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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Diabetes / August 2007Coasting Along With Control
In my first post to the group (I assume everyone remembers my first post - every word of it firmly embedded in your mind - you probably think about it often.... fondly... it was only a year ago), I talked about many of my admirable qualities.... intellect, good looks, etc. and, of course, humility. However, my intention in posting was to seek advice about my newly diagnosed condition - diabetes (we never did get into my inability to achieve an e...., well, never mind... just something else I meant to ask about). Anyway, I received much valuable information from the group (not so much from some guy who stated "My mission here is to educate.... blah, blah") and, before long, was able to boast of being. though not a professional, an Advanced Amateur Diabetic. I'm even thinking about writing a book called, How to be, though not a professional, an Advanced Amateur Diabetic." Even with my new-found wealth of knowledge I still have one question... well, maybe two... maybe th... ok, a whole lot of em but right now just this one. Lately, my bgs have been reasonably close to normal for a gentleman of advanced age (I heard that..... smart a.s) even when, occasionally, I'm not as careful as usual with diet. Also, I find that I can eat things, or more of them, with less spiking than before. From all I've read, heard, etc., diabetics don't "get better" and definitely not cured. My question is, with proper and continued control, over a period of time, is it possible we become, for lack of a better word, "acclimatized" - that is, could our bodies "learn" to deal with the disease more efficiently? After a year of conscientious effort (can we please forget about that damned pizza) I seem to have reached a plateau of control - a "coasting," so to speak.... as long as I don't fall off the wagon. John On Aug 13, 4:46 pm, "johnniemccoy@" <johnniemc...@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote: > After a year of conscientious effort (can we please forget about that damned > pizza) I seem to have reached a plateau of control - a "coasting," so to > speak.... as long as I don't fall off the wagon. Sometimes it's good to shake up the routine a bit and try something different. I've been at it 25 years and each change in treatment I've made (from 2x a day R+N without home bg testing, to including home bg testing, to 4x a day R+N, to 5x a day humalog and lantus) has had its new advantages as well as some "gotchas" that I didn't see coming. But at just one year, you're a newbie :-). Tim. > Even with my new-found wealth of knowledge I still have one question... > well, maybe two... maybe th... ok, a whole lot of em but right now just this [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > pizza) I seem to have reached a plateau of control - a "coasting," so to > speak.... as long as I don't fall off the wagon. That's how it works (despite the pizza thing, but let's not go there, 'kay?). Hormone receptors become desensitized when they're flooded with excess or high amounts of the hormone they respond to. Insulin receptors get resensitized and operate to use the available insulin much more efficiently in response to their being less of it available. As long as you keep insulin secretion low by diet, receptors remain more sensitive and efficient. You're not cured, because you still have the beta cell loss that led to your DM, but you can slow the progression to a negligible crawl by staying on plan. Susan > In my first post to the group (I assume everyone remembers my first post - > every word of it firmly embedded in your mind - you probably think about it [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > John FWIW - I seem to be seeing a similar thing happening - after two years. > My question is, with >proper and continued control, over a period of time, is it possible we >become, for lack of a better word, "acclimatized" - that is, could our >bodies "learn" to deal with the disease more efficiently? Maybe. But you still have less than 50% of your beta cells - and you're not likely to be growing any more. If you stay off the pizza - and keep exercising - with luck you can stay ahead of it. Then with a bit of luck some bright spark will do good things with B1 or these bone hormones, and Bang! You'll be cured. Just don't hold your breath, or slack off, in the meantime. Nicky. T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid D&E, 100ug thyroxine Last A1c 5.6% BMI 25 > My question is, with >proper and continued control, over a period of time, is it possible we >become, for lack of a better word, "acclimatized" - that is, could our >bodies "learn" to deal with the disease more efficiently? For me the answer was a definite yes and no:-) I have been able to gradually add back items to my menu that were major spike problems in the first couple of years. For example, I bought some small mandarins at the market last week and have been eating one as an afternoon snack without any rise at all, but two years ago that would have given a minimum increase of 2mmol/l(36mg/dl). There are several fruits in that range now and I've also been able to be more flexible with some crackers and breads. But only after noon, and only with some foods. I took a chance on a tiny home-made "slice" from a friend the other day whilehaving afternoon coffee. About 40mm square and 10mm thick - tiny but tasty - it was the only thing I ate between lunch and dinner, three hours from either of those meals. I tested before and 40 minutes later: 5.4(97) and 9.0(162). Rats. I'm still a diabetic:-( So, as I said, a definite yes and no. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. -- http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/ latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management >> My question is, with >>proper and continued control, over a period of time, is it possible we [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Cheers, Alan, Reminds me of the politician who, when asked what his favorite color was replied, "Plaid." The change for me is general. Fbgs, which were always high, are usually in the high 90s now. My one hour pps are lower than the 2 hours used to be and the 2 hours are close to normal. Even that big pizza splurge everybody so enjoyed jumping on me about wasn't very high (don't remember what it was but it was a big surprise). I don't let preachers touch me so it must just be my own good work. - or God is teasing me and preparing to rip me a new one tomorrow. John Controlling your bg reduces damage to the pancreas and lets it recover somewhat; losing fat and gaining muscle mass improves insulin resistance. So your diabetes can get better, but it doesn't go away.  Signaturehttp://www.ornery-geeks.org/consulting/ > Controlling your bg reduces damage to the pancreas and lets it recover > somewhat; losing fat and gaining muscle mass improves insulin resistance. > > So your diabetes can get better, but it doesn't go away. > > --http://www.ornery-geeks.org/consulting/ John, First congratulation on making the lifestyle changes to accommodate the new beast in the tent. As some one who has had extensive background in testing and experimenting for last 2+ years and a a1c < 5.8 I know your feeling of euphoria. I got here with minimal medication so I know its easy to feel the breath of fresh air. So many times I too delude myself in thinking that may be, just may be I too may have reversed the clock a bit. And in some ways I have indeed done just that by almost completely reversing my painful neuropathy. But at the end of the day I have accepted that the loss of the beta cells. What I am very much hopeful for is that I stay in good heath to follow my rigorous exercise routine, allowing me to indulge in plenty of fruit intake and almost every day bite of a home made whole sesame seed candy (no sugar just Jaggery Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaggery). You can enjoy the semblance of normalcy until the aging process requires us to ratchet up the discipline screw even more. It sure is a joy to even come this far feeling that you are in control and you are still in drivers seat. So keep doing what you are doing. Its a complex multidimensional problem that always needs plenty of creative thinking. But given the motivation and some luck we can enjoy rest of our life without making this a 7x24 preoccupation. Wishing you the best of heath, Jawas, T2DM, Dx 06'05 @10.5 A1c, 190 Lb Now A1c 5.8, 168 Lb, 2x500 Mg Metformin, no other meds Plant based whole foods advocate ;-) > I too may have reversed the clock a bit. And in some ways I have > indeed done just that by almost completely reversing my painful > neuropathy. > > Jawas, > Plant based whole foods advocate ;-) Glad to hear you've done well, also, especially with the neruopathy. Unfortunately, mine has not changed at all. I can control the pain with Lyrica but that's it. John Delicious low-carb process food advocate :-) "johnniemccoy@" <> wrote in message >I'm even thinking about writing a book called, How to be, though not a >professional, an Advanced Amateur Diabetic." I'll buy! I Love your writing style,, it brings a smile to my day!! Congrads on the great coast! Keep doing what you are doing,, it sure seems to be working. Cheryl I'll wait for the movie ... "My little Sugar Bear" "Nicholson" <noshohcin1REMOVE@hotmail.com> a écrit ... > "johnniemccoy@" <> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Cheryl > "johnniemccoy@" <> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Cheryl Thanks John >In my first post to the group (I assume everyone remembers my first post - >every word of it firmly embedded in your mind - you probably think about it [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >become, for lack of a better word, "acclimatized" - that is, could our >bodies "learn" to deal with the disease more efficiently? Howdy John, Sure your body can become as you put it, "acclimatized" to the better eating and exercise habits. But only in so far as you keep doing what you are doing over the long haul. In fact there may be periods of time that you can go for weeks and maybe even months with "coasting" if you stop doing everything that got you to the point where you are now. Of course the only problem with that is that stopping what you did to get you to where you are now, is pretty much like what happens with a lot of people that "Go on a diet". They stop eating the way they did to lose the weight, they stop exercising, and yes for a time they maintain their lose, but little by little the old habits come into play, and the pounds start to creep back and before they know it, POOF lost weight is back and often with some new friends. Diabetes like alot of things is progressive, and if you don't keep up with those changes in your diabetes, you'll start to fall behind and your coasting becomes a down hill slide or an up hill battle. SO keeping things under that threshold where things become a problem is important. The tricky thing is, that threshold is different for every single diabetic out there. >After a year of conscientious effort (can we please forget about that damned >pizza) I seem to have reached a plateau of control - a "coasting," so to >speak.... as long as I don't fall off the wagon. And there in lies the rub, as long as you don't fall off the wagon. And for you, how long can you be off the wagon before you start to see problems? A week? A month? Longer? I was Dx'ed in 2001, got into pretty good control and was able to get to the point of not needing the medication I was using for diabetes, in 2003. It's 2007 and I'm still doing rather well. But I can't say that I have been coasting, what I have been doing is reaching new plateaus and doing each one better than the last one. Sure I could have been happy at the very first plateau that I came to, but things change and I wanted to do even better, so kept at it. I will say this, I don't run my life by my labs or my daily numbers. I was 44 when I was dx'ed and I'm 50 now, and I must say that I'm in better shape at 50 than I was at 44, but the funny thing is I feel like I'm the same person I was then, even with the changes in the level of exercise and diet tweaking. And Johnny I still eat pizza! :) BlkBear Type 2 >>In my first post to the group (I assume everyone remembers my first post - >>every word of it firmly embedded in your mind - you probably think about [quoted text clipped - 76 lines] > :) > BlkBear Type 2 Thanks for the comments and the sharing. When I said "coasting,' I meant I had found the right combination of food, exercise and minimal medication that kept my numbers comfortably low, at least for a diabetic, fgb, pp... etc... and I was, without thought or effort, continuing (coasting) along that path. In other words, control (and all it involves) was no longer something I did because I'm diabetic but rather an unthinking second nature. John John >Thanks for the comments and the sharing. When I said "coasting,' I meant I >had found the right combination of food, exercise and minimal medication >that kept my numbers comfortably low, at least for a diabetic, fgb, pp... >etc... and I was, without thought or effort, continuing (coasting) along >that path. In other words, control (and all it involves) was no longer >something I did because I'm diabetic but rather an unthinking second nature. Howdy John, Ahh well in that case, it's not really coasting, but rather like brushing your teeth... It's something you do like washing your face and taking out the trash. Even when you coast, you still gotta steer so you don't run over anything or go too far off course and come to a sudden stop. :) Blkbear Picking nits in nitville BlkBear Type 2 |
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