Type 2 Diabetes

margaretclare

DH was diagnosed Type II diabetic in 1981. He's therefore had this for over 30 years. Immediately he took control of his life and has made it his business to keep up to date with all the changes in opinion, advice etc. He does his best to keep his BG levels as tightly-controlled as possible, but as he says, control is never perfect and anyone who says it is, is a liar.

It is now becoming more and more common to see what used to be called 'maturity-onset' diabetes (Type II) diagnosed at younger ages. The distinctions between type I and type II are - according to DH's reading - becoming increasingly blurred. It used to be that only Type I needed insulin for control and Type II could get by with diet control or medication e.g. metformin. DH has been on insulin since about the mid-1990s. He gives himself a 'bolus' injection of long-acting insulin at night and short-acting with every meal. Much of the dietary advice is wrong in his opinion. Recently we've been experimenting with eating less carbs and that has resulted in him needing a lower dose of insulin.

There is even, nowadays, something called Type III according to some of the articles he's read. There is even a pre-diabetic state in which it is possible to reverse the development, with weight loss.

Regarding the side-effects, yes, impotence can be one, and tadalafil doesn't always work. The sad story of the man who ignored his symptoms, developed abscesses which didn't heal - yes, that can happen but only if you ignore the symptoms and refuse to take control: being 'in denial' in other words. A man who lives across the road from us had symptoms, ignored them, and eventually had to have a lower leg amputation. That needn't have happened. There are plenty of examples of people living as healthy a life as they can, doing busy and active things, playing sports, travelling etc. Have a look at: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Magazines/Balance/

HTH

Humphrey10

margaretclare wrote: »

The distinctions between type I and type II are - according to DH's reading - becoming increasingly blurred.

The distinction between type I and type II diabetes is quite "distinct", type I = the insulin producing cells in your pancreas are destroyed by an autoimmune reaction, so your pancreas does not produce insulin, type II = you have insulin resistance.
There is nothing stopping someone with type I diabetes developing insulin resistance btw.

Older doctors might call them "insulin dependant diabetes" and "non-insulin dependant diabetes", which confuses things somewhat.

Re: dietary advice, I've been lucky - all the diabetes nurses I've seen recently have sensible advice, not the standard NHS advice of "stuff your face with carbs and with sweet sugary things like fruit". It's potluck I'm afraid which advice you get.

Mojisola

I'm really glad that I bought a blood sugar monitor when I was first diagnosed with Type 2. It was very quickly apparent which foods were sending my blood sugars up the scale - mostly the foods on the NHS recommended diabetes diet!

I've been able to stay within the normal range for years by adjusting my diet - although I know that's not the case for some people, no matter how careful they are with their food - so that's worth a try.

It also helps to keep me on the straight and narrow - it's easy to start drifting off the diet - but a quick look at the blood sugar reading brings me back to earth.

I learnt a lot in the early days here - https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewforum.php?f=18

KxMx

I have relatives with diabetes and it is very dangerous to advocate a one size fits all approach by saying the NHS recommended diet is rubbish. For some it works well and others it does not. Anyone with diabetes should look for the approach that works for them as an individual.

samtoby

I used to work with someone who used to have diabetes and eat what he liked and then inject to sort it out. It didn't. Always had sickness and hypos.

Its the management of it that is so very important.

Mojisola

KxMx wrote: »

I have relatives with diabetes and it is very dangerous to advocate a one size fits all approach by saying the NHS recommended diet is rubbish. For some it works well and others it does not. Anyone with diabetes should look for the approach that works for them as an individual.

That's what the NHS does!

By explaining what we do to keep our diabetes under control we are showing that each person needs to find what works for them.

All my blood tests are good - not just the blood sugars - but the doctor doesn't want to know how I'm doing it because she knows I'm not following the NHS advice.

eleanora_

totheleft wrote: »

Would you date someone with Type 2 Diabetes?

My boyfriend has recently been diagnosed. He's only 27. He's got it under control I think.

What's the long term complications? Impotence is my biggest concern.

I would never leave him because of this as I love him regardless.

I just want to know the outlook. Honest answers please.

When I first met my husband, he had been diagnosed with borderline type 2 diabetes - he had occasional hypos, and poor circulation in his fingers. He started dieting (particularly keeping his sugar intake down) and exercising, and as the weight started coming off, the symptoms disappeared - he's still losing weight for health/personal reasons, but no longer has any symptoms of type 2.

Not sure if that helps, but in my experience, type 2 can certainly be managed/ if you're sensible and take care of yourself

dangers

Tesco had free packs on Type 2 diabetes when I was in my local store earlier this week.

WolfSong2000

Properly controlled, as others have said, diabetes doesn't necessarily have to have a major impact on your quality of life.

Those who choose to ignore the signs/refuse to follow medical advice and allow their blood sugar to go all over the place are putting themselves in real danger, and not just from amputations. A close friend of mine lost her adopted daughter at 17 because the daughter refused to accept that she had diabetes. She wasn't checking her blood sugar levels regularly and her insulin injections were erratic.

The final blow came when the daughter was at her boyfriend's house and snorted cocaine which had been cut with icing sugar. She spent the next hour holding her boyfriend's head out of the toilet because he'd drunk so much he'd made himself sick...he then left my friend's daughter alone in the bathroom where she died, alone. It's a horrific thing to happen, especially to such a young girl, but there are *real* dangers when diabetes is not taken seriously.

KxMx

Mojisola wrote: »

That's what the NHS does!

By explaining what we do to keep our diabetes under control we are showing that each person needs to find what works for them.

All my blood tests are good - not just the blood sugars - but the doctor doesn't want to know how I'm doing it because she knows I'm not following the NHS advice.

Several people have said the NHS advice is rubbish and not to do it. That is not encouraging people to find their own way.
If the official guidance does not work then of course other things should be tried. But that guidance does exist for a reason and it is dangerous to tell people to ignore it without even trying. I am the *last* person to follow the NHS blindly but when they have years of scientific research and data to back their approach it is worth trying. Telling people not to even bother is irresponsible IMO.