Diabetic nerve damage masking angina?

Teresa · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2004, 01:15 PM

My Dad is also diabetic (T2) and has been for over 15 years now. He had a heart attack bout 10yrs ago which the docs put down to diabetic related stuff, since then he has had no major problems.

His fav hobby is walking, and lately he has noticed he cant walk as fast as he could and is getting really out of breath. He mentioned it to the doc who reffered him to a chest specialist. He saw that guy yesterday.

This guy reckons that the out of breath problem is actually an angina problem. He says he isnt feeling the pain cos of nerve damage due to the diabetes!! Surely that makes it kinda dangerous??

Anyways, I wanted to know has anyone heard of that kinda thing before?? He is now being refered to a heart specialist (another waiting list!!) and has to have an exercise stress test!

HeatherP · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2004, 01:33 PM

I don't have any advice, Teresa, but I wish him the best, and hope there will be some sort of positive resolution you can all live with.

Take care,
HeatherP

lgvincent · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2004, 01:36 PM

I'm not sure about that but I may have something similar. I have a hard time eating at times. I will get intense pressure in the stomach and I can't burp or swallow. I've had it looked at and was told that diabetes can damage the nerves around the stomach and that may be the cause of my problem. I'm sure if it can damage nerves around the stomach, it can do the same around the heart.

Hope someone else can be a little more helpful.

Gary · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2004, 03:58 AM

Can't say I've heard of diabetic nerve damage occuring above the waist. I hope your father gets better soon.

eevee · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2004, 04:42 AM

I think you have a bit of reading to do yet, then Gary.....
Eve

KLD · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2004, 08:20 AM

It sounds like you might have a condition called Gastroparesis, lgvincent. I'll quote from my favourite book about diabetes and see if it describes your problem:

"Gastroparesis: a neuropathy caused by prolonged blood sugar elevation, which can severely impair the muscular and secretory activities of the stomach. Gastrointestinal discomfort may be present after meals. Blood sugars after meals may be unpredictable because of a random effect upon the rate of stomach-emptying. Also called delayed stomach-emptying and gastroparesis diabeticorum."

You might want to look it up on the web and see what else you can find out about it.

Karen

Ashtur · #7 (**permalink**) 06-04-2004, 08:50 AM

I'm not sure about masking angina, but there are forms of neuropathy that can affect the heart. The one I recall offhand will give your body trouble adjusting when you stand up (blood pressure related) leading to dizzy spells.

--some things from the ADA
Autonomic neuropathy. Autonomic neuropathy affects the autonomic nerves, which control the bladder, intestinal tract, and genitals, among other organs.

Paralysis of the bladder is a common symptom of this type of neuropathy. When this happens, the nerves of the bladder no longer respond normally to pressure as the bladder fills with urine. As a result, urine stays in the bladder, leading to urinary tract infections.

Autonomic neuropathy can also cause impotence (erectile dysfunction) when it affects the nerves that control erection with sexual arousal. However, sexual desire does not usually decrease.

Diarrhea can occur when the nerves that control the small intestine are damaged. The diarrhea occurs most often at night. Constipation is another common result of damage to nerves in the intestines.

Sometimes, the stomach is affected. It loses the ability to move food through the digestive system, causing vomiting and bloating. This condition, called gastroparesis, can change how fast the body absorbs food. It can make it hard to match insulin doses to food portions.

Scientists do not know the precise cause of autonomic neuropathy and are looking for better treatments for his type of neuropathy.

(note, in another place, it mentions the heart for autonomic neuropathy, but I can't find a good quote to cut/paste)

Teresa · #8 (**permalink**) 06-04-2004, 11:39 AM

thnx for that info Ashtur, I shall look it up on the web and see if i can find out more. cheers =)

SunniD · #9 (**permalink**) 06-04-2004, 11:49 AM

I've had a few diabetics mention that their heart attacks were silent and apparently this is common.

Hope your father can find a suitable treatment.

I wonder if shiatsu or acupuncture could help as shiatsu helped the autonomic neuropathy in my hand. I used to lose control of my writing and there was no surgery for that but when I started to go to Shiatsu he fixed that real quick. Never give up hope.
You just have to look around a bit further in the medical system and alternative medicines.

Best of luck to your father.

SunniD