help, fatigue, memory, etc

[paulnyc]

I'm 24 and I was diagnosed with t1 when I was 22. I have it (rough estimate) for about 4-5 years now. For the last year I've been feeling excessively fatigued, having headaches, tension/aches all over my body including legs. decreased concentration and memory functions seemingly deteriorating. (my bgls' have been under control too). I have a feeling that this is something I'ev had for a long time which might have played part in causing my diabetes OR during the years not controlled, it caused this. one or the another. I might be wrong. I just feel so weak all the time. anyone any clues>

[JediSkipdogg]

Ok, let me figure something out first. You're 24 and were diagnosed when you were 22 yet you claim you have had it since you were 19? I guess something doesn't add up there. Did you go 3 years without any treatment?

With that....how often a day are you testing? What was your last A1C?

Generally being lazy is a sign of the BGs being out of wack or your thyroid being off. Have you ever had a thyroid test completed? The thyroid is a gland in the neck that controls metabolism and has alot to do with energy and weight. Just a long shot in the dark there.

[paulnyc]

I had late onset of type 1 and it didn't become highly noticeable till 22. when diagnosed, doctor said i've probably had it for around roughly 3 years. my lst a1c was 6.7. I've had thyroid functions checked - normal. anemia checked - normal. no arthritis either. only suggestions i've gotten so far is CFS or depression and i don't think either one is it. MAYBE cfs, but def not depression.

[JediSkipdogg]

I highly doubt the 3 years. Type 1 late onset can happen slowly, but if it took 3 years you'd definitely notice the change unless you had an extremely high A1C at diagnosis. That's besides the point though.

What is CFS? I might be drawing a blank but help me out here.

[paulnyc]

Yes my body was under an incredible amount of stress hence my bgl's FLEW up. CFS is chronic fatigue syndrome, it's similar to fibromyalgia. Next doctor I'm going to about my current problem, I won't even tell him I'm diabetic. want to know why? Diabetes is an open field for presumptious and ignorant answers for the symptoms I just listed. I know for a FACT there is another VERY prevailent issue and it's just not been found yet. I'm working on it, hence me posting here as well as other forums and seeing docs.

[ant hill]

I highly doubt the 3 years. Type 1 late onset can happen slowly
I can agree with that Kevin, When I was diagnosed and it was a late diagnosis and in that year I was deathy thin!!! Quite the oppersite now. :(
but if it took 3 years you'd definitely notice the change unless you had an extremely high A1C at diagnosis. That's besides the point though.
Indeed. ;)

[paulnyc]

post-diagnosis, since I've looked back on my years, it's pretty obvious now. In high school, I thought I had bad anxiety but now I see it was a case of mild hypoglycemia. I was on my way to type 1, but at 16...what do you know about health? how aware could you be? And my mother couldn't care less about my doc appointments/check ups. She's the "If you're gona get it, you're gona get it." type BUT BACK TO MY QUESTION. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP@@11!

[BlueSky]

You could have a food allergy. What you have said does not sound typical of T1. As the traditional doctor isn't able to help, I would go to see a good naturopath or homeopath.

[paulnyc]

Is it possible to develop a food allergy later in your life? not be born with it? ...for example gluten allergy, could i haev developed that in my 20s?

[notme]

Yes....food allergy can appear at any time in a person's life. My sister in the past few years has developed and allergy to eggs and a few antibiotics.

[Harold]

Yes and it's pretty common. Something that can happen at any age.

Good idea to not tell your doctor your type 1. Don't tell them what you have had checked either unless they ask. Thyroid checks are a good example. Sometimes they only check for for T1 and T2 and not for T3 or T4. You should also have your liver enzymes checked again if you did before. They can go up and down with the onset of problems and not show anything on one test and show on another.

[BlueSky]

Not all allergies cause a strong reaction. I was in my 40s when I virtually stopped eating bread. And it was only after I felt a lot better that I realised I am mildly gluten intolerant. Lactose in milk and soy protein can have a similar effect on people. And often they won't know about it without being tested. A service like this one Allergenics | Allergy Testing Service (http://www.allergenics.co.nz/) could be worth looking into.

[Bunkins]

I'm 24 yrs old as well, was offically diagnosed when I was 20, but medical records show that my BG's were high 4 yrs prior and nobody caught on to it...

I experience the same things you describe.. Fatigue, short term memory, joint and muscle pain as well.. I've pretty much just lived with it because everyone I've ever went to for help pretty much told me I was to young for all that and blew me off... I have constant problems with my neck, I have to stretch 15-20 mins each morning before I can move it, but since nothing shows up in X-rays, no doctor will go further than that... I get pain in my hands from time to time that are so bad I cant grip anything... It comes and goes though, the only constant thing I deal with is my neck, and the bad headaches that come from it.... It is funny you should mention the feeling of anxiety in high school.. I had it so bad that I ended up leaving school and being home schooled, everyone kept pushing me to keep going and I became very violent about the whole deal. All I wanted was to be in a enclosed space by myself, but I wasnt depressed, I was and still am a pretty upbeat person... Before all that though, I could make anyone laugh, I was goofy, loved being around people, then it was like a light switch, it just turned off.. And I knew it too, I wondered for yrs where the old me went to... Never feel 100%, either foggy in the head, physically tired... Might sound odd to some, but I'm betting you know exactly what I'm talking about... Most on here know what it feels like to have BG numbers around 300 for a period of time and how that makes you feel.. I feel like that 90% of the time, even though my numbers are in check..

Everything I have experienced, I know it's either related somehow to being diabetic, or something else ( duh LOL ), but there is something going on.. I've tried getting help, but it doesnt go anywhere..

[SunniD]

Fatigue is a symptom of any one of your organs not functioning up to par. Checking your thyroid is good advice as
the thyroid gland is like a sister to the pancreas and when one doesn't function properly the other one tends to have problems in roughly 40% of people with diabetes.
Personally, I would try eating 2000 mg/dl of Vitamin C daily as
Dr. Michael Murray recommends for getting rid of the high sorbitol levels which people with diabetes are unable too like they used too. High sorbitol levels will cause aches and pains especially noticeable in the legs.
Not sure what your A1C is, but high A1C's cause fatigue as well and the Vitamin C may help reduce that athough it doesn't happen for all people with diabetes. I've seen people reduce their A1C levels by 2.0 by using Vit. C daily.
Memory loss may be helped with some herbs like Ginko Biloba I think. Ginkgo has been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory.
I noticed some memory problems myself but I'm in my 50's so thought the problem was connected to menopause and all my friends were having the same problems. I got tested and passed but was told it was a common aging symptom and one can make more notes to cover the memory lapses.

SunniD

[SueM]

Have you had your adrenal function tested?

[SunniD]

Adrenal function will give you a craving for salt. My sister had a craving for salt and ate it by the spoonfulls just before she had a multi organ shutdown. Lost adrenals and islet cells.
Now she has more problems than me whose had diabetes for 46 yrs. Licorice cravings are the other common symptom to watch for-can't remember if it was adrenal or Cushing's syndrome for that one.

SunniD

[SueM]

Adrenal function will give you a craving for salt. My sister had a craving for salt and ate it by the spoonfulls just before she had a multi organ shutdown. Lost adrenals and islet cells.
Now she has more problems than me whose had diabetes for 46 yrs. Licorice cravings are the other common symptom to watch for-can't remember if it was adrenal or Cushing's syndrome for that one.

SunniD

Not always I have addisons ie defunct adrenals and I don't have a salt craving.

[SunniD]

Just to clarify, the craving happens before one is diagnosed with Addison's not after treatment. The symptom is useful in helping to diagnose people.

SunniD

[SueM]

Just to clarify, the craving happens before one is diagnosed with Addison's not after treatment. The symptom is useful in helping to diagnose people.

SunniD

Just to clarify yet again this does not always happen. :)
I know because I did not and do not have a salt craving.

[SunniD]

Thanks for clarifying Sue.

Noticed you have 'no complications' beneath your name.
What would you call having Addison's then if not a complication
of diabetes?

Just curious cause I've met other people with diabetes who said they have no complications but they have had carpol tunnel surgery and didn't realize that was a complication of diabetes affecting the nerves.

SunniD

[SueM]

Thanks for clarifying Sue.

Noticed you have 'no complications' beneath your name.
What would you call having Addison's then if not a complication
of diabetes?

Just curious cause I've met other people with diabetes who said they have no complications but they have had carpol tunnel surgery and didn't realize that was a complication of diabetes affecting the nerves.

SunniD

Addison's is not a complication of diabetes. Where did you get that idea from? :confused:
Addison's is an autoimmune disease. There are very few diabetics with addison's disease. Out of the 100's of people I know on 3 different forums there are 3 diabetics with addison's. They had the addison's 1st and developed diabetes later in life.
I asked my endo at the time if it was diabetes related and he said no it's notThe same applies to carpal tunnel yes diabetics get it so do a lot more none diabetics.
My local butcher had it in both hands. This was due to over use of his wrists from cutting up meat, he isn't diabetic.
It's the same as underactive thyroid everyone jumps on the band wagon shouting it's a complication of diabetes, Can't see it myself more of the population without diabetes have thyroid problems.

But it is official I have no complications my endo told me so. :D

[BlueSky]

... it is official I have no complications my endo told me so. :D
I think it is a question of definition. A complication is simply some malfunction that is caused by the diabetes. After 43 years of having diabetes, you probably have dozens of them, even if you are not aware of them. Bernstein maintains that he will find at least half a dozen complications in anyone that has had T1 diabetes for 5 years. It was only after browsing the web that I realised the lack of hair on my lower legs is the result of nerve damage. If I stand up very quickly I get dizzy, which happens to many people. But in my case, orthostatic hypotension is probably the result of autonomic neuropathy.

My endo didn't pick up on either of these things. They don't cause discomfort so these complications were never brought to his attention. He didn't go looking for them because there was no need. But after 30 years of being T1, there are no doubt numerous other complications that I am not even aware of. BTW, Carpal Tunnel is found in 20% of T1 diabetics. While there are other causes of it, having diabetes is a major factor and it certainly is a common "complication" of diabetes.

If you have T1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disorder, you have a greater chance of getting another one. But I am not sure that it is accurate to say that one autoimmune disorder is a "complication" of another autoimmune disorder. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that both disorders are complications of a dysfunctional immune system.