How you know your diabetes has progressed ?

[Omar51]

Obviously diabetes is progressive disease. Out of curiosity how do you know that diabetes has progressed?
Mine shows from my feet that the skin has gradually turned dark, other than that my numbers are in non diabetic range.

 

[becca59]

@Omar51 it doesn’t have to be a progressive disease these days if we work hard at food choices and looking after ourselves. Many people live long lives with few complications. In fact as a late diagnosed Type 1 (53) I think I am a lot healthier than I would have been without it.
What makes you think it is unavoidably progressive?

 

[KennyA]

Obviously diabetes is progressive disease. Out of curiosity how do you know that diabetes has progressed?
Mine shows from my feet that the skin has gradually turned dark, other than that my numbers are in non diabetic range.

I wouldn't say it's obvious that Diabetes (I mean here T2) is always a progressive disease. It can be, if not treated and managed. Unfortunately the belief that diabetes is inevitably going to progress means that both healthcare organisations and individuals with the disease sometimes have a fatalistic attitude and might therefore do nothing to improve things.

My condition has certainly improved a lot in the past three years years - by which I mean BGs in normal levels: reduction and absence of complicating symptoms; and substantial weight loss. I have a low-carb lifestyle to thank for that.

 

[Omar51]

I wouldn't say it's obvious that Diabetes (I mean here T2) is always a progressive disease. It can be, if not treated and managed. Unfortunately the belief that diabetes is inevitably going to progress means that both healthcare organisations and individuals with the disease sometimes have a fatalistic attitude and might therefore do nothing to improve things.

My condition has certainly improved a lot in the past three years years - by which I mean BGs in normal levels: reduction and absence of complicating symptoms; and substantial weight loss. I have a low-carb lifestyle to thank for that.

I think you are right, I can change obviously to generally. It’s written all over that diabetes is progressive, especially if it’s not controlled. Mine is very well controlled. I am far healthier than 13 years ago, and I don’t take any medicine.
It also depends on when it caught and your weight, lifestyle and a lot more. I can never go back to my previous lifestyle. There is a lot of marketing misinformation out there too.
My language is not that good but I read a lot. For a lot of people it is very hard to control. My PCP, Nephrologist and Dietitian told me it is progressive. I am very happy with myself and my diet. Thanks for all the good information and help.

 

[KennyA]

I think you are right, I can change obviously to generally. It’s written all over that diabetes is progressive, especially if it’s not controlled. Mine is very well controlled. I am far healthier than 13 years ago, and I don’t take any medicine.
It also depends on when it caught and your weight, lifestyle and a lot more. I can never go back to my previous lifestyle. There is a lot of marketing misinformation out there too.
My language is not that good but I read a lot. For a lot of people it is very hard to control. My PCP, Nephrologist and Dietitian told me it is progressive. I am very happy with myself and my diet. Thanks for all the good information and help.

Agree - if left untreated, it is a progressive disease.

 

[Omar51]

@Omar51 it doesn’t have to be a progressive disease these days if we work hard at food choices and looking after ourselves. Many people live long lives with few complications. In fact as a late diagnosed Type 1 (53) I think I am a lot healthier than I would have been without it.
What makes you think it is unavoidably progressive?

I probably used the wrong word “obviously”. If not controlled, in that case it will progress . I am not sure if it is very well controlled. In that case diabetes will still progress or not ?. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[PatsyB]

When I first started with Diabetes I was control it with diet and pills. then after many years I had to have Insulin as level were getting higher .

 

[Omar51]

I probably used the wrong word “obviously”. If not controlled, in that case it will progress . I am not sure if it is very well controlled. In that case diabetes will still progress or not ?. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Got some information from Google too:
“Even if your diabetes has been well controlled for years, the condition can still worsen over time, meaning, you may have to adjust your treatment plan more than once.Jun 16, 2022”

 

[Omar51]

When I first started with Diabetes I was control it with diet and pills. then after many years I had to have Insulin as level were getting higher .

That’s my point. A lot of people start dieting and later it becomes hard to control. Then they go on medicine or insulin. I have been controlling diabetes with no medicine for over 13 years. My numbers are still in the non diabetic range.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[catinahat]

A lot of people start dieting and later it becomes hard to control

A lot of people are not you, some are not able to control things with diet, others can go for years without needing meds, others may never need meds.
No one has a crystal ball to look into their future, there are no guarantees in this life, we just have to do the best we can here and now. Why spend a minute of your present, worrying about a future that may never happen.

 

[Omar51]

A lot of people are not you, some are not able to control things with diet, others can go for years without needing meds, others may never need meds.
No one has a crystal ball to look into their future, there are no guarantees in this life, we just have to do the best we can here and now. Why spend a minute of your present, worrying about a future that may never happen.

Obviously we all are different and one shoe never fits all. All my numbers are in the non diabetic range, so there is nothing to worry about. There is nothing wrong with curiosity either and I might gain some helpful knowledge. Thanks for sharing your response.

 

[Omar51]

In diabetic world everyone is one of a kind, anyone can try or copy for experiments. I can only talk about myself. I am almost going on 14 years as pre without meds. Like I said I can only talk about myself, my diabetes has progressed, I can feel it and the good part is I am still alive. My thanks to all members!

 

[saky]

Those who need insulin later might be producing less endogenous insulin as time goes by. Therefore, it becomes hard to control with diet(low carb) and exercise alone so medicines need to be added. Many type2 diabetics (the insulin resistant, obese &mild age related diabetes) can control with low carb or very low carb.

 

[jonathan183]

I think increased medication to hold similar blood glucose levels or requiring reduced carbohydrate intake over time would also suggest progression.

I also think periodic c-peptide testing would indicate progression of diabetes. Falling levels below normal range indicate reduced beta cell effectiveness (typically due to autoimmune attack or high blood glucose level damage). Increasing levels above normal range indicate increasing insulin resistance.

As others have said diabetes does not always need to be a progressive disease if it has the correct treatment. Unfortunately the correct treatment is not always identified and effectively implemented

 

[saky]

Yes. C peptide along with insulin and blood sugar is a good test to determine how well pancrease is producing insulin.
Mine was 2ng/ml (fasting c peptide). Fasting insulin 6 units and fasting blood sugar - 86mg/ml on Jan 22nd, 2023.
My pancrease is producing less insulin now. In 2006 fasting insulin was 13units and FBS - 77mg/ml. I have insulin resistance and pcos and gain weight easily on carbs.

 

[Omar51]

Yes. C peptide along with insulin and blood sugar is a good test to determine how well pancrease is producing insulin.
Mine was 2ng/ml (fasting c peptide). Fasting insulin 6 units and fasting blood sugar - 86mg/ml on Jan 22nd, 2023.
My pancrease is producing less insulin now. In 2006 fasting insulin was 13units and FBS - 77mg/ml. I have insulin resistance and pcos and gain weight easily on carbs.

IMO, I am pre and take no meds. If I eat regular food like non diabetic people, my testing bg numbers will tell me how much my diabetes has progressed. I will have very high numbers. My A1c will go up and my doctor will probably put me on medicine.

 

[OrsonKartt]

I agree with your original statement about diabetes type 2 being a progressive disease

It may not be for all but that’s my experience

I was diagnosed around 9 years ago when a low carb diet gave me pre diabetic hba1c numbers

Over the years my diet has decreased in carbs as my hba1c levels increases

I no longer eat fruit or vegetables . I haven’t eaten bread, pasta, rice etc for years)

Soon I will be totally carnivore


Of course I could be poorly diagnosed.

8 years ago I paid £300 to have a c peptide test done. Then I was on the low side of normal. So I could be one of the estimated 10% misdiagnosed LADA cohort?