I am 38 and have had type 1 diabetes for 16 months. My last three A1c tests have all been normal: 5.5, 5.3, and 5.2. This is with no insulin, only diet and exercise. My doctor has told me that I am still in the honeymoon period. I only drink water and a organic green drink and have a strict diet. How long do you think I can carry on without taking insulin?

Honeymoon periods may last up to a year. How long they last is not necessarily predictable at the onset of the disease. However, good control during the interim is more likely to yield longer honeymoon duration. In the end, the autoimmune process that damaged the insulin-producing cells to cause your onset of disease, ends up destroying the remaining beta cells. In some cases, patients who think they may have type 1 diabetes may have type 2 diabetes. I would check with your physician to make sure they feel you really have type 1 diabetes.

JTL

[Editor’s comment: You may wish to read our previous questions about the Honeymoon.

BH]