Am I In Remission?

@HSSS I meant to add that seed oils also damage mitochondria and seriously impair the cell's ability to process glucose into ATP. Essentially the mitochondria shut down and begin rejecting fuel. However I do not know if this damage is permanent. Since cells are replaced, you would think not, but it will certainly persist as long as the oils are being consumed. It's not all about carbohydrate, for sure.

Eurobuff said:

The problem is that I don’t think I have normal insulin levels, I know that if I ate the NHS “healthy” diet of 130 grams of carbs per day, my hba1c would be at a diabetic level.

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I average between 100g to 130g carbs per day but still manage to maintain my hba1c at non diabetic levels

Eurobuff said:

Can I ask what your hba1c is? I eat 50g carbs per day. A few months ago, my low carb options on some of my foods weren’t available so I was eating about 60-65 grams per day. My hba1c went from 36mmol to 42mmol. That was only an increase of 10-15 grams

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Tends to hover in the mid 30s.

I always find this conversation fascinating, as in the UK there is an official NHS code for Diabetes in Remission; so whilst it is ok to have a view as to what good control is, ultimately a British health establishment authorised to do so can grant a legal status of Diabetes in Remission. Obviously many do not feel comfortable with this as it always is opinionated down to an individual level, whereas something like cancer in remission does not appear to have similar nuances.

I have an hypothesis that the current generation and perhaps mine have been "weakened" by the insulin / glucose load and pufa based oils. I remember reading a review of the average fasting glucose in Nigeria rising over time (I think this has happened everywhere). I further believe years of use of non-clean carbs / sugars "breaks" our systems, which means "clean" whole starches are also a problem for our systems; I honestly believe that if the metabolically challenged were eating whole foods from birth, even including starchy foods - minus the foods of the trifecta (seed oils, flour and sugar), diabetes incidence would be lower, and other conditions. For some reason we think one of the trifecta which causes the most amount of hospital dental procedures for children aged 5 to 9 for tooth extraction, magically should be continued into adult hood to oxidise the bad fats.

Eurobuff said:

That is what I’m worried about, that the tests will stop. Especially as it says needs monitoring “for now” until you have a word with the patient. That sounds like I will get crossed off their books

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My GP coded me as diabetes in remission some time ago. All I have lost are the annual foot checks by the nurse. I continue to have 6 monthly blood tests, an annual retina eye screening test, and an annual review with the nurse. My HbA1cs have varied between 40 and 44 during this period. My nurse also coded me as non-diabetic hypoglycemic but the GP has removed this coding. It is just a label, and as long as I continue to receive the tests and checks, I am happy. (I don't care about having HbA1c tests because I continue to self test and am happy with what I see. What I do like are the accompanying tests for cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, vit D, full blood counts and whatever else gets thrown in)

Eurobuff said:

For the last 3 years my hba1C have been “normal” the highest being 42. I’ve had 38, 37, 35, 37, 34, 36, 42, and the latest 40. When checking on my notes to get the results of my latest test, there is a note on my record saying based in results diabetes in remission, discuss at review, still monitor for now. Inform patient that she does not need to check her blood sugar.

I have lows of 4.2, 4.3, and have had highs of 8, 8.1, 9.5. i feel dizzy when I have the lows. I don’t have them all the time the lows about once every 3 or 4 weeks and the highs once every couple of weeks.

I follow a low carb diet and don’t eat chocolate or sweets.

Is this classed as being in remission? I thought remission is that if you ate a bar of chocolate you wouldn’t get a high reading, but in my case I would.

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I know this is a fairly old post and I have only joined this forum today

I had my full set of bloods done on Monday afternoon, my HBA1C is 34
My GP when I spoke to her today has said mine is also in remission but she wants to do repeat bloods in 3 months time

I just want to say congratulations to you though, its a great feeling but I'm also quite nervous as I've now been told to stop all medication

Eurobuff said:

At the moment the doctor is prescribing my test strips, and I am getting my bloods checked, feet, eyes etc checked regularly. I am worried that if I’m described as “ In remission” all these checks will stop. As the hba1c is an average, I think my lows are cancelling the highs out, so maybe not getting the true figure

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If you’re not on medication (and barring any uncommon other conditions such as RH) then your “lows” are almost certainly “normals” as it is usually only medication that takes a person genuinely low, And definitely part of the true figure, leaving any highs to raise it above normal. What numbers do you mean?

Here the paper with the actual definition:
https://diabetestimes.co.uk/abcd-and-pcds-produce-type-2-diabetes-remission-definition/
One good thing it specifically mentions the need for regular fallow up.

Remission - Well Controlled, what is the difference? The important thing is the that the blood sugar levels are under control. My personal definition is remission they are within normal ranges, and well controlled are within acceptable diabetic targets.
My type 2 diabetes condition is something I have to deal with the rest of my life. I treat it like the exercises that I have to do for my bad knees, something, else I have to manage. I do enjoy my occasional dietary rebellions I worked REAL hard to get to that point. I just try to be smart about it

I apologize for the abruptness of my response. Let us just say going quietly in to that sweet night is not part of my personality.

DCB 2 said:

Here the paper with the actual definition:
https://diabetestimes.co.uk/abcd-and-pcds-produce-type-2-diabetes-remission-definition/
One good thing it specifically mentions the need for regular fallow up.

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Yet another definition of remission that only requires basic control (fasting glucose under 7 and HbA1c under 48) on two separate tests at least 6 months apart, plus weight loss. Too much emphasis is put on weight loss in this definition! Of course, it is a good thing to lose weight, but there are many T2s who have no weight to lose to begin with, and many who are overweight that gain remission under this criteria but have not lost weight.

As I have mentioned before. I have been coded as In Remission but I still have 6 monthly blood checks, an annual review with the nurse, and an annual eye check. All I have lost is the foot check.

Eurobuff said:

Hi, my lows are between 3.2, to 4.3. I have had a few 3.9’s, 4.2, 4.3, lower than 3.9 happens but not as much. I am taking a tablet (non diabetic related) which can cause hypos in diabetics

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Plenty of non diabetics walk around in the higher 3’s just fine as the body kicks in and delivers a glucose dump to rectify things it it falls too low. And home meters aren’t perfect. Anything in the 4’s is fine for most and “normal”. Unless the 3’s or lower 4’s make you feel you feel unwell or there’s something about the medication or other condition to cause concern I wouldn’t worry, if they self correct just fine.

Eurobuff said:

Hi, my lows are between 3.2, to 4.3. I have had a few 3.9’s, 4.2, 4.3, lower than 3.9 happens but not as much. I am taking a tablet (non diabetic related) which can cause hypos in diabetics

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Which non diabetic medication are you taking?