Diabetes

[Our connor]

Ten weeks today I started cycling at the age of 58 in order to lose weight. I was 198 lbs. six weeks later I was down to 176 and have been diagnosed with diabetes.my diet has had to change completely and my doctor has encouraged me to carry on cycling. Today I'm down to 167 lbs and did 27 miles in just over 2 hours on Saturday when I started I could barely do 5 miles.if I hadn't started cycling I don't think I would have known I had diabetes because I wasn't showing any symptoms. My doctor tells me there are thousands of people who are in the same state. So if you take up any exercise please have a medical beforehand it could save your life!.

 

[brand]

I reckon exercise allows you get away with murder health wise. With the exception of smoking. I had massive varicose veins from smoking even though I have always exercised a lot. Within week of giving up they had disappeared.
Was in hospital a few years back with a severe bout of epilepsy they put me in the donut to see if they could find the course of this sudden increase. Possibles being brain tumour, stroke, alcoholism or just one of those things. Said it was just one of those things. Liver perfect, now I like my beer and cider...I like my beer and cider a lot, until recently every single day (5:2 diet doesn't allow it). Still do 8 pints or more 2 or 3 time a week at the pub and 3 or more pints of strong cider for the other days. Yet perfect liver. EXERCISE can't think of anything else. Blood pressure perfect as well. It doesn't surprise me one bit that your diabetes got better. Question why did you get type 2 diabetes in the first place? I read it sometimes as an acquired illness?​

 

[brand]

Ten weeks today I started cycling at the age of 58 in order to lose weight. I was 198 lbs. six weeks later I was down to 176 and have been diagnosed with diabetes.my diet has had to change completely and my doctor has encouraged me to carry on cycling. Today I'm down to 167 lbs and did 27 miles in just over 2 hours on Saturday when I started I could barely do 5 miles.if I hadn't started cycling I don't think I would have known I had diabetes because I wasn't showing any symptoms. My doctor tells me there are thousands of people who are in the same state. So if you take up any exercise please have a medical beforehand it could save your life!.

I don't understand, that are you saying cycling while you have diabetes is a problem? Or to much is?

 

[Yorksman]

My doctor tells me there are thousands of people who are in the same state. So if you take up any exercise please have a medical beforehand it could save your life!.

It was picked up on me during a routine blood test but with a change of diet, avoiding sugary foods and refined carbohydrates like white flour and white rice, together with exercise, I quickly got all my levels under control. Substantial weight loss revitalises some of the 'lost' insulin producing beta cells too. Whereas it used to be thought that they were either dead or alive, it now appears that some are metabolically inhibited, due to the build up of fats in the pancreas, but which can start to function again if sufficient fat is lost. The dead ones won't recover of course so one still has to avoid the mars bars but the progression is stopped and you feel so very much better.

 

[Yorksman]

Question why did you get type 2 diabetes in the first place? I read it sometimes as an acquired illness?

Type 2 diabetes is starts by a build up of fats in the liver which eventually leads to a build up of fats in the pancreas which blocks the insulin producing islets. A self re-inforcing cycle then starts as the body tries to cope with an excess of sugars in the blood which makes the matter worse. The high levels cause problems to nerve endings, the retina in the eyes, circulation of blood and so on.

The big unknowns are why some people with a BMI of 40 may not have diabetes whilst some people with a BMI of 25 do have diabetes. Different people have different thresholds so it is probably genetic. Also, where fat is deposited in the body varies from person to person. Fat around the belly is not as bad as many people think as far as diabetes is concerned. The people who have to be careful are those who get it in their internal organs. Unfortunately, you don't see that. Fat around the belly is not a very good predictor which is why it is true that about 80% of diabetics are obese, only 20% of obese people are diabetic.

I always feel sorry for the skinny guys who get type 2 without any warning whatsoever.

 

[Our connor]

No brand,what I was saying was that without starting cycling I wouldn't have known I had diabetes. My sister in law insisted I had a medical because of my age and weight and that's when it showed up in tests. The doctor said mine is probably hereditary because my mother has it. The doctor has encouraged me to do more cycling if anything to help with my weight loss and fitness.

 

[brand]

Sound advice.