Type 2 Diabetes progress ?

[Randburg]

Hi all,
I have type 2 and was diagnosed about 18 months ago. I take Glucophage( Metformin) 2 x 500mg per day.
Through diet, and loosing weight, I have reduced my blood Sugar results, to an average morning fasting level of around 5.2 mmol/l (94 mg/dl), and latest HBA1C to 4.7 %.
I am 65 years old, and would like to know what is likely to happen over the next few years.
I have heard that your results start getting worse and you will need to increase medication over time, and will eventually have to have insulin ( if you lucky enough to survive a while)
Is the info correct?
Appreciate some comments possibly from a type 2 person who has been diagnosed many years ago
Thanks

 

[Madbazoo]

Hi all,
I have type 2 and was diagnosed about 18 months ago. I take Glucophage( Metformin) 2 x 500mg per day.
Through diet, and loosing weight, I have reduced my blood Sugar results, to an average morning fasting level of around 5.2 mmol/l (94 mg/dl), and latest HBA1C to 4.7 %.
I am 65 years old, and would like to know what is likely to happen over the next few years.
I have heard that your results start getting worse and you will need to increase medication over time, and will eventually have to have insulin ( if you lucky enough to survive a while)
Is the info correct?
Appreciate some comments possibly from a type 2 person who has been diagnosed many years ago
Thanks

You have good results there so well done. For many that is sufficient to keep control but not guaranteed as we all differ and circumstances can change.

If you keep up the good work then you may avoid any further progression or increases in your medication.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[luceeloo]

I have only recently been diagnosed, so can't speak from personal experience. However, my Uncles have both been type 2 for in excess of 10 years. My oldest Uncle is 80, and yes, he's now on insulin, but other than that he's very physically fit and still cycles 20 miles a day. He's part of a cycling club, and he has slowed down slightly - he now races with the women instead of the men lol (not a problem for him, he's always been a bit of a lothario).
My "younger" uncle is 78. He was diagnosed about 12 years ago, went on to metformin for a few years, but got his diet well under control and was taken off the pills about 5 years ago. He only monitors his blood sugar once or twice a year(!) and gets perfect hba1c results.

To answer your question, anything can happen. It depends on your control (which sounds very good to me), and it depends on how much or how little insulin your body is naturally making, how much glucose your liver pumps out, and what your body does with all of this.
There's a lot of negative information out of there, and yes, it may apply to some... but don't take it as gospel for everyone, because there are many people who avoid the worst case scenario.