Always wondered...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2007
Always wondered...
10
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 2:57pm

Hi Everyone,


I'm sorry if this is a really stupid/naive question, but I've always wondered and haven't been able to find a good answer.


If someone is really overweight and lives an unhealthy lifestyle (eats sweets all the time, etc.) and develops Type 2 Diabetes, but then they turn their life around - lose weight, and start eating healthy - Why doesn't the diabetes "go away"?


In short, why is it said that there is no cure for Diabetes?


Thanks!

Lisa -Loving wife to Ryan since July '98 & Mom to two furbaby kitties.  This is our second pregnancy attempt for our first child due June 11 '08.

pregnancy due date

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 3:09pm

Same reason that if someone drinks to excess and damages their liver, no matter how they clean up their lives, the damage is there. They can improve their quality of life and extend their life but they can't fix their liver completely. Same with diabetes. When the insulin related cells get overworked and start to wear out, there's no way to restore them. It's all about management in order to give them a little bit of a break and try to extend their functional little cell lives (not to mention minimize collateral damage to the kidneys, heart, eyes, nerves, etc). So, it is possible to maintain a decent quality of life with care but the damage isn't going to go away and even "normal" use will eventually start wearing the cells out a bit at a time which is why diabetes is progressive even for the most vigilant.

--Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2007
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 3:26pm

Thanks for the explanation.

 

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 3:29pm

Hi Lisa and welcome to the board!


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2007
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 3:41pm

Hi Cheryl,


I was asking mostly for myself.

 

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 3:53pm
Does your ob know that you were diagnosed prediabetic???

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2007
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 4:03pm

Yep, my OB is actually my Family Practitioner, so same Dr.

 

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 4:08pm
Then are you testing?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2007
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 4:48pm

Honestly, I am more worried about it than my Dr. is.

 

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 4:55pm
I know you said this is your family dr and a small town...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2007
Wed, 10-31-2007 - 5:32pm

Thanks a lot for the concern and advice, and I did seriously consider going to an OB instead, to the point where I contacted my insurance company and everything to see who I could see.