Always Sick... Normal?

[stevenhorr]

Hi all. I have been Type 1 for about 6.5 years. My A1C has always been between 6 and 7.5, which my dr thinks is reasonably good. However, I feel like I am sick with one thing or another most of the time. Of course, this makes my sugar levels go really high. For instance, I have had some kind of sinusitis and ear thing for over two months now, despite two rounds of antibiotics. I probably take antibiotics an average of two or three times a year. I am constantly having to crank my basal up. I get better for a few days, have lower bg levels, and then get sick again shortly after and have to jack my insulin up again. Is this normal for some diabetics? Or is something else going on, do you think? I am largely sedentary and have been for 12 years because of CFS-like post-exertional symptoms that put me out of commission for 2 or 3 days, so not exercising doesn't help, I'm sure. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jack412]

a food allergy with the chronic sinusitis ? cut all wheat, grain product, bread etc for a fortnight, see if you feel better is the test, you may have withdrawal symptoms, you can replace the lost carbs with starchy veg if you want to, unless you have weight to lose
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm

 

[stevenhorr]

Thanks for your suggestion, but I already avoid all gluten and dairy.

 

[jack412]

ok, lets try the other way, a bunch of different probiotics and potato starch in water to feed them
https://www.google.com.au/#q=probiotics+potato+starch

 

[stevenhorr]

Hmmm interesting. I will look into this. Thanks!

 

[jack412]

google about : snort some probiotic up your nose
https://www.google.com.au/#q=probiotic+up+your+nose

 

[pinkrosi]

HbA1c is also measured in mmols but if yours was 7.1 you'd be dead as it's far too low for survival the blood sugar tests on our meters are measured in mmol/l and the HbA1c in mmol/mol. If you mean your HbA1c was 7.1% then you're bang on target. Check out the converters on this site. Mine was 9.3%, or 78 mmols/mol.

 

[Toulouse31]

Hi, I've been there too,every winter one cold after another, sinus painful and stuffed up all winter, headaches etc. engless anti-biotics. After I I moved to France and started working on many health issues the NHS had not helped/had made sorse my GP refered me to an ENT consultant who whiped out an endoscope, shoved it up my nose, declaired that my 'mucus isn't working' and antibiotics do not help most people with sinus problems. He also said that gluten and dairy are not good (I was allready gluten free and try and keep low dairy ) He prescribed

http://www.sterimarnasal.co.uk/products/sterimar-nasal-hygiene

which after about 1 month totally cleared my sinus issues. I ran out about a month ago and have slowly developed sinus problems again.. your post has prompted me to get to the Pharmacy today! some science here: and

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2007/11/29/stuffy-nose-or-sinus-problems-heres-a-fix

I second the pro-biotics: As a child in the 60s-70s I had endless anti-biotics for toncillitis etc and think that all that early death of beneficial bacterior in my gut has led to lifelong issues, food allergies, IBS type issues, colitis, general poor health. I take probiotics but when I feel well then I get complacent / out of the habit of taking them/run out in the summer when I'm in better health Ithen BAM Autumn hits with the viruses and tummy issues, will I ever learn

 

[jack412]

@Toulouse31 you can make your own with sea salt and boiled water
"Stérimar Nasal Hygiene is made out of the purest sea water taken off the French coast in Britanny. It has no preservatives or additives."

you shouldn't have to take probiotic all the time, I would see your Dr, if you need it, they can fecal transplant http://thefecaltransplantfoundation.org/

 

[Toulouse31]

@Toulouse31 you can make your own with sea salt and boiled water
"Stérimar Nasal Hygiene is made out of the purest sea water taken off the French coast in Britanny. It has no preservatives or additives."

you shouldn't have to take probiotic all the time, I would see your Dr, if you need it, they can fecal tsplant http://thefecaltransplantfoundation.org/

Funny enough I did look into this for a cousin I was very worried about with severe colitis (and refusal to change diet to GF like rest of family) but her doctors in UK poo-hood. she later was dx with gastric lymphomas and just had a stem cell tx. In our family I cannot think of one suitable donor, we all have issues!

Many years ago when searchng for answers to my increasing health/weight issues I had a consultation with ian Marber (the UK Food Doctor ) who is coeliac himself. I had a stool sample analysed which revealed an in-balance of bad to good bacteria, but no raeal baddies like c.dif and malabsorbsion of protein. (or not enough chewing!) He gave me a very high dose of pro-biotics for 6 weeks to re-colonise and reccomended maintance dose for life. I think high red wine intake prior to gowing LCHF might have feeding the bad'ens as I do feel a lot better 'on the wagon'. perhaps I have starved them out after 4 weeks???

 

[jack412]

try potato starch in water to feed them, make sure it's starch and not potato flour

 

[Toulouse31]

try potato starch in water to feed them, make sure it's starch and not potato flour

I have some sauce thickener which is potato starch, I will check the carbs content/BG monitor it. thanks for the tip.

 

[jack412]

I have some sauce thickener which is potato starch, I will check the carbs content/BG monitor it. thanks for the tip.

you wont need to worry much , it's a resistant starch, but if T1 take of a morning and monitor it

 

[noblehead]

If the sinusitis continues then it would be wise to get referred over to a ENT clinic.

As for being ill all the time, this isn't normal and you should ask your gp to refer you over to the care of diabetes clinic at your local hospital, there you will see a Endocrinologist who will investigate the cause, taking into account your problems with CFS.

 

[jack412]

he is under the care of a Dr for his chronic sinusitis, @noblehead but it would be a good idea for a referral to ENT

 

[stevenhorr]

HbA1c is also measured in mmols but if yours was 7.1 you'd be dead as it's far too low for survival the blood sugar tests on our meters are measured in mmol/l and the HbA1c in mmol/mol. If you mean your HbA1c was 7.1% then you're bang on target. Check out the converters on this site. Mine was 9.3%, or 78 mmols/mol.

Well, yes I think I meant 7.4%. However, our meters are different in Canada. If my meter ever said 78, I'd surely be dead as it would be far too high for survival!

 

[stevenhorr]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, folks. I am going to try and see an ENT specialist if it doesn't clear up soon. I'm starting to suspect that the condition might be worsened by the hair of my dog. As for an endocrinologist, my family doc seems to think he can play that role, but I do prefer having an endo. Alas, in order to see one, I have to travel quite a ways, but I think I will make it happen regardless.

@Toulouse31, I took WAY too many antibiotics as a youth, too. In fact, I was on tetracycline to treat acne for years. I have no doubt that this must have done some damage, and although I've tried all of the anti-yeast diets and so forth (before becoming T1... good luck avoiding sugars now!), I have never really tried any intensive program to repopulate my gut with healthy flora. I think I will give it a try.

Re: sinus rinse... I have one my doctor recommended, too, but it has been hurting my ears when I use it. I will try to make it a routine once this ear thing clears up.

Thanks, everyone.

 

[emiliano]

Here's my stupid experience with sinusitis.
Since when I was a youth I developed a pretty nasty sinusitis because I liked so much to ride my Vespa no matter the weather. The only way I could deal with it was snorting antibiotics, and even that didn't help much most of the time.
I was so desperate I went to an homeopath (my wife's ex boyfriend... so you could imagine just HOW desperate I was...).
He just prescribed a stupid homeopathic remedy Dr Rekeweg R49. I was extremely skeptic because 1) Didn't like the guy 2) Have no faith at all in homeopathy.
It worked, and it keeps on working winter after winter after winter. I have to say I'm much more careful of what I eat now, and I probably lowered or zeroed the inflammation levels in my body, but still... be it a placebo or something but whenever I feel that numbness in my forehead I just dash to the chemist and get the old R49...
Unluckily I have no share in Dr Rekeweg sales, but the stuff worked in my case.