Type 1 Is this normal?

[Alex_B]

For 2 months now, I have had stomach pains and diarrhoea, I'm not seeing a gastroenterologist till April as apparently that's the "quicker" option.

When I have my food, it doesn't stay in my body for 5 minutes then I have to run to the bathroom!

My issue is that I take my insulin sometimes before and sometimes after eating, but obviously when I go to the toilet, I feel like the insulin doesn't work. I become overcome with sickness like I took my insulin 30-40 minutes before food, I become dizzy, nauseous, and weak. I'm seeing my diabetic team next Thursday, but just wanted to see if this is normal? Is it because straight after I eat I have nothing in my body, as I don't think anything is digesting and just goes right through me! Help?

 

[Deleted member 308541]

For 2 months now, I have had stomach pains and diarrhoea, I'm not seeing a gastroenterologist till April as apparently that's the "quicker" option.

I would be hot footing it to the emergency department of the local hospital If I have had the scours for two months, actually I would have gone after less than a week.

 

[Alex_B]

I would be hot footing it to the emergency department of the local hospital If I have had the scours for two months, actually I would have gone after less than a week.

I would of, but I don't live close to the hospital and have no means to get there. Also, it started right after my full teeth extraction so was unable to go anyway.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I would of, but I don't live close to the hospital and have no means to get there. Also, it started right after my full teeth extraction so was unable to go anyway.

There are such things as paramedics and ambulances when you dial the emergency number in your country.

 

[DCUKMod]

@Alex_B - I remember your thread back then. Have you discussed this at all with the medics? I'm sort of assuming you have, as you have a Gastor appointment, albeit some way ahead.

Are you managing to eat more like your usual self now? I'm sure it took some time to adapt to your new mouth with or without replacement teeth. If not, it could be something as simple as a food intolerance, if you have changed your usual foods to accommodate things, or it could be if you're not chewing your foods properly you system is unable tpo cope with that.

There are so many options, we could speculate all day.

What is your weight doing with all this and how are your blood testing scores?

 

[Type-2-Havent-A-Clue]

Can you give an example of a typical day for you regarding what you eat?

 

[Alex_B]

@Alex_B - I remember your thread back then. Have you discussed this at all with the medics? I'm sort of assuming you have, as you have a Gastor appointment, albeit some way ahead.

Are you managing to eat more like your usual self now? I'm sure it took some time to adapt to your new mouth with or without replacement teeth. If not, it could be something as simple as a food intolerance, if you have changed your usual foods to accommodate things, or it could be if you're not chewing your foods properly you system is unable tpo cope with that.

There are so many options, we could speculate all day.

What is your weight doing with all this and how are your blood testing scores?

I'm eating what I usually ate before the tooth extraction. It's just everything I eat just goes.

 

[DCUKMod]

I'm eating what I usually ate before the tooth extraction. It's just everything I eat just goes.

Are you managing to chew properly, and what is happening with your weight? Are you losing, gaining or staying stable? Similarly, what is happening to your blood glucose test levels?

 

[Alex_B]

Are you managing to chew properly, and what is happening with your weight? Are you losing, gaining or staying stable? Similarly, what is happening to your blood glucose test levels?

I can chew properly I haven't been using my dentures as right now my priority is my stomach and also they don't fit well but I can chew without them. I've lost weight, I'm 7st 2 which is underweight according to my diabetes nurse but not extremely low, but you can see my ribs and back bones.

I don't check my sugars anymore, which I know is dangerous, but I know when I'm high or low, I was told I could get early funding for the freestyle libre so I should hear if I can next week.

 

[DCUKMod]

I can chew properly I haven't been using my dentures as right now my priority is my stomach and also they don't fit well but I can chew without them. I've lost weight, I'm 7st 2 which is underweight according to my diabetes nurse but not extremely low, but you can see my ribs and back bones.

I don't check my sugars anymore, which I know is dangerous, but I know when I'm high or low, I was told I could get early funding for the freestyle libre so I should hear if I can next week.

Alex, my comment would be that many, many people have been refused Libre funding, because they don't test enough. You should be testing regardless of whether you think the Libre will be any day.

If you are not testing, then being sick, how do you know our don't have ketones?

 

[Juicyj]

My issue is that I take my insulin sometimes before and sometimes after eating, but obviously when I go to the toilet, I feel like the insulin doesn't work. I become overcome with sickness like I took my insulin 30-40 minutes before food, I become dizzy, nauseous, and weak. I'm seeing my diabetic team next Thursday, but just wanted to see if this is normal? Is it because straight after I eat I have nothing in my body, as I don't think anything is digesting and just goes right through me! Help?

Hi Alex,

Unfortunately if your not testing then you won't know for sure if the insulin is working or not - you need to get onto that meter and get it fired up, please test before you eat and then 3 hours afterwards, write down your results, you will need these to show your DSN and any specialist you see so you can review when insulin was taken, how much and what the result was, this is the absolute basics of t1 care management so getting it right is massively important, unfortunately you wont get a libre unless you show your team that you are doing this, also only then you will know if the insulin is working or if you are taking the right amount of insulin.

What you are experiencing is not normal at all, as a forum we can't diagnose you as it could be anything from an allergic reaction to gastroparesis and anything inbetween, but no it's definitely not normal and requires urgent investigation as you may fall into DKA if you're running high and not taking the right amount of insulin.

 

[Juicyj]

Also @Alex_B you have posted this query in diabetes discussions section, do you want me to move this to the type 1 section for better visibility with other type 1 members ?

 

[Diakat]

@Alex_B I think you know this is not normal. Please get a family member to call medics if you don't feel up to it. Can you try adding a liquid build up shake to get some calories in and see if your body tolerates this?
As @Juicyj says, testing is crucial and it is good to hear that you are injecting.
You need some proper medical attention, you have had such a rough ride that you need support to get back on track and healthy.

 

[porl69]

Hi @Alex_B. You need to be testing your bloods to know if your insulin is/isn't working. You may feel ok BUT your bloods could be thru the roof with the possibility of ketones as well!
You will also find that you need to be testing a min of 8 times a day to qualify for the Libre
Are you managing to keep liquids down?

 

[Alex_B]

Hi @Alex_B. You need to be testing your bloods to know if your insulin is/isn't working. You may feel ok BUT your bloods could be thru the roof with the possibility of ketones as well!
You will also find that you need to be testing a min of 8 times a day to qualify for the Libre
Are you managing to keep liquids down?

The doctor at my diabetes clinic said because I'm not testing and refusing to test that he is going to ask for funding for it so it would be easier for me so someone's lying to me.

 

[porl69]

The doctor at my diabetes clinic said because I'm not testing and refusing to test that he is going to ask for funding for it so it would be easier for me so someone's lying to me.

By refusing to test you are doing yourself no favours! How do you know what your BGs are before and after you are eating? How do you know what certain foods are doing to your levels?

 

[Alex_B]

By refusing to test you are doing yourself no favours! How do you know what your BGs are before and after you are eating? How do you know what certain foods are doing to your levels?

I know what they are. I'm not stupid. I don't get these lectures from the diabetes clinic because nothing is going to change my mind. Right now I'm barely eating anyway because of a fear of food due to the pain and diarrhoea.

 

[DCUKMod]

The doctor at my diabetes clinic said because I'm not testing and refusing to test that he is going to ask for funding for it so it would be easier for me so someone's lying to me.

Alex, many people have reportedly the issue with lack of testing and Libre. There are several threads on the forum about it, if you search.

I'm not saying your Consultant is fibbing to you. Aside from all else I wasn't there.

 

[lovinglife]

Hi @Alex_B - I'm posting this with a big caveat that I'm not saying this is what it is or that I'm diagnosing you - it's just a personal experience thing

My hubby - not diabetic suffered exactly like this for 12 months - the loo 20 - 30 times a day- just pure liquid, off some of his foods, we tried everything- FODMAP diet, diaries etc, a raft of blood tests ruled out anything nasty, He saw a gastroenterologist who did a camera up the back passage - he had a couple of polyps removed and biopsies came back ok - he was eventually diagnosed with colloid colitis.

It's often missed in males as although it's not serious as in life threatening it's very rare in males and usually it's a female thing.
Your gut becomes very smooth with colloid scarring so everything just passes through. He was extremely tired and felt ill and sick all the time with weight loss - he had a 3 month course of steroids and that sorted it for a couple of years - he's recently had another flare up and is halfway through another course - he felt better within days

Like I said not saying it's this but as it's rare in males it may be worth a look

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I know what they are. I'm not stupid. I don't get these lectures from the diabetes clinic because nothing is going to change my mind. Right now I'm barely eating anyway because of a fear of food due to the pain and diarrhoea.

No-one's saying you're stupid. But when you're running high for a longer period of time, it doesn't feel high anymore because your body's used to it. You'd be unable to tell, without a meter. And what you're describing could be signs of keto-acidosis, the abdominal pain is a red flag, certainly. So basically people here are just saying they're concerned about your health, because DKA kills. And none of us want you to drop dead any time soon. So it's not a chiding, it's concern and honestly, speaking for myself right now, being actually scared for your safety.

And the doc can ask for funding, doesn't have to be lying, but the odds are you won't get it. Who knows though, your doc may be very convincing. Here's to hoping!

In the meantime though... I have to admit I think heading for the ER is a good idea. Or at least call 111.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_ketoacidosis