[Busy Betty]

I have had a recent exacerbation of some of my complications and it is getting me down. My control has actually gotten better this year so I really don't understand this. In January I started the pump with CGM and dropped my HgA1C over a whole point in the first four months. Plus after reading these forums I have already started making additional changes that seem to be helping. Also, I bought and started reading "pumping insulin" to try to use the pump better.

The problem is - I am getting SOOO frustrated. I am not feeling physically very well. I have seen my Doc and he says there is nothing more to offer to me. Just keep working at it. Blahhh!

I really don't know if things will get better or just continue to get worse. Any suggestions????

[notme]

You don't say what complications are getting worse Busy Betty. I had a problem with my eyesight worsening after gaining control of my blood sugar. My opthomologist assured me that he had seen this before and it would improve. He was right.

Be patient with yourself. It takes time for you to see the results of good blood sugar numbers. Your doctor isn't entirely correct. There is always something you can do or try to better improve your control. Keep reading here and watch what others are doing or trying.

[Busy Betty]

The complications acting up again are gastroparesis (nausea after eating and delayed gastric emptying), peripheral neuropathy (mostly at night) and the worst is the tendons in my hands. My hands are painful and I have multiple trigger fingers. My hands hurt whenever I use them - driving, writing, etc.

The gastroparesis causes me trouble with BS control because I don't know how long the delayed emptying will be. I don't want to get too low after a meal, because it is hard to get the BS back up. This often causes wide BS swings for me.

I don't know if I can expect these problems to get a lot better with improved BS control or if they will just fluctuate on there own.

[fgummett]

As Nancy says (and I also have experienced) symptoms can get worse an dthen improve as BS stabilises with better control.

Have you read up on Dr Richard Bernstein? By his account he was able to head off some nasty complications (some improved, some stopped getting worse.. it depends) by changing his diet... now in his 60's he is reportedly fitter than in his 20's.

[VinceF]

Hi Betty,

My eyes got worse at first but now they're very stabil. My doc said that happens because your body continues to secrete a growth hormone (maybe hormone) that causes the blood vessels to grow...with the improved contriol those levels can elevate but eventually stop.

I have trigger fingers too. I've had cortizone shots to stop the pain several times then finally had the surgery to correct the problem. I still have pain but it's much better and I think the pump has actually helped lessen the pain.

By the way never have both thumbs operated on at the same time. I got home (lived by myself at that time) and could not undo the button on the front of my jeans. I had to use the restroom so bad I started sweating and thought I'd have to go right there in my pants . At the last minute I figured I could use pliers to unbutton them. :} .

Hang in there, it probably took some time to develop those complications they won't go away overnight.

-Dave

[Busy Betty]

I am glad that not many people here have complications.
They're not fun.

[Mich]

Hi Betty,

Many of us know how scary it is and we wish you comfort.

When I went on the pump, my neuropathy (gastroparesis is also a form of neuropathy) and my retinopathy both took a turn for the worse. Things have stabilized now, but it took about six months. It's a combination of factors that cause this...in the case of neuropathy, it's the nerves getting healthy and re-growing, and as Vince mentioned the Cell growth factor adjusts and can cause eye changes.

Hang in there, stay healthy and you will probably feel better soon.

Mich

[KCP]

I have had minor retinopathy.. ANd after stablising my BS it did get worse for a bit.. But over the last year it has very slowly started to repair itself Which im happy with. Yes i agree with the statement that complications are scary

[kgm0612]

Hang in there Betty. Hopefully things will get better for you real soon!

Karen