Type 2 life expectancy

rachel1967 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 09:27 AM

Are there any averages or anything for the life expectancy of a type 2 diabetic?

I know that is a broad question and may be difficult to answer. If you are type 2 and would not mind posting your age and how long you have been type 2 diabetic I would greatly appreciate it.

I have been type 2 for 9 years and on insulin for one year. I am 40 years old and have very good control of my sugars right now. My last A1c was 6.2 it has slowly come down from a 8.4, I am very proud of that. I am in general good health but overweight and working on that as well. It is a very slow process for me with that. I am 180 lbs and 5' 1" so I have a long way to go.

Thanks in advance for sharing!

Debbie Sue · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 09:35 AM

I am a type 2 and diagnosed just this year in June. I am 47, 185 and 5'9" tall. My bs have come way down in the last few weeks. I was at 360 when placed on Metformin. Now I average between 100 and 115 most days.

I've never really thought much about life expectancy of being diabetic until you asked. To me, it'd have to be on an individual basis. For now though, I want to think on the positive side of life and just live to the best of my ability. My days are getting better and I don't really worry as much about what I can/can't eat, testing my bs, or checking my feet everyday for possible problems.

rachel1967 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 10:11 AM

I am such a planner that I feel that I need to know how long I will live. LOL! I know there is no real answer to this question. I feel that if I hear from diabetics that have had it for many, many years that if I keep going as I am I will be around to be with my husband (who is in good health) for many years to come and see more of my four children as they move on with their lives.

I am sorry for arising such a question but I know that we can live for a long time if it is managed and for some reason I need to hear that right now.

jillybean · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 10:14 AM

There is one school of thought that type 2s who actually follow up with it appropriately can live longer than others because they are constantly mmonitored and checked for complications, whereas many other people don't go to a doctor for something until it is too late.

I am only 25 and was diagnosed this year. It's very scary. Hopefully after my surgery, though, I won't have to worry about diabetes anymore--instead, I'll worry about adequate nutritional supplementation.

CaptainMike · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 10:23 AM

Statistically I'm sure that type 2's have significantly shorter life spans that the general population. However, I would be willing to bet that highly compliant type 2's who eat right, exercise, and manage to keep their A1C's under 6.5 have just as long if not longer life spans than the general population. It is a real shame that so many type 2's go through life with very high A1C's and wind up with complications due to whatever factors (lack of access to good health care, Dr's with poor understanding of the disease, sheer stubborness and unwillingness to change lifestyles is probably a problem for some people) There are plenty of very senior (practically ANCIENT ;-)) type 2's (and T1's) who I have seen post up here in the past year and a half. Hopefully some will see this thread and share the secrets to their success.

sparrow1 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 10:49 AM

I am 65 and was diagnosed in 1989 - almost 20 years ago. And I really did not look after it for the first 10 years. I was on an ADA plan, so you can imagine how many carbs I took in.

So far, I have been lucky enough to have no complications. For the past 10 years I've been very serious about managing it, but have a hard time getting below an A1C of 7.2. I've been worse than that but I once hit 6.3 when I was on Atkins. I cannot stick with an ultra-low carb diet but can manage to do a max of 80 grams per day. I'm on 2000 mg Metformin and I've been on Levemir for a couple of years and NovoRapid for a year.

So plan for a happy retirement with the D and when the time comes, have enough stashed away to travel and enjoy life to the fullest. Test, manage, test, and strive for good numbers.

Hope that helps

rachel1967 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 11:55 AM

Thanks Sparrow I really needed to hear that! This information makes me want to strive that much more to do all I can.

I personally did not know anyone that lived into their 60's that had been diabetic for more than 10 years. I hope you're not the only one out there!

Thanks again.

jimgolliher · #8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 12:44 PM

Rachel, I am 67 diagnosed type 2 in 1997. My wife and I are now retired and into our traveling phase. My mother was a type 2 and lived happily to age 83.

Evermont · #9 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 12:55 PM

"Diabetes is a perfect model for accelerated aging."

I have seen it stated that 1 year with diabetes equals 1.5 years without. So a person Dx at 40 would then at age 60 be statistically in the same shape as a non diabetic at age 70.

Debbie Sue · #10 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evermont

"Diabetes is a perfect model for accelerated aging."

I have seen it stated that 1 year with diabetes equals 1.5 years without. So a person Dx at 40 would then at age 60 be statistically in the same shape as a non diabetic at age 70.

Source please? Who did you quote?

Jan B · #11 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 01:30 PM

My 2 cents:

My grandpa was diagnosed at approximately 70 yrs of age. He went on insulin immediately and they called him a Type 1, but I'll never really know for sure. Anyway, he took one shot of Humulin Lente daily and lived to be 93. He had amazing control and willpower. He didn't have the "smartest" doctors.

There was a discussion here about life expectancy of Type 1s. Just like in that discussion, a good answer is very hard to capture. Worrying about a shortened life won't do anything positive, except, hopefully get the subject to focus more on quality of life, not quantity. In addition, a good attitude and gratefulness about the life you were blessed with, can add years.

Evermont · #12 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbie Sue

Source please? Who did you quote?

Sorry, I got used to people not caring. I quote Dr. Andrew Weil from Healthy Aging (which I got through Netflix, I found it very interesting)

sparrow1 · #13 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evermont

"Diabetes is a perfect model for accelerated aging."

I have seen it stated that 1 year with diabetes equals 1.5 years without. So a person Dx at 40 would then at age 60 be statistically in the same shape as a non diabetic at age 70.

Wow! So I'm in the same shape as a 99 year old

No wonder my joints ache LOL.

Lloyd · #14 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 04:59 PM

With my A1c, the fact that I have lost 37 lbs, and am working to loose more, Etc. I expect to live longer than if I never got diabetes.

-Lloyd

cyberus · #15 (**permalink**) 07-13-2008, 05:50 PM

My grandmother was Type 2 (as is my mother, and now me).

Grandma was chair bound, pain issues from what put her in the chair, controlled her diabetes with diet and oral meds.

She also drank when the pain meds weren't enough .. smoked 4 packs of Pall Mall unfiltered a day and ate foods that had her cholesterol sky high.

She died in her sleep at age 88.

My mother is now 63 and has been dealing with type 2 (oral meds/diet) for almost 20 yrs and doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

Point is .. who REALLY knows what YOUR life expectancy is/was to begin with?