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Type 2 Long term low Hba1c

bigsi1984

bigsi1984

Well-Known Member
Messages
88
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hello,

I'm newly diagnosed and working on getting numbers down. My question is, if you successfully got a Hba1c of say 35 and it stayed there or thereabouts for the rest of your life, are you still going to develop diabetic complications?

Thanks
 
Hmm. I will watch this thread with interest.

I got down to 35 after 6 months of hard work. However, I don't know how long I have had T2 or how much damage may have been done, my toes feel as though they belong to someone else.

If you keep your numbers really low, you are less likely suffer the complications that high blood glucose can cause.
 
xfieldok said:
Hmm. I will watch this thread with interest.

I got down to 35 after 6 months of hard work. However, I don't know how long I have had T2 or how much damage may have been done, my toes feel as though they belong to someone else.

If you keep your numbers really low, you are less likely suffer the complications that high blood glucose can cause.
Click to expand...

It is an interesting topic. I was wondering if someone had an Hba1c of 85 and didn't know it but then they turned everything around and dropped some weight/adapted diet etc and the Hba1c dropped to 35 what is that classed as? It's theoretical of course but if all that was true but they had never been for a blood test or had a diagnosis would they ever be considered diabetic?

If they rocked up to the doctor and said 'I've lost 10 stone', and their Hba1c was low surely the doctor wouldn't diagnose them T2. But by the current logic they would be and would be so forever.
 
I think if you get your HbA1c below 42 and keep it there for the rest of the life, you're not going to get diabetic complications that are any worse that what might have been happening before diagnosis. In my experience it is rare for someone to have an extremely high HbA1c for long enough to cause complications without at least feeling ill and hopefully coming to the attention of someone who can do a blood test.

IMO there is no "shame" in continuing to have the diagnosis of T2 diabetes after your blood glucose levels are under control. In my case, I have gotten out of control again more than once, so having the label diabetic was a very good thing. Being diagnosed with T2 diabetes shows that your body's blood glucose control systems do not function as they should. Genetics plays a big part in it. I wouldn't feel ashamed of any other genetic condition I have.
 
It is a a well debated topic. People can claim to have Reversed it, or are in Remission.

My personal view is that if your blood glucose is within normal levels and you are off all medications, if you can then eat high carbohydrates and your readings are within the normal range after 2 hours, you might have cracked it. If you can kickstart your pancreas then you are definitely winning.

Regardless of my HbA1c readings, I started at 122 in November, I will always keep an eye on them, I won't necessarily test 8 times a day.

I would recommend The Diabetes Code by Jason Fung, he also has YouTube videos. Also Dr Michael Mosley's 8 week sugar diet. For the science, his menu contains food I don't tolerate.
 
I don't know if reducing your BG will result in no complications. It is probably difficult to know because many of the diabetes complications can be caused by other things too (e.g. heart disease).
Much more importantly, it will greatly reduce the risk of getting complications so it is definitely worth the effort.
 
xfieldok said:
Diabetic = free prescriptions.
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I thought this was true only if treated by medication.
If you have diabetes which you choose to treat via diet only, I was not aware you were entitled to free prescriptions.

And I have no idea what the rules are outside of England (I think they are different in Scotland).
 
We typically consider people wearing glasses as having poor eysight.

However - if they are wearing the glasses as presribed - thier eyesight should effectively be normal.
You have no idea how good the eyesight is of someone who is NOT wearing glasses.

Similarly someone who has been diagnosed as having diabetes, should be in a position to take stock and make attempts to manage blood glucose levels, and hence limit the consequent complications, provided they are empowered to do so.
 
I went to the chemist for hubby and myself, he pays for his, I am over 60 so I don't pay for mine. Hubby also wanted something else and she put it through under my name, as I am diabetic I would get it for free. I was quite pleased but hubby said not to do it again!
 
Other things to consider. If you get so much as a sniffle, your numbers will shoot up and be uncontrollable. There will be nothing you can do about it.

There are medications that may be sugar coated, not suitable for us.

I had a cough, the pharmacist would only give me robbitussin (spelling).
 
xfieldok said:
I went to the chemist for hubby and myself, he pays for his, I am over 60 so I don't pay for mine. Hubby also wanted something else and she put it through under my name, as I am diabetic I would get it for free. I was quite pleased but hubby said not to do it again!
Click to expand...

In England prescriptions are only free for diabetics if they are on diabetes medications. They need an exemption certificate from the doctor for this to happen. The exemption certificate covers all medications, not just the diabetes ones. A diabetic on diet only is not entitled to free prescriptions unless they satisfy one of the other criteria (aged 60, benefits etc)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
In England prescriptions are only free for diabetics if they are on diabetes medications. They need an exemption certificate from the doctor for this to happen. The exemption certificate covers all medications, not just the diabetes ones. A diabetic on diet only is not entitled to free prescriptions unless they satisfy one of the other criteria (aged 60, benefits etc)
Click to expand...
I don't have an exemption certificate but my chemist is within the surgery and my details must be flagged on their computer.
 
xfieldok said:
I went to the chemist for hubby and myself, he pays for his, I am over 60 so I don't pay for mine. Hubby also wanted something else and she put it through under my name, as I am diabetic I would get it for free. I was quite pleased but hubby said not to do it again!
Click to expand...
I don't blame him, it's fraud.
 
bigsi1984 said:
Hello,

I'm newly diagnosed and working on getting numbers down. My question is, if you successfully got a Hba1c of say 35 and it stayed there or thereabouts for the rest of your life, are you still going to develop diabetic complications?

Thanks
Click to expand...

My guess is someone with a lifelong HbA1c of 35 is more likely to avoid complications than someone with a lifelong HbA1c of 70.

There seems to be good evidence, however, that constantly avoiding high blood sugar spikes after food may decrease the risk of complications even further. I.e. if two people both have an HbA1c of 35, but one has a diet which results in regular big spikes after food, that person may well be at increased risk of complications.
 
xfieldok said:
my toes feel as though they belong to someone else.
Click to expand...

Me too. We've probably got each other's toes - perhaps we could come to some sort of arrangement.

For now, my left big toe feels itchy - would you mind giving it a scratch?
 
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