The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 8 years ago. Early on in my diabetes journey, I became extremely worried about my blood sugar numbers and the possibility of long-term complications. My endocrinologist would always say not to worry if my numbers were a little elevated because, after all, I was in fact “diabetic.”

This didn’t sit well with me. Am I supposed to just accept that the side effects and complications of diabetes are expected and inevitable? Yes, I do have diabetes, but I also have insulin, fancy medical devices, and advanced pharmaceuticals all at my disposal. Why should I settle for “diabetic” blood sugars when I have all these tools to assist me attain ordinary non-diabetic blood sugars? 

How the Diabetes on line Community Helped

That’s when I found myself constantly surfing the diabetes online community to educate myself on this extremely complex condition. I learned that there are many individuals with diabetes just like me, who want to achieve even improved blood sugar control than their doctors have advised.

Enter the low-carb zealots! While they may be a passionate and hardcore bunch, one thing they advocate for (when not pushing low-carb cookies) is ordinary blood sugar! They believe that people with diabetes are entitled to truly ordinary blood sugar levels. I find that an inspiring idea.

The Meaning of “Normal”

But I also noticed that there’s little agreement among people with diabetes on the best glycemic targets, or even on the definition of “normal” blood sugars.

Some people are incredibly hands-on with their blood sugar management. They take their diet, exercise, and lifestyle decisions very seriously, always with a view towards optimizing glucose control. They tend to favor a very tight blood sugar range, say 70-120 mg/dL, and are happy micromanaging their insulin usage to stay there. They are, for the most part, seeing great results, and sometimes have A1C’s that are so low that their doctors and endocrinologists can scarcely believe it.

But not everyone is like that. Many spend less time managing and don’t mind their numbers sitting at a little higher range. Maybe they don’t mind a splurge here or there. For these folks, the mainstream definition of “in range” (70-180 mg/dL) is usually good enough. And most doctors would probably agree that these patients are already doing just about everything they can to optimize their metabolic health.

Both groups have one thing in common: each is focused on quality of life. They just have different ideas about what that means. To one group, normal blood sugars are of the utmost importance. To the other, feeling normal is more important. 

What “Normal” Means to Me

As I found my own way, I realized I was falling in between these two groups. I am very much on top of managing my disease, but I am not always very diligent when it comes to carb counting correctly. I don’t always have my insulin-to-carb ratio down to a tee, and I still haven’t solved the mystery of dawn phenomenon. Because of this, and the 42 variables that affect your blood sugar, sometimes I am okay with letting my numbers stay a little higher than I’d normally like.

You might define “normal” blood sugar as an A1C less than 6.5% – just below the threshold for diabetes diagnosis. Or you might define it as 5.6% or even lower, which matches the consequences of healthy adults with perfect metabolic health.

Everyone is Entitled to Normal Blood Sugars

But I’m worried that too many people with diabetes think that a blood sugar well into the diabetic range – 6.5% and above – is normal for them. Just like me, they’ve been told that their numbers will naturally fall in the diabetic range. They may think that truly normal blood sugars are unattainable, or not worth the effort. They probably haven’t been taught they could do even better.

That mindset – that people with diabetes are just going to have diabetic blood sugar numbers, no matter what – can be very destructive. 

Sadly, we know that there are many patients with poor blood sugar control. Some lack the motivation to achieve better control or may struggle with any number of issues that make it almost impossible to devote much time and effort to blood sugar management. But some are basically content with their health results. Even if they struggle daily with rollercoaster blood sugars and growing complications, they’re just not aware that things could be different.

It’s my opinion that everyone is entitled to normal blood sugars. 

I couldn’t do it without the help of the diabetes online community. Whether you seek help in the community, or with a doctor, or even just within yourself, you should know that there are resources to help you make the adjustments and corrections that can help you get better. You and your health deserve it!

Diabetes Daily

The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes