- Messages
- 7
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi!
I'm not average, I suppose [!]...
I have had Primary Progressive MS since 2007 which, with aggressive osteo-arthritis, means I cannot straighten my right leg or walk a single step. And my left side is paralysed. My right eye is also partially paralysed, so I have double vision. I have osteoporosis, too. Probably because I cannot exercise. I am in bed or an electric wheelchair at all times. And - probably due to the MS - I have no feeling under my left foot and for two or three inches up that heel.
In addition I have PAF [paroxysmal atrial fibrillation] which means that my heart 'flutters' rather than pumps every so often.
I then went and got breast cancer and had a mastectomy in 2012, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Greedy, I know!!
Taking blood is a nightmare as my left arm veins are all rubbish after the chemo, my right arm veins cannot be used due to the risk of lymphoedema, my left leg has a slow pulse [peripheral arterial disorder], and the one vein that worked - an inch above my inside right ankle - seems to have failed.
So what did I do next? I went and got diabetes. Probably.
I am told that, after they found glucose in my urine, a non-fasting blood test showed a blood sugar level of "14". [No clarification of units.]
I also saw a flashing red warning on the GP's computer - something about liver function.
The consultation was very rushed as she was running way behind on her schedule.
She said she will not put me forward for any diabetes education or social or support groups as I can no longer get out of the house except by ambulance, or hideously-expensive wheelchair taxi, so I couldn't get to the meetings! Quite true.
And I do have some background knowledge, as I had gestational diabetes in both pregnancies [24 and 22 years ago - I will be 60 this Autumn] and my brother died in a diabetic [Type 1] coma when he was 33.
Why, I wonder, was I not closely monitored when I was given a medication for osteoporosis known to cause diabetes? That was back in 2012, and I have not been monitored at all since then. [The urine was tested for a totally unrelated issue.]
It is lucky I am the happiest person I know!
I have just started the very strict "Overcoming MS" diet, by Professor Jelinek, which at the moment is seafoods, plants [but not pulses or legumes], and rice or rice cakes. No red meat, no dairy, no sugar, no gluten, no fats or oil except coconut oil. I have already discovered my MS is very sensitive to yeast [Marmite], but I am seeing such good results [can lift my left arm to shoulder level, can even move my left leg a little] that I am highly motivated not to 'cheat' in any way.
MY QUESTIONS:-
I was given a prescription for Metformin - got it today - and was ushered out of the GP's room with a warning that I would probably get diarrhoea and/or nausea and/or vomiting [all a nightmare for a wheelchair user without a carer, like me!].
I would like to try the diet alone first, to see if I have stopped the diabetes in its tracks. I've been told that reducing my weight by a sixth would reverse the diabetes.
Could I / should I try this? I never had the time to ask my GP.
My reasons are:-
1] Metformin seems contraindicated if you have some heart conditions - which I do - and liver function problems - which I do - and I also have leucocytes, indicative of an infection, but was given no treatment for that!
2] I am told I cannot continue to take Aspirin or Naproxen [for my heart condition and osteo-arthritic pain respectively] if I have diabetes. Is this true?
I am unable to take any other pain killers - not even Morphine works - and I am seriously reluctant to give up the Naproxen as, even with it, my pain is more than 9 out of 10 all the time - every hour, every day...
I am overweight, but losing weight fast on this diet [started 19 days ago]. I live near Epsom, just South of London.
If you have read this far, thank you!
[And you have probably noticed that my profile photo is of an albino squirrel; she has lived in my garden for 4 years and I call her the White Hanky.]