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Can diabetes really be prevented with diet, exercise and a normal BMI - despite family history?
Replies
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You didn't, by the way, gain some weight back "due to work-related stress". You gained weight back because you chose to deal with your stress by eating. You can change this by developing better strategies for dealing with your stress.
Yep, I typically lose weight when work stress ramps up.1 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »Thank you for the links, vingogly!
You're welcome!1 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »There seem to be so many knowledgeable people here...so I have one more question. I am not sure if anyone has heard of the dawn phenomenon: people experiencing higher fasting blood sugar than what they had the night before - and without snacking in the meantime.
I read a lot about the dawn phenomenon but it all sees to apply to diabetics - when the fasting blood sugar is not only higher than the night before but also abnormal.
My question is: is this something non-diabetics can experience too? Not that the fasting blood sugar would be abnormal, but it would be higher than what they went to bed with.
I seem to have this - for example I went to bed last night with the blood sugar in the high 70's and in the morning was low 80's.
Other times, it would be high 80's at bed and then mid 90's fasting.
Should I be concerned that my fasting blood sugar rises slightly compared to the night before, even if it stays within normal range?
I understood that this is something that the pancreas does naturally...secrete more insulting in the early morning to get the body prepared for the day. But is this something everyone experiences?
If the pancreas were getting busy before the day by pumping out more insulin, your blood sugar would be lower in the morning. It's the liver getting busy before the day, pumping out more sugar.
Your longest fast typically is overnight. If the blood sugar drops too low, the liver compensates by releasing it's short term glycogen stores in to the blood stream.
I can only speak for myself. My blood sugar numbers were always highest in the morning (dawn phenomenon) after the long fast. No suggested strategies seemed to have much of an effect. Some suggestions were to reduce the amount of fat I ate the day before, or having a protein/carb snack at bedtime.1 -
I think it was the high risk factors of getting diabetes that helped propel me to stay in shape in the first place. By merely staying in my bmi zone, my blood sugar levels are normal. I have stayed there for over twenty years by always doing something, whether it's the way I'm eating or from running, building muscles, or just yoga and dance. I have not been consistent over time, but It's working for me.1
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I did a little more reading about this. People without diabetes release insulin along with the early morning blood sugar rise so there is no noticeable change in blood sugar.
An effective treatment of this phenomenon (which affects about half of type 2 diabetics) is an injection of long acting (basal) insulin at bedtime.
I never progressed to requiring insulin. The only other strategy I could have tried would be to have dinner earlier in the day, no snack.
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/17/164945/phenomenon-diabetes-puzzle/0 -
My fbs was better when I had a small snack before bed than when I didnt.
Again, I'm not sure if it can be termed "dawn phenomenon" if fog is still within normal range, only higher than the night before (no snacking in the meantime).0 -
From this referenced article, normal subjects showed no increase in blood sugar from the night before.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/12/3860
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T2D is a disease of high blood glucose. Eating to keep your BG lower and more stable could only help prevent the disease, or help you manage it if you are one of the unlucky few who have a true genetic cause (in which case it would be very common throughout one side, or both sides, of your family regardless of weight and life style.)
Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution is a really great source for helping to keep BG under control.wisdomfromyou wrote: »There seem to be so many knowledgeable people here...so I have one more question. I am not sure if anyone has heard of the dawn phenomenon: people experiencing higher fasting blood sugar than what they had the night before - and without snacking in the meantime.
I read a lot about the dawn phenomenon but it all sees to apply to diabetics - when the fasting blood sugar is not only higher than the night before but also abnormal.
My question is: is this something non-diabetics can experience too? Not that the fasting blood sugar would be abnormal, but it would be higher than what they went to bed with.
I seem to have this - for example I went to bed last night with the blood sugar in the high 70's and in the morning was low 80's.
Other times, it would be high 80's at bed and then mid 90's fasting.
Should I be concerned that my fasting blood sugar rises slightly compared to the night before, even if it stays within normal range?
I understood that this is something that the pancreas does naturally...secrete more insulting in the early morning to get the body prepared for the day. But is this something everyone experiences?
Sure, but it is dawn phenomenon is less noticeable in those who have no insulin resistance.
Everybody expereineces a bit of extra glucose in the blood via gluconeogenesis in the very early hours of the morning. Your body makes more corticosteroids and the liver makes glucose as part of an effort to help you wake up and have some energy in the morning. Those with T2D will not effeciently use insulin to keep blood glucose at a steadier sate so BG rises. Those with T1D may experience high FBG because they did not use enough insulin to take care of that rise - tricky since FBG fluctations are not unusual.
I have prediabetes or maybe T2D now. My BG last night was a 5.4 (98?) but I woke up with a 6.7 (120). That is what DP can look like in T2D (as an aside, I'm beginning to wonder if it is actually LADA). It's more of an extreme fluctuation. Usually. Healthy people will often not have much of a rise but it is often still there. DP can happen with everyone.1 -
@wisdomfromyouwisdomfromyou wrote: »There seem to be so many knowledgeable people here...so I have one more question. I am not sure if anyone has heard of the dawn phenomenon: people experiencing higher fasting blood sugar than what they had the night before - and without snacking in the meantime.
I read a lot about the dawn phenomenon but it all sees to apply to diabetics - when the fasting blood sugar is not only higher than the night before but also abnormal.
My question is: is this something non-diabetics can experience too? Not that the fasting blood sugar would be abnormal, but it would be higher than what they went to bed with.
I seem to have this - for example I went to bed last night with the blood sugar in the high 70's and in the morning was low 80's.
Other times, it would be high 80's at bed and then mid 90's fasting.
Should I be concerned that my fasting blood sugar rises slightly compared to the night before, even if it stays within normal range?
I understood that this is something that the pancreas does naturally...secrete more insulting in the early morning to get the body prepared for the day. But is this something everyone experiences?
No clue if T1's deal with it.
I have had it happen on occasion and definitely wondered what it was, it can give you the sweats and then you get the chills and wake up drenched. I would wake up and think what the hell is happening and have to get a blanket. It's often times part of being a T2 diabetic.
I had never dealt with it or so I thought until I read more on Diabetes and came upon the term "Dawn Phenomenon". It's a normal part of having T2, but not everyone gets the chills and sweats, some get other middle of the night symptoms. It mimics Menopausal hot sweats at times the article shares (not having gone through it yet I don't know personally)
"The dawn phenomenon, also called the dawn effect, is the term used to describe an abnormal early-morning increase in blood sugar (glucose) — usually between 2 and 8 a.m. — in people with diabetes."
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1280&bih=889&q=dawn+phenomenon+non+diabetic&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSuMLlwfjNAhVq54MKHW3FA3IQ1QIIcCgD
Does dawn phenomenon happen in normal people? :
Dr.Bernstein ...
"NO. A non-diabetic does not have the dawn phenomenon. The reason is as follows: Yes the liver releases its early dose of morning glucose."
[http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=380708_green]
forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=380708
Lots of great info on Google and the links above. Happy reading, some really fascinating reading to learn more about how to avoid certain things..
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Nvmomketo,
This is reassuring. As I have been monitoring my bg a bit more closely lately, I have taken it at different times of the day, several days in a row, just to see how it is behaving after various situations (carb, exercise, fasting/morning, etc). Again, I'm not diabetic or even prediabetic, but I'm obsessive due to family history and having spent my teen years, as well as my early 20's, and a good part of my 30's....pretty much drowning in refined carbs.
Last evening inhad 76 after a relatively active day (in leucine weight lifting) and this morning it was 82.
I suppose that's ok.
Question is how to keep THIS active all the time.
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I have it, all my siblings have/had it, my mother had it, her brother had it, my grandfather had it (that's as far back as I know) Some of us were overweight when we got diagnosed with it, some of us were slender. Some os us ate a lot of sugary food, some of us did not. Some of us were lethargic and grossly inactive, some of us were energetic and very physically active ... For myself, I was the last of the children to be diagnosed with it some 13 years ago when I was 58. My uncle passed away from complication of it when he was 57, by brother when he was 58, my grandfather when he was 36, my mom when she was 75. . A nephew had it, he died at age 40. My son is now in his early 50's and has recently been diagnosed with it, he is of normal weight for his age and height and is physically active but holds a desk job ...
All I can say is do the best you can and if you eventually are diagnosed with it, then do what you can to keep yourself healthy, active, and with tight control on your blood sugar spikes.0 -
ForecasterJason wrote: »
If I understand what you're saying correctly, is it fair to say that for thin people who don't have a buildup of excess fat who are Type 2 or prediabetic Type 2, genetics directly comes into play with not being able to produce enough insulin?midwesterner85 wrote: »wisdomfromyou wrote: »So Midwesterner,
How would I know what type of Type2 is likely in my family hisory ?
With both of my parents, I strongly suspect just lifestyle factors - because there was no trace of diabetes in the family before them.
When diagnosed, my mom had become obese and was eating emotionally (a lot) without any exercise other than some trips to the market. Her mother and sisters were never anywhere close to diabetes.
She also had a terrible doctor who only mentioned the word diabetes when she found her blood sugar in the 300's. She had found it well ino the diabetic range before but all she told my mom at that time was to "watch the bread" - no diagnosis. A year later, with values in the 300's the dr. Panicked and only then she told my mom she had diabetes. In the US, she would have had the living lights sued out of her, but in my home country, the suing thing doesn't work.
My dad comes from great genes, everyone in his family lives close to 100 (father 99, mother 90, aunts 95+). He is 71 now and even with a largely sedentary lifestyle and eating whatever he wants (including sweets and animal fat), he is still only "prediabetic". He also smoked for decades but quit about 10 years ago. I have a feeling that if both had had better lifestyles earlier, they would not have developed type 2 and pre-diabetes, respectively.
So I keep hoping its a type 2 I can avoid, now that we all know better.
You wouldn't know which version of type 2 your parents have without them undergoing some rather costly testing... and that is unnecessary because the odds of having the genetic version are incredibly low. I only mention this rare exception because whenever I explain that type 2 is not really genetic, somebody always brings up that there are a few people who have a different form of type 2 that is, in fact, genetic. Even then, most people who think they got diabetes directly from genetics are mistaken... but they also usually don't understand it, so it is an unintentional error (most doctors are not trained on the differences either).
No, that isn't what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that there are 2 different ways for type 2 to manifest. One of those ways is directly linked to genetics and the other (the most common) is not. Fat people can get type 2 from a genetic pathway too. For thin adults diagnosed with type 2, sometimes it is even LADA (which is actually type 1 with adult onset) misdiagnosed as type 2.0 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »There seem to be so many knowledgeable people here...so I have one more question. I am not sure if anyone has heard of the dawn phenomenon: people experiencing higher fasting blood sugar than what they had the night before - and without snacking in the meantime.
I read a lot about the dawn phenomenon but it all sees to apply to diabetics - when the fasting blood sugar is not only higher than the night before but also abnormal.
My question is: is this something non-diabetics can experience too? Not that the fasting blood sugar would be abnormal, but it would be higher than what they went to bed with.
I seem to have this - for example I went to bed last night with the blood sugar in the high 70's and in the morning was low 80's.
Other times, it would be high 80's at bed and then mid 90's fasting.
Should I be concerned that my fasting blood sugar rises slightly compared to the night before, even if it stays within normal range?
I understood that this is something that the pancreas does naturally...secrete more insulting in the early morning to get the body prepared for the day. But is this something everyone experiences?
Yes, "dawn phenomenon" can affect non-diabetics... it is just a glycogen dump when fasting.
A change in BG's from 70's to 80's is nothing to worry about and is small enough that it is just as likely be the result of eating different types, quantities, or combination of macros or at different times during fasting. It's also small enough to be a meter variance, since home meters do not provide exact measurements.
ETA: jgnata already addressed the effect of insulin being lowered BG while "down phenomenon" is higher BG. But keep in mind that not everything is precise and some of these things take some time (though not that much, really). Still to raise or lower from upper 70's to lower 80's could just as easily be the effect of meter variances, results of imperfect insulin:food ratios or imperfect insulin:dawn phenomenon ratios.1 -
Ok, gotcha. I remember reading somewhere that at least part of the genetic basis for Type 2 is a defect in the mitochondria of the cells handling glucose effectively.midwesterner85 wrote: »ForecasterJason wrote: »
If I understand what you're saying correctly, is it fair to say that for thin people who don't have a buildup of excess fat who are Type 2 or prediabetic Type 2, genetics directly comes into play with not being able to produce enough insulin?midwesterner85 wrote: »wisdomfromyou wrote: »So Midwesterner,
How would I know what type of Type2 is likely in my family hisory ?
With both of my parents, I strongly suspect just lifestyle factors - because there was no trace of diabetes in the family before them.
When diagnosed, my mom had become obese and was eating emotionally (a lot) without any exercise other than some trips to the market. Her mother and sisters were never anywhere close to diabetes.
She also had a terrible doctor who only mentioned the word diabetes when she found her blood sugar in the 300's. She had found it well ino the diabetic range before but all she told my mom at that time was to "watch the bread" - no diagnosis. A year later, with values in the 300's the dr. Panicked and only then she told my mom she had diabetes. In the US, she would have had the living lights sued out of her, but in my home country, the suing thing doesn't work.
My dad comes from great genes, everyone in his family lives close to 100 (father 99, mother 90, aunts 95+). He is 71 now and even with a largely sedentary lifestyle and eating whatever he wants (including sweets and animal fat), he is still only "prediabetic". He also smoked for decades but quit about 10 years ago. I have a feeling that if both had had better lifestyles earlier, they would not have developed type 2 and pre-diabetes, respectively.
So I keep hoping its a type 2 I can avoid, now that we all know better.
You wouldn't know which version of type 2 your parents have without them undergoing some rather costly testing... and that is unnecessary because the odds of having the genetic version are incredibly low. I only mention this rare exception because whenever I explain that type 2 is not really genetic, somebody always brings up that there are a few people who have a different form of type 2 that is, in fact, genetic. Even then, most people who think they got diabetes directly from genetics are mistaken... but they also usually don't understand it, so it is an unintentional error (most doctors are not trained on the differences either).
No, that isn't what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that there are 2 different ways for type 2 to manifest. One of those ways is directly linked to genetics and the other (the most common) is not. Fat people can get type 2 from a genetic pathway too. For thin adults diagnosed with type 2, sometimes it is even LADA (which is actually type 1 with adult onset) misdiagnosed as type 2.
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ForecasterJason wrote: »
Ok, gotcha. I remember reading somewhere that at least part of the genetic basis for Type 2 is a defect in the mitochondria of the cells handling glucose effectively.midwesterner85 wrote: »ForecasterJason wrote: »
If I understand what you're saying correctly, is it fair to say that for thin people who don't have a buildup of excess fat who are Type 2 or prediabetic Type 2, genetics directly comes into play with not being able to produce enough insulin?midwesterner85 wrote: »wisdomfromyou wrote: »So Midwesterner,
How would I know what type of Type2 is likely in my family hisory ?
With both of my parents, I strongly suspect just lifestyle factors - because there was no trace of diabetes in the family before them.
When diagnosed, my mom had become obese and was eating emotionally (a lot) without any exercise other than some trips to the market. Her mother and sisters were never anywhere close to diabetes.
She also had a terrible doctor who only mentioned the word diabetes when she found her blood sugar in the 300's. She had found it well ino the diabetic range before but all she told my mom at that time was to "watch the bread" - no diagnosis. A year later, with values in the 300's the dr. Panicked and only then she told my mom she had diabetes. In the US, she would have had the living lights sued out of her, but in my home country, the suing thing doesn't work.
My dad comes from great genes, everyone in his family lives close to 100 (father 99, mother 90, aunts 95+). He is 71 now and even with a largely sedentary lifestyle and eating whatever he wants (including sweets and animal fat), he is still only "prediabetic". He also smoked for decades but quit about 10 years ago. I have a feeling that if both had had better lifestyles earlier, they would not have developed type 2 and pre-diabetes, respectively.
So I keep hoping its a type 2 I can avoid, now that we all know better.
You wouldn't know which version of type 2 your parents have without them undergoing some rather costly testing... and that is unnecessary because the odds of having the genetic version are incredibly low. I only mention this rare exception because whenever I explain that type 2 is not really genetic, somebody always brings up that there are a few people who have a different form of type 2 that is, in fact, genetic. Even then, most people who think they got diabetes directly from genetics are mistaken... but they also usually don't understand it, so it is an unintentional error (most doctors are not trained on the differences either).
No, that isn't what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that there are 2 different ways for type 2 to manifest. One of those ways is directly linked to genetics and the other (the most common) is not. Fat people can get type 2 from a genetic pathway too. For thin adults diagnosed with type 2, sometimes it is even LADA (which is actually type 1 with adult onset) misdiagnosed as type 2.
That might be a theory, but I don't know that anyone has ever identified an actual gene that does this. If you know of such gene, then you are aware of something I'm not. All the genetic research that people like to show me for type 2 always comes back to indirect causes (i.e. a gene leads to an increased risk of obesity for whatever reason, which then leads to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes).0 -
But in that case, I'm left wondering how in some situations there are families who are thin but yet type 2 is prevalent.midwesterner85 wrote: »ForecasterJason wrote: »
Ok, gotcha. I remember reading somewhere that at least part of the genetic basis for Type 2 is a defect in the mitochondria of the cells handling glucose effectively.midwesterner85 wrote: »ForecasterJason wrote: »
If I understand what you're saying correctly, is it fair to say that for thin people who don't have a buildup of excess fat who are Type 2 or prediabetic Type 2, genetics directly comes into play with not being able to produce enough insulin?midwesterner85 wrote: »wisdomfromyou wrote: »So Midwesterner,
How would I know what type of Type2 is likely in my family hisory ?
With both of my parents, I strongly suspect just lifestyle factors - because there was no trace of diabetes in the family before them.
When diagnosed, my mom had become obese and was eating emotionally (a lot) without any exercise other than some trips to the market. Her mother and sisters were never anywhere close to diabetes.
She also had a terrible doctor who only mentioned the word diabetes when she found her blood sugar in the 300's. She had found it well ino the diabetic range before but all she told my mom at that time was to "watch the bread" - no diagnosis. A year later, with values in the 300's the dr. Panicked and only then she told my mom she had diabetes. In the US, she would have had the living lights sued out of her, but in my home country, the suing thing doesn't work.
My dad comes from great genes, everyone in his family lives close to 100 (father 99, mother 90, aunts 95+). He is 71 now and even with a largely sedentary lifestyle and eating whatever he wants (including sweets and animal fat), he is still only "prediabetic". He also smoked for decades but quit about 10 years ago. I have a feeling that if both had had better lifestyles earlier, they would not have developed type 2 and pre-diabetes, respectively.
So I keep hoping its a type 2 I can avoid, now that we all know better.
You wouldn't know which version of type 2 your parents have without them undergoing some rather costly testing... and that is unnecessary because the odds of having the genetic version are incredibly low. I only mention this rare exception because whenever I explain that type 2 is not really genetic, somebody always brings up that there are a few people who have a different form of type 2 that is, in fact, genetic. Even then, most people who think they got diabetes directly from genetics are mistaken... but they also usually don't understand it, so it is an unintentional error (most doctors are not trained on the differences either).
No, that isn't what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that there are 2 different ways for type 2 to manifest. One of those ways is directly linked to genetics and the other (the most common) is not. Fat people can get type 2 from a genetic pathway too. For thin adults diagnosed with type 2, sometimes it is even LADA (which is actually type 1 with adult onset) misdiagnosed as type 2.
That might be a theory, but I don't know that anyone has ever identified an actual gene that does this. If you know of such gene, then you are aware of something I'm not. All the genetic research that people like to show me for type 2 always comes back to indirect causes (i.e. a gene leads to an increased risk of obesity for whatever reason, which then leads to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes).
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wisdomfromyou wrote: »Nvmomketo,
This is reassuring. As I have been monitoring my bg a bit more closely lately, I have taken it at different times of the day, several days in a row, just to see how it is behaving after various situations (carb, exercise, fasting/morning, etc). Again, I'm not diabetic or even prediabetic, but I'm obsessive due to family history and having spent my teen years, as well as my early 20's, and a good part of my 30's....pretty much drowning in refined carbs.
Last evening inhad 76 after a relatively active day (in leucine weight lifting) and this morning it was 82.
I suppose that's ok.
Question is how to keep THIS active all the time.
I would test for DP more often. i bet you will find it is usually quite mild or doesn't happen at all. Even I have some days where I wake up with a 4.4 (80). It is inconsistent.
I often wonder if I had eaten a LCHF diet for my adult years, would I have developed T2D? Maybe. Maybe not. If I could go back in time you can bet that I would have gone LCHF a LONG time ago just in case it could have helped avoid this.1 -
From this referenced article, normal subjects showed no increase in blood sugar from the night before.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/12/3860
But then there is this that shows there is some DP in normal healthy people:
Demonstration of a Dawn Phenomenon in Normal Human Volunteers
Abstract
To ascertain whether the dawn phenomenon occurs in nondiabetic individuals and, if so, whether it is due to an increase in glucose production or a decrease in glucose utilization, we determined plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and counter regulatory hormones, as well as rates of glucose production, glucose utilization, and insulin secretion at one-halfhourly intervals between 1:00 and 9:00 a.m. in eight normal volunteers. After 5:30 a.m., plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations all increased significantly; rates of glucose production, glucose utilization, and insulin secretion also increased (all P < 0.05). Plasma cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine increased significantly from nocturnal nadirs between 4:00 and 6:30 a.m. Plasma growth hormone, which had increased episodically between 1:00 and 4:30 a.m., decreased thereafter nearly 50% (P < 0.05). Plasma glucagon did not change significantly throughout the period of observation. These results indicate that a dawn-like phenomenon, initiated by an increase in glucose production, occurs in nondiabetic individuals. Thus, early morning increases in plasma glucose concentrations and insulin requirements observed in IDDM and NIDDM may be an exaggeration of a physiologic circadian variation in hepatic insulin sensitivity induced by antecedent changes in catecholamine and/or growth hormone secretion.
But worsening FBG is definitely linked to T2D progression:
The Loss of Postprandial Glycemic Control Precedes Stepwise Deterioration of Fasting With Worsening Diabetes
CONCLUSIONS— The deterioration of glucose homeostasis in individuals with type 2 diabetes progressed from postprandial to fasting hyperglycemia following a three-step process. The first step related to the three diurnal postmeal periods considered as a whole, the second step occurred during the morning period, and the third and final step corresponded to sustained hyperglycemia over the nocturnal fasting periods. Such a description of the key stages in the evolution of type 2 diabetes may be of interest for implementing antidiabetes treatment.1 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »Yes, "dawn phenomenon" can affect non-diabetics... it is just a glycogen dump when fasting.
A change in BG's from 70's to 80's is nothing to worry about and is small enough that it is just as likely be the result of eating different types, quantities, or combination of macros or at different times during fasting. It's also small enough to be a meter variance, since home meters do not provide exact measurements.
ETA: jgnata already addressed the effect of insulin being lowered BG while "down phenomenon" is higher BG. But keep in mind that not everything is precise and some of these things take some time (though not that much, really). Still to raise or lower from upper 70's to lower 80's could just as easily be the effect of meter variances, results of imperfect insulin:food ratios or imperfect insulin:dawn phenomenon ratios.
I don't think it's the meter because the trend is consistent. Lower at bedtime (couple of hours after a meal), higher in the morning. Again, the morning bg is still below 100, often below 90....but it is usually higher than the night before.
This can't be the meter.
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wisdomfromyou wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »Yes, "dawn phenomenon" can affect non-diabetics... it is just a glycogen dump when fasting.
A change in BG's from 70's to 80's is nothing to worry about and is small enough that it is just as likely be the result of eating different types, quantities, or combination of macros or at different times during fasting. It's also small enough to be a meter variance, since home meters do not provide exact measurements.
ETA: jgnata already addressed the effect of insulin being lowered BG while "down phenomenon" is higher BG. But keep in mind that not everything is precise and some of these things take some time (though not that much, really). Still to raise or lower from upper 70's to lower 80's could just as easily be the effect of meter variances, results of imperfect insulin:food ratios or imperfect insulin:dawn phenomenon ratios.
I don't think it's the meter because the trend is consistent. Lower at bedtime (couple of hours after a meal), higher in the morning. Again, the morning bg is still below 100, often below 90....but it is usually higher than the night before.
This can't be the meter.
Meters are never exact, but it could just as easily be other fluctuations mentioned. That small of a variance (+/- 5 mg/dl) is very very small and could be impacted by more than a dozen factors, maybe all of them at the same time. I would not worry about that small of a variance, though.1 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »My mother is diabetic and my father is borderline (pre-diabetic).
Both became quite sedentary after they retired from their comparatively active jobs (agronomists, walking up and down green-house alleys a good part of the day).
My mother acquired diabetes a few years after that. My father just plain sits on the couch and watches the news a good part of the day. They both live overseas (not in the US).
My mom was almost obese when she was diagnosed and she was a major emotional eater due to some problems related to my brother - but she lost weight ever since. My father is overweight too.
What are my chances of NEVER getting diabetes if, unlike them:
1. I will work to keep my BMI at a normal level.
2. I exercise daily and make sure to get in at least 10,000 steps a day (not just the hour of intense exercise).
3. I stay on top of diet and do low-carb, avoid sugar, take blood sugar lowering supplements, whatever.
Last year I had a BMI of 24.8 but I have put on some weight over the past few months due to work-related stress. I am on my way back down to 24.9 which would make me "normal".
My fasting blood sugar varies from upper 80's to mid 90's on a home testing device (Relion) which, in my experience, shows higher values than doctor's lab.
I have 13 lbs to lose to be back to a normal BMI - and I am 43.
I am so terrified of getting this illness given my family history.
Please someone tell me I can avoid it altogether if I BEHAVE long term - per diabetes guidelines.
Thank you all.
My wife is 52 and for a long time was careless about diabetes prevention. She watched her parents do all the "right" things and still got every possible ailment in their 30's and 40's so she figured she wouldn't bother with all that. Now she's finally started to care and is making all her good readings even better. Strange enough, I came from a non-diabetic family but have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic a few months ago, with readings higher than my wife's numbers.
So I'm really not sure what to think about prevention. Don't be careless; but being careful is no guarantee either.0 -
Sorry to hear about those numbers, @TonyB0588 . Look at it this way. The diabetic diet is very healthy. At the very least it can slow down the progression of the disease and slow down or prevent complications. If you need medication to help bring those numbers down, it's still not the end of the world.
I'm in remission now, but I was pre-diabetic then diabetic for decades. I was very compliant in regards to my diet. I annually get checked for glaucoma and my eye doctor also checks the back of my eye for any scarring. There is none. She told me the eye never lies, and told me a story of another patient whom she told he had diabetes. She could see the scarring at the back of his eye. He denied it. He told her his doctor said the same thing but he had told the doctor he felt fine and there was nothing wrong with him. A few months later, back for a checkup, the patient was back in the eye doctor's office, much chastened, short a few toes.3 -
Mapalicious wrote: »
Third, Type 2 diabetes is a symptom. The disease itself is high blood sugar. Things that lead to high blood sugar and therefore to Type 2 diabetes are: fatty liver, stress, genetics, inflammation, auto-immunity. Studies also suggest that just having a "low BMI" is not actually the most important. You want to be metabolically healthy, which means when you DO have fat, have the RIGHT KINDS. Work out your core. Balance your foods.
This is the type of make-believe BS that you'll see on Fat Acceptance Tumblrs, but I'm sad to see it here. Being fat isn't "the most important" factor, but its VERY important.
5 -
My uncle died recently from diabetes related condition. Gangreeness leg was amputated, followed by stroke and death shortly thereafter.
3 things remained constant in his life:
1) He was a smoker
2) He ate copious amounts of lollies (candy) every single day.
3) He drank soda like it was going out of fashion.
On the other hand he was fit and trim and exercised regularly, was never overweight. Besides the sweets, he ate healthily the rest of the time, plenty of vegies and lean meats.
He is the one and only person in our family to have had diabetes (type 2).4 -
Mapalicious wrote: »
Third, Type 2 diabetes is a symptom. The disease itself is high blood sugar. Things that lead to high blood sugar and therefore to Type 2 diabetes are: fatty liver, stress, genetics, inflammation, auto-immunity. Studies also suggest that just having a "low BMI" is not actually the most important. You want to be metabolically healthy, which means when you DO have fat, have the RIGHT KINDS. Work out your core. Balance your foods.
@Mapalicious "Auto-immunity" has nothing to do with Type 2 diabetes. It is, however, the cause of Type 1 diabetes. Don't confuse these different diseases just because they ended up with a similar name.
Also, type 2 diabetes is NOT a "symptom." High blood glucose is, in fact, a symptom. It would be more accurate to say that type 2 diabetes is a diagnosis that includes several different diseases. Or, you can refer to these differences as different "pathways" to the disease. The most common "pathway" to type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance with well over 90% of cases. The most common cause of insulin resistance is obesity (specifically fat).
You are the one here using the wrong words.4 -
wisdomfromyou wrote: »My mother is diabetic and my father is borderline (pre-diabetic).
Both became quite sedentary after they retired from their comparatively active jobs (agronomists, walking up and down green-house alleys a good part of the day).
My mother acquired diabetes a few years after that. My father just plain sits on the couch and watches the news a good part of the day. They both live overseas (not in the US).
My mom was almost obese when she was diagnosed and she was a major emotional eater due to some problems related to my brother - but she lost weight ever since. My father is overweight too.
What are my chances of NEVER getting diabetes if, unlike them:
1. I will work to keep my BMI at a normal level.
2. I exercise daily and make sure to get in at least 10,000 steps a day (not just the hour of intense exercise).
3. I stay on top of diet and do low-carb, avoid sugar, take blood sugar lowering supplements, whatever.
Last year I had a BMI of 24.8 but I have put on some weight over the past few months due to work-related stress. I am on my way back down to 24.9 which would make me "normal".
My fasting blood sugar varies from upper 80's to mid 90's on a home testing device (Relion) which, in my experience, shows higher values than doctor's lab.
I have 13 lbs to lose to be back to a normal BMI - and I am 43.
I am so terrified of getting this illness given my family history.
Please someone tell me I can avoid it altogether if I BEHAVE long term - per diabetes guidelines.
Thank you all.
In anything health related there are no absolutes, but you will dramatically increase your chances by following the three steps you put forth. Even if you did end up with diabetes your life would be so much simpler and manageable if you are in good health.
Genetics merely establishes parameters. You can break beyond these through behavior.1 -
An A1C of 5.4 is normal, not prediabetic (and nothing to meh about
)- also the blood sugars you report all sound perfectly normal. Type 2 Diabetes runs in my family and I was metformin/insulin dependent for 10+ years before I lost the weight. Now I watch what I eat and exercise regularly and get A1C numbers of 5.4 (without medications) and get excited when I get the results. My BMI is about 26 currently but my blood sugars and A1C numbers look pretty good - I eat carbs in moderation trying to keep them at about 45% of my macros. 4 -
shaynepoole wrote: »An A1C of 5.4 is normal, not prediabetic (and nothing to meh about )- also the blood sugars you report all sound perfectly normal. Type 2 Diabetes runs in my family and I was metformin/insulin dependent for 10+ years before I lost the weight. Now I watch what I eat and exercise regularly and get A1C numbers of 5.4 (without medications) and get excited when I get the results. My BMI is about 26 currently but my blood sugars and A1C numbers look pretty good - I eat carbs in moderation trying to keep them at about 45% of my macros.
According to this conversion table, A1c of 5.4 = Mean Plasma Glucose of around 110.
http://www.rajeun.net/HbA1c_glucose.html
That's a rough average over the last several weeks, so it's not as good as checking your glucose frequently.
5.4 is higher than non-diabetics' levels of < 4.8 which some would say makes it higher than normal.
Risk for various diseases increases with glucose and BMI.
3 -
Sorry to hear about those numbers, @TonyB0588 . Look at it this way. The diabetic diet is very healthy. At the very least it can slow down the progression of the disease and slow down or prevent complications. If you need medication to help bring those numbers down, it's still not the end of the world.
I'm in remission now, but I was pre-diabetic then diabetic for decades. I was very compliant in regards to my diet. I annually get checked for glaucoma and my eye doctor also checks the back of my eye for any scarring. There is none. She told me the eye never lies, and told me a story of another patient whom she told he had diabetes. She could see the scarring at the back of his eye. He denied it. He told her his doctor said the same thing but he had told the doctor he felt fine and there was nothing wrong with him. A few months later, back for a checkup, the patient was back in the eye doctor's office, much chastened, short a few toes.
Thanks for the encouragement. We're all trying as a family to eat healthier, and none of us is getting any worse. Just thought the comparison of our situations was one of those "unfair" things in life.0 -
I think it can be.
My paternal side of the family has a tendency towards diabetes; my uncle was TI, but my (other) uncle and grandfather were TII. My father is a giant question mark. I don't think he has it.
One could argue I've avoided diabetes because it's in the men in my family... but it wouldn't surprise me if my paternal aunt had it, as well. My grandmother has had other health issues, but never diabetes as far as I know; as far as I know, her diet has always been rather conservative and no doubt she avoided excess sugar because of the men having it. I've managed to avoid diabetes thus far, and I'm right around the age they probably were when their TII diabetes came to light.1
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