URGENT if you are a diabetic or know a diabetic, PLEASE READ THIS!
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
February 7, 2008 7:34am CST
A recent study on diabetes and blood sugar control had to be stopped because it was KILLING the participants.
Doctors and the American Diabetic Associatioon have long been preaching very rigid control of blood glucose levels and keeping them as low as possible. This study actually proved that RIGID blood glucose control INCREASES your risk of heart attack and heart disease.
This does NOT mean you should stop monitoring and controlling your blood sugar. No control will just kill you throough kidney failure, etc. But, what the medical profession has been assuming all these years (lower is better and strict control is necessary) has actually been killing patients with type II diabetes.
Here is a link to the article - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/health/07diabetes.html?th&emc=th
2 people like this
6 responses
@j27366 (293)
• Philippines
8 Feb 08
thanks for this info but, there's been normal ranges to follow for a long time now. in fact, we can clearly see that range on the test strips bottles we buy, and doctors give the target ranges to their patients. lowering blood sugar level below the minimum normal value will definitely cause hypoglycaemia which can lead to stroke, heart attack, and coma. my mom is diabetic since 1991 and we always try to follow the normal ranges her doctor has given her. we test her sugar level twice a week - before breakfast and before dinner, done in separate days ; aside from her quarterly FBS test.
@j27366 (293)
• Philippines
9 Feb 08
we have been following the 8% level for many years now. and that is attainable if the glucose level (minimum - maximum range) is always being followed. i wasn't talking about HBA1c; i was mentioning about the minimum to maximum individual values ( for example : before breakfast 70-100 mmol/L). if this range (or whatever range the doctor says), is strictly followed, then the HBA1c level will not go down to a value that can already cause heart attack,stroke, or coma. there is always a minimum value to follow. just like with blood pressure: there is always a minimum value. well at least in my country (philippines), i have never heard of any doctor telling us to keep the glucose as low as possible. they always advise us to follow the range, where minimum and maximum values are given to us - one range for "before breakfast" measurement, and another range for "before dinner" measurement. i don't know in your area.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
But, that is the point here.
These people were NOT going below the levels recommended by their doctors.
They were trying to attain and maintain the "perfect" levels recommended by their doctors.
A1C levels of 6% or less: and, they were being monitored and checked by theoir doctors every other month.
They are now saying that an A1C level in the 7% range is better. So, trying to attain the lower A1C levbels (which were part of the NORMAL range is not good either.)
The medical profession will probably readjust the NORMAL range to eliminate the 6% and below levels that they were trying to get their patients to reach.
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
7 Feb 08
I read the linked article and am a diabetic who has experimented with myself while reading somewhat about the disease.
I know what went wrong with the study and can easily explain it.
BTW: The doctors involved know too! I'm not smarter than the doctors. They just can't say out loud what is the problem.
The problem? The lowered blood sugar readings were mostly obtained with increased doses of medicine, be it insulin, glucaphage, glyberide, or some other diabetic treatment.
All these treatments have side effects which are harmful!
Lowering blood sugar beyond necessary levels with medical treatment increases the undesirable side effects of the medicine.
Obviously, there is a point of diminishing returns with these medicines. So, is there a better alternative?
Yes. Any type II diabetic who strictly controls his/her diet and exercises combined with only taking the minimun amount possible of medicine to keep a blood sugar reading below 120 is going to do fine.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Personally, I think there is antother problem here (besides the excessive medication).
A normal person will have blood glucose levels that fluctuate during the day (sometimes excessively, but htey alwasy come back to normal after sleeping for several hours (fasting).
In a diabetic those levels stay high and do not come back down.
The people under rigid control of their blood sugar were attempting to keep their blood sugar levels low ALL the time.
I think that the normal fluctuations that occur during a day have a purpose and may help protect a person form SOME types of problems.
I think it was a combination of the high medication levels AND lack of normal fluctuations in blood sugar levels that created the problem with this study AND the way many doctors have been tackling this disease.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
8 Feb 08
The body is a complex interactive mechanism. That being the case, your hypothesis makes sense to me. There is so much science does not know about how the body operates!
Thanks, for the BR.
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
7 Feb 08
Thanks for the info. I am a nurse and diabetic and thought it was ridiculous but we have to follow whatever guidelines are set up. I will mention it to my doctor though.
Carole
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Please do. Control is necessary, but, some doctors are pushing their patients into heart attacks without even realizing it. They just "assume" that the heart attack is a normal progression of their disease because NO studies on this aspect had ever been done before. It was all based on assumtptions that have just been proven false.
@keerthu (33)
• India
8 Feb 08
it is one of the most dangerous disease we have.
we should take less carbohydrates.it is slow poison to the body
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Actually, we do need some carbs. The problem is that most people eat WAY too many carbs. I know I was shocked the first ime I actually took a look at what I was eating and how much of it was carbs and how little was protein. My diet is much more balanced now and I, personally, am a lot healthier now than I used to be.
BUT, carbs, fat, and protein ALL need to be balanced in our diet. Eliminating any of these is dangerous.
@opinione (749)
• Italy
7 Feb 08
Ok I'm diabetic, type II, and I can tell you that I've a good control of my blood sugar, not rigid but very careful, and I feel good.
Thanks for the piece of advice you wanted to share with us.
I must admit that my heart breaks every time I pass by a pizza hut or a candy shop (LOL)!!!
Let's hope that finally a good care for our disease will come from such new frontiers as genetic research or pancreatic insles cells modifications.
good bye myLot friend.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
I am glad to hear that your diabetes is under control; but not under the rigid control that some medical professionals are trying for. It appears that excessive control is the problem here and for some people who are obsessive about their control of their blood sugar levels this will be disturbing news. For those people who only check their blood sugar levels once or twice a day - this is a big relief.
@david2005 (798)
• Canada
8 Feb 08
I don't have diabetes but I do know a lot of people that do have diabetes and this information is very important to know. Thank-you for posting this information.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Thank you for reading and passing this info on tho the other people you know.
I do not have diabetes either; but, my husband is diabetic and so was my father - so I keep an eye out for any new information about this disease.
