Newby Info-Barrie: was-Welcome New Member - Barrie?

[Guest guest]

Welcome Barrie,

A few questions to put your condition in context so that we can make

constructive comments---

How long ago were you diagnosed diabetetic?

When you say you had " good control " , what does that mean in numbers? Typical

fasting bg #'s & post-prandial bg #'s if you have been taking them?

What was your HbA1c% at diagnosis & what was your most recentone?

What WOE (Way Of Eating) have you been following (ADA high-carb/low-fat, low

carb or " other " )?

What oral meds have you been taking & in what doses?

What, if anything, has changed in your life, diet, exercise, illness, stress,

etc. since your bg's have recently been high?

It is generally accepted in the medical community (Drs, Nurses, RD's, etc)

that diabetes is a progressive condition & that T2 diabetics will eventually go

from controlling with D&E (Diet/Exercise), to Oral Meds, to needing insulin.

It is also generally accepted that diabetics are in " good control " (or even

" excellent control " ) with an HbA1c of 7.0% & that is the " goal " given by those

same Drs, Nurse & RD's.

This progression is what " may have happened " to you, hence the bg's that you

aren't now able to control with methods that have worked in the past. It's not

definite, of course, but a possibility to consider.

Now, there are some on this list, just to name 2---Myself T2 (NIDDM) 7-1/2

years no complications with low-carb D&E WOE per Bernstein (see my signature

line for recent changed regimen), Vicki T1 (LADA, IDDM) 7+ years no

complications

with moderate carb WOE & MDI (Multiple Daily Injection) insulin, that believe

that if you control bg's in the range of the normal non-diabetic

(fasting/pre-prandial bg's 70-110mg/dl & HbA1c 6.0% or less) that diabetes does

not

necessarily have to be progressive, control deteriorate & inevitably lead to

complications. There is even evidence that achieving these control levels (and

taking

some supplements) that some complications can be reversed (see Dr Bernstein's

book " Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution) & website www.normal-sugars.com ).

The HbA1c% (Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c test) is the best (as far as I can

find, it's the ONLY) indicator we have of complication risk & has been clearly

demonstrated (DCCT & UKPDS long-term studies in USA & UK) that lower HbA1c

results correlate with lower rates of complications of which " loss of bg

control "

is just a minor one. Most diabetic complications substantially reduce quality

of life at the least & a long miserable suffering " death " at worst.

The HbA1c range given for " nomal non-diabetics " is about 4.5% to 6.0% (which

may vary slightly with different labs), but the " truly normal non-diabetic "

will have HbA1c's nearer 5.0% than 6.0% & that is now my personal goal (see my

signature lines).

Is maintaining " low-normal " bg #'s a guarantee of no complications---a big

NO! Is it our best shot at avoiding, delaying, minimizing or reversing them---a

big YES!

So, Barrie, I'm interested in hearing more specifics from you. And again

Welcome!

, T2, dx'ed 4/98, 7-1/2 years Controlling with LC & Supplements

Average Fasting/Pre-Prandial bg's 105mg/dl, Last HbA1c 6.0%

Now Experimenting with Metformin & Glyburide for HbA1c Nearer 5.0%

> >>> Hi,

> >I have been a type 2 diabetic for quite some time. I

> >have had no trouble keeping my diabetes in good

> >control with oral meds. All of a sudden I can't get

> >the numbers down and I am quite concerned. Is this

> >typical? I'm sure my stress level isn't helping but I

> >am getting quite scared.

> >Thanks <<<