Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Yes, , I think that I was saying about the same thing. I belong to an online diabetes support group in which the members strive for strict control. It has educated me about diabetes, much as you with all of your research have educated me about RA. I am able to control my diabetes and maintain an A1c in the low to mid 5's as a result of that group. I did manage to lose weight and keep off 20 pounds so that I'm no longer overweight, but it didn't seem to affect my diabetes, unfortunately. Several people in the diabetes group changed their lifestyles completely, including new eating habits and extreme exercise programs, and have been able to discontinue their diabetes meds. Of course, the diabetes is still there in the background and would rear its ugly head again if they went back to their old lifestyles. Bariatric surgery also seems to eliminate diabetes in many people, even before they lose weight. It is not understood why this happens. I am saddened by the many people who have diabetes and make no effort to control it. They would rather continue to eat what they want to and I guess don't think that they will suffer any consequences. All of the diabetics that I know personally fall into this category. It also saddens me that there are so many people with diabetes who don't know that they have it. Many doctors don't do a very good job of diagnosing it. Only one of my siblings has been diagnosed with diabetes, but I think the other four have it, too. All of us participated in a study on Diabetes and the Heart in Families. I had the lowest A1c, though. I thought that this study would cause them to recognize that they may have diabetes, but it did not. And of course they don't listen to me when I mention that I think they may have it. Well, you really got me started, didn't you? I could go on and on, but I'll spare you, LOL. Sue On Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 08:25 AM, wrote: > What about this, Sue?: > > > National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse > Oct 2008 > > " Diabetes Prevention Program " : > > http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/preventionprogram/ > > > > Not an MD > > > > On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM, Sue <marysue@...> wrote: >> >> If you happened to have received the diabetes gene, you will develop >> diabetes eventually, in spite of everything you do. An exception would >> be if you exercise like crazy and eat few carbs to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi, Sue. I'm focusing on the prevention angle. If diabetes researchers believe prevention is possible, I think people should follow their recommendations. Some of the lifestyle changes aren't that drastic. Even to delay the onset of diabetes is a very good thing. It won't always lead to diabetes in a given individual, but metabolic syndrome adds to one's risk of cardiovascular disease. For those with RA who are already at risk for cardiovascular complications because of the RA itself, modifying or eliminating other risk factors is important. Not an MD On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 3:59 PM, Sue <marysue@...> wrote: > Yes, , I think that I was saying about the same thing. I belong to > an online diabetes support group in which the members strive for strict > control. It has educated me about diabetes, much as you with all of > your research have educated me about RA. I am able to control my > diabetes and maintain an A1c in the low to mid 5's as a result of that > group. I did manage to lose weight and keep off 20 pounds so that I'm > no longer overweight, but it didn't seem to affect my diabetes, > unfortunately. > > Several people in the diabetes group changed their lifestyles > completely, including new eating habits and extreme exercise programs, > and have been able to discontinue their diabetes meds. Of course, the > diabetes is still there in the background and would rear its ugly head > again if they went back to their old lifestyles. > > Bariatric surgery also seems to eliminate diabetes in many people, even > before they lose weight. It is not understood why this happens. > > I am saddened by the many people who have diabetes and make no effort > to control it. They would rather continue to eat what they want to and > I guess don't think that they will suffer any consequences. All of the > diabetics that I know personally fall into this category. > > It also saddens me that there are so many people with diabetes who > don't know that they have it. Many doctors don't do a very good job of > diagnosing it. Only one of my siblings has been diagnosed with > diabetes, but I think the other four have it, too. All of us > participated in a study on Diabetes and the Heart in Families. I had > the lowest A1c, though. I thought that this study would cause them to > recognize that they may have diabetes, but it did not. And of course > they don't listen to me when I mention that I think they may have it. > > Well, you really got me started, didn't you? I could go on and on, but > I'll spare you, LOL. > > Sue > > On Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 08:25 AM, wrote: > >> What about this, Sue?: >> >> >> National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse >> Oct 2008 >> >> " Diabetes Prevention Program " : >> >> http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/preventionprogram/ >> >> >> >> Not an MD >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 5:00 PM, Sue <marysue@...> wrote: >>> >>> If you happened to have received the diabetes gene, you will develop >>> diabetes eventually, in spite of everything you do. An exception would >>> be if you exercise like crazy and eat few carbs to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 , I've read that even people with high normal BG's are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is going to be an even greater problem in the future because of the obesity epidemic, unless something is done. And yes, delaying the onset of diabetes is a very good thing. And controlling it if you do get it is a very good thing. I just wish it wasn't so hard for so many diabetics. Likewise, I'm glad that I have the motivation to try. So far, so good. And yes, those of us with both diabetes and RA must be even more careful, since our risk of cardiovascular disease is increased by both. We should especially try to lower our blood pressure and cholesterol. I take meds for both. I don't exercise enough, though. Sue On Friday, December 5, 2008, at 09:09 AM, wrote: > Hi, Sue. > > I'm focusing on the prevention angle. If diabetes researchers believe > prevention is possible, I think people should follow their > recommendations. Some of the lifestyle changes aren't that drastic. > Even to delay the onset of diabetes is a very good thing. > > It won't always lead to diabetes in a given individual, but metabolic > syndrome adds to one's risk of cardiovascular disease. For those with > RA who are already at risk for cardiovascular complications because of > the RA itself, modifying or eliminating other risk factors is > important. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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