BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Diabetes Diabetes!

I have diabetes. It does run in both sides of my family. My father died of complications in his 60s. Thankfully, my kids do not have it as yet, although I can tell my son could develop it as he gets older.

I am on insulin now.

To avoid diabetes, keep your weight in a healthy range. Keep active. Avoid overeating and avoid eating junk. Wish I'd done that earlier...

I have known I have diabetes for about 14 years now. At first I controlled it with an eating plan and scheduled activity. Some people call this pre-diabetes, but I say if you have to live a life style to prevent medication for a disease, you have the disease.

You go through many changes in how your body works when you have this disease. Stress can cause one of these changes, so when I went through a particularly stressful event, I needed to add medication to my regiment. Even the medication changes from time to time - type and amount - and I'm in the process of another change. I had an appointment this morning, and it looks like I'm 'stable' for now. I do see my doctor every 3 months to keep up with my disease.

My mother had diabetes, and as happens too many times, she passed away from the complications it causes. My father's mother also had diabetes, but a lesser case if that's a proper definition. So far neither of my sons show any indication of the disease, but one daughter-in-law has it, so I can see it being in the future for my grandchildren. I really do hope for a cure before then.

1) Unless there is a hereditary reason for concern, you will need to be having some symptoms of diabetes before you will be tested. If you need to be tested, your doctor will decide when, how and how often. He/she will probably start with a 'glucose tolerance' test. This shows how long your body takes to return your blood glucose to a normal reading. If it is determined that you need to be closely watched, the test they will do a regular basis is called a A1c. This test tells what your average glucose level was for the past 3 months. Insurance companies will cover this as a regularly needed test for all pre-diabetes and diabetes; and doctors very much insist on that frequency.

2) Every once in awhile, you hear there is a cure. There is research and I do hope that one day this is true. If there was a cure now, there wouldn't be any diabetes. What is available now are methods for controlling the levels of glucose in your system. They mostly involve controlling the intake of carbohydrates (they are turned into glucose within your body) and keeping active (using the carbohydrates). As long as you can keep this under control it is called pre-diabetes. And many people call this a cure. But, in my opinion as I've said before, if you need to develop a plan/lifestyle to delay (or stop) a disease, you have the disease. You just don't need meds.

Just one diabetes' input...GrannyH

Hi GrannyH:

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to share with us. Yep, I am printing this out and mailing to my daughter and keeping a copy for myself

Just so long as you keep in mind I only live with the disease, I am not an expert. My sister (just an example) who also has the disease would probably have differing experiences and advise.

I don't have it yet
But i'm at great risk
And it scares the heck out of me
I have a friend who just lost a leg from it
And another that lost her eye sight
You may thing i would make some changes in my life, But i haven't yet
What am i waiting for ???

Hi Rosie:

We are all guilty of not doing stuff we need to do. I know I need to watch what I eat, but so far have not (lol). But I listen to what my doctor says when I see each year.

Sometimes it takes us getting so sick that we finally pay attention. Hopefully we BOTH wise up before that happens

How is my Asia doing today?

Rosie, as long as you don't yet have diabetes, you don't need to be as scared about the risks as you are. The loss of organs comes after they don't get enough oxygen for a long time, or don't get the 'waste' removed after a long time. (These are not overnight symptoms, but ones that take years.) The blood system's job is to carry the oxygen/wastes, and it can't if it's full of glucose. Smaller meals more often keeps the blood glucose lower. Staying active helps pump the blood better.

Once we've reached a certain age (60 and you and I are both there) they allow our readings to be a little higher than they did when we were younger. That's because we probably don't have enough time to begin that kind of damage.

So, eat sensible, stay active and test periodically and you don't need to fear it.

Thanks GrannyH, I too was concerned and your info really proved helpful

its not compulsary that if a father and mother has diabetes, the child also will get it. i completely does not believe it and it just because of uncontrolled food habit. need to take proper diet to maintain a healthy body with little excersise also should be followed regularly.

Welcome sarah williamS to the forum and thanks for stopping by and sharing with us

I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. They tagged me as "gestational" but it did not go away. Medications did not work, only insulin. I had to fight with Kaiser to get them to do a test for type 1, which is what I have. But it is very uncommon for people to get type 1 in their 30's, so they thought I was stupid or something when I suggested it. My cousin also got type 1 in her 30's but she has a history on her dad's side where I am not related. Now another 2nd cousin got it at age 9. So I know there is a genetic component there, and I guess I should be thankful that I have been spared living with it until now. I am paranoid about my kids getting it - that would SUCK to have to give shots and finger pricks to a young child. I will do my damndest to make sure they eat right so there is no type 2 in their future either. There is no one with type 2 in my family, by the way & I have 10 aunts, 8 uncles and 30 cousins!

Dear Carolyn,

At one point in my life ,was diagnosed with type 2 diabeties.
The doctors had me on pills,then after pricking my finger every morning,I started having my diabeties going very down.Stopped taking the meds.Diabeties is gone .I eat sugar,no meat,i am a veggie.So when people tell me once diabetic always diabetic,It makes me laugh.It's been more than 3 years now.Never came back.

IMPORTANT: I am talking here about type 2 .

loong