Type 2

Hi Jane, I agree with you, I wasn't particularly overweight at 9st 12lbs when I was diagnosed, there is no history in my family of diabetes, although I did have gestational diabetes 20 year ago. There are loads of slim people who have diabetes and there are a loads of fat people who don't. If you are prone to it, it doesn't matter what you do you will get it eventually, so it is pointless blaming yourself for what will be, will be. It is nice sharing experiences with other diabetics and being able to get support without being judged.

Marilyn

I think I have been treading on toes - apologies.

You are right there is most definitely a genetic component to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, though I am not convinced that just because you are 'prone' to diabetes you automatically get it (I am sure there are people who have predisposition to Type 1 that never actually develop the condition - and it is probably the same with Type 2)
Unfortunately (or fortunately - depending on how you look at it) the instance of Type 2 diabetes developing in slim people is uncommon. It must be challenging being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes when you are not in a position to improve your condition, or when you have been diagnosed 'Type 2' when insulin resistance is not a factor, and rather diabetes has come about through a function of the pancreas. I appreciate it must then be particularly upsetting to be faced by the notion that type 2 diabetes can be 'reversed' - because it can't be for you, just as it can't be for many others. What you can do however is take a positive attitude to managing your BG levels through diet, exercise and medicine and just as anyone with Type 1 live a complication free life.

I appreciate that 'Type 2' reversal is a sensitive area, however I wonder if it is not better to offer the greater proportion of those diagnosed with type 2 (certainly at initial diagnosis) the hope and challenge to reverse their condition (where appropriate) rather than giving a pretty depressing prognosis for a chronic condition.
Remember that the very fact that you utilise this forum means that you are already engaged, motivated and no doubt perfectly competent at managing your diabetes. Unfortunately however you are not the 'norm' in not only in the respect of your condition, but also your positive outlook.

Trying to put myself in someone else's shoes, I know which message I would you prefer to hear - certainly at diagnosis. But perhaps I'm wrong? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Apologies again if you found my previous message in any way offensive.

Becky.

With all due respect Becky you have based your criticism on one post. I wasn't aware that you had such an indepth knowledge of my medical history to know whether or not I am able to improve my condition or control it by diet and exercise alone. I think it is quite rude of you to assume that I am giving people a depressing prognosis for a chronic condition, that is not my intention at all. As far as I am aware there is no cure for diabetes, but that does not mean to say that people cannot control it for many years by diet and exercise alone. However, this is not 'reversal' it is 'management'. I am also very positive about my condition and my outlook on life in general. What I do find most challenging is people like you who make assumptions about people from a few words in a post and you can assess their medical conditon and emotional feelings - how do you do that, it's amazing.

Mazzer said:

With all due respect Becky you have based your criticism on one post. I wasn't aware that you had such an indepth knowledge of my medical history to know whether or not I am able to improve my condition or control it by diet and exercise alone. I think it is quite rude of you to assume that I am giving people a depressing prognosis for a chronic condition, that is not my intention at all. As far as I am aware there is no cure for diabetes, but that does not mean to say that people cannot control it for many years by diet and exercise alone. However, this is not 'reversal' it is 'management'. I am also very positive about my condition and my outlook on life in general. What I do find most challenging is people like you who make assumptions about people from a few words in a post and you can assess their medical conditon and emotional feelings - how do you do that, it's amazing.

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If only there was a like twice button.

Mazzer said:

With all due respect Becky you have based your criticism on one post. I wasn't aware that you had such an indepth knowledge of my medical history to know whether or not I am able to improve my condition or control it by diet and exercise alone. I think it is quite rude of you to assume that I am giving people a depressing prognosis for a chronic condition, that is not my intention at all. As far as I am aware there is no cure for diabetes, but that does not mean to say that people cannot control it for many years by diet and exercise alone. However, this is not 'reversal' it is 'management'. I am also very positive about my condition and my outlook on life in general. What I do find most challenging is people like you who make assumptions about people from a few words in a post and you can assess their medical conditon and emotional feelings - how do you do that, it's amazing.

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Eeek!
Well that put me in my place. How dare 'someone like me' ask for input on what is clearly a very sensitive issue!

My message wasn't actually directed at you Marilyn, I obviously have no knowledge of the specifics of your situation, and am not qualified to comment. This is why without specifics I deliberately made 'assumptions' - that is all they are, they are not intended to cause offence and I certainly wouldn't expect my 'assumptions' to be necessarily correct. We are all different and every situation is unique.
It does appear however that you perceive the issue of diabetes reversal as a very emotive issue along with many others and I don't particularly enjoy being a punching bag.
If you perceived any criticism in my message, I am critical of the way in which the 'general populous' perceive diabetes, and with the best intentions even certain Healthcare providers who perceive that diabetes has a poor prognosis. (In their defence this is based on current statistics)

If you consider that diabetes reversal is becoming med free and successfully managing diabetes with exercise and diet alone, then that can happen (not in every case - before I get shot down again!). If this is done early enough after diagnosis, then can it be 'cured'? At the moment I guess nobody knows for sure.
I originally posted a comment on this thread in response to someone who claimed that diabetes can be 'cured' or 'reversed'. The individual got somewhat lambasted (their views were perhaps a little extreme!) however I considered there was some truth to their point of view, and wondered what the views of others on the forum might be to a somewhat different approach to Type 2.

I am genuinely pleased that you maintain a positive outlook Marilyn.
Reading back through my previous post I can now see that you might have read it as some form of personal attack which was absolutely not the objective! - as I say it was a general response actually being directed to a wider audience. Apologies that I didn't make that clear.

Becky

Hi Becky, Thank you for clarifying your post. I am very sorry if I got the wrong end of the stick, I honestly thought that it was directed a me and felt quite hurt and I can only apologise.

Unfortunately, most people are not diagnosed early enough and have probably had it for some time before developing symptoms (in my case blurred vision) or by having a blood test for something unrelated. I have read somewhere that there is probably thousands of people walking around with diabetes and are totally unaware. I don't know what the answer is to this one.

Of course it would be fantastic if a cure was on the horizon, and I am sure that there will be, but not in my lifetime. However, the advice given by the NHS is very outdated, but with the help and support of members here people are managing their diabetes much more successfully, and some have been able to either reduce their meds or come of them and control their diabetes by diet and excercise alone, which in itself is a great step in the right direction.

Once again, my apologies and I hope that we can put this behind us.

Marilyn

No worries
I should have been clearer, as I say reading through my post again afterwards I was ashamed to think you might have thought that was directed towards you as an individual. When it's read as though it's specific to you it sounds just horrible! Sorry to have made you feel bad Marilyn.

As to the issues there are definitely areas that can be improved upon - such as earlier diagnosis/improved awareness as you point out.
What concerns me is the number of people suffering needlessly with complications through lack of information and support. I think you're absolutely right that forums like this and indeed the wider diabetes community can actually have an enormously positive effect on changing attitudes towards diabetes, and play a key role in educating and supporting others.

It's people like you who make lives better for others - you're a force for good!

Becky.

Bebo321 said:

No worries
I should have been clearer, as I say reading through my post again afterwards I was ashamed to think you might have thought that was directed towards you as an individual. When it's read as though it's specific to you it sounds just horrible! Sorry to have made you feel bad Marilyn.

As to the issues there are definitely areas that can be improved upon - such as earlier diagnosis/improved awareness as you point out.
What concerns me is the number of people suffering needlessly with complications through lack of information and support. I think you're absolutely right that forums like this and indeed the wider diabetes community can actually have an enormously positive effect on changing attitudes towards diabetes, and play a key role in educating and supporting others.

It's people like you who make lives better for others - you're a force for good!

Becky.

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Thank you so much Becky, what a lovely post, unfortunately It is so easy to misinterpret the written word.

At the end of the day we are all here to support each other and to help the newly diagnosed to understand that diabetes can be controlled with the right guidance and knowledge, and reassure them that they can live a healthy, long and hopefully complication free life. I feel for some of the older generation who are not computer literate, they are unaware of forums like, so don't get the information they desperately need.

I have just read a report on the Diabetes.org.uk website about the rise in amputations because they are not getting the appropriate care or referrals to specialists/podiatrists (its a postcode lottery), it's scary.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News/Amputation-postcode-lottery-getting-worse/

Anyway, Becky once again thank you for your kind words, life is too short to hold grudges, I am glad we are able to chat and no hard feelings, we both have an important role on this forum and that is to help others, so carry on with your good work.

Take care, I will definately be reading your posts twice in future before I jump head first.

Marilyn xx

Following a post from Marilyn that's included a link to the latest appalling figures for amputations in England (see above) - and the fact that earlier on in this thread it was mentioned that people with type 2 were sometimes labelled as 'fat and lazy'. Ewww sorry that just sounds so awful it hurts!
Take a look at this film!!!. It creates a very cogent argument to suggest that actually insulin resistance is a cause of obesity, not the other way around.

https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_attia_what_if_we_re_wrong_about_diabetes

For anyone who is interested to discuss insulin resistance, or just follow the chat, the theme of the #gbdoc tweet chat tonight is on the topic of insulin resistance at 9pm. www.gbdoc.co.uk

ps. Marylin you're a star!