most likely end up as a rickety pensioner.
 

Winnie53

BANNED
Messages
2,374
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I'm in my mid-50's. I've been on a low carb diet that includes animal and plant sources of protein and fat, and a variety of vegetables and leafy greens with all meals for 2 years and have chosen to not take medication. No progression. In fact, I'm healthier now than when I was in my 20's.

What's worked best for me in addition to eating a healthy diet is monitoring glucose levels to stay on track and walking. :)
 

kokhongw

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I keep reading this on various medical forms. I am 28 and it appears I am likely to be on Insulin by the age of 45 which is extremely sad for me.

Can someone tell me though, I know people who are on Type 1 who struggle to keep their blood levels right even with Insulin so why is it painted that people with Type 2 dont experience the same problems?

Does anyone else have diabetes around my age - I feel so hopeless perhaps I can make some new friends here.

1. There is nothing wrong with needing to take insulin to improve glucose control when it is needed. It is a life saver.
2. But for T2D, if the thought of needing regular/daily injection troubles you, you may want to explore the alternative views on how to stay medication and insulin free with adequate carbs reduction.

T2D is often described as a condition resulting from inadequate insulin production or insulin resistance. But the term insulin resistance obscure the fact that our pancreas spent years attempting to maintain normal glucose with excessive insulin production. And by reducing our dietary carbs load, it gives our pancreas the much needed relief and maximize the remaining functional beta-cells.

So the future for T2D need not be as bleak as the medical community would like us to accept. Check out the free low carb program offered by this site for a start...

All the best.
 

AM1874

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,383
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Not much
Hi @sheepie123 ..
You will find that there are lots of folk here who have been T2 for years and have no need for insulin and many who mange perfectly well without any medication at all. Managing and controlling your diabetes through exercise, diet and testing your Blood Glucose seems to be the best way forward. For me, committing to an LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) lifestyle and testing 3-5 times a day seems to be working and you'll find that there is a wealth of info, relevant advice and positive support about LCHF on the forum ..

I am not sure if you have received your "newbie" pack yet so I have tagged @daisy1 for you and I would suggest that you read up on the Low Carb Program in the information that she will soon be sending you. You might also find the discussion on the Low Carb Diet forum helpful .. and the following websites ...
Low Carb Intro and Information
Low Carbs in 60 Seconds

Hope this helps
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@sheepie123

Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions if you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

NatJS

Well-Known Member
Messages
71
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diabetes
Hey, welcome to the forums. I'm a similar age - 31 - and just got diagnosed a few weeks ago. I always thought it was a progressive condition and my GP also said so, but he also told me this was actually a great time to be diagnosed because there is so much more being discovered about the disease and also a plethora of new drugs becoming available very quickly. He said it would be very unlikely I'd ever end up having to take insulin because of this.
 
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jimsboss

Member
Messages
15
I was diagnosed with type 2 in 1997, but the truth is I managed to cheat the medics and joined the Royal Marines at age 15! I'm now 65. I had a military career for most of my working life, knowing I had Type 2. It was only a couple of years ago that I had to start taking insulin. My DN knew the whole story and reckons I was border line type 1, but because of my diet regime I've come out alive!
 
D

Deleted member 388305

Guest
I have been a Type 2 diabetic since 1985, and am not yet on insulin. For the last 13 years I have been eating a low carb diet (off and on). My last A1c was 5.8% and I expect my next one (in a month) to be lower. My physician said that she had changed a slide in her last presentation at a meeting to reflect that Type 2 diabetes was not always progressive.
 

Tim13056

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
It is ABSOLUTELY not true that T2D is always progressive! I was diagnosed T2D Oct. 2013. Nov. 2013, my wife & I both started a ketogenic diet. This past February, my Doctor took T2D off my chart. All my health markers are now great. The only way T2D is 'progressive' is if you do what the 'experts' (like the American Diabetic Association) tell you to do. There daily carb recommendation guarantees you'll have to take medication, and T2D will get progressively worse. However you term it, it seems from all the reading I've done, the only way to reverse T2D is with ketogenic/LCHF diet; 20-50gr of carbs per day, 70% of calories from healthy (non-vegetable oil) fats, and MODERATE to LOW protein. That simple.
 

James2

Well-Known Member
Messages
83
Dear sheepie 123

Prior to joining this forum i had the same concerns and ones about complications.
i would suggest you read Dr David Cavan book reverse your diabetes , i have had type 2 for nearly a year and my results are moving in the right direction . small steps and recognize we all have set backs and use this forum
best wishes
James2
 
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Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,889
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I think the only way any of us will know whether T2 is progressive or not is by reaching the end of our lives without experiencing that progression. Hopefully many years from now.

I'm 50. I certainly can't predict what is going to happen throughout the next 30+ years, and I am not going to try.

What I AM going to do is work every day to prevent that progression from happening. For me, that means monitoring and controlling blood glucose, eating low carb, staying as active as possible, learning and understanding about T2 so that if I develop problems I will understand them, and be able to adjust my regime accordingly.

At the moment, I feel better than I did 5, 10 or even 15 years ago. I have more energy, more mental clarity, my memory is OK, and I am thoroughly enjoying life. Long may it continue.
 
S

serenity648

Guest
It doesn't have to be progressive if you control your BG levels, but more importantly your endogenous insulin levels:


Thank you for this. I have a question though: According to my DSN, I dont have a fatty liver. So how could my insulin resistance be happening? I am confused again.
 
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Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Thank you for this. I have a question though: According to my DSN, I dont have a fatty liver. So how could my insulin resistance be happening? I am confused again.

I have never had a fatty liver either.