Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...

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/ Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Diabetes a lifelong disease or a nondisease

brendacaytonwhite
brendacaytonwhite
I am trying to determine if diabetes is truly a lifelong disease or an illness that can be cured. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1995 and took it as an illness that I expected due to family members being diabetics. My uncle and aunt had died from complications of diabetes while my father seemed to not have any problems with his, but that may have had something to do with his still being employed as well as having a better eating habit than most people I knew.

Once I was diagnosed I moved from TN to FL and didn't eat well or take good care of myself, mainly due to a very low income that didn't allow me the luxury of what I considered a well maintained diet. Any excuse to not take care of me. I was on pills when I could afford them as when I did have health insurance, I told myself that I couldn't afford the medication copays and on some occasions I would buy a few pills, such as a week worth of pills at Walmarts. Now that I am seriously ill with an auto-immune disease, Polymyositis, I am required to take Prednisone, my blood glucose shoots thru the roof and I must take insulins shots. I have been on 2 forms of insulin for the past 3 years and now this is expensive, but I have no choice but to take them. i often tease that I havemore insulin in my fridge to feed others with that I do food and that is true most of the time. Even though I must take insulin at this time, I don't consider myself a diabetic because I am sure that once I am off the Prednisone I will no longer need to take insulin shots, or at least that is what I have been told by my diabetic nurse who supposedly has a very good track record with getting people off of insulin.

I plan to follow thru with her advice to make sure that this happens as I don't have place in my future for insulin or diabetes. On some days when my mind plays tricks on me and tries to remind me that I am depressed, which I also refuse to fall for, I feel that I am a diabetic, buton most days I can tell myself that this too shall pass. I was taken totally taken by surprise in March when I returned home from another hospital stay and testing to have a voicemail from SS to advise me that my application had been approved but not for what I had applied for, but for my diabetes which I had listed toward the bottom of the list as I had to list all illnesses that I had been treated for over a seven year period. In fact it took me quite a while to get it through my mind that yes I was being approved for SS due to my diabetes, so again is diabetes a true illness or a lifestyle that can be cured for all? I am lost on this subject and my have to rethink my way of thinking. I don't proofread anything any longer as it takes to long and that is time that I can't get back once it is used.
Liz1961
Liz1961
Diabetes is a true illness with no cure. However, for some it can be managed to the point where one does not really need medication. They do have to continue to watch their weight and what they eat....for the rest of their lives. And this is not the case for all of us, just a few.
Some of those diagnosed and then taken off medication do stand a chance of having to go back on it one day regardless of how well they eat and how well they keep the weight down as Diabetes is considered a "progressive" disease.
Diabetics should make a "lifestyle change" which they stick to for the rest of their lives.
Besides, eating and living right is good for our emotional AND physical health, not just for diabetes.
MsBlank1
MsBlank1
I agree with Liz.....it is a life long illness with no cure. The scientists are working on it as it has become an epidemic worldwide.
I have done the calculations and found it is more expensive to pay medical/hospital bills....even with insurance than to eat properly and exercise.
I know it is hard to break old habits and food is a social thing.....tons of goodies and not enough healthy stuff. It is easy to heat a frozen pizza than to go the extra mile and prepare healthy things.
I have learned to prepare things ahead of time to have on hand for my busy times/days. I have learned to make exchanges and yummy things I never thought possible.
It's about making healthy choices.....even if I were not diabetic.
My illness was natures way of saying.....treat yourself better.

Once I took control and got my sugars under control.....I have to say......I feel a thousand times better and have tons of energy to do the things I want to do. This is more important than eating frozen pizzas IMO.
This is just my shiny nickels worth today
Atpeacemary
Atpeacemary
It is a high maintenance disease. Our health should always be high maintenance. If someone close to you has it, you are predisposed to getting it. My father had it and so does my sister. I thought I was going to miss the gene pool, but I was diagnosed March 17 of this year. So far with metformin and diet, I am doing fine. And it is a lifelong problem.
grannie
grannie
I thought it was a disease but after 40 + years it's just a lifestyle for me.

That being said I am still healthier than a lot of folks that don't have Diabetes.
sweetnettie
sweetnettie
I agree with the others. It is a lifetime disease. But with diet, exercise and medication we can manage it. I have been diabetic for about 5 years now. Went from diet controlled, to pills, and now on insulin. Diabetes runs heavily in the family and I am only 48. It takes some getting use too, but you can do it. Keep your head up.
mzizgayle
mzizgayle
No it is not curable as much as many wish it could be, but it can be controlled, many can control with diet and exercise for many years, some will need medication, others will need insulin, it affects us all differently and it can progress in each of us but we can control
red47640
red47640
Kudos for recognizing the factors that contributed to your health issues... it takes a lot of responsibility to do that, and yes it is something we can prevent and manage, even if we are genetically predisposed to it, as I am. I don't think it's reversible, but as everyone else on here is saying, it can be managed, even though you will have to manage it for the rest of your life. I am sure you can do it, since you seem to have done thorough research and seem very determined to do this. Keep us posted!
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