What Happened to My Diabetes?

[Pet70]

This might be a weird post in some ways, but curious to know of other people's experiences. I found out I was diabetic in early 2017. After the shock of it, I got to work trying to control it, which I managed to do over about a year or two. I guess then I went into remission. My A1c levels were always good, within the pre-diabetic range. Back in 2017 I was living in China where I had fantastic access to great health services, and could see a doctor whenever and was prescribed whatever, whenever. All that changed when I came back to the UK and registered with a doctor here. It took ages to get an appointment and I asked for a full blood screening. By this time I hadn't seen a doctor in over 2 years, so I was really worried about the results, especially because I hadn't been tracking my levels at all. I have been controlling it all with diet and exercise. The nurse called with the blood results and they were all normal. I was really surprised. I asked her about the HbA1c and she said, "normal, well in the green, you're not diabetic" (she didn't know I was previously diagnosed). Whilst this is great, I am also really worried about it coming back. Have any of you had long periods of remission? I have no symptoms at all. I feel like I am living normally, even eating cakes bulging with fresh cream! Am I just pushing my luck?

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @Pet70 at least one of the other regular posters on here (@Drummer) has been in remission for years so it may simply be that the regime you are using to manage your diabetes is working really well and keeping you in the right place. Did they actually tell you what your HbA1c was and if yes how did it compare with your previous results?
I think if your regime has it under control and you are able to continue to sustain it, then the risks of a change for the worse are probably low. It might however, be worth having a chat with the GP to explain your concern and to get their view on the likelihood of a change in your position. That the nurse didn't know about your diagnosis is something you should probably remedy,

 

[Martin.A]

I was diagnosed 6 years ago, but except for the first 5 months I've shown no signs or symptoms. However, I know that remission doesn't mean cured as there's no guarantee that it won't come back. That's why I still stick with my low carb diet and exercise regime, while the occasional treat doesn't seem to make any difference.

There have been no end of people who've posted on the forum that they were diagnosed, got themselves back into normal numbers, went back to their old ways and found themselves back where they started and having to do it all over again. I'm determined not to be one of them.

 

[Leadinglights]

I think once you have had that diagnosis you have to be realistic that going back to old ways can easily undo all the good work that has been done and whereas the OCCASIONAL treat of something you really like will likely not do too much harm it should not become the usual thing.
I also manage my condition by keeping to a low carb regime which is just my new normal but the 'treats' are incorporated into that.

 

[trophywench]

I'd be happier, were I you, to get onto the surgery's Annual Checklist - so that you get things like annual blood tests, retinopathy checks etc even though you are still in remission.

 

[JITR]

Sounds like you have staged a full recovery and are maintaining it. You may find this thread really interesting.

 

[Pet70]

Hi @Pet70 at least one of the other regular posters on here (@Drummer) has been in remission for years so it may simply be that the regime you are using to manage your diabetes is working really well and keeping you in the right place. Did they actually tell you what your HbA1c was and if yes how did it compare with your previous results?
I think if your regime has it under control and you are able to continue to sustain it, then the risks of a change for the worse are probably low. It might however, be worth having a chat with the GP to explain your concern and to get their view on the likelihood of a change in your position. That the nurse didn't know about your diagnosis is something you should probably remedy,

Hi Jimmy! My Last HbA1c about a year ago was 5.5% (37). I didn't tell that surgery of my previous diagnosis of diabetes (long story), but I changed clinic and then had a proper talk with a diabetic nurse. I've got a diabetic eye screening in a couple of weeks and the reminder letter was what led me to think about all of this. I guess I will just carry on with what I am doing, it's just sometimes I forget I'm diabetic and have a wee panic.

 

[Pet70]

I was diagnosed 6 years ago, but except for the first 5 months I've shown no signs or symptoms. However, I know that remission doesn't mean cured as there's no guarantee that it won't come back. That's why I still stick with my low carb diet and exercise regime, while the occasional treat doesn't seem to make any difference.

There have been no end of people who've posted on the forum that they were diagnosed, got themselves back into normal numbers, went back to their old ways and found themselves back where they started and having to do it all over again. I'm determined not to be one of them.

Yeah, I'm with you there Martin, I don't want to go back to where I was either, even though I love cream cakes still! I guess I'm lucky that I really love exercise, which is a great way to keep it under control I think.

 

[Pet70]

I think once you have had that diagnosis you have to be realistic that going back to old ways can easily undo all the good work that has been done and whereas the OCCASIONAL treat of something you really like will likely not do too much harm it should not become the usual thing.
I also manage my condition by keeping to a low carb regime which is just my new normal but the 'treats' are incorporated into that.

We do need treats!

 

[Pet70]

I'd be happier, were I you, to get onto the surgery's Annual Checklist - so that you get things like annual blood tests, retinopathy checks etc even though you are still in remission.

Yes, I have the eye test in a couple of weeks, and I'm waiting for the other reminders to come through. I actually moved to Northern Ireland and they have a different system here, which caused lots of hassle when I first arrived.

 

[Pet70]

Sounds like you have staged a full recovery and are maintaining it. You may find this thread really interesting.

Great! Thanks for the link, it looks really interesting!

 

[Drummer]

Yeah, I'm with you there Martin, I don't want to go back to where I was either, even though I love cream cakes still! I guess I'm lucky that I really love exercise, which is a great way to keep it under control I think.

Cream cakes are low carb - though I don't eat them myself they are not intrinsically bad as long as they do not come with a load of unnecessary sugar they should be fine.
I put cream in my coffee and recently I have been making a dessert with coconut and almond flour as I have a load of such things in my freezer. It is like a sponge pudding and I add cream to it.
I was diagnosed November 2016, but by early 2017 I was no longer diabetic thanks to avoiding carbohydrates. I did go up to a HbA1c of 48 again last year when I tried to reduce it into the 30s with fasting and restricted meals, but I used slimming shakes, and I suspect that the carbs were too easily accessible, so I was getting spikes. Usually my carbs, 40gm a day, come from veges and berries.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Well done on getting your diabetes into remission @Pet70

I think one of our members @harbottle has a surgery which uses the phrase “diabetes resolved”? There are others on the forum who have been taken off their surgery’s list of people with diabetes which some nurses call the “diabetes register”, even though there’s not actually a formal national register of people living with diabetes.

As you’ve said being in remission is great but the current state of research can’t say how long remission will last and whether or not the benefits you are currently enjoying will continue permanently.

Nevertheless having got into remission like you have is a very positive thing. Congratulations!

 

[AndBreathe]

Well done on getting your diabetes into remission @Pet70

I think one of our members @harbottle has a surgery which uses the phrase “diabetes resolved”? There are others on the forum who have been taken off their surgery’s list of people with diabetes which some nurses call the “diabetes register”, even though there’s not actually a formal national register of people living with diabetes.

As you’ve said being in remission is great but the current state of research can’t say how long remission will last and whether or not the benefits you are currently enjoying will continue permanently.

Nevertheless having got into remission like you have is a very positive thing. Congratulations!

I am recorded as resolved.

 

[Pet70]

Well done on getting your diabetes into remission @Pet70

I think one of our members @harbottle has a surgery which uses the phrase “diabetes resolved”? There are others on the forum who have been taken off their surgery’s list of people with diabetes which some nurses call the “diabetes register”, even though there’s not actually a formal national register of people living with diabetes.

As you’ve said being in remission is great but the current state of research can’t say how long remission will last and whether or not the benefits you are currently enjoying will continue permanently.

Nevertheless having got into remission like you have is a very positive thing. Congratulations!

Wow, I've never heard of this before. It's great that this is a goal for so many people now. Thanks,

 

[Daisies]

This might be a weird post in some ways, but curious to know of other people's experiences. I found out I was diabetic in early 2017. After the shock of it, I got to work trying to control it, which I managed to do over about a year or two. I guess then I went into remission. My A1c levels were always good, within the pre-diabetic range. Back in 2017 I was living in China where I had fantastic access to great health services, and could see a doctor whenever and was prescribed whatever, whenever. All that changed when I came back to the UK and registered with a doctor here. It took ages to get an appointment and I asked for a full blood screening. By this time I hadn't seen a doctor in over 2 years, so I was really worried about the results, especially because I hadn't been tracking my levels at all. I have been controlling it all with diet and exercise. The nurse called with the blood results and they were all normal. I was really surprised. I asked her about the HbA1c and she said, "normal, well in the green, you're not diabetic" (she didn't know I was previously diagnosed). Whilst this is great, I am also really worried about it coming back. Have any of you had long periods of remission? I have no symptoms at all. I feel like I am living normally, even eating cakes bulging with fresh cream! Am I just pushing my luck?

Hi in China, how did the doctors help you ?

 

[harbottle]

@everydayupsanddowns my surgery marked me as in ‘remission’. The ‘resolved’ code is for things like steroid induced diabetes when the steroids have been stopped (and maybe gestational diabetes). The difference is ‘remission’ means the annual checks continue, for ‘resolved’ they do not.

 

[Pet70]

@everydayupsanddowns my surgery marked me as in ‘remission’. The ‘resolved’ code is for things like steroid induced diabetes when the steroids have been stopped (and maybe gestational diabetes). The difference is ‘remission’ means the annual checks continue, for ‘resolved’ they do not.

Yeah, perhaps 'remission' is a good marker, it means I can't let it all go...

 

[Pet70]

Hi in China, how did the doctors help you ?

Hi, I had really good health insurance there and I had everything seen to immediately, like on the same day. I never had to wait for things. As China has huge rates of diabetes amongst the population they are really clued up about the condition, medically at least. There is a drug used more for people in Asia who eat rice, and I was put of that for a few months, which really controlled my levels. Having said that I had to do it all by myself psychologically, as there was no support network that could help foreigners there. This site really helped me at the time, which I am very grateful for.

 

[AndBreathe]

@everydayupsanddowns my surgery marked me as in ‘remission’. The ‘resolved’ code is for things like steroid induced diabetes when the steroids have been stopped (and maybe gestational diabetes). The difference is ‘remission’ means the annual checks continue, for ‘resolved’ they do not.

Not everything stops. I am recorded as resolved by I still have at least annual full blood panel and eye screening.

I don't have foot checks, but only ever had one of those anyway. I have never been weighed or measured, so not having that is no different.