How is the damage caused in diabetes?

[VinnyJames]

Is there any consensus of opinion when it comes to what might be dangerous to us?

I'm particularly thinking of spiked readings vs high averages.

In other words if someone is around 6% but gets a few high spikes each month but another person is consistently 7.5% with few spikes which is higher risk??

I'd like to know as I only test myself when I'm trying new foods - the rest of the time I'm very low carb with occasional treats.

Vinny

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I don't know if there is a consensus but I can offer you my opinion.

High averages are the most dangerous AFTER we are diagnosed with diabetes. Before then I would like to think that we can ride out the occasional spike unless that is the one that carried you off..

Having said that then spikes will raise the average of course and before I was diagnosed I suppose my spikes were beginning to run together a little bit.

I think that spikes cause damage, especially when we are not yet diagnosed and I entertain the thought that cumulative spikes over a period of time is what put us type 2's in this position.

Having spiked for years and mostly got away with it I now can't afford to have a high average since that implies high damaging spikes that I will no longer get away with.

 

[Lazybones]

A yery intresting question.
I would suppose that the more sencible answer would be to say it would be best if we diabetics could ALWAYS Maintain our Blood/Glucose level at 5.8 mmol/L (Plasma) for 100% of the time, but we simply can't acheive this.
Even when we are advised to keep our B/G within a prescribe band we simply can't acheive that either and will either go TOO high or TOO low at various occasions.
Those of us who are Type 2 have this autonomatic responce built into our bodies, but for those Type 1's this is missing altogether and even with an Insulin pump that can monitor Insulin levels acheiving a perfect balance is very difficult.
I think of it as being a vehicle engine. It will probably last that bit longer if it ticks over at a steady rate rather than being rapidly driven to maximum speed and then just as rapidly having it reduced. Most modern F1 engines are kn.....ed after just the one race. A F1 engine can be rebuilt but not the human body.