Balancing the horror stories!

[Bluenosesol]

Folks,

when I was first diagnosed, I came away from the doctor's surgery and within a week, I was discussing funeral arrangements with my wife!.

I have spoken to some HCP's who admit that shock tactics are used because historically T2 diabetes was thought of as a "mild" illness and that the majority of patients do not take their condition seriously, hence now they get read the riot act to ensure they are focussed.

I now read a comment from the recent US study into the effectiveness of tight control which states :-
Last spring, researchers said a trial of older veterans with diabetes found that people who started intensive treatment within the first 15 years of diagnosis had fewer heart risks.
But in people who started intensive treatment more than 20 years after their diabetes diagnosis, the heart risks doubled.

This says to me, that you can live for 20 years post diagnosis without tight control, because people in their study had done so.

Then there are the arguments around the inevitably (or NOT with good control) of progression.

My GP led me to believe that I was in imminent danger of death due to my then high BG.

So I am left to ponder, am I going to keel over any time soon? - I suspect NOT!!!

All the Best - Steve.

 

[kay957]

I would have thought the GP was just having the patients best interests at heart. My GP just said to "me your diabetic, here's the prescription, make an appointment with the nurse" and that was it!! I only ever really have contact with the nurse, and only see the Doctor if I have complications. The Doctors all seem pleased with my progress over 1 year since diagnosis so now I am on Victoza I think this is a learning curve for my GP practice because I am so far the only patient on it, so I feel a little special :lol:

I always thought if your a diabetic you'll end up losing a limb, or having a stroke, but now I know it isn't like that at all. I now have a philosophy that to "live and let live" you only have one life so to stop dwelling on what if's and just think positive. So I took up a university course and enjoying it, I am petrified of flying but I am flying to Austria this year for a holiday. To be quite honest I feel healthier as a diabetic than a non diabetic.

 

[ham79]

When I was diagnosed as type2 at 24 I got the pictures of peoples feet and various sores which shocked. when I saw the db doc I was told lose weight or your dead before your 30 :shock: . I dropped 12 stone in the first year (was 23 stone) and am currently less than 9.5 . I don't think they say it solely to shock but more to inspire you to look after yourself

 

[hanadr]

Hi bluenose, I'm pretty fit for a woman in her 60s, who has survived a stroke.
I can manage to keep up with toddler grandchild for a whole day.
I've done 2 hours formal exercise this morning. and the shopping and other than an occasional cold, I'm never ill.
Yesterday, after an hour in the gym, I walked about 3 1/2 miles in just over an hour, with a group of friends.
I'm using this fitness to control weight ( 20kg down from maximum) and everything else. I am not just "a Diabetic". I'm a woman who has one aspect of metabolism that doesn't work well, but which can be kept under control( at non-diabetic levels)
Hana

 

[noblehead]

When I was diagnosed as type2 at 24 I got the pictures of peoples feet and various sores which shocked. when I saw the db doc I was told lose weight or your dead before your 30 :shock: . I dropped 12 stone in the first year (was 23 stone) and am currently less than 9.5 . I don't think they say it solely to shock but more to inspire you to look after yourself

I suspect that's why they use 'shock tactics', it obviously worked in your case ham, well done!

Nigel

 

[ahsan]

My mum is in her 60s with 25 year old T2 diabetes, she lives normal life, and her diabetes never goes below 30 at least since we start checking 7 years ago and I am not exaggerating to be honest, she uses a US level meter, which only tells "High" because numbers ends after 500! ... having said that, it doesn't mean diabetese don't do any harm, she have lost eyesight in one eye, a part from that she is healthy. Expect usual metformin and some other tablets, she's don't care about diet or anything...
(she don't live in UK btw)

I believe T2 is not that bad as our doctors or some people try to tell... IMO

 

[ShyGirl]

I hope I live longer than 20 years after being diagnosed although I guess it depends on what happens in other (non-health) areas of life really.
I'm not sure about trying to scare people as being given useful information is best. A woman spoke to me in hospital about any future pregnancies I might have wanted.
I was out of it at the time and still not sure what she was going on about.

How about free test strips so those of us who like to check can be worry free?

 

[Bluenosesol]

My mum is in her 60s with 25 year old T2 diabetes, she lives normal life, and her diabetes never goes below 30 at least since we start checking 7 years ago and I am not exaggerating to be honest, she uses a US level meter, which only tells "High" because numbers ends after 500! ... having said that, it doesn't mean diabetese don't do any harm, she have lost eyesight in one eye, a part from that she is healthy. Expect usual metformin and some other tablets, she's don't care about diet or anything...
(she don't live in UK btw)

I believe T2 is not that bad as our doctors or some people try to tell... IMO

Ahsan,

Not meaning to be rude, but are we supposed to take this seriously or are just trying to have a laugh?.


Steve.

 

[kegstore]

My Mum remembers my diagnosis only too well, back in the days when you were hospitalised initially for T1. I remember very little about it, but apparently I had been given a whole load of literature to read, and having finished it asked her "so am I going to die then?". She was furious with the people who had provided the information, and made sure they knew how mad she was! I certainly don't remember anything about that, and I'm not sure that shock tactics work well, they certainly don't for me. I think I was (am?) probably too analytical to absorb the message as intended. My Dad (who was a GP) and I were far more relaxed about what had to be done and taken on board. But then look at me now...

 

[ahsan]

My mum is in her 60s with 25 year old T2 diabetes, she lives normal life, and her diabetes never goes below 30 at least since we start checking 7 years ago and I am not exaggerating to be honest, she uses a US level meter, which only tells "High" because numbers ends after 500! ... having said that, it doesn't mean diabetese don't do any harm, she have lost eyesight in one eye, a part from that she is healthy. Expect usual metformin and some other tablets, she's don't care about diet or anything...
(she don't live in UK btw)

I believe T2 is not that bad as our doctors or some people try to tell... IMO

Ahsan,

Not meaning to be rude, but are we supposed to take this seriously or are just trying to have a laugh?.


Steve.

You can laugh or take it seriously your choice... point I am trying to make is that these all are scare tactics, that you going to die in bla bla years if you are diabetic yet smoking is worse than diabetes, how many people ruin their lives worrying of it like diabetics do....

 

[Synonym]

This has to be a spoof post. No-one could possibly think that diabetes was not serious when their mother is down to only one eye so far! :shock:

 

[bufferz]

In some cases though, they NEED to use shock tactics, because it is a long term issue, in that yes you may well have kidney failure, or lose your sight in 20-30 years, but to a lot of people, especially the younger generation thats a long time away. Im guilty of it myself. In my case, I have decided to go down the "right i will do everything i have to then f it doesnt work its not through lack of trying" route. But until then, I was very much a oh well ill deal with it in a few years time person

 

[Debloubed]

This has to be a spoof post. No-one could possibly think that diabetes was not serious when their mother is down to only one eye so far! :shock:

it has to be a spoof!! completely bonkers either way :roll: