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hottyberry

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Newbie here. Joined today. Can't believe I have been a diabetic for 9 years and only just discovering this today. Also didn't know about diabetic remission until recently and through research discovered this site. In the process of changing my lifestyle as recently been diagnosed with HBP and now on a mission to change things. Cant belive I waited this long! I thought once I took my meds and kept HBA1C within range that i was okay. Actually, all my dibetic nurse ever said was keep doing what you are doing, you are doing well.

I am really motivated to continue with my lifestyle changes and am fully committed. I know it is too late for the NHS remission programme as I am 9 years in, but just want to know if anyone has had success or know anyone who managed to go in remission after being diabetic for more than 6 years. I pray there is still hope for me cause if I had known, I would have definitely tried it.
 
hottyberry said:
Newbie here. Joined today. Can't believe I have been a diabetic for 9 years and only just discovering this today. Also didn't know about diabetic remission until recently and through research discovered this site. In the process of changing my lifestyle as recently been diagnosed with HBP and now on a mission to change things. Cant belive I waited this long! I thought once I took my meds and kept HBA1C within range that i was okay. Actually, all my dibetic nurse ever said was keep doing what you are doing, you are doing well.

I am really motivated to continue with my lifestyle changes and am fully committed. I know it is too late for the NHS remission programme as I am 9 years in, but just want to know if anyone has had success or know anyone who managed to go in remission after being diabetic for more than 6 years. I pray there is still hope for me cause if I had known, I would have definitely tried it.
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I discovered that I had had a flagged test result 10 years before being given a diagnosis, which the clinic dealt with by not doing the test for the next 9 years. I have to assume that I had elevated blood glucose levels during that time, so I am thankful that although I need to keep my intake of carbohydrates really quite low, I was no longer in the diabetes range at the end of 80 days of low carbing.
Low carb can reduce blood pressure - so if you are taking medication for high blood pressure you might need to get it reduced or even stop taking it if you begin to experience low blood pressure - on the low carb list I have read of several bad falls, one of them life changing when the dizziness on rising etc was not heeded. The falls were all on stairs - presumably going up them.
 
Thanks for responding. I have definitely changed my diet and have lost 10kgs so far through cutting down on carbs and I plan to continue. I am on two bp meds and so far bp is controlled but hasn't dropped below 110/74 so I guess I am still okay. My readings are mostly in the 120's though. Definitely looking to trial reducing the meds soon but It has only been 2 months so I am guessing I need to give it time. I am hoping that the changes to my diet and weight loss will have a positive impact on both HBA1C and BP. Fingers crossed. Wish I had known all this sooner. I would love to be able to come off meds.
 
If you are only on metformin then a low carb approach as in this link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
I followed those principals rather than the meal plans per say but there are many to choose from if you prefer that way.
Many diabetic nurses and GPs don't recognise the benefits of a low carb regime and still push the NHS Eat Well plate which is too high carb for many to tolerate.
Low carb is not NO carb but is suggested as being nomore than 130g per day as being a good starting point
 
It's true that remission is most likely in the early stage of diabetes or after a big weight loss but someone did post on here a while back after her husband managed it after 20-odd years. She wanted to share what he'd done as an inspiration to others. I don't know whether the thread is still around, or how to look for it. Mike? @everydayupsanddowns

That aside, well done on your weight drop and for embracing low carb. It worked for me and I'm still doing low carb over 4 years later, though no longer having to lose weight.
 
Martin.A said:
It's true that remission is most likely in the early stage of diabetes or after a big weight loss but someone did post on here a while back after her husband managed it after 20-odd years. She wanted to share what he'd done as an inspiration to others. I don't know whether the thread is still around, or how to look for it. Mike? @everydayupsanddowns

That aside, well done on your weight drop and for embracing low carb. It worked for me and I'm still doing low carb over 4 years later, though no longer having to lose weight.
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Wow...After 20 years. There is hope yet! Thank you so much for sharing. Truly inspirational. Also, well done to you for your journey. I am definitely keeping hope alive and committed to trying as best as I can.
 
Drummer said:
I discovered that I had had a flagged test result 10 years before being given a diagnosis, which the clinic dealt with by not doing the test for the next 9 years. I have to assume that I had elevated blood glucose levels during that time, so I am thankful that although I need to keep my intake of carbohydrates really quite low, I was no longer in the diabetes range at the end of 80 days of low carbing.
Low carb can reduce blood pressure - so if you are taking medication for high blood pressure you might need to get it reduced or even stop taking it if you begin to experience low blood pressure - on the low carb list I have read of several bad falls, one of them life changing when the dizziness on rising etc was not heeded. The falls were all on stairs - presumably going up them.
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Good grief Drummer. My GP was alerted by medical researchers in 2016 after a study I took part in that my "fructose" level was a big high. She did an hba1c and three days after the test I had a letter to say she needed to see me. I went to see her and was told I was on 42 and it was too high as, nowadays, they have to flag up at this level as "pre-diabetes." I was checked again three months later, then the following and every year until it return to normal (albeit the higher side). After a few years normal it has gone to 42 again. GPs not overly worried as no excess weight and no other medical problems - thinking it is insulin resistance as I age. Saw DN and had a chat with her. They are repeating it next year.
 
Maz2 said:
Good grief Drummer. My GP was alerted by medical researchers in 2016 after a study I took part in that my "fructose" level was a big high. She did an hba1c and three days after the test I had a letter to say she needed to see me. I went to see her and was told I was on 42 and it was too high as, nowadays, they have to flag up at this level as "pre-diabetes." I was checked again three months later, then the following and every year until it return to normal (albeit the higher side). After a few years normal it has gone to 42 again. GPs not overly worried as no excess weight and no other medical problems - thinking it is insulin resistance as I age. Saw DN and had a chat with her. They are repeating it next year.
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Sadly GP's not informing patients of this or that seems pretty normal.
My first kidney result (GFR of 55) was in May 2021, but I only found out after a standard blood test in ENT in Aug 2023 (GFR 50), and a formal diagnosis in Jan 2024 after me pushing for confirmation of whether I had CKD. GFR 46 by then).
I read of another kidney patient learning they had CKD after 10 years ignorance.

I personally believe it's very important to always ask all relevant questions when faced with a doctor. Hopefully cases like these will become more rare.
 
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s'nic said:
Sadly GP's not informing patients of this or that seems pretty normal.
My first kidney result (GFR of 55) was in May 2021, but I only found out after a standard blood test in ENT in Aug 2023 (GFR 50), and a formal diagnosis in Jan 2024 after me pushing for confirmation of whether I had CKD. GFR 46 by then).
I read of another kidney patient learning they had CKD after 10 years ignorance.

I personally believe it's very important to always ask all relevant questions when faced with a doctor. Hopefully cases like this will become more rare.
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I had a similar experience when I had full bloods done, checked my results in Patient Access and saw that my eGFR was down to 55 though there was no entry on my record for CKD, even though 55 is Stage 3a. Logged an eConsult with our surgery and discussed with my GP - or , more accurately, a GP - and complained. By the end of the day the Stage 3 CKD entry was on my record.

Since then I have had two further eGFR results in the 60s, which put me at Stage 2. I'd found out that 4 things were bad for your kidneys - high BG, high BP, and a diet high in salt and protein - so with the first 3 not being an issue for me I'd cut my admittedly high protein intake right back to what was the right level for my weight.

You may have read about this already, but this from just a couple of days ago:-

www.dailymail.co.uk

GPs' failure to spot kidney disease is putting thousands at risk

A failure to test for the incurable condition means nearly two-thirds of all sufferers are diagnosed only after the disease has progressed to a dangerously advanced stage.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk
 
@Martin.A I hadn't seen that, but it's not surprising.
My BP is ok, and I'm hoping to get BG and cholesterol down to normal figures with weight loss and diet - I don't eat a lot of protein and am naturally low salt (approx 2g a day without trying).
One of my aims is to get my kidneys working a little better. Well done on raising your eGFR to the 60's 🙂
 
Martin.A said:
She wanted to share what he'd done as an inspiration to others. I don't know whether the thread is still around, or how to look for it. Mike? @everydayupsanddowns
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I’ll have a look and see what I can find 🙂
 
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