I can speak from the voice of experience that complications are NOT inevitable. Over ten years ago, I was afflicted with severe neuropathy that affected my ability to walk normally. Suspecting high blood sugar as a possible cause (my Mum was a diabetic for over 40 years), I purchased a BG meter, did a variety of tests before & after meals, at bedtime, on arising, and at various other times (testing as frequently as ten or more times per day). After just a couple of days, I self-diagnosed myself as being diabetic and made an emergency appointment with an endocrinologist (there’s normally a three-months waiting period to get an appointment but, without going into the details, I was fortunate and was able to see him the following day). My diabetes was officially confirmed via tests. I was put on several medications, and told that I might have to undergo physical therapy to restore my ability to walk normally. After four months on oral meds and lifestyle changes, my symptoms were getting worse.
I had done my own research in the interim and had read well over a dozen books on the topic including Dr. Richard K. Bernstein’s “Diabetes Solution” and Jenny Ruhl’s “Blood Sugar 101.” I became convinced that bringing my blood sugar levels into true normal ranges might possibly lead to some form of recovery. Oral meds clearly weren’t providing the results I was after so I requested insulin. Long story short, I succeeded in normalizing my blood sugars, quickly brought my A1c levels down to the mid 5% range, and my symptoms began to fade. I continued my efforts at normalization through additional lifestyle changes coupled with insulin use and gradually lowered my A1c to the 4.8 level. All symptoms of neuropathy have since vanished and I currently have no detectable traces of any complications whatsoever (not detectable physically nor via any laboratory tests).
Dr. Bernstein himself is a T1 diabetic and was formerly plagued with multiple complications and was facing a very uncertain future. You can read his story at this link:
http://www.diabetes-book.com/book/mylife.shtml or
http://www.diabetes-book.com/book/MyLife.pdf
Dr. Bernstein recently passed his 80th birthday, is in superb health, and claims to be virtually free of complications. Jenny Ruhl (Blood Sugar 101) also wrote an article on the topic of diabetic deterioration that you can read here:
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046702.php
Perhaps you may find it useful to print copies of the two articles and give them to your dietician. Clearly, s/he needs to be re-educated; either that, or perhaps find another line of work.
