T2 & Complications

[terabyte]

Can T2 diabetics still have complications even if their BS is in control and if HBA1C is under 6?

[jwags]

There are no guarantees in life. I would think if your bgs are fairly stable without any spikes or quick drops, you should see less complications. I also think it may have to do without how many meds or insulins you have to take to keep it under 6. The Accord Study found that when D's take tons of meds to lower HbA1c they actually had more complications. But if you are using diet, exercise and metformin I think you should be OK.

[Tribbles]

Can T2 diabetics still have complications even if their BS is in control and if HBA1C is under 6?

Yes, you are the proud owner of a broken metabolism and your A1c is just one aspect of it. Realistically though if you can avoid large spikes on a regular basis, have a good blood pressure, and keep your A1c under 6.5 your chances are good. On the flip side you can have a perfect A1c, no spikes and still get complications.

[terabyte]

So if we are going to get complications anyway then what is the point of all this control? I am 25, and how long can I manage with diet+exercise+Met? maybe 20 more years? Then what? I mean there must be a ray of hope or there isn't?

[Ela]

So if we are going to get complications anyway then what is the point of all this control? I am 25, and how long can I manage with diet+exercise+Met? maybe 20 more years? Then what? I mean there must be a ray of hope or there isn't?

The point is that the likelihood of getting of those complications is significantly smaller if you manage your diabetes well. Leading healthy life makes your chances of living long and healthy much better, but there are no guarantees. But's not the same as "getting them anyway".
And yes, there IS a ray of hope!!! You have excellent chance of living long, healthy and happy as you started your management early!

[Jan B]

So if we are going to get complications anyway then what is the point of all this control? I am 25, and how long can I manage with diet+exercise+Met? maybe 20 more years? Then what? I mean there must be a ray of hope or there isn't?

Aging in itself brings on "complications"! I have learned to not let the word "complications" scare me so much. You just handle whatever comes your way. You do the best you can with what you have, and your chances of living a long healthy life are greater. Just because there are no guarantees, doesn't mean taking care of ourselves isn't good insurance!

[Lloyd]

There are no guarantees in life. I would think if your bgs are fairly stable without any spikes or quick drops, you should see less complications. I also think it may have to do without how many meds or insulins you have to take to keep it under 6. The Accord Study found that when D's take tons of meds to lower HbA1c they actually had more complications. But if you are using diet, exercise and metformin I think you should be OK.

Further review of the accord data showed that taking medications to attain tight control is not a good idea only if you have had type 2 for more than 20 years, with poor control. I read that "damage is already done".

[Kathryn10]

So if we are going to get complications anyway then what is the point of all this control?

I used to think the same way; however, I realized that you really just have to do the best that you can. If you want to enjoy your life and have good health, you should take care of yourself. Try to stabilize your blood sugars and avoid spikes and your chances of complications decrease.

[Vilya]

In gaining control over my diabetes I have vastly improved all other areas of my life. I am way more physically fit, sleep better, have a ton of self-confidence, and just generally feel as if I'm in the best health of my life (I just turned 39). All these things would not be if I hadn't taken control of my diabetes.

So I'm not going to worry about how I MIGHT develop complications anyway; I will enjoy my great life right now. Sure beats having uncontrolled diabetes and being sick and miserable for sure, no?

[Tribbles]

So if we are going to get complications anyway then what is the point of all this control? I am 25, and how long can I manage with diet+exercise+Met? maybe 20 more years? Then what? I mean there must be a ray of hope or there isn't?

You are dealing with probabilities and not certainties. Just as you can smoke 80 cigarettes and drink a bottle of scotch a day and live to 100 the most likely outcome is that you won't so if you control your levels properly you may still get complications but the overwhelming likelihood is that you won't (with an A1c of 6.5 the probability is under 1%). You may get lucky and be in that 1% though.

[anvu]

i think for my case, i would die of wars, cancers and other stuffs rather than diabetes. just my point of view. By the time im 40 (im 22 now) i think they should hav some cure for diabetes already. hope so

[shyam]

Hi tb,

Long time ? I agree with the responses that you have received. The idea of tighter control is to have an improved life (overall). Yet all we can do is focus on the inputs and not on the goal - remember arjun-krishna debate ? When people die in accidents, the determining factor is not how unhealthy, old or poor they are. Fate/destiny does it's own job, we have to do ours.

[jwags]

No one can tell you at what bg damage starts. Many times a lot of damage was done before we were dx'd. We all know diabetics who have lived with the disease 50+ years and are fairly healthy. Were those d's in perfect control all those years, I doubt it. But most of us would probably like to play it safe and avoid as many complications as possible. My dad was dx'd D in his late 80's and really doesn't watch what he eats. So his HbA1c has been over 7 most of the time. In a couple of years he developed complications. When I was dx'd 5 years ago my eye doctor told me I had the early stages of eye disease. So personally I demand tight control because I want to keep my sight, feet, legs and kidneys.

[terabyte]

Thank you very much everyone for your words! I just came back after giving blood for my HBA1C. Result will come out tomorrow. I have been in denial these last couple of months. Not that I havn't been controlling. Infact, I have been losing almost 2kg/month and BS never got above 140. Hoping for the best for tomorrow.