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Auto immune problem causing problems with Type 2

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nicola3460

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I was diagnosed with type 2 three years ago and on the whole it's been managed with diet and Metformin. However, a month ago I had a pneumonia jab and for some reason my sugar levels had increased to 14 so my Metformin was doubled to 2000mg per day. Within a few days I was experiencing huge fatigue, a urine infection, dizziness and faintness. I was put on antibiotics for the urine infection but after 5 days this made no difference.

New blood tests were taken and last Friday it was revealed that I have autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, which means my immune system is attacking my red blood cells and my hemoglobin had dropped down to the 70's (whereas it should be 120+). I was called down to the surgery and given 12 steroid tablets and given a dose of 12 tablets a day to get me through the weekend. Monday at 8.30 found me sat with an Oncology Consultant at the hospital who reported the hemoglobin had risen to 82 so the steroids were working and certainly the urine had changed from brown to normal.

However, over the weekend between the diagnosis and seeing the consultant, my partner discovered an article in BMJ about a one-off case whereby a woman reacted badly to Metformin and had my symptoms. Given how ill I felt, I decided (wisely or not) to take myself off the Metformin over the weekend. After seeing the consultant, he said it wouldn't be the metformin, could have been the pneumonia jab but could just have been a virus that kicked it all off. So Monday morning I went back on the metformin. Today I'm feeling even worse and my urine has gone back to brown. Plus my sugar diabetes readings have gone from 7-10 up to 18-22 which is scarey. The steroids will be stopping the immune system killing the red blood cells so the consultant was worried about the diabetes as I'm presuming the immune system won't be able to fight the diabetes?

I'm back in to see the GP on Thursday morning.

My question is, after this long ramble, has anyone else come across such a response? The GP says the autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is extraordinary to get in an adult as usually happens in children. Apparently I gave them something to talk about! I have to say they swung into action incredibly quickly, calling me in 1/2 hour after getting the diagnosis so they are on the case.

Any views would be appreciated as I just want to keep an eye on all options. I've had a challenging time with my previous surgery and changed surgeries as a result and been happy with how they've worked with me. However, I have learnt to not simply go with what you're told and to take questions in with you to make them think! If this is that rare then my view is they may not know as much as I would like?

Thanks for your feedback.
Nicola
 
Hi Nicola

Sorry to hear about your problem.

It can be found in both children and adults and can be precipitated by trauma, infection or by certain drugs. Metformin is on the list of implicated drugs. It will be necessary to determine what type of the condition you have as that will speak to treatment. You may also have other autoimmune conditions. There is a lot of information online about your condition that should be able to give you enough knowledge to ask the questions that are important to you. An example of this is at: https://www.clinicalkey.com/topics/hema ... nemia.html

Hope this helps.

Take care

Doug
 
Hi Nicola, not sure about type 2 but i would imagine the immune system doesn't 'fight' diabetes as its not an infection and usually, in type 1/1.5 the immune system is the culprit of what causes diabetes in the first place.... Maybe if the steroids stop unnecessary immune system attacks they might HELP diabetes not hinder it?? That would be my thoughts anyway....?

I sounds like maybe Metformin doesn't agree with you but I can see why the GP said it won't be the Metformin as usually it's seen as a very helpful drug that does a lot of good as well as help with diabetes...

Maybe ask him to switch you to a different medication and see if the are any improvements? Also...i would keep an eye on ur levels because if you already have a diagnosed immune-system condition you may not be type 2 diabetic and may be autoimmune as your immune system could be attacking other things like ur beta cells? This could also explain being ill and Metformin not helping your BG levels come down??

Hope this just gives you more food for thought and more questions to ask your GP :-) good luck


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 23 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
Taking steroids can cause an increase in blood sugars and metformin can.be a trigger for the auto-immune condition. You may need a different diabetes medication.

Regards.

Doug
 
Osidge said:
Taking steroids can cause an increase in blood sugars and metformin can.be a trigger for the auto-immune condition. You may need a different diabetes medication.

Regards.

Doug
Click to expand...

It's one of the more significnat side effects of steroids. My son took them for a while to try and help with his epilepsy and we were asked to monitor his urine while he was on them.
 
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