What kinds of complications do you have?
What do you mean by complications? Are we talking about physical symptoms that were unexpected or are we talking about generally difficult questions we have about living with diabetes? Pretty sur eI can manage both!
9 months ago
Hey PC:
Just was curious what you guys have in terms of life challenges -whether emotional, phsycial or whatnot. My biggest problem is weight and energy fluctations that make life challenging.
Curious about others.
9 months ago
I've been Diabetic for 27 years. 5 years ago I was diagnosed with retinopathy. And I've been suffering from neuropathy for years. Fortunately, my eyesight has been able to be saved so far with laser surgeries, although I am legally blind. Fatigue and weight control are always a major factor as well. But I keep on truckin'.
9 months ago
I have been diabetic for 23 yrs about 9 yrs ago i developed neuropothy i my feet so i dont go bare foot any more. I also developed retinopothy about 6 yrs ago, I have had several lazer surgeries and had to have vetrectomies in both eyes. I am leagally blind but at least I can see useing zoomtext on my pc. I have also developed some coronary problems that my doctor attributes to diabetes. So now i have lost weight and keep my sugar under control last A1C was 5.9
9 months ago
I was diagnosed 10 years ago. I've had neuropathy for the past two years.
9 months ago
I have gastroparesis, but have otherwise been free of complications. I've been diabetic for 13 years, and I have spent 12 of those years on various insulin pumps. As diabetics, we all know that other complications may be silently developing in our bodies, but thus far I haven't experienced them.
9 months ago
I have had and have many of the same physical complications that you all are talking about and they are all a challenge. There are also a lot of emotional challenges we all have to face. For many years, I didn't understand why I couldn't stay in a relationship with any man for very long. It seemed that the relationships (all of them were happy) would just end for no aparent reason. I was confused. But then, I started seeing a pattern. As soon as something like a severe insulin reaction or hospitialization due to extremely high BG would happen, the relationship would soon end. All the men I was getting involved with were afraid or just didn't know how to handle my diabetes. Happily I have found a wonderful man who has stood by me for the last 11 years and has taught himself more than I know about diabetes. Another emotional challenge is not being able to hold a regular job. I just never know when I am going to feel sick, have low blood pressure or way high BG. I had to go on disability. It was a very hard thing to accept, but I can work part time and my employers are very understanding of my situation and work with me on a doable schedule. I know we all get a little depressed at times, but I just try and look at the positive every day and keep on top of the latest technologies and do what I can to get my little mits on the newest pumps and glucometers. Being on Medicare is an issue when it comes getting the funds to upgrade a pump, there's a lot of red tape. When I first thought of what complications I have, I could only think of a few things off the top of my head. But, when I really think about it, the list just goes on and on.....
9 months ago
Here's a couple of wierd things I have going on and wonder if anyone else has these problems. (1) When I first start eating breakfast in the morning, sometimes I will get cramps in the roof of my mouth. It's very painful, but usually goes away after 15 or 20 minutes of swishing hot and cold beverages in my mouth. I can't find any information anywhere on this. (2) When I first wake up and get up and start walking, I have very poor balance and I walk like a stumbling drunk. It really is quite commical and my boyfriend has to hold me up by my shirt collar until I get my balance back. I have read an article on this, ( I think in Web MD) but I can't find it. I do know that diabetics can have balance issues due to neuropathy in their legs, but I have balance problems in my head. I had a whole battery of balance tests and they first thought it might be MS but it wasn't. Also. who else has low blood pressure problems and what do you do about it?
9 months ago
I've had diabetes for over 6 years now and had neuropathy for over 2 years. Have it in both feet and one hand. I have had 2 scares from neuropathy, one where I put my hand on a hot surface of a flat top store and could not feel myself burning. The second scare was this past new years day, I went down to the basement to put on pair old sneakers and did not realize that a piece of glass from a broken lightbulb had fallen in the shoes and wore the shoe for 8 hours and never felt the glass.From that point on I was determine to beat the disease and since then I have lost over 35 pounds and exercising and weightlifting 4 times a week. I'm also going to join a Judo Club, a sport I loved as a kid.
Michael
9 months ago
I was dianosed with type II diabeties in 1998 I was in denial for the first three or four years I have nueropthy in both feet and a little in my left hand I have hbp and just had a very mild heart attack this past Thursday doctors did a heart cath and I have minamal blockage that can be treated with medication I had a seziour due to reaction to anistezia sorry my spelling is a little off anyway I struggle with my weight and keeping my blood surgars half way normal is a challenge everyday.....
9 months ago
just discovered that 4 years worth of occasional unexplainable puking symptoms are linked to minor gastroparesis i have.
...other complications.. well, occasionally losing my sanity, and controll over my emotions.. i think i consider that complication.
i think diabetes cut out on my growth spurt during my last chance of growing some inches in high school so i'm a bit on the short side.
not too much else to gripe about besides the comonalities.. ie cold hands & feet, decreased bladder controll, dry skin, less than perfect vision, and the reoccuring werewolf syndrome.
9 months ago
What's the werewolf syndrome?
9 months ago
Susan Linke...I have balance issues as well...but then I also have MS and Fibromyalgia. The MS was never seen on the MRI's, but I've only had head MRI's done and half the people I know with MS were diagnosed through full body MRI's when the head MRI's showed nothing. Medicaid won't pay for me to have the full body MRI so due to my symptoms the doctors have simply declared it. But...if you don't have MS then perhaps my own balance issues stem from the diabetes instead. hmmmmm I'd also like to know if other diabetics have balance issues.
That is probably the biggest complication I have. When symptoms hit, I don't know whether it's the diabetes, the MS, or the Fibro. Many of the symptoms are shared by all three. When new symptoms hit it can take weeks to figure out what is causing it so I can deal with it more effectively. Everything is trial and error. It gets exhausting physically and mentally. My fiance will ask "what's wrong ?" and I say " Oh, it's just the Diamulfibro" LOL
I am also legally blind ha the guys with diabetic retinopathy think they have it rough...Try putting on make-up guys ! hee hee ;o) Then again, looking like a Picasso can attract some cute artists....
Complications...the whole hot/cold thing can be annoying, to say the least. I once ran a bath and was trying to gauge the water temp. It felt cold. I was going somewhere and needed a bath and was kind of used to this sort of thing with 3 daughters and several forster kids it was not uncommon to run out of hot water. So, I gritted my teeth and dunked in the cold tub, washed my hair etc... got out and found that I had seriously burned myself, fortunately the worst damage was to my legs. I was a giant blister there for awhile. I have since learned that if the water feels cold and it's accompanied by a slight tingly feeling...it's really very frekin' hot. On a brighter note, living in North Dakota with -50 windchills is daunting to some, but diabetics can handle it swimmingly ! All I have to do is wait for my blood suger to go up or down and I can walk to the store or walk my dog and never even notice that it's cold out ! Feels like spring to me ! hahahaha Ant-Arctica here I come !
9 months ago
werewolf syndrome = when you have the highs that crash to lows and the crashing causes you to be hungry pretty much.. and you get hungry all the time every time your bg starts to level down, even not in a fast crash... plus you're also always needing to have to have food around you cuz always that subconscious fear of low bg is fueling. also the same name applies to just plain overstuffing your mouth whenever you have a low and you wanna eat everything in sight... especially when you wake up low in the middle of the night.. lol.. ((werewolf raiding the fridge*))
being in "controll" of my diabetes is a new experience for me as of one year ago, so i'm still fighting and learning the balance. though i've gotten way better at it allnow with the pump than i was before -to where i don't have so many flying rocket bg's crashing and taking off again in a single day. lol.
but on the occasion it does happen, the werewolf syndrome is there.
9 months ago
that's scary... the danger to your limbs, of burns or frostbite and you not being even able to tell! you must be carefull like that. wow. you'll have to start carrying around a thermometer in your pocket.
9 months ago
also wondering what's the "werewolf syndrome" ?
my diabetic complications are neuropathy, decreased vision(which has only been in the last few months), emotional roller coaster (which is not good since I am an emotion based person), weight control, and minor effects to the heart.
9 months ago
oh I see the "werewolf syndrome" I definitely have to deal with that one. Also as my kids call it, I have the "psycho" syndrome. They call me psycho mom when I am having one of those episodes. It used to upset them, now, as I just recently found out, they rate my episodes on a scale of 1 to 10 when I leave the room.
9 months ago
I guess I used to have that werewolf syndrome and I can't really say when it stopped. I just came to realize that you do not have to keep eating until that feeling goes away. I always used to panic and just eat and eat and eat until the feeling completely went away. Then for the rest of the day I would end up sitting on the toilet with the shits. Now, instead of eating, I find it much easier to just drink something. For one thing, you don't have to chew it (something I just don't have the energy for when my bg gets real low) and for another thing I have found that I don't have as much trouble keeping my weight down. Juice and pop can get you right up there real quick and there's no fat in it. Then just have a few crackers w/cheese to hold on to it and you're good to go. It's really hard to do but, my doc says to just drink 15 carbs at a time, wait 20 min then check bg again.
9 months ago
That whole temperature thing IS very scary. I'll never forget my first motorcycle ride! I was dating a guy and one nite, he picked me up on his new bike! Oh, yea! I was afraid of them anyway, but I had to impress him and take a ride. Since I had never ridden a motorcycle, I didn't know where to put my feet and by the time we got accross town to the movie theater, my cute little white canvas shoes were melted to the mufflers. I didn't really notice anything wrong with my feet when I got off the bike but, when we got sat down in the theater, I could feel both of my feet start throbing. I went to the bathroom to check and I had a blister the size of a silver dollar on the middle of the bottom of each foot. I ended up having surgery and by some miracle they healed wonderfully without having any skin grafts. I can't feel temperature all the way up to my knees now. Still okay in my hands though.
9 months ago
I have the standard highs and lows. I have problems not healing well. I have fatigue and depression. This may not be related to the diabetes.
9 months ago
I have kidney disease and my eyesight isn't the best but I have a good doctor who stays right on top of every new symptom and no matter how busy he is always takes the time to sit down and explain things to me. The thing that's bothering me the most right now is fatigue.I don't seem to have the energy or desire for anything.Hopefully it'll pass so I can enjoy the summer months.
9 months ago
Judy B, My doctor told me that every diabetic is depressed, although I think I get depressed at times but, I don't think I have depression. And, yes, I feel that just the stress of having to deal with diabetes daily can make you tired.
9 months ago
Susan, glad your feet healed up ! My legs healed well, I was lucky too. I was already pretty badly frostbitten once. I can't afford to risk that again so I bundle up really well now even if it feels like spring to me.
Another question. This is a problem I've been having that I am not sure which illness to relate it to. Do any of you have trouble writing/typing in the aspect of getting the letters in the wrong order or leaving words out of a sentence entirely ? I can't blame it on typeo's because it happens when i write by hand too. It's not a once in awhile thing ..it's every paragraph. I have to go back and re-read several times and correct. The problem did seem to occur with the onset of the diabetes.
9 months ago
Depression....to the point of thinking of suicide. Think this was caused by the diabetes, tho people with chronic diaseses often get depressed. Also have hypothyroid..thyroid not making enough hormones, which can cause depression, fatigue and host of other problems in itself, but which is often linked with diabetes.
Neuropathy- Can hardly feel my left foot..right foot hurts a lot....phantom pain. Had it amputated last november.
Gonna have to say I am lucky..my diabetes started when I was in the army so VA has to pay for all my medical. Some would have me feel bad about this, but I don't. No one could tell me why I have diabetes. No family history. Type 1 at 31 years of age. Actually started when I was 30, but not diagnosed till 31, think it was a week after my birthday.
9 months ago
I've had some of the effects mentioned above, but here's a new one. I get lumps on the back of my neck that swell and get infected, almost like a boil. I spent the night in the ER once because it had gotten so bad. I've read in a few articles that this can be common with diabetics. Any thoughts?
9 months ago
I have heard of a condition called foliclitis (sp?) . (inflamed folicles, usually on the head). Most common in diabetic men over the age of 50. Even though I don't fall into male and over 50 categories, I have had this problem myself. Just took antibiotics. Did have one surgically cleaned out once and also ended up with a bald spot on the back of my head about the size of a saucer. After it healed up, the hair grew back though.
8 months ago
Hi Susan,
I currently suffer from that also. Did you use regular shampoo or did you buy special stuff? My doctor suggested I buy Nizoral (mainly used for dandruff)
8 months ago
I have neuropathy in both of my legs. I feel like I'm being electrocuted everytime I touch my legs lightly with my fingers.
8 months ago
Monique, I tried nizoral and other tar based shampoos so, I'm not really sure what worked in the long run. Mostly, I just kept my hair as clean as possible and although it was a big struggle, I kept my fingers OFF! Eventually, they all went away and (knock on wood!) I haven't had any for years.
8 months ago
Hello my name is Jan and I have been a diabetic for almost 4 years now ,I was diagnosed in December 2004, I'm a Type 2, it's been vwery hard for me but I'm doing my best. I have other health issues , I have HBP, HC, Degenerative Joint Disease, Charcot , Neuropathy in both feet & hands and Weight contol.Lately I have been suffering from depression, I have a great family / friends that support me and that have learned just like I did about my condition. I would love ot hear from anyone who has dealt with very severe pain in the joint with Neuropathy.
8 months ago
Hi, my name is Holly. I've been a diabetic (T2) for almost 8 years. The last couple of years have been hard for me. I'm a single mom. Dad is basically out of the picture. I work full time and I take a couple of night classes each semester. On top of that, I help care for my mom who has COPD and is on oxygen 24/7. Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I got a mark on my leg. While in the hospital for a unrelated issue, the doc said he can get rid if it, and gave me some cream. It seemed like the mystery spot. Noone knew what it was or how to cure it. Finally I'm seeing a great skin doctor, she did a biopsy, and found out that it's GA. Okay, I can't spell the medical term, but it's related to the more common skin issue, NLD. Right now, I use a low dose steriod ointment, and for the last two months, I've had several (10+) shots of steriods. Has anyone else had this and was able to get rid of it? My last endo doc said it will never go away and just deal with it. (That was before it started growing more and was inflamed)!
7 months ago
I have had type 1 for 10 yrs. Other than bad eyesight, low thyroid, high blood pressure, and kidney problems....i also got diagnosed with Gastroparesis 3 yrs ago. Since then, it has gotten very severe--causing malnourishment and other problems. I am 24 and 5'2" weighing now at 83 lbs---very malnourished. It is very hard for me to work, because i get sick often (vomiting), my blood sugars are out of control, and I am always extremely fatigued and nausiated when I am not actually vomiting.
Diabetes causes Gastroparesis, and you cannot control one without the other---your blood sugars are out of control because of the malnourishment, and high blood sugars make the gastroparesis worse---a never ending cycle. This has also caused me to be hospitalized multiple times for dangerously low potassuim. Also, for some reason, every valve in my heart is leaking---they do not have an anwer as to why, or what to do about this. They are also still trying to figure out what to do about the gastroparesis---Right now, they want to put me on feeding tubes until i can "try" the gastric pacemaker.
Diabetes has caused me to live one hell of a lifestyle---but i keep truckin
6 months ago
my biggest complication from diabetes is that ....i'm still not dead yet!
6 months agoHAHAHA! (jok)
Type 1 for 30 years... Ten years ago I had a vitrectomy in my right eye and laser treatments in both eyes for retinopathy. I've had minimal vision loss luckily, and my only real problem as far as vision goes is trouble driving at night and adjusting from dark to light and vice versa. I have protein in my urine, but that seems to have stabilized. I have autonomic neuropathy - my heart beats too fast, and I take a beta-blocker for that. I was diagnosed with diabetic mastopathy in 2001. I had to get two seperate lumpectomies in order to get the diagnosis, but there's no treatment for it. I developed frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) in both shoulders three years ago. It took several doctors before I finally got an accurate diagnosis. As it turns out I've also had it in both hips since I was 19 and didn't get an accurate diagnosis for that until I got the diagnosis for my shoulders from an orthopedist/sports medicine specialist. I underwent manipulation under anesthesia for both shoulders and hips and arthroscopic surgery for the right shoulder last fall to treat that. And of course, there's the depression for which I've taken medication since I was 16.
Luckily, nothing has been life-altering because it's either been sucessfully treated or it's just been a nuisance thing with which I've learned to live. Actually, I have to say the depression definitely changed me in lots of ways, but it's been successfully managed for the most part. Not too shabby considering I've had this for 30 years and spent much of that time non-compliant.
6 months ago
i am type 1 and totally agree with you susan linke, i am 43 diagnosoed at age 8, my father purchased a family poulrty farm when he retired from naval service aftter 20 years, so i grew up working anod not having much of a sportsful youth, but physically type work all my life, i have gastroparesis, neuropahty in feet and leggs, my feet burn so bad sometimes it feels like thrye on fire, as for mental impairment i am depresed a lot, very depressed, but i gotta tell you the other potential outcome is death and not very painless prognosis, i could be worse, many stories on this page are worse than mine, i also had a stroke, a brain hemorage, there are two ttypes of strokes, there is clots and hemorages, both shut off supply of blood to the brain, mine was a brain hemorage, i allmost died from that, and its why i am disabled now, with hydrocephalus with a shunt in my head with a tube running from the shunt to my abdomen, mentally im a mess, phil
2 months ago
I am type II diabetic and I suffer from inactive thyrod, high blood pressure, overweight, fatigue, and leg ulcers, which I had treated fully but have recently come back after I let my insurance lapse and as a result not taking my meds (Metformin 2000 MG/day, Actos, and Glipizide for blood sugar, Lisinopril for thyroid, and Levothyroxine for blood pressure).
I'm always tired and without the insurance coverage, my fasting BG are very high and I need to get my act together and get my insurance back. It is so expensive to be unhealthy!
I'm afraid if I don't act soon and get my BG back to normal, I will lose my leg :(
2 months ago
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Heather