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Type 1 Is the damage from inferior diabetes control for a long period permanent

G

Gravitaz

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello all,

I've had type 1 diabetes for 5 years now. My HbA1C readings have always been always between 7.5 and 8.4; I understand they are high and I need to control my condition more tightly. I've had my routine checkups yesterday and found a minor complication. This acted as a wake up call for me.

The question I want to ask is whether the damage from inferior diabetes control for a long period (5 years) is permanent? is the nerve damage and other complications that can't be diagnosed permanent or are they reversible once tighter control is taken?

Thank you
 
Hi.

It doesn't make much odds. Your best bet for improving present complications and preventing future ones is good blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle.

So yes it's a wake up call! 7.5 isn't awful so small effort improving on that could make a big difference. Good luck.


Sent from my X9 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
Interesting question ... to which I am eagerly awaiting an answer. Sorry, I don't know.

But I do know that complications can get worse if your control remains inferior. So the response to this wake up call should be same whatever the answer: work on getting your BG down. Hopefully, your local diabetes team who spotted the problem should be able to help you improve.
 
Gravitaz said:
The question I want to ask is whether the damage from inferior diabetes control for a long period (5 years) is permanent? is the nerve damage and other complications that can't be diagnosed permanent or are they reversible once tighter control is taken?
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean by ''complications that can't be diagnosed'' @Gravitaz

However with minor complications (such as Background Retinopathy/first stages of Nephropathy) the condition can be reversed or stopped from progressing further with good bg, bp and cholesterol control, obviously for some this isn't always the case but good control does gives you the best chance possible.

If your concerned have a chat with your diabetes consultant. Good luck.
 
Thanks all for your very helpful responses; I know that I need to manage my diabetes more carefully regardless of the answer; but I'm just looking for more motivation to do that.

I've found an article that partly answers my question (it carries good news!):
diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/reversing-complications.html

@noblehead what I meant by "complications that can't be diagnosed" is the very early stages of some complications.

Again, thank you all for your responses ;)
 
Gravitaz said:
Thanks all for your very helpful responses; I know that I need to manage my diabetes more carefully regardless of the answer; but I'm just looking for more motivation to do that.

@noblehead what I meant by "complications that can't be diagnosed" is the very early stages of some complications.

Again, thank you all for your responses ;)
Click to expand...
Hi @Gravitaz ..
Sorry .. since you know that your control has been "inferior" for some time .. and you know that you "need to control your condition more tightly" .. and you are already experiencing the "early stages of complications", I don't understand ..
a) why you need more motivation or ..
b) what you are looking for to motivate you ..
 
Gravitaz said:
@noblehead what I meant by "complications that can't be diagnosed" is the very early stages of some complications.
Click to expand...

Right thanks for the clarification @Gravitaz .:)

My answer to your question is just the same as before, if you want motivation just look at those who have lived with type 1 for several decades and still live a full and active life, many are members here.

Just one other thing, if you've not got the book already then do purchase Think Like a Pancreas as it's an excellent book on managing type 1, it comes highly recommended by the type 1 members here and is often mentioned for good reasons. Best wishes.
 
AM1874 said:
Hi @Gravitaz ..
Sorry .. since you know that your control has been "inferior" for some time .. and you know that you "need to control your condition more tightly" .. and you are already experiencing the "early stages of complications", I don't understand ..
a) why you need more motivation or ..
b) what you are looking for to motivate you ..
Click to expand...
You're right. I misspoke; I don't need motivation but perhaps some comforting as the recent diagnosis has brought me down a bit.

Thanks for your response.
 
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noblehead said:
Right thanks for the clarification @Gravitaz .:)

My answer to your question is just the same as before, if you want motivation just look at those who have lived with type 1 for several decades and still live a full and active life, many are members here.

Just one other thing, if you've not got the book already then do purchase Think Like a Pancreas as it's an excellent book on managing type 1, it comes highly recommended by the type 1 members here and is often mentioned for good reasons. Best wishes.
Click to expand...

Thanks for recommending the book; I was actually just reading about it; seems like an extremely helpful book.
 
Gravitaz said:
Thanks for recommending the book; I was actually just reading about it; seems like an extremely helpful book.
Click to expand...

It is helpful, it covers people using injections and pumps, the author himself has type 1 diabetes.

It's a book that you can go back to time and time again, well worth the money IMHO.
 
Gravitaz said:
Hello all,

I've had type 1 diabetes for 5 years now. My HbA1C readings have always been always between 7.5 and 8.4; I understand they are high and I need to control my condition more tightly. I've had my routine checkups yesterday and found a minor complication. This acted as a wake up call for me.

The question I want to ask is whether the damage from inferior diabetes control for a long period (5 years) is permanent? is the nerve damage and other complications that can't be diagnosed permanent or are they reversible once tighter control is taken?

Thank you
Click to expand...
There's been a lot of studies indicating a correlation between HbA1C readings and complications but there seems to be a growing sentiment that it may have less to do with control and more to do with the combination of genetic mutations that predisposes you to Type 1.

That statement I discovered upsets a lot of people because they take it as a challenge to their belief systems however there are people like me - who have never had tight control - in the last 25 years my lowest A1C was 6.8 - have lived with diabetes for a very long time (for me over 51 years) and have no complications. As well this is not an anomaly - the percentage may have changed but I read that the Jocelyn Diabetes Centre in the USA have been keeping track of their patients and complications and apparently 17 - 20 percent of Type 1 diabetics are just like me. In my opinion that's too much of a percentage to be an anomaly.

Regardless - it's important that you try to do the best you can and hope for the best!
 
@fletchweb 51 years of T1D without complications! that's 17-20 percent encouraging :D

Do you think that another explanation for your case is the fact that the extent of the damage done by high blood glucose levels varies between one person and another?

Thanks for sharing.
 
Gravitaz said:
@fletchweb 51 years of T1D without complications! that's 17-20 percent encouraging :D

Do you think that another explanation for your case is the fact that the extent of the damage done by high blood glucose levels varies between one person and another?

Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...
I think so - there's still so much we don't know so I appreciate other views on this whole topic. Maybe it also has to do with the level of physical activity, nutrition, stress, - I suspect there are so many variables it's really hard to attribute complications to just one thing - I do however find the genetic mutation combination theory plausible
 
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