Hi,
The question I am asking is on behalf of my brother.
What are the long term risks of High blood sugar (11-13mM)?

He is a gym instructor, working shifts, taking spinning classes and on his own gym program. He has been diabetic now for 13 years, aged 23 now. On four injections per day but in his own words "barely takes 3" Smokes, up to 10 cigarettes per day, and was fond of binge drinking at the weekend and can polish of 2 medium easter eggs in a sitting . You may think he could be over weight but would be a little over 9 stone.

I am a personal training and I deal with people with poor diet habits, and health risk factors but I can not get through to my brother and it doesnt matter how much exercise you do, smoking and drinking is still bad.

I have grown up with diabetes in the family, my dad developed type 1 when i was only a year old, then my brother when he was 10. I would eat more like a diabetic myself and find it great but I must have the complete opposite views on health and fitness.

I am looking for peoples views on this as I want to help my brother out before it's too late. Any feedback is welcome

Hi,
11 - 13 isn't ridiculously high, but it's not going to help his training - surely as a personal trainer he wants to look good? Poorly controlled blood sugars and smoking and drinking isn't going to help is six pack?? I can understand him keeping his blood sugar a little bit high because he's probably terrified that he'll have a hypo while teaching a class and that that'll embarrass him or worse make him lose his job. When I take a spin class I test half way through so that I can take some glucose if I need it - if you're teaching you don't have that luxury. Binge drinking can kill someone with type 1 diabetes and our lower immune system puts us at higher risk from smoking related illness so he should really stop both - it's not exactly setting a good example to his clients otherwise either! But he's got to want to stop - unfortunately you can't force him to! It sounds like you're an awesome brother anyway! Good luck xxx

Yes he is an awesome brother that looks out for me alot.
Now that is out the way I can start to explain my actions. The comment of being terrified of having a hypo during a class and risking losing my job is absolutely spot on. I have recently gone to a new clinic in my locality and have realised the implications of keeping my blood sugars that little bit higher. When I look back now and think of how badly controlled I was it is shocking and also scary, but I have realised now I do not wish to go back to that atall. It started when I was 10 years old and I was the best controlled Insulin dependant diabetic at my clinic for 3 years. I moved to Ireland from the UK at 14 years old and started to go to a clinic here. The difference was unbelievable. The doctors and nurses changed my insulin and increased my injections 3 times within 1 year when there was no need to. The result was me becoming physically sick and continually high blood sugars. This resulted in me telling them where to go!! at 16 years of age I decided to fend for myself and have done until recently. Through college and school and work I barely took any insulin during the day (NovoRapid) but always took my Lantus injection before bed. As I am physically active throughout the week I felt my sugars were ok as "I knew my body"!! and how i felt!! In Regards to my body I have always been slim but I do 3-4 intense resistance training sessions per week and my 6 pack is not bad if i dont say so myself!!! My cardio revolves around 2 spining classes an aqua aerobics class and body sculpt class each week (roughly) i have maintained a 10 stone weight at a height of 5ft 10-11 the past 2 years. I am quite an interesting study as a diabetic but have come to my sense now. I will be 24 in October and I wish to continue my work for another 20 years and the only way to do that is to look after myself. My next clinic appointment is december and I will have my Hba1c average down to between 6 and 8 by then I promise. I have to say I do smoke but my Immune system is as strong as ever I am rarely sick and any cold or virus is gone within 3 days, i am quite a contradiction really!! I do enjoy a Drink sometimes but I am not as bad as I used to be!! All my blood results came back perfect Kidneys and Liver. Now I know that is no excuse to go on a "binge" and I wont be doing that anymore. I have continued to eat the same as I always have if not a little more and the majority of my sugars have been a little low but i am working on bringing them up to between 5and6 rather than between 2and 3 as this is too risky for me and my job!! I will keep you all posted come December. As I like to live by the motto "Control the Disease and dont let the disease Control you" Thank you for reading
Mark

Hi Mark,

In regards to smoking it is not your immune system that is the issue it is the fact that just being a diabetic you are at an increased risk for cardio vascular disease (ie stroke ,heart attack). As a smoker you are at an increased risk for cardio vascular disease. So you are doubling your risk. As a physical fitness trainer i absolutely can't believe you smoke (diabetic or not) How does that convey a healthy image to your clients.