How long have you been living with Type 2 diabetes and have you always managed to control it well?

[londonluke]

Just wanted to know how long you good people have been living with and managing your type 2 diabetes?

 

[Kittycat_7_]

Diagnosed in 2017 had symptoms for much longer

 

[Rachox]

Just wanted to know how long you good people have been living with and managing your type 2 diabetes?

I was diagnosed nearly two years ago with an HbA1c of 70, within four months I had it down to non diabetic levels and it has stayed mid 30s ever since.
Can I ask how you’re doing? I notice you are new to the forum, so welcome and in case you haven’t seen it I’ll tag in @daisy1 for her useful info post.

 

[Pipp]

Official diagnosis 14 years ago. Now I have access to my medical record I see that there were prediabetes blood tests for 4 years prior to that.

I struggled for a few years following the NHS diet advice when I gained weight, and increased blood glucose readings. After a drastic weight loss using Newcastle diet method followed by low carb diet, I have had good control for the last 8 years. Apart from a blip when I had to take steroid meds.

I have just had results of my 15th annnual retinology screening, and have never had problems. My feet checks are always fine too. No neuropathy, or complications.

 

[DCUKMod]

I was diagnosed in October 2013, with an A1c of 73. By the February, my A1c was 37, and has skirted around 30 since then.

 

[Caeseji]

Diagnosed in 2017 here and didn't accept it for a year but living well with it now I think! Dropped from 114 to 41 within a month or so, who knows what it is now? Meter is saying around 32.

 

[Resurgam]

Almost 2 and 1/2 years now - went back to low carb diet from the moment of diagnosis.

 

[Energize]

Diagnosed about 10 yrs ago but disappointed with Diabetic nurse saying 'Type 2's dont need to test' when I asked for Glucometer so I could be pro-active so, so p'd off with her attitude, didn't feel inclined to take it seriously, in spite of knowing better. I think I probably reacted like this largely due to long-standing depression. I just felt so unsupported.

So, after several years of denial, I decided I should take better control, discovered on here about LCHF way of eating, which is a much better approach for me so, soon saw good results, lost 3 stones (still need to loose more), felt better and decided to 'beat' the HCPs rather than surcumb to their stupid suggestions etc.

I still don't get on with the nurses doing the annual Diabetic reviews. I hate being treated as if on a conveyer belt and they just tick boxes, not interested in the 'individual' sitting in front of them so now take pleasure in considering not attending Diabetic reviews, although still go so far (but come out afterwards, really annoyed that they can be so ignorant regarding diet etc. I'm often being reprimanded by one GP or another for reducing my Glipizide when my glucose levels are well controlled. I think they'd rather I ate carbs to keep levels up in preference to 'juggling' medication. Seeing as I keep a close eye on my levels, using Freestyle Libre, I feel I'm doing it safely, in fact, having better knowledge re my levels than they do. They don't like me testing much, even though they've seen the improved levels as a result. By the way, I'm a retired ward sister so like to be given some credit for a bit of intelligence etc GPs don't like it, though. One GP tells me 'I'll do my own thing, anyway' which is quite right, if I feel that's to the benefit of improved health LOL He likes me really

Oh well, that's part of my 'rebel' character and I just have to be careful not to 'bite off my nose to spite my face' LOL

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I was border line diabetic for a long while, finally got a official T2 stamp five years ago.

Up and down management for a couple of years, till my GP put me on Metformin 1 x 500 twice a day after hitting a speed bump.

I came down off of a 58.4 peak after three or four months, and my hba1c have been in the the thirties ever since. My last hba1c result, my GP told me to just one Metformin a day, and if I keep on around 34 at the next blood test I will stop taking that one.

 

[londonluke]

I was diagnosed nearly two years ago with an HbA1c of 70, within four months I had it down to non diabetic levels and it has stayed mid 30s ever since.
Can I ask how you’re doing? I notice you are new to the forum, so welcome and in case you haven’t seen it I’ll tag in @daisy1 for her useful info post.

That’s great work

I was diagnosed nearly two years ago with an HbA1c of 70, within four months I had it down to non diabetic levels and it has stayed mid 30s ever since.
Can I ask how you’re doing? I notice you are new to the forum, so welcome and in case you haven’t seen it I’ll tag in @daisy1 for her useful info post.

Thats great work @daisy1 I to was at 78 when diagnosed and brought down to 40 in two months.

 

[Member496333]

Diagnosed a little over two years ago with triple figure HbA1c, retinopathy and slightly numb feet. Initially got a little better but then the retinopathy exploded and my feet became so painful I sometimes wished someone would saw them off. Depression set in and I was going downhill fast. Standard flimflam dietary advice was making me worse as I tried to reconcile it with carbohydrate negotiations.

After one year I declared war on carbs and went full-keto, and six moths later I had beaten diabetes into the ground. A further six months passed and then I joined here. If I’d stumbled on these forums earlier I could probably have saved myself a lot of bother, so decided to use my experience to [try to] help others.

 

[Starfish18]

I was diagnosed Jan this year so I'm only just at the start of my journey and got an awful lot to learn went lchf the day I was diagnosed

 

[daisy1]

@londonluke
Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it both interesting and helpful.

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 147,000 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 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.

 

[LindsayJane]

Diagnosed December 2018 and hit the ground running as soon as I knew - I want to get rid of diabetes in my life! At diagnosos my HbA1c was 95, weight 79 kilos, blood glucose 10. I've been following LCHF since my birthday in early January (I gave myself a new life as a present) and my HbA1c when tested in March had come down to 43, weight is currently 63 kilos in spite of all the cheese and double cream and my fasting blood glucose is in the 4s and 5s daily. Disappointed by the contradictory dietary advice given by the NHS and agree with @Energize that there sems to be a culture of keeping us steady on meds (where the money is). Very pleased, however with my HCPs who are fully suporting me in my diet/lifestyle choices. I wish you good health and hope your journey is a successful one. You will find this forum a good place for support and information.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Diagnosed January 2014 with no symptoms. My GP has coded me as diabetes resolved from June 2014, although I disagree with this coding and prefer well controlled. No medication. Still no symptoms or complications.

 

[bulkbiker]

Just wanted to know how long you good people have been living with and managing your type 2 diabetes?

Diagnosed Oct 2014 with HbA1c of 87 mmol/l sub 30 mmol/m HbA1c since July 2016.
Intermittent fasting/keto/ carnivore eating.

 

[britishpub]

Just wanted to know how long you good people have been living with and managing your type 2 diabetes?

Diagnosed April 2015 with two fat ladies (88 HbA1c)

Been in the twenties since December 2015, but probably even earlier

Low Carb and IF.

No complications yet.

 

[Flora123]

Diagnosed June 2018 with Hba1c in triple figures. Tested three months later and down to 36 which it’s been that way since. LCHF and with the advice here from @Jim Lahey in particular going lower on protein has seemed to help with the blips I have had from time to time. No complications fortunately.

 

[Member496333]

Diagnosed June 2018 with Hba1c in triple figures. Tested three months later and down to 36 which it’s been that way since. LCHF and with the advice here from @Jim Lahey in particular going lower on protein has seemed to help with the blips I have had from time to time. No complications fortunately.

Glad to hear it. It divides opinion in our circles, but no matter what some of the “protein deniers” () might say, it can and does affect some individuals in excess. For what it’s worth I think it becomes far less of a factor as insulin sensitivity greatly improves. Or at least that is my experience.

 

[stuffedolive]

24 years since my BS was shown to be high at a job medical screening. 15 years since diagnosis. Since then I have graphed my bloods against food and exercise regimes to find out what works and stayed off the meds, although I was threatened with metformin at one point. LCHF and exercise worked best for me.