quote:

Originally posted by bbtommyd:
I was diagnosed in about 1995 at 38. I went in for a physical to get my ET license. I thought the doc was lying to me. I always had high blood pressure growing up but never took meds for it. When he diagnosed me I made lifestyle changes and went from 245 lbs to 200 lbs. I did that with working out and diet change. Fast forward to 50. They found my BS (A1C) to be too high at 7.8. I managed to control my A1C under 7.3 until then. That was 12 years ago. Now I am on Xigduo 1000mg twice and Tradjenta 500mg once. A1C was 8.2 last trip to the doc but no injections yet. I do get lightheaded occasionally but I've learned to deal with it and know eventually I will be on on Insulin. I will wait until it is absolutely necessary though. I'm also taking Lisinopril and Simvastatin for cholesterol and high blood pressure as mentioned previously. Diet and exercise lasted for 15 years so hopefully you will be able to keep yours at bay longer too. BTW I have never been up to double digit A1C so take what they tell you seriously.

quote:

Originally posted by Woody B:
I'm not diabetic (at least yet) but both of my parents and 3 of my Grandparents were(all type 2). I don't know what medication either of my Grandmothers were on, but neither of them died from anything related to diabetes. My Grandfather didn't develop diabetes until he was in his 70's. Diabetes was listed at a contributing factor in his death (congestive heart failure), but he was 93. He took metformin. My Dad became diabetic in 1997 when "they" lowered the threshold. I'm not saying that lowering the threshold was bad, his levels are high enough now (21 years later) to be considered diabetic by the old standards. He takes metformin. IIRC his A1C is somewhere in the 7's. He's 83 now and still healthy at least for someone his age. He pretty much eats whatever he wants....but again, he's 83. He had bypass surgery in 2011 but hasn't been in the hospital since for anything.

Now, for the possibly educational part of my post. My Mom had (type 2) diabetes for over 30 years before her death. She took it on like a challenge. (I suppose it is) She pretty much made a pin cushion of herself checking her glucose levels. She kept a little notebook where she wrote down everything she ate, as well as her glucose levels before and after. She researched, planned and pondered everything she ate, but still couldn't get her A1C much under 8. She died 11 years ago (age 72) but diabetes wasn't even considered a contributing factor in her death. (Hemophagocytosis) I've observed family members (and others) with type 2 diabetes most of my life. My conclusion is that every single case is different. I recommend doing like my Mom did. Keep a log of everything you eat and drink ,and check your glucose level frequently, at least until you learn how different foods affect you.


Now for me. Perhaps sometimes genetics are self correcting. I may become diabetic tomorrow but my A1C was in the 4's a year ago. I check my (fasting) glucose level at least a couple times a month and it's usually in the 70's.


I need to add. Several years ago a few times I got dizzy, my heartbeat kinda fast, felt clammy, mostly when I was working in the heat. I told my Mom about it and she said my glucose level was low (she called it "sugar") She gave me a meter, some test strips, and on the the pricky things. The next time I felt like that my blood glucose level was 58. My Mom said keep a pack of lifesavers in my pocket and eat one of two if I felt that way. I finally figured out my glucose level would drop when it was hot...I was sweating quite a bit, and I ate or drank something that had an artificial sweetener in it. I now drink mostly water or unsweet tea and haven't had a glucose level drop like that in years. I suspect artificial sweeteners play a part in developing type 2 diabetes in some people. These sweeteners are engineered to "trick" the brain into thinking they're sugar. The brain says "Sugar!!!! I need some insulin" The pancreas releases insulin to take care of the sugar spike, but there isn't any sugar there. After a while insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) develops.