When I was diagnosed with diabetes in February 2021 my A1C was 13.5. I had a heart procedure on Thursday. Thursday night in the recovery room I saw the results of my Wednesday bloodwork. I had asked her for an A1C.

When I saw my new PCP on Tuesday, she said I needed to start with metformin, long acting insulin, and fast acting insulin. She read it off the chart.

I asked my previous PCP if I was diabetic each year for the previous 12 years. I had multiple symptoms- foamy urine, fuzzy vision, enormous thirst, hunger, heart palpitations. I asked to be tested each year.

He always told me I didn't need to be tested. And that I was not diabetic. I had known I was dealing with diabetes for 5 days before the appointment because I saw my bloodwork results.

Since I had time to prepare, I pleaded my case. I've probably been diabetic for the previous 12 years. Please give me 3 months to try to gain control of my diabetes journey.

She said that I could have 3 months without medications. And that if I could get my A1C down to 6.1- I could have another 3 months.

I'm a lifelong Japanese rice-aholic. I ate rice 2-3 meals a day my whole life. It was excruciating but I stopped eating rice cold turkey. I ate no sugars, no carbs, no fruit.

3.5 months later my A1C was 4.9.

That began my nondiabetic A1Cs. I was in clinical remission - no diabetes medications for 5 years.

3 years in my PCP told me I was not diabetic. I told her Bullsh**. If I were nondiabetic I could eat a pizza, a bowl of rice, a sandwich, or an ear of corn and 2 hour number would be less than 140.

The fact is my number would be 225+ if I eat 2 tablespoons of carbs.

I am diabetic and ever will be unless a cure is found.

Never give up,
Never surrender,
Never, Never, Never,
Never ever.
You got this.
Have a wonderful day.

Love all you Warriors.

Those are some of the symptoms of a hypo for me.

So your body is not used to having numbers that low. It will adjust over time. Our bodies are amazing.

The 1st 2 times I had hypo symptoms. My numbers were 86 and 84 when I tested the next morning.. They were 6 days apart. My number rarely dropped below 115 at the time.

The events that triggered both episodes were that while with friends we were playing board games. I provided healthy snacks. Fresh sweet cherries the first time. Seedless green grapes the 2nd time.

I ate 7 cherries the 1st event shortly before bed.

The 2nd event I ate 7 seedless grapes shortly before bed.

My body was not used to sugar or carbs. For 4 months I had not eaten any sugars or carbs.

So I had hypo symptoms even though I was not in the hypo range. My body was not used to that lower number.

So for years I made sure my number was 103+ before bed.

Did I tell you that I hate hypos and would do anything to avoid them.

Before vigorous exercise I ensure my number is above 120. I do not want to see a hypo. I hate hypos.

I still begin with hypo symptoms when my number is dropping and reaching the low 70s. So I treat immediately at the 1st symptoms.

Good luck as you find your way and your body adjusts to your new normal.

Never give up,
Never surrender,
Never, Never, Never,
Never ever.
You got this.
Have a wonderful day.

The medical establishment in the US has trouble diagnosing and treating type 2. Their level of ignorance of this pandemic is shocking. Of course I am not including all physicians in this group. A few are very good at diagnosis and treatment.

When I was diagnosed, my doctor was like most, just basically was clueless. He told me that my disease would progress (diagnosis 2003) and after the Metformin he prescribed stopped working well enough he would put me on insulin. He said I could expect to have complications and might lose a toe or two. He was telling me I was basically doomed and there was nothing I could do about it. I worked at a medical school and was lucky enough to be doing some work for some physician scientists who told me my doctor was full of sh**. They told me what to do to stay healthy and that if I followed their advice I could count on dying from some other disease, but not from type 2 diabetes. They told me I could expect a normal lifespan like anyone without type 2.

Your mother was the tragic victim of a clueless medical community. I am so sorry that your mother had to die prematurely from such poor care.

Lorna, I think the most of the good treatment for type 2 is found on the web, albeit looking carefully and not falling for these magic cures. The proper treatment for this disease is available online from numerous medical studies and those few great specialists who actually help their patients.

Here is another URL that is very helpful with dispelling all the bad advice out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_6rdsBEBZ4

Again I am so sorry you lost your mother to this disease and to an incompetent group treating her.

@A DiabetesTeam Member

Hello Michael
Thank you for your message.

At the outset, I have to tell you that you’re a very fine gentleman.
Your heart is in the right place and you are honouring your marriage vows “through sickness and in health”.

I understand your fear because I too live with dread, particularly regarding amputation and that’s why I post so many warnings on the site. .

My dear mom was a Type 2 diabetic and attended a diabetic clinic once a month without fail. She did this for decades and then the diabetic clinic told her that she no longer needed to attend.

No one told her that she would be a diabetic for the rest of her life, she never knew and I never knew, so she resumed eating as a non diabetic would.

After she had her one leg amputated, she became severely depressed, as I was as well, and then became very frail and passed away 6 weeks later.

I joined this site when I was diagnosed as pre diabetic. I reversed the pre diabetic diagnosis within 6 weeks. That’s how terrified I was.

Keeping yourself as fit as you are now, which allows you to lift your wife out of the tub, shows me how strong you are, not just physically but mentally as well and the fact that you will not let Abbyrose leave the home that she loves, makes you a compassionate and loving husband. Abbyrose is blessed to have you as her carer and she most certainly would not be looked after as you do, in a home.

Please also remember that you yourself need time to rest and to look after yourself. Be very vigilant about what goes in your mouth. Keep moving. Don’t be immobile for hours, which doesn’t seem likely in your case.

I applaud you Michael. You’re a very good human being. Doing your best is all Abbyrose needs.
May God bless both of you and show his ever faithful mercy to you.
I have added both of you to my prayer list. 🙏🙏💕

Mentioned Users

A Diabete...

My Mom passed after 3 years of dialysis.
I know about complications.

My Dad passed 2 years later from heart disease.
I know about comorbidities.