Diabetes

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• June 18, 2013 2:19 p.m.

  People with diabetes need to use alcohol with caution because it can mask symptoms of low blood sugar and can also be a cause of low blood sugar when taken with certain diabetes medications; like insulin. Even without drinking alcohol, low blood glucose can make a person appear intoxicated. An individual in this state needs immediate assistance to treat the low blood sugar.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• June 18, 2013 2:08 p.m.

  Metformin can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). However, this can also occur if you delay or miss a meal or snack, drink alcohol, exercise more than usual, cannot eat because of nausea or vomiting, take certain medicines, or take metformin with another type of diabetes medicine.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• June 18, 2013 10:50 a.m.

  Concerned about friend with type 1. Out for a night of music she drank 2 glasses of wine and beer and saw non existing sunglasses on someone up close and doesn't seem to watch diet. She wants to be left alone with a 3 year old grandchild and we are very concerned about safety of child. Family seems to be in denial and we have also have a hard time following her conversations. We would like to speak to her family but we don,t want to alienate her.

  - Linda

• June 13, 2013 9:46 p.m.

  found out today that I am diabetic. Started metformin 500 mg 3 times per day. is it normal that i felt shakey, and sweaty about 2 hours after I took it?

  - Val

• June 8, 2013 3:57 p.m.

  For a very active person with new onset Diabetes and unintentional weight loss do you recommend a high fat diet?

  - Miriam

• June 7, 2013 7:19 a.m.

  Have you heard about the effects of menaquinones, vitamin K2, on diabetes? One example: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3161300/ Vitamin K2 Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity via Osteocalcin Metabolism: A Placebo-Controlled Trial or http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20424220 Dietary phylloquinone and menaquinones intakes and risk of type 2 diabetes. and there are others. It appears that more dietary menaquinones from fermented foods and organ meats would truly help with diabetes. Please learn more about this and revise the ill-advised dietary advice of the Mayo site.

  - Micki

• June 4, 2013 8:51 p.m.

  I have had Diabetes for 20 years. I have taken "vacations" from diabetes a few times over those 20 years but usually when I see my A1C higher than 7.5 it brings me back in line. It also helps to have an Endo who is encouraging, who recognizes it and asks why. Since I usually have A1C's around 6.5 and he reminds me that everyone once in the while gets "tests" in the "C" range but to remember I'm normally an "A" person. I also recognize that those times I don't watch my diabetes or take a "vacation" usually I'm having problems with my depression and to work on that as well.

  - Sharon

• May 7, 2013 8:40 a.m.

  Borderline diabetes is a layman's term. Diabetes is diagnosed with 2 fasting bg readings >126, A1c >6.5, or random bg >200. Prediabetes is a fasting bg 101-125. Prediabetes increases your chances of developing diabetes. Reduce risks of developing diabetes by making lifestyle changes; achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• May 7, 2013 8:21 a.m.

  A symptom of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)is shortness of breath. Generally, sleep apnea and T2 diabetes are indirectly related by diabetes predisposing factor of being over weight/obesity.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• May 7, 2013 8:05 a.m.

  Claire, our question to you is, "Is your blood glucose under control?" High blood glucoses can cause dehydration and aggrevate dry skin condtions.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• May 4, 2013 Noon

  I CAN'T STAND HEAT...I SWEAT A LOT CAN THS BE ATTRIBUTED TO MY DIABETES 2? i HAVE TO BUY THE REAL EXPENSIVE CLINICAL DEODRANT. IS THERE ANY BLOOD TESTS FOR THIS. ALSO, SOME DAYS I ITCH CONSTANTLY I HAVE SINCE I WAS DIAGNOSED AFTER A 10 1/2 HOUR BACK SURGERY. I AM A 63 YEAR OLD IN REALATIVELY GOO HEALTH OTHEWISE AN UNDERA THE CARE OF A HOPEFULLY? COMPETENT ENDOCRINOLOGIST...HELP PLEASE, THANK YOU..

  - CLAIRE

• April 28, 2013 11:24 a.m.

  I have a question for you. I was told somewhere that diebetes can cause breathing problems. So my question is, It is likely as not that diebetes us the cause of sleep apnea?

  - JOHN

• April 23, 2013 8:53 p.m.

  My husband has been diagnosed as borderline diabetes. I've purchased a few cook books and started cooking. What really is borderline diabetes and what is usually the outcome?

  - Colleen

• April 23, 2013 1:16 p.m.

  Post meal blood glucose excursions can vary greatly depending on the amount of food eaten,the type of food (simple/complex carbohydrate, high fat, and the timing of the insulin bolus. Short term bg spikes are not a concern but if there is a pattern address this with your healthcare provider.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• April 23, 2013 1:03 p.m.

  Insulin has rarely side effects, the most common being hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) will give people headaches.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• April 21, 2013 11:34 p.m.

  I notice my blood sugar monitor shoot up to between 9-13 one hour after taking meal with some simple carbohydrate, such as white rice or rice noodles, however the reading will come down to a acceptable level of between 7-8 after 2 hours. Should I worry about the short term spike of blood sugar within 1 hr after meal?

  - clement

• April 20, 2013 10:21 p.m.

  my daughter is type 1 has had a headache for 3 months. since starting insulin. have you seen this before

  - sam

• April 19, 2013 4:28 p.m.

  I've pretended my type 2 wasn't as important as the chronic back pain having degenerative disc disease & on my 5th spine surgeries. I take my onglza when my feet feel on fire and choose to concentrate on one illness. Well major back surgery 3 weeks ago and now after I take the time to study what diabetes is all about I have a large lump in my throat where I want to scream! It all makes sense now I can't feel my fingers on my left hand, my feet don't feel like fire but now more like ice & if you have ever had a needle & saline when the med hits in your arm that icy feel is how it is going up my leg. Why did I let this this go? i will say though I haven't been able to walk I have 4 new 3 1/2 incisions in 4 places & now there is a bone the doctor doesn't know how or why its ended up 3 inches to the left of my spine? Unbelievable really, I mean can things not get better? I hate always being sick with something but this feeling in my feet is starting to scare me. I have 2 little boys I still have to raise! I was just taking oral meds but because I haven't taken them like I should he starts me on the liquid. I need someone to help me fix this can I take a bunch of the oral meds in one day if I need to catch up? That sounds stupid I know but i have to get rid of this. Can you stop having diabetes? Well that sounds stupid to. i could never figure out why people would have to get their legs or feet cut off is this what is happening to me? I'm so scared to go to doc's

  - Jennifer

• April 16, 2013 1:37 p.m.

  Anna: It is very hard to watch a loved one neglect their health as is the case with your older son. Unfortunately, other than encouraging your son to seek help from his provider there is not much else you can do. Maybe for his daughter's sake he might be convinced to go back to his health care provider.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• April 11, 2013 4:05 p.m.

  My son is 41 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes about 4 years ago. He is 5'10 and weighs about 170-175 pounds. He stopped going to the doctor about 18 months ago. He finally went 2 weeks ago (at my urging) and was subsequently told that his a1c level is 15! I am alarmed because this means that his diabetes is not well-managed at all. My son is very secretive and doesn't want me to go to the doctor's office with him. He is married and has a 6 year old daughter. He is making me very mad because he doesn't seem to take this seriously. I have copies of articles about uncontrolled blood sugar and the effects. I plan to give him and his wife these articles, along with a stern talking-to. I also have a 30 year-old son who is a type 2 diabetic. He is autistic and I manage his diabetic care, since he cannot. My 30 year-old has an a1c level of 6.5. I am not a diabetic, but both of my kids' grandmothers were. I need help in convincing my son that this is very serious. It's a life-and-death situation.

  - Anna

• April 3, 2013 6:32 a.m.

  Dear Nancy and Peggy, I do keep in frequent contact with my provider regarding my blood glucoses. I do know that hypoglycemia is the most common sided effect of insulin. I am extraordinarily well-informed about diabetes but it was the weekend, my doctor was inaccessible, and I asked you for more information, which you did not provide. Thanks for all the non-help. Fact: I was poisoned by a physician not monitoring an antidepressant, consequently I suffered damage to my immune system, consequently I react to all medications. My question was simple and clear: is sudden weight loss a danger sign with diabetes. You did not answer the question. You need to learn to say "I don't know" or "I can't say."

  - Anne

• April 2, 2013 12:24 p.m.

  i also have type 2 diabetes but i have been working hard to keep it under control and i have a few suggestions i have that worked for me is loose weight which i have. i lost 120lbs since i first found out i had diabetes. now i am taking cinnamon,bitter melon,prickly pear cactus and eating right now my sugars are down to around 110 on the average.also need to stay away from processed foods and all artificial sweeteners.

  - rob

• April 2, 2013 10:39 a.m.

  Anne, see your provider as soon as possible for your high blood glucoses. The most common side effect of insulin is hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and unfortunatedly insulin is not a perfect therapy and it happens. You need to receive more education/information on diabetes.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• April 2, 2013 10:22 a.m.

  Cortizone shots can elevate the blood glucose. The major effect on the blood glucose is the first 72 hours but may last several weeks.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 30, 2013 5:37 p.m.

  I KNOW the 317 is a problem--I just can't find anything on the weight loss. Don't know if it is significant and requires emergency response.

  - Anne