Allergies and diabetes?

birchy66 · Dec 28, 2014

I have just started to suffer from what I think must be a 'food' allergy and I am wondering if it could be linked to my type 1 diabetes since allergies are also caused by the auto-immune system over-reacting. I was diagnosed just under 2 years ago. The symptoms I have are swelling of the cheeks and lips and also hives which are red swellings on the insides of my thighs and armpits plus hands itch.

I'm just wondering if anyone has or is suffering from similar symptoms and has linked it to their diabetes?

Because I try to moderate my carb intake I tend now to eat more nuts, cheese and dairy foods, which of course are all prone to causing allergies in some people.

I am awaiting the results of a blood test for nut allergies and hope this will produce further information.

Any help welcome.

czj · Dec 28, 2014

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. It can be really tricky to work out what is causing them, but one thing to consider is histamine intolerance. Symptoms certainly include rashes / itching. I've had lots of odd symptoms for the last few years, and a few months ago discovered it could be histamine intolerance. I had no idea food contained histamine, and even worse, much of what I loved was full of it. Mostly anything fermented (mature cheese), vinegar (pickles, salad dressings,) fish (all fish basically, smoked even worse), various fruit and veg, all spices...

My doctor suggested an elimination diet. I tried it and felt infinitely better. But I couldn't stick to it rigidly. It was like the diet of a Scottish childhood 50 years ago - nothing spicy, no fruit nor "exotic" veg like peppers. So now I take histamine into account when I plan my meals, plus I bought a supplement (From Amazon) which provides the enzyme that helps digest the histamine. I take an anti histamine too. I feel much better, especially as I lost my "cotton wool head"

Try this page from Allergy UK
http://www.allergyuk.org/common-food-intolerances/histamine-intolerance

Pipp · Dec 28, 2014

birchy66 said:
I have just started to suffer from what I think must be a 'food' allergy and I am wondering if it could be linked to my type 1 diabetes since allergies are also caused by the auto-immune system over-reacting. I was diagnosed just under 2 years ago. The symptoms I have are swelling of the cheeks and lips and also hives which are red swellings on the insides of my thighs and armpits plus hands itch.

I'm just wondering if anyone has or is suffering from similar symptoms and has linked it to their diabetes?

Because I try to moderate my carb intake I tend now to eat more nuts, cheese and dairy foods, which of course are all prone to causing allergies in some people.

I am awaiting the results of a blood test for nut allergies and hope this will produce further information.

Any help welcome.

I am T2, but also have an autoimmune disorder that causes delayed anaphylactoid allergic responses. Not as serious as anaphylaxis, but unpleasant and debilitating. All sorts of blood allergy tests came back as negative, despite me having skin rashes and itchy hives regularly. They are absolute misery and you have my sympathy.
I only got a diagnosis of my disorder following a referral to an allergy consultant after I had an allergic reaction to general anaesthetic. All the usual skin tests showed no allergy to the usual allergens, but a specialist blood test for tryptase levels revealed the blood disorder. I now have to take daily anti-histamine in varying doses depending on symptoms, but I do get relief from the rashes. Also have steroids when necessary.

I would recommend you ask for a referral to allergy consultant. There are very few in NHS but if you are having swelling of the face and lips this could cause problems. Be persistent with GP in asking for referral. The standard allergy tests do not always reveal the cause of the allergic type symptoms.

Hope you find a solution soon.

birchy66 · Dec 29, 2014

czj said:
Sorry to hear about your symptoms. It can be really tricky to work out what is causing them, but one thing to consider is histamine intolerance. Symptoms certainly include rashes / itching. I've had lots of odd symptoms for the last few years, and a few months ago discovered it could be histamine intolerance. I had no idea food contained histamine, and even worse, much of what I loved was full of it. Mostly anything fermented (mature cheese), vinegar (pickles, salad dressings,) fish (all fish basically, smoked even worse), various fruit and veg, all spices...

My doctor suggested an elimination diet. I tried it and felt infinitely better. But I couldn't stick to it rigidly. It was like the diet of a Scottish childhood 50 years ago - nothing spicy, no fruit nor "exotic" veg like peppers. So now I take histamine into account when I plan my meals, plus I bought a supplement (From Amazon) which provides the enzyme that helps digest the histamine. I take an anti histamine too. I feel much better, especially as I lost my "cotton wool head"

Try this page from Allergy UK
http://www.allergyuk.org/common-food-intolerances/histamine-intolerance

Thanks czj. A really helpful reply and a few questions I can ask my GP.

birchy66 · Dec 29, 2014

Pipp said:
I am T2, but also have an autoimmune disorder that causes delayed anaphylactoid allergic responses. Not as serious as anaphylaxis, but unpleasant and debilitating. All sorts of blood allergy tests came back as negative, despite me having skin rashes and itchy hives regularly. They are absolute misery and you have my sympathy.
I only got a diagnosis of my disorder following a referral to an allergy consultant after I had an allergic reaction to general anaesthetic. All the usual skin tests showed no allergy to the usual allergens, but a specialist blood test for tryptase levels revealed the blood disorder. I now have to take daily anti-histamine in varying doses depending on symptoms, but I do get relief from the rashes. Also have steroids when necessary.

I would recommend you ask for a referral to allergy consultant. There are very few in NHS but if you are having swelling of the face and lips this could cause problems. Be persistent with GP in asking for referral. The standard allergy tests do not always reveal the cause of the allergic type symptoms.

Hope you find a solution soon.

Thanks Pipp, again a really helpful reply. Your symptoms sound really unpleasant but glad you have got to the bottom of it. I'll certainly be persistent with my GP who is usually very helpful.

Pipp · Dec 29, 2014

birchy66 said:
Thanks Pipp, again a really helpful reply. Your symptoms sound really unpleasant but glad you have got to the bottom of it. I'll certainly be persistent with my GP who is usually very helpful.

Best of luck, @birchy66

Let us know how you get on.

Allergies and diabetes?

birchy66

Well-Known Member

czj

Well-Known Member

Pipp

Moderator

birchy66

Well-Known Member

birchy66

Well-Known Member

Pipp

Moderator

Allergies and diabetes?

birchy66

Well-Known Member

czj

Well-Known Member

Pipp

Moderator

birchy66

Well-Known Member

birchy66

Well-Known Member

Pipp

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency