[volfan]

Talked to my new dr yesterday. I didn't have a pen to write down everything she was telling me so I'll post more details when I get the hard copies of the results.

Basically my cholesterol was a lot better than three months ago. All was in normal range except the bad cholesterol which she said will take another three months to level out since I've lost so much weight. My vitamin D was low and she wants me to take some supplement for it. Liver and kidney fictions were normal.

Now the great news. She said my A1c was 5.6 and fasting was 102. (3 months ago it was 7.7 "supposedly") I asked her if she considers me diabetic and she said based on these results and my three months of monitoring results NO, she would consider me to have a elevated fasting blood glucose level.

She wanted me to continue doing what I'm doing and she said all my conditions should be totally reversible. She thinks I was probably borderline toying with T2 but may have corrected it before it was full blown. This practice is very heavy into reversing chronic disease if possible before just treating the symptoms of it.

She said my insulin level was low which I thought was bad but she said its good and it's improved since my last test which shows that my pancreas is NOT completely gave out but improving.

The dr is all for low carb for me to loose weight and reverse all my problems including the cholesterol.

Sorry for the long post. All I can say is God is Great!

 

[mbuster]

Sounds good volfan. I like your doctors approach to the condition and not the symptoms, but don't let the comment "based on these results…" make you believe that the earlier 7.7 A1c didn't mean what it means. Unless it was a bad test it means you have diabetes, supposedly or not. Not trying to bust your happy bubble, just trying to look at it logically. Based on my results for the last 2 years, would she say I was only border lining, maybe straddling, for sure, and maybe both feet south of the border, with my 8.8 A1c, but now I'm OK?

 

[volfan]

Sounds good volfan. I like your doctors approach to the condition and not the symptoms, but don't let the comment "based on these results…" make you believe that the earlier 7.7 A1c didn't mean what it means. Unless it was a bad test it means you have diabetes, supposedly or not. Not trying to bust your happy bubble, just trying to look at it logically. Based on my results for the last 2 years, would she say I was only border lining, maybe straddling, for sure, and maybe both feet south of the border, with my 8.8 A1c, but now I'm OK?

No bubble busted. Right after my 7.7 result I was getting normal numbers testing five times a day. I'm not saying it's a bad test just that I've got this under control at least for now.

Biggest thing I've done which others on here say doesn't matter, is loose weight. I still eat "high" carbs as others on this board have stated. So I really have no other reason for the numbers. In just gonna continue eating healthier and loosing weight regardless of if I have diabetes or not. It's definitely been a wake up call to get in shape.

She believes my diabetes is reversible and I don't want the bashing for saying "cure" but obviously something is working excellent. I attribute it God.

 

[bignick]

Wondering if I get this?

Your cholesterol is improving, you are losing weight and your BG numbers are approaching those of a "normal and healthy" person that is not diabetic?

Further, you still eat a diet high in carbs. What I don't get, is what kind of diet are you eating or what else have you done where you can attain these wonderful benefits?

Thinking you must be heavily cutting calories, involved in vigorous exercise or something else. I have heard God helps those who help themselves but don't have a lot of expertise in this area.

At any rate, can't mess with success!

 

[volfan]

Wondering if I get this? Your cholesterol is improving, you are losing weight and your BG numbers are approaching those of a "normal and healthy" person that is not diabetic? Further, you still eat a diet high in carbs. What I don't get, is what kind of diet are you eating or what else have you done where you can attain these wonderful benefits? Thinking you must be heavily cutting calories, involved in vigorous exercise or something else. I have heard God helps those who help themselves but don't have a lot of expertise in this area. At any rate, can't mess with success!

I know I am eating healthier no doubt about that. I do try to exercise a few times a week.

I don't eat near the carbs I use to probably, I never tracked them before but I've been told on here that I eat more carbs than most are able to tolerate.

I really think loosing the weight is allowing my body to utilize the insulin I produce more efficiently and keep my sugar lower. Whatever it is I'm staying the course.

 

[KetoGenie]

Cheers, Volfan, for all that great news. Like bignick, I'm curious about what all you've done to achieve the weight loss and A1c that qualifies you for the 5% club. How much weight are we talking about, so far? Over what time span? When were you diagnosed, around the first of the year? Did you restrict calories, simply eliminate bad eating habits, count nutrient percentages, eat to your meter? Increase exercise? What kind?

Don't think it's nearly as important what your MD calls your progress as it is what you call it. Seems to me you still consider yourself T2? Also don't think hair-splitting over terms such as "cure" or "reversal" is nearly as significant as concrete results. Numbers like yours sustained over time most definitely minimize your risks for future complications. I tend to agree with remission concepts, definitions and most of the recommendations discussed in the link below. However, whatever works, when it works and for as long as it works, works best for me.

It makes perfect sense that weight loss is a major player here. I know it is for me. I think the best news you got was that your pancreas is still functioning well enough to allow for such improvements. Reducing its work load through weight loss and healthy food choices is reason enough for you keep on keeping on with what you're doing. Perhaps one of the best of so many benefits weight loss gives us is a sense of well-being.

One last question. You said, "The dr is all for low carb for me to loose weight and reverse all my problems including the cholesterol." Are you considering making those changes?


Type 2 Diabetes: Can You Cure It? , UW Health, University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison

 

[Bree]

*confused.. Are you on a high carb diet or a low carb diet?

True, an A1C is not a clear determining factor as to whether or not you have diabetes. Your 7.7% gives you an average blood glucose of 174.3. Now, that's just an average, which means you spend a good amount of time way up there. You could have just had high blood glucose due to some medication, such as statins, seroquel, or perhaps, high dose niacin and melatonin, that was caught before your pancreas gave out completely. These can cause a condition called hyperglycemia, easily misdiagnosed as diabetes. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but in a non-diabetic with hyperglycemia, your insulin level should be high which signals that your body is combating the high blood sugar whether it is successful or not. Your insulin levels accompanied by your high A1C can indicate that you just don't have enough insulin to combat those consistent highs.

Also, if you are very overweight, especially if you were on a high carb diet, it's more than likely that you are, at the very least, insulin resistant. Your body doesn't like carbs. And, note that your fasting blood sugar, always the last thing (not the first thing) to fail, is a little higher than it should be on a blood test, so, you have a warning and it's something to work on. The only way to get that down is to cut carbs, exercise helps.

One more thought: You say that your blood sugar has been perfectly normal, even on a high carb diet since you have lost a few pounds. I have a suspicion that you are not 'catching' the height of your blood sugar. For instance, mine could be 76 before a meal, then 45 minutes to 1 hour after I eat, can go up to 90, but by 2 hours, or less, I'm right back to 76. I, also, am on no medication. But, I am most assuredly a diabetic. I just control it with diet and exercise.

Just food for thought.

 

[volfan]

*confused.. Are you on a high carb diet or a low carb diet? True, an A1C is not a clear determining factor as to whether or not you have diabetes. Your 7.7% gives you an average blood glucose of 174.3. Now, that's just an average, which means you spend a good amount of time way up there. You could have just had high blood glucose due to some medication, such as statins, seroquel, or perhaps, high dose niacin and melatonin, that was caught before your pancreas gave out completely. These can cause a condition called hyperglycemia, easily misdiagnosed as diabetes. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but in a non-diabetic with hyperglycemia, your insulin level should be high which signals that your body is combating the high blood sugar whether it is successful or not. Your insulin levels accompanied by your high A1C can indicate that you just don't have enough insulin to combat those consistent highs. Also, if you are very overweight, especially if you were on a high carb diet, it's more than likely that you are, at the very least, insulin resistant. Your body doesn't like carbs. And, note that your fasting blood sugar, always the last thing (not the first thing) to fail, is a little higher than it should be on a blood test, so, you have a warning and it's something to work on. The only way to get that down is to cut carbs, exercise helps. One more thought: You say that your blood sugar has been perfectly normal, even on a high carb diet since you have lost a few pounds. I have a suspicion that you are not 'catching' the height of your blood sugar. For instance, mine could be 76 before a meal, then 45 minutes to 1 hour after I eat, can go up to 90, but by 2 hours, or less, I'm right back to 76. I, also, am on no medication. But, I am most assuredly a diabetic. I just control it with diet and exercise. Just food for thought.

I thought I was mainly eating low carb diet but not as low as most on here. I routinely eat a yogurt or egg sandwhich for breakfast that averages 20-25 carbs.

I've tested extensively when I eat a lot of carbs for a meal to try to catch the spike. For example I ate two slices of pizza which was 62 carbs according to their website. I tested every thirty minutes after that for six hours and the peak was 118. Now there's a chance it spikes much later but I tested before I went to bed and it was 105.

I was around 305 when diagnosed and now weigh 255. Got a lot more to loose but I'm working on that.

 

[Patdart]

I for one am happy for you and encourage you to keep it up. Just keep in mind that when you get down to your ideal weight not to get complacent and go back to the way you were eating.

Happy Dance for you,

 

[volfan]

I for one am happy for you and encourage you to keep it up. Just keep in mind that when you get down to your ideal weight not to get complacent and go back to the way you were eating. Happy Dance for you,

Thanks. Yes I know if I gain weight back where I'd be headed.

 

[Mary]

Type 2 Diabetes: Can You Cure It? , UW Health, University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison

I am actually a bit sad to see that a well-known medical school would insinuate that such a thing were possible.

 

[skb]

Weight going down, A1c & BG already down, cholesterol down, insulin down - all of these make good news. Congratulations. If you can "tolerate" a higher amount of carbs, then that is also good for you.

But as has been pointed out, with a registered A1c of 7.7, your metabolic challenge is very real. And it is a one way street. Once you're in, you're in. The good news is, that it is controllable, and you are doing it very well. On another site, I learnt that Diabetes is like having a cobra in your living room. Keep looking at it, and you can be safe. Lose sight, and anything can happen.

 

[volfan]

I am actually a bit sad to see that a well-known medical school would insinuate that such a thing were possible.

I didn't see where the article says cure. It speaks of remission.

 

[volfan]

Weight going down, A1c & BG already down, cholesterol down, insulin down - all of these make good news. Congratulations. If you can "tolerate" a higher amount of carbs, then that is also good for you. But as has been pointed out, with a registered A1c of 7.7, your metabolic challenge is very real. And it is a one way street. Once you're in, you're in. The good news is, that it is controllable, and you are doing it very well. On another site, I learnt that Diabetes is like having a cobra in your living room. Keep looking at it, and you can be safe. Lose sight, and anything can happen.

Yes I'm going to continue with my lifestyle changes and hope my a1c continues to stay in the normal range. I know this is not enough for some but right now it's working for me.

 

[Mary]

I didn't see where the article says cure. It speaks of remission.

I was referring to the title of the article. It insinuates that diabetes has a cure, which is false.

 

[volfan]

Read the title of the article.

Yes the title says cure it, can you reverse it. But the article doesn't talk about how to cure diabetes it talks about remission of diabetes.

 

[Mary]

That was my point ... the title doesn't say 'reverse.' It says cure. I was simply stating that as a well-known and renowned medical center, they should choose their wording more carefully so that it's not misleading.

Forgive me if this post isn't worded correctly or making sense. It's been a terribly long day.

 

[volfan]

That was my point ... the title doesn't say 'reverse.' It says cure. I was simply stating that as a well-known and renowned medical center, they should choose their wording more carefully so that it's not misleading. Forgive me if this post isn't worded correctly or making sense. It's been a terribly long day.

Ok I took the title as saying is there a cure with a question mark at the end. Like they were asking then they went into talking about remission. Not that they are advocating a cure. Better working may have been better but I'm no author. Lol