Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes (mild)

pension-newbie

So I am coming to terms with diagnosis of mild type 2 diabetes.


The Doctor is happy that weight loss and exercise should help get my levels back to normal (which is not a surprise as I have not been a good boy and the last few years have not been kind to my figure), although he would expect to sustain the prescribed medicine for a long time, possibly indefinitely


I am absolutely going to get myself back in trim, however this shocker coming in the week of the new pension freedoms, has made me wonder about whether an annuity might become more attractive (impaired health terms), or if they would take my health at the time I made my retirement decisions.


I am nearly 53 and would probably look to retire around 60 at the earliest

greenglide

Fairly minor health issues like this (diet and medication should be able to treat it without major problems if you are serious) would only make a real difference when you came to taking benefits.

An enhanced annuity would be one option provided that, in several years time, an annuity was the correct approach. Since it is years away you don't have to make that decision now.

Type 2 shouldn't be allowed to reduce your expected life expectancy (my wife doesn't regard her type 1 as reducing her life expectancy) and this is the key to all pensions decisions.

Concentrate on eating and exercising right and hopefully it will cease to become an issue

mark55man

Being on long term medication must move you up the risk scale, however GreenGlide suggesting life expectancy is the same suggests that it shouldn't make any difference money wise (as any benefit would be paid for the same time)

kidmugsy

Perhaps you are a victim of the government's change to the definition of diabetes a few years ago. I have a friend who was told by his GP that he's got diabetes in the UK, but in the US he wouldn't have it. He was also told that the diagnosis was permanent. The only way around that would be to get his HbA1c (I think I've got that right) back down, then change his name by deed poll while swapping practices. Easy peasy, eh?

greenglide

He was also told that the diagnosis was permanent. The only way around that would be to get his HbA1c (I think I've got that right) back down, then change his name by deed poll while swapping practices.

Could always just ignore it?

My wife's type 1 has the benefit of free prescriptions for life which is a small recompense for all the testing, injections etc.

Does type 2 get this as well?

uk1

OP,

I urge you not to over-react to the news. That isn't to say you can ignore it - but don't over-react.

The diagnosis has various thresholds and you can go backwards as well as progress. I got the same diagnosis some years ago and it was a fairly frightening experience. For most it is quite feasible to go back. Drink less, lose weight etc. This is a warning shot. No more. The important thing is to halt progression. I in fact moved back to what they call sugar intolerance or something I have now forgot. The thing is also to remember that it is a risk factor amongst several not a death sentence which is often how it feels when you leave a doctor. It can be a shock.

Also - not to be cynical - doctors get paid more for each patient on their list that is registered as having diabetes.

Good luck.

kidmugsy

uk1 wrote: »

Also - not to be cynical - doctors get paid more for each patient on their list that is registered as having diabetes.

It's not cynical; the purpose of giving them financial incentives was to change their behaviour - a truth that the Blairites rather forgot when it came to the GPs' contracts, eh?

pension-newbie

Thanks everyone. Helpful


1. I suspect I have been drifting into this for a while, thinking all the lose weight calls could be deferred until I was less busy
2. As kidmugsy said, maybe they have lowered the bar because people like me weren't doing anything until they passed it - in which case I approve
3. Dr says if I lose weight and exercise all my levels could easily go back to below where they are - however the medication will be lifelong as I have proved I have the tendency, and some damage (arteries, liver) may have been done so I need more protection
4. Yes I was very surprised and somewhat worried to be told the diabetes (type 2) entitled me to free prescriptions - the fact the govt were happy to pay this money was actually the most worrying sign to me for how serious I had let things get


I might take this thread onto one of the other discussion boards as its not really about pensions anymore and I worry about going off topic, but I do appreciate the advice

pension-newbie

uk1 wrote: »

OP,

I urge you not to over-react to the news. That isn't to say you can ignore it - but don't over-react.

The diagnosis has various thresholds and you can go backwards as well as progress. I got the same diagnosis some years ago and it was a fairly frightening experience. For most it is quite feasible to go back. Drink less, lose weight etc. This is a warning shot. No more. The important thing is to halt progression. I in fact moved back to what they call sugar intolerance or something I have now forgot. The thing is also to remember that it is a risk factor amongst several not a death sentence which is often how it feels when you leave a doctor. It can be a shock.

Also - not to be cynical - doctors get paid more for each patient on their list that is registered as having diabetes.

Good luck.

Exactly how I felt although it shouldn't really have been a surprise - fat middle aged man with family history gets diabetes after years of warnings - however when the tests came back it was like levelling up in bad way and I got the serious speech from the doctor not the avuncular warnings. So that was a shock

uk1

pension-newbie wrote: »

Exactly how I felt although it shouldn't really have been a surprise - fat middle aged man with family history gets diabetes after years of warnings - however when the tests came back it was like levelling up in bad way and I got the serious speech from the doctor not the avuncular warnings. So that was a shock

I got exactly the same. I felt instinctively that it was a particularly heavy drinking month or so as I'd had a lengthy break and I had the benefit of a free mini-bar and club lounge access and boys will be boys. I got the "this is inevitably a progressive disease" speech and I said that the next test would be lower and it was. I have a rotten feeling the next will be up!

What is often forgotten is that the measures are treated like cliff edge. One side you're ok the other side you are a diabetic, but the extra risk is gradual not cliff edge.

Something is going to get us in the end but neither you or the doctor knows what it will be. Don't ignore but don't stress.

uk1

kidmugsy wrote: »

It's not cynical; the purpose of giving them financial incentives was to change their behaviour - a truth that the Blairites rather forgot when it came to the GPs' contracts, eh?

With the constant instructions to come in for this test or that test .... I monitor when I remember my own BP, but the doctor gets a bonus for them measuring it. The number of "no more prescriptions until you have your next check" makes me remind them that I am a mature responsible adult and it is my health.

I feel more and more like I am being treated like a crop to be harvested.