For diabetics...at what point did you start to notice some of the long term effects start to take place?!
Question: For diabetics...at what point did you start to notice some of the long term effects start to take place.?
I've had type 1 for 17 years. I am now 30. I would say I've had average control over the years. Last A1c was under 6. Over the last year I started feeling more and more lathargic..joint problems, slow healing wounds, sore feet, etc. Is this the start of the downhill stuff.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
When was your last A1C.?.? As a diabetic, you should have one at least every three months.
An A1C under 6 is VERY good! In fact, it is normal. If you can maintain this over long period of time, then you show EXCELLENT control over the disease, to the point that your body thinks it IS normal.
No, you're not cured, it's just that you have excellent control over the disease. In that case, your symptoms should NOT be caused by diabetes. You are not seeing a "downhill slide" -- IF your A1C is STAYING below 6.
Take your symptoms to your doctor. Maybe he can do other tests to locate other problems.
OTHERWISE....
If your A1C readings have been higher, then yes, this is probably a "downhill slide". It often takes months, even years, of abuse before the symptoms show up.
Since most people wait until the symptoms are unbearable before they got to a doctor, it is thought that most diabetics have had the disease for 5-7 YEARS before the get diagnosed.
The good news is that most of those side effects are reversible if you keep that A1C down. The neuropathy (pain in the feet) will go away, as will the wound and infection problems.
But if your readings have been high for a long period of time before this, it will take a long period of time for the symptoms to go away.
But keep at it!! An A1C reading under 6 in a 17-year diabetic is GREAT!! It shows that you CAN control the disease if you put yourmind to it! So keep at it, and be patient----Health Question & Answer
An A1C under 6 is VERY good! In fact, it is normal. If you can maintain this over long period of time, then you show EXCELLENT control over the disease, to the point that your body thinks it IS normal.
No, you're not cured, it's just that you have excellent control over the disease. In that case, your symptoms should NOT be caused by diabetes. You are not seeing a "downhill slide" -- IF your A1C is STAYING below 6.
Take your symptoms to your doctor. Maybe he can do other tests to locate other problems.
OTHERWISE....
If your A1C readings have been higher, then yes, this is probably a "downhill slide". It often takes months, even years, of abuse before the symptoms show up.
Since most people wait until the symptoms are unbearable before they got to a doctor, it is thought that most diabetics have had the disease for 5-7 YEARS before the get diagnosed.
The good news is that most of those side effects are reversible if you keep that A1C down. The neuropathy (pain in the feet) will go away, as will the wound and infection problems.
But if your readings have been high for a long period of time before this, it will take a long period of time for the symptoms to go away.
But keep at it!! An A1C reading under 6 in a 17-year diabetic is GREAT!! It shows that you CAN control the disease if you put yourmind to it! So keep at it, and be patient----Health Question & Answer
No, I wouldnt say that this is the start of the downhill stuff.
You must however have your eyes checked regularly, a podiatrist to check your feet regularly. also regular checks which I am sure you are having to see your kidney function. Your AC1 looks good and if it has been rather consistent I wouldnt be too concerned, however dont be complacent either, keep your eye on the ball.
There is no reason for you not to enjoy a reasonably healthy life and as for the sores healing slowly, that is the norm for diabetes regardless
of how well you are controlling it.Health Question & Answer
You must however have your eyes checked regularly, a podiatrist to check your feet regularly. also regular checks which I am sure you are having to see your kidney function. Your AC1 looks good and if it has been rather consistent I wouldnt be too concerned, however dont be complacent either, keep your eye on the ball.
There is no reason for you not to enjoy a reasonably healthy life and as for the sores healing slowly, that is the norm for diabetes regardless
of how well you are controlling it.Health Question & Answer
that's great that your a1c has been so good. i've been diabetic 10 years and have struggled to keep it even between 7 and 8. (i'm going to my endo in a few days...wish me luck. lol)
i don't think this is any signs of downhill stuff. although you should get those things checked out. joint problems could indicate arthritis...i know because i have rheumatoid arthritis unrelated to anything diabetic. these all can be signs of other things unrelated to diabetes, but as a diabetic you should always get these things checked out as soon as you can. also, you say you've become more lethargic in the last year...this could indicate a sleeping problem...everything is all kind of like a chain reaction in the body. so the pain could be causing lethargy, or vise versa. (again...not necessarily diabetes related)
you don't say what your a1cs have been in the past, like if they've been that good for the duration, or if it's just recently you've gotten in such good control. if the sore feet issue is caused by neuropothy, there is medication to help with the pain. go to a rheumatologist to have the joint stuff checked out, and then a foot doctor would probably help as well if the rheumatologist can't identify where the pain in your feet is from.
good luckHealth Question & Answer
i don't think this is any signs of downhill stuff. although you should get those things checked out. joint problems could indicate arthritis...i know because i have rheumatoid arthritis unrelated to anything diabetic. these all can be signs of other things unrelated to diabetes, but as a diabetic you should always get these things checked out as soon as you can. also, you say you've become more lethargic in the last year...this could indicate a sleeping problem...everything is all kind of like a chain reaction in the body. so the pain could be causing lethargy, or vise versa. (again...not necessarily diabetes related)
you don't say what your a1cs have been in the past, like if they've been that good for the duration, or if it's just recently you've gotten in such good control. if the sore feet issue is caused by neuropothy, there is medication to help with the pain. go to a rheumatologist to have the joint stuff checked out, and then a foot doctor would probably help as well if the rheumatologist can't identify where the pain in your feet is from.
good luckHealth Question & Answer
Long-term complications related to diabetes are often linked to having high blood sugar levels over a long period of time. But blood sugar control isn't the only thing that determines a person's risk for complications. Other factors, like genes, can also play a role. Many of the complications of diabetes don't show up until after many years of having the disease. They usually develop silently and gradually over timeHealth Question & Answer