Oral medication failure-5-7 year window

[jimmys devoted]

According to teh FDA and pharmaceutical companies and clinical studies, those who fail teh GTT and are confimed diabetics via blood tests and are put on oral medications can expecta failure of thosemedications within 5 to 7 years.

This means that if you are still using your oral meds, and watching you diet closely but your BG and A1C levels are not where they were or shodl be, your medications maybe failing.
This is especially true of youar on secretors. Those meds like glucotrol, diabetta etc which force the last remaining beta cells to rpoduce insulin. This causes a condition known as pancreatic failure. Its confimed by going at least a week without any medication and being diaet controlled oly. An insulin level is takenand compared to your pre oralmedication insulin levels. If its found that theer no or lowered insulin prodyuction, teh normal reaction atht most doctors go for is an incraese in oral meds. Thsi only hstens the exhaustion of the cells.
This si not meant as anything but a facton the lifespan of teh pancrease.

[Serra]

According to teh FDA and pharmaceutical companies and clinical studies, those who fail teh GTT and are confimed diabetics via blood tests and are put on oral medications can expecta failure of thosemedications within 5 to 7 years.

I'd read things like that before. Nothing to worry about, shots are cheaper, think of it that way.

[jimmys devoted]

being ahealthc are professional( diabetes educator, NDEP partner) the more CMEs I take the more dissapoinitng the oralmeds seem,with the exception of glitazones.

Whatthe oralmedications promise and what they deliver is a big difference. I have ot admit I did discover that Insulin gave me more food freedoms. I can adjust what I eat and how much I eat better with insulin than orals.
I think medical professional should let pateints know ALl options,My fathers glucose slowly went out of control with orals and that led to his death.
Whenw e discovered that the orals were not working forme, i begged for insulin. It took a while to get it, but I like its freedom. Id love ot try the patch.. but not yet approved.

[bra]

If you are on the oral medication for a while is there a possibility of eventually getting off of the medication and just having a strict diet and live normally otherwise?

[Britjojo]

I'd like an answer to this too. I haven't reached the point that I need meds yet, but I guess it is in my future somewhere-I would just rather put in the effort to keep healthy with diet and exercise rather than popping pills.

[Dusty]

I think a lot of it depends on the length of time a person was diabetic before diagnosis and how well they control their numbers after.
My oral meds have decreased since I was dx'ed about a year ago and I have heard of people going off and staying off for years with good control.

[Cassy]

According to teh FDA and pharmaceutical companies and clinical studies, those who fail teh GTT and are confimed diabetics via blood tests and are put on oral medications can expecta failure of thosemedications within 5 to 7 years.

This means that if you are still using your oral meds, and watching you diet closely but your BG and A1C levels are not where they were or shodl be, your medications maybe failing.
This is especially true of youar on secretors. Those meds like glucotrol, diabetta etc which force the last remaining beta cells to rpoduce insulin. This causes a condition known as pancreatic failure. Its confimed by going at least a week without any medication and being diaet controlled oly. An insulin level is takenand compared to your pre oralmedication insulin levels. If its found that theer no or lowered insulin prodyuction, teh normal reaction atht most doctors go for is an incraese in oral meds. Thsi only hstens the exhaustion of the cells.
This si not meant as anything but a facton the lifespan of teh pancrease.

So if this is the case then why do they give them to you in the first place? If they know they are going to fail why even precribe them. I think some people end up as test rats.

[Team Diabetes]

Despite what pharmaceutical companies and the ADA will have you believe, Type 2 diabetes does not always have to progress. Many people can remain medication free or reduce their medication needs*if* they catch their Type 2 diabetes early, and make the needed changes in their lifestyle.

Medications used to increase insulin sensitivity (resistance to the insulin your body makes is really what Type 2 diabetes is) should continue to work, and are usually given along with insulin for those with Type 2 diabetes who need insulin.

Remember that *high blood sugar and insulin resistance itself* is toxic to and can "wear out" beta cells, so the harder you work to make changes and control your blood sugar, the less likely it will be that you will need to be on insulin if you have Type 2 diabetes. At the very least, you can delay the need.

Ways to control insulin resistance and your blood sugar are:

-Losing excess weight
-Exercising regularly
-Eating a healthy diet and small portions. High fibre, lower carbs, low bad fats, and moderate protein and good fats.

Some people find that supplements like cinnamon seem to help lower insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes.

However, there comes a point when some people with Type 2will still need insulin despite having made all of the above changes. In that case, do not delay. Delaying insulin if you need it is like playing with fire. If your control is still poor with weight loss, diet, and exercise, insulin sounds in order.

The point is, don't let anyone tell you that you have no control over your own health. Pharmaceutical companies want your money, and fast food companies want your business. I want people to know that diabetics have more control than they think. I have heard of Type 2's who said that they'd be dead if they followed the ADA's diet guidelines and accepted the fact that their diabetes would "progress". They made lifestyle changes and are now taking very little (if any) medication.

There is hope out there for those of you with Type 2!

[Team Diabetes]

I forgot to add that yes, oral medications WILL fail 100% if you do not make lifestyle changes to fix the underlying problem and reason why you need the pills in the first place.

It's like getting cancer treatment but still smoking. It may prolong your life, but the cancer will never go away. It will come back, and eventually kill you.

[Cassy]

This is something that I can agree with. I have always said that you can control your health without medications. But we are told that we can't so that way we'll buy into the medications. Type 2 that is. Is in a way an easiar way for you to avoid changing your diet by just taking medications.

[Britjojo]

Thank you! I haven't been clear headed enough to ask the questions I need to when I go see the doc yet. I guess I need to start making a list to take with me, see if that gets my answers, but this has been hugely reassuring. I know I can do this....

But yes for many I am sure that it is easier to just take the meds, and that way they don't have to make an effort. America is all about convenience after all.

[ramesh68]

Hi there,

Type 2 diabetes can be managed with little medication provided we lead a systematic life with regular exercises and planned diet. Oral medication is good than taking insulin shots and try to maintain with it only as long as possible. This depends on the person's will power to keep the sugar levels under control. Better be in touch with dietitian and avoid taking high carbs. I hope this helps.


Thanks