likelihood of complications happening

[katie_ghosh]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi. I am new to diabetesforums.com. I live in the UK. I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 in 2007. I am 28 years old and have to take anti-psychotic medications. I was told that a medication that I was taking back then (Seroquel) could have contributed to my diagnosis. I weigh 14 and half stones and am 5ft 5 inches which makes me very obese. I am terrified about diabetic complications. I am not very good at resisting temptation and find sweet sugary food and generally all junk food very tempting. Immediately after my diagnosis I was very concerned and ate well but then my motivation began to lapse and I started eating badly often. Infact for most of the time I have been diabetic I have been binging on the complete wrong foods such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps, chips, burgers, pasta, bread etc. I am so worried that I have been eating badly continuously for the past 2 years. I have not developed any complications yet. I would be grateful if someone would tell me that if I stop my bad eating habits, will I develop any complications in the future. I ask this because I have heard that high blood sugar levels, when a person has diabetes, during any time, can cause complications in the future (even 10 or 20 years down the line). Is this true? I do not check my blood sugar levels often but I know that my blood sugar levels would have been high in the past due to my bad eating habits. I am extremely worried about developing complications. I would be very grateful for your advice. Thanks, Katie

[jer.lawrence]

I guess the way that I look at it, I can't change the past. If I keep my sugar levels in check NOW, then I don't have to worry as much about complications NOW.

Also, I'm not really sure what the answer to your question is. Sorry I can't help. I'm so lucky in that I don't much care for sweets. Man, oh man, I miss my french fries though. :P

[sarahspins]

2 years is a really short time to be expecting any kind of complications. I've been living with T1 for 9 years and I have no complications... and I don't expect to develop any at any point in the near future either because I've been on top of managing my diabetes.

Good control now does a TON to keep your health intact in the future - that's one of the most frustrating aspect of D, is that you don't often see the results of poor control until YEARS, and sometimes DECADES later, and what you are doing now (or not doing) will absolutely have an impact later on... it's your responsibility to help ensure that's a good impact, and not a bad one. You CAN do it, and it's not too late to take control - so please don't feel like it is.

You can regain control by taking simple steps... it doesn't have to be an all or nothing or all at once scenario. Start with something small... make it a habit, then start working on something else. After a while, you'll find yourself doing all the things you "need" to do, without really giving it a whole lot of thought or attention - it becomes second nature.

[xMenace]

2 years is a really short time to be expecting any kind of complications.

It is a short time given reasonable control. I've known of young men going blind in their early 20's and a coworker's brother died in his 20's from kidney failure.

OP: I don't want to be an alarmist, but a high A1C is unacceptable for anyone. You need to change your diet and take control or pay the consequences. We're all more than willing to help!

[sarahspins]

I've known of young men going blind in their early 20's and a coworker's brother died in his 20's from kidney failure.

I wouldn't argue that it does happen, but most of those are T1's who've had at least a decade of sub-par control... I would say that it would be unusual for anyone diagnosed with either type of diabetes in their 20's to be dealing with complications within 2 years. After 5 years, sure, and definitely by 10 without good control.. but probably not 2.

[katie_ghosh]

Thanks for replying to the thread. All my HbA1c results have been normal so far. However I am still worried. I understand and have been told that blood glucose levels dramatically rise when the wrong foods are eaten. Do HbA1c readings simply give an average of blood sugar levels for a few months? I guess damage is being done each time a wrong food is being eaten - but HbA1c is just an average.

Thanks, Katie