[muffet]

I come from a family with a long history of diabetes. My father died at 62 because he never went to the doctor and; therefore, went undiagnosed and untreated. His father, sisters, brothers, and now I've learned all my cousins have diabetes too. My siblings are in denial just like I was until today.

I haven't been officially diagnosed but I know I have diabetes.

My entire life I've had doctors diagnosing me with gastrointestinal disorders ranging from spastic colon, gastritis, allergies to wheat (unfounded). Nothing ever worked.

Over the past week, I've had problems with my feet. I thought I had athletes foot but there were really no symptoms of athletes foot except for the strange tingling, itching, numbness, aching pain in two of my toes on each foot. They literally kept me awake until 5am last night. I realized the two toes on each foot were swollen and there isn't an athletes foot problem at all.

Research this morning discovered that Diabetic Neuropathy not only explains my toes but my ongoing gastrointestinal problems.

Don't worry -- I'm calling the doctor on Monday. I just wanted to find someone to talk to since my sisters are in denial. My cousins live too far away.

I'm so confused as to how I could have had diabetes long enough to have nerve damage and have not known it sooner. I'm interested in finding diet information so I can find some way to eat that doesn't make me miserable (it seems all food makes me miserable). All internet searches have only resulted in software programs and no real diet information.

Is my body falling apart now that I'm 40?!?!?!

[HeatherP]

Hi Muffet, and Welcome.

I'm sorry to hear about all the difficulties you're having.

See your doctor, and make sure he orders a fasting blood sugar. This will determine for sure if you have diabetes or not. If you do, then taking control of your blood sugars may alleviate some of your problems. It won't cure them, but you may notice that you feel and do better.

If you are diabetic, then you'll also need to see a Certified Diabetes Educator. This person will be a great help to you in controlling your sugars, and finding a meal plan that you can live with, and educate you about how to take care of yourself. An Endocrinologist visit, and seeing a Podiatrist who understands diabetic feet would probably be good ideas, too.

I hope that you're not diabetic, but if you are you should understand that it won't be easy at first, but you CAN control this disease and lead a healthy life. All of us here are happy to answer any questions you have, and comiserate with you.

Take care of yourself,
HeatherP

p.s. If you'd like, PM me and I'll give you the name of another source for some recipies that might be helpful.

[lgvincent]

I hope you don't have diabetes but if there are a number of people in your family with the disease there may be a pretty good chance of you having it. If you do have diabetes, I wouldn't think your body is falling apart, just fighting a pretty big battle.
I don't know a lot about adult-onset diabetes but I'm under the impression it is easy to have it and not know it. I'm sure it is possible for someone to have it for a long time before it is diagnosed. Although I may be wrong, I'm also under the impression that it isn't uncommon for people with adult-onset diabetes to suffer from complications because of the length of time they may unknowingly have the disease, but I'm confident those complications can be reversed somewhat when the disease is better managed.
I know about denial. My grandmother had adult-onset diabetes for several years and she always refused to believe it, as did most of the members of my family. They act as if having diabetes is some sort of curse or something to be ashamed of and that by pretending it doesn't exist it will go away. I don't know why people act that way, I've always thought it was due to ignorance but that's just a personal opinion.
Everything will be okay, going to the doctor quickly to find out what is wrong is a good first step. If you do have diabetes, there are plenty of people here who will be able to help you with your questions and concerns. It can be a difficult disease at times, but not impossible to deal with.

[notme]

Hi Muffet....

Don't despair. Go to the doctor on Monday and have them check your blood sugar. However, whatever the diagnosis, you won't find a better group of people anywhere than the people at a diabetes board that have experience. Generally, the people here are people who want to help others as well as learn how to care for themselves. There is great information here.

Getting diabetes can make you live healthier than you ever have before. You will have to learn to count carboydrates, eat fresh foods and exercise. Not such a bad deal!

I hope your self diagnosis is wrong. I have neuomas in my feet that cause some of the same symptoms you are feeling and that is not diabetes related. So hang in there. Either way this group may be helpful to you. Having such a long line of diabetes is your family puts you at risk. Learning how to eat right now and exercise can be used at anytime in your life!!! So welcome to our little group.

Nancy

[muffet]

I want to thank everyone for responding to my message and making me feel so welcome. My husband will be very supportive but it helps to find people who are dealing with it themselves.

It's the denial in my immediate family that lead me to find an internet forum. I know how my sisters are going to act which won't be very supportive. It's not that they are bad people but they just refuse to acknowledge that we have this risk.

Every single blood relative of my father had or has diabetes. In the fall, I discovered that all of my cousins, who live in other states, have it too. When I told my sisters that we could help ourselves by eating properly and excersising now, they acted like I was crazy to even think that we could be at risk.

It was surprising to go to this site and discover Diabetic Neuropathy also has the symptoms of my gastrointestinal issues. I've researched the gastrointestinal symptoms for many years and have never come up with an association with diabetes. It was only until not sleeping until 5am that lead me to research my toes that I stumbled upon this very quickly -- AND it also includes my gastrointestinal symptoms too!

I loved the thought of my body doing battle instead of falling apart! That helped me not feel so OLD!

And the rest of the advice in the thread are also very informative and uplifting too. I'm glad I've found the support I was trying to find. Thank you for being a great group of people!

[mg_2204]

... 40 isn't old. It's the same as being 20, but with 20 years of experience!

Hello Muffet and welcome to the forum!

Diabetes (and heart problems) run in my family. I was also aware I could develop diabetes later on because I've had diabetic pregnancies. But only a proper diagnose will confirm if you have it or not I'm affraid. I do hope with all my heart you don't have diabetes. But if you do, I'm glad you've found this place. Learning about the disease, and being able to share with others are key factors in feeling better and taking good care of yourself. Precious advice will be given to you here. I wish I had that wonderful opportunity back in 94.

You know, once I started to eat healthy and exercice, it took a while for me to feel good. I guess we have to rid the body of years of abuse?!??

The best option is to try different things. I somewhat follow the 'glycemic index'. Here is a link for it : http://www.glycemicindex.com/ It has helped me a lot. I'm diet controlled. And since I love to cook, it's no punishment for me to be creative and be adventurous in the kitchen! At the beginning I'd stick to diabetic recipes only but now I'm more liberal and just cut down on fats and sugars when I come across a recipe I want to try. You'll get the hang of it. Just give yourself time.

One day at a time! Too much to take everything in at the same time anyway. Just be good to yourself.

**GOOD LUCK!**

Marie

[Belinda]

Wecome! I hope you aren't diabetic but if you are you found the "CLUB" to be in for answers and support. You did the most important thing by contacting your Dr. The first step is great medical support and you knowing that you are diabetic or not(I hope). The support from others will come with you educating them in a variety of ways. If you have children then you have to start with them and then branch out to other members of your family. I know about other types of denial...example I teach special ed. and there are still people who believe that there is nothing wrong with their mentally retarded child and they will catch up later ( I deal with middle school 6-8th grade). I can only hope that you will pass on your knowledge of diabetes and maybe help others who haven't even considered it as the underlying reason(s) that they have other medical difficultiies.
Let us know how it goes with your Dr.
GOOD LUCK

[muffet]

I was tested on Wednesday but haven't gotten the results back yet. I'm nervous as can be and I'll keep you posted. I thought that the test I was supposed to take involved fasting before the test but he just took blood like a regular blood test. Is he giving me the proper test?

The good news is that my doctor doesn't think my toe problems are Neuropathy!!!!!!! He's sending me to a specialist for a confirmation so let's pray he's right about my toes!

[HeatherP]

Glad to hear the good "foot" news!

As for the test, I think it depends on what area you're in. I think some doctors just do things differently. Or maybe this is just a preliminary. Did he explain to you why he's doing this instead a fasting test?

HeatherP

[Littlebit63_99]

Muffet,

I wish you the best!!!!

I have severe neuropothy in my stomach and intestines. That is actually why I joined this forum. My partner thought it would help me alot to chat with other diabetics with the same problems that I had. So far you are the only other "diabetic" with the gastro intestinal neuropothies that I have also.

I take a number of different medicines for my stomach. Some of them work pretty well.

Again, I wish you the best. Feel free to contact me thru email or private message if you want.......I have had these troubles with my stomach since 1996 so, maybe I can help you a little.......and it would be nice to chat with someone with the same probs.

Hugs,
Liz

[lgvincent]

I have some trouble with the stomach too. I rarely burp and I have to eat very slowly or I'll get intense pressure in the stomach. When this happens, I can't swallow very easily. Usually the pressure will subside over time but it has gotten so intense that I've vomited. It happens most often when I eat bread although I once ate some cheese and spent several hours in discomfort because of it. This started for me in the mid-1990's. I'm not sure what's going on or how to treat it, other than eating slowly.

[muffet]

I don't think I got the right test because of the different doctors within the practice. The doctor I have been seeing for the past two years prescribed me a fasting test a few weeks ago but I didn't get to the hospital to have the tests.

When I went in to have my toes looked at last week, I didn't get to see the doctor I've been seeing over the past couple years and the other doctor simply took blood to run tests. I said to him that I thought I was supposed to take the fasting test at the hospital and he responded that it wasn't necessary -- but gave no explanation. These test results came back negative over the weekend.

I'm going to call the original doctor and talk with him because I think the second doctor that did the blood tests is just trying to push me along and make me go away. It's a long story but I've had a personal relationship with the second doctor in the past and I think he doesn't want to treat me. I only saw him last week because he was the only one in the practice available that day.

It's so nice to find people who understand. I'm also relieved to find other people with the gastrointestinal problems. Not that I want others to endure this misery but I'm just glad to know that I'm not alone. I have some questions and comments about the gastro part.

Littlebit63_99 --

How did they diagnose the neuropathy? Process of elimination or did they actually go up there and look? Did you know about your diabetes before finding out about the neuropathy?

lgvincent --

I've read somewhere that wheat is a problem for diabetics. I'll try to find that information again.

It wouldn't hurt to get tested for wheat allergies just to make sure too. I was completely surprised to find out that there is a new test for allergies. They just take blood in the office and send it off to a lab and they test for the allergies there. It's very affordable compared to having traditional allergy tests.

I found out that I was allergic to molds -- which are somewhat seasonal but also means that I can't eat certain cheeses that contain mold. I wasn't allergic to wheat though.

Also, having severe pain after eating milk products (like cheese) could mean that you are lactose intollerant. There is no test for this though. You simply have to eliminate all dairy products from your diet for a couple weeks and then slowly introduce them again. If you have cramping and gas approximately an hour after eating a dairy product, you could be lactose intollerant.