Is T2D remission rare?

I personally do not think that is remission, it is good dietary control. Almost always low carb. If those people eat a big bowl of ice cream what do their sugars do?

And it is clear that they were all advised to follow the 'standard advice' - maybe more interesting would be a follow up study of Dr David Unwin's patients, or even Richard Bernstein's.

I would imagine that remission / good dietary control / normal BG levels are rarely achieved and maintained long term, other than with a HFLC diet. And the ADA and BDA seem disinterested in funding proper research to prove that is the case.

I had commented on another post regarding this. The people you will meet on a forum like this are the exception not the rule. I went to my doctor after 3 months and my A1c had gone from 10.4 to 6.7 which is obviously a big improvement. He was very happy with it. I was not all that happy with the number and he wanted to know why. I said it is still firmly diabetic. His response was that most of his patients run routinely in the teens and he rarely sees a drop like mine. He also said that I am getting older and that these things get harder with age. I am 48. The information given in Canada is just as bad as that given in the UK or the US. Your eatwell plate is the same as what they push here. Most people just want to take a pill and go on eating that ice cream. They are happy in their ignorance and fully believe they are doing what is right for their health because they take their meds. There is no attempt to educate themselves and they don't want to hear that they have to actually give something up and work at it. Then comes the total shock when complications inevitably set in and they say "but I did what I was told" and the doctors say "It's progressive, there is nothing you can do" The people who make the effort to find forums like this, to learn from others, and who change their diet and lifestyle are actually quite rare.

it´s the same in Denmark we are told to eat about 60-70% carbs in our food, new though is that they now tell people to eat a little handfull of nuts every day... hopefully people do that instead of something else..and not on top of it... it seems that weight is more important than being fit..http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-conversation-us/fitness-versus-fatness-wh_b_8512240.html. witch I think must depend on the degree of both aspects... but that motivates me to continue loosing weight... and I guess in the future when I have lost all I want ... I´ll keep the weigth by monthly 3 days fastings

Agree with most people just accepting medication and not changing lifestyles...

I was shocked this week at my new hospital to see so many people in waiting room with chronic leg problems including 4 persons with some degree of amputations. It shocked me to the core to actually see so many "mature" with "excessive bmi" people were there.

Today on news they were saying of the increase in people living over 100 years.. But these people I saw were all in ages of 50-75 but prob still listen just to medics for advise and carry on as normal just taking meds.

I was absolutely shocked. It made me so sad to see this.

Agree that people generally don't sign up to forums or look
Into health issues unless something has become critical to them.

However, nationally according to my old hospital diabetes manager only 20% of people invited to courses on diabetes actually attend...my current hospital adverises courses for Desmond and Dafne. They can cater for 25 people at each course. Suprisingly at the bottom it does say if less than 5 people attend the course will be cancelled. I've had discussions with diabetes manager and put forward some proposals how to increase and help diabetics....

Not sure that I even believe in courses but would like to be invited to a desmond and a Dafne as I have a general interest in nutrition as a whole...

@donnellysdogs I declined to be put forward for a Desmond course. There may be many reasons why people don't go. Would be interesting if there were stats, but I wasn't really asked why I didn't want to attend.

Avocado Sevenfold said:

@donnellysdogs I declined to be put forward for a Desmond course. There may be many reasons why people don't go. Would be interesting if there were stats, but I wasn't really asked why I didn't want to attend.

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This is what I spoke to Manager about. They don't have time to follow up why people don't go!!

Unbelievable really!!

I suggested ways around this and have just put in another submission to help our hospital and diabetics in our CCG.

Just basic 10 points given to them.. one point was to get diabetes.co.uk recommended in the discussions with new patients. To show them how easy it is to get recipes and info from using forums etc.. They could have patients go to a volunteer run session telling them about DVLA, presciption exemption cards etc from people that have genuine good knowledge and good care and have a few hours that they could give....

@donnellysdogs I would have declined any course if it had been offered .. I would rather just be given the correct general advice in a leaflet and find my own way .. I also strongly object to Drs and heath care teams trying to follow up on things I don't wish to be involved with .. Its my life and my choice .. I just let the wife tell them to back off in no uncertain terms .. they seem to get the message

If they only asked people and followed up, they may well find some people to attend or find differet ways other than their current courses to help people??

Interesting info on reasons why not.. Just wish our CCGs would look at the actual reasons.. My Manager didn't know whether it was times of courses or what the problem of non attendance was...
Perhaps we should have a poll here so I can direct my Diabetes Manager and CCG people to look at reasons why people don't attend...

kokhongw said:

Even then it appears to be rare...just to reach normalize HbA1c levels.

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Yes - because the advice everyone is given is that the goal is either 7% or 6.5%, and the dietary advice they are given is geared toward above-normal blood glucose levels.

My mother is quite happy with her 7% A1c, and would be very unhappy if they suggested she actually should strive for normal. (She is upset at the thought that some places now aim for 6.5%)

Neohdiver said:

Yes - because the advice everyone is given is that the goal is either 7% or 6.5%, and the dietary advice they are given is geared toward above-normal blood glucose levels.

My mother is quite happy with her 7% A1c, and would be very unhappy if they suggested she actually should strive for normal. (She is upset at the thought that some places now aim for 6.5%)

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.Was your mother told that should be the maximum level and to try to get below it?

I'm really interested because I'm trying to gain info to give to our CCG....

I know if my hubby was told to just hit a set % with health, he too would do it. However, if he was told to get it below - then he would be asking "how low under would be good?"

donnellysdogs said:

.Was your mother told that should be the maximum level and to try to get below it?

I'm really interested because I'm trying to gain info to give to our CCG....

I know if my hubby was told to just hit a set % with health, he too would do it. However, if he was told to get it below - then he would be asking "how low under would be good?"

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She is very food dependent - if she doesn't eat food that satisfies her within 30 minutes of her stomach time, she can't do anything but fixate on getting food.

She, personally, tries to stay right at 7 - because the things she wants to eat would tend to put her above 7, and she already feels deprived. I expect her doctors told her 7 or below (which is the old standard for good control - the current standard most placs is 6.5% - as a cap).

That creates a constant tug of war for me, since she doesn't understand that 7 is not an acceptable value for me, nor is ignoring my carb cap for special occasions. And when my spouse and sister-in-law (both diabetic, as well) join in, I look like the weirdo.

I try to take care of my own dietary needs and be unobtrusive about how I'm eating, but when someone asks me a direct question I answer honestly. Then the you're such a special snowflake chime in begins: "I'm diabetic too, and I don't eat that way" ( (Particularly amusing when it comes from my spouse who constantly raises a ruckus about places not having sugar-free desserts available - while she stuffs her face with mashed potatoes and rice, then eats the non-sugar free dessert on top of it since they didn't meet her needs). "I'm gonna die anyway, I'm not going to be misearable between now and then" (eating this way doesn't particularly make me miserable, but neuropathy, transplants, blindness and amputated limbs certainly would).

Not that poking fun at my successful efforts to contrlol my diabetes annoys the bejeebers out of me, or anything. **where's that sarcasm tag when I need it**

kokhongw said:

Hmmm looking at the success stories thread here, I wouldn't think it is rare at all.

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I assume you posted the poll - you might want to add a category for 6.0% or above to test your theory . . . I expect the bulk of people, even here, would be in that category. Certainly they would be above 6.0% in the "normal" diabetic population.

Perhaps your poll should include <5.7%?

"only 140 of them had ever achieved complete remission, defined as having an A1C (a measure of overall glucose control) of less than 5.7 percent on at least two visits without taking any diabetes medications."

Many here including myself are able to maintain good dietary control because we found this site. Without it many diabetics are doomed to failure. I actually got my numbers down to pre-diabetic numbers through the eat well plate but it wasnt until I got rid of the carbs that I achieved 5.4%/34 and it has stayed there.