Hello and question please

[Lady_with_3_dogs]

Hello, new here but had T2 for a few years.
May I ask you lovely people...... has anyone experienced loss of smell? I lost mine over 12 months ago and now I only smell mostly burning. It is under review with ENT Consultant, MRI scans clear and no infection/sinus problems. Just wondered if anyone else is suffering and could it be a side effect of my badly controlled diabetes for most of last year?
Look forward to hearing from you!

 

[Alison Campbell]

Hi @Lady_with_3_dogs Are you on any medication at all

 

[Dairygrade]

Hi lady with 3 dogs diabetes can cause problems but i must say i have never heard of this i have been diabetic for 44yrs type 1 insulin controlled and never lost my sense of smell so don't really know might be possible i guess hope they soon find out what's wrong and can be put right.? All the best.

 

[Energize]

Hi @Lady_with_3_dogs and welcome to the forum

To be honest, I don't know the answer to your question, particularly as there are loads of possibilities.

Metformin, along with PPIs and antacids, are known to affect the absorption of Vit B 12 in many people. Also, if you have Hypo, or Hyperthyroid issues, absorption could be compromised.

However, I've recently been looking into Vit B12 deficiency and remembered that loss of smell is mentioned. The reason I suggest asking your GP to check your Vit B12 levels (along with Folate, Ferritin and Vit D) is that, assuming you have been taking Metformin, you may have developed an absorption issue.

Here are some links to get you started

Scroll down to 2nd category – Neuropsychiatric – at bottom of list
http://www.b12deficiency.info/signs-and-symptoms/

Loss of Smell & Vitamin Deficiency
http://www.livestrong.com/article/517337-loss-of-smell-vitamin-deficiency/

NHS Choices – Loss of Smell
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anosmia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

ThyroidUK and Vitamins
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatment/vitamins.html

However, please don't think you might have found an easy answer as many GPs and Specialists seem to believe such issues are unlikely to be worthy of treatment and that 'normal' levels means 'no problem'!!! It appears the ranges used are not particularly accurate and the medics are ill-informed, on the whole.

Good luck. I'm sure many knowledgeable members will have further advice and suggestions

 

[chalup]

Once someone has been labelled with the tag of diabetes it seems like everything is blamed on the diabetes. Having diabetes does not mean that other problems and conditions cannot come up that are totally unrelated. Please make sure that this is properly investigated and not just fobbed of as "diabetes stuff". I have no ideas about what it might be and I hope you get it figured out. Good luck.

 

[Lady_with_3_dogs]

Hi Alison,

Yes, perindopril 4mg once daily, levothyroxine 100mcg once daily when lost smell now also on metformin 500mg 1 twice daily. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Lady_with_3_dogs]

Thank you for your replies. Really interested in the possible B12 connection Energize and thanks for link. Funnily enough I requested a full blood count incl B12 from GP this week. I just 'know' something is off somewhere, I feel like I'm pursuing mud uphill!
Chalup, oh I soooo know where you are coming from! Believe me I am fighting my corner.......... In a nice way of course wouldn't want to offend anyone...........

 

[ickihun]

What was the reason for your gp starting perindopril @Lady_with_3_dogs ?

 

[spendercat]

Hi there, it's called anosmia. The NHS website lists diabetes as one of the causes but does not say why.
I developed it after taking Metformin. Digestive disturbances, unpleasant taste, then, bang, loss of sense of smell. I stopped the Metformin but a year later I have only partial recovery of this sense. It takes a lot of colour out of life.
Apparently the nose can be retrained. Have a look at the www.anosmiaawareness.org website. Also google smell training.

 

[Prem51]

Welcome to the forum @Lady_with_3_dogs! I have always had a poor sense of smell. It doesn't really bother me, and can be an advantage sometimes!

 

[Freema]

welcome here Lady_with_3_dogs

as people have answered here your problem can come from al sorts of other conditions than diabetes, but when it comes to neuropathy(from diabetes) it can occur all places in the body even though it most often do occur in the legs or arms on the first place of appearence... but not in all cases...
one could hope it is caused by metformin... and can disapear again... some do have change in taste from metformin... many times described like metal-like taste...
but only doctors can give you diagnoses and we here could plant a lot of wrong ideas in your mind maybe so please do go to your diabetic experts to get an excamination and hear their suggestions .

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a696005.html
Metformin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe, do not go away, go away and come back, or do not begin for some time after you begin taking metformin:

• diarrhea
• bloating
• stomach pain
• gas
• indigestion
• constipation
• unpleasant metallic taste in mouth
• heartburn
• headache
• flushing of the skin
• nail changes
• muscle pain