Dr just told me to cut back on the isulin...?

[RebeccaSmith]

Hi.
I went to the doctors with real aching pains in all my joints. He did blood tests for various things, such as thyroid problms, liver functions and arthritis, as well as a HbA1c. He said that if these test came back all clear, I would need more tests..

I went back today and he told me they were all clear. The HbA1c was 5.9, to which he said that this was the reason fo my aches and pains and that I needed higher bloods and a higher HbA1c. Toally confused because this is only just in non-diabetic range and I cannot see how it is at all possible that the occasional mild hypo could cause such aches and pains.

These pains have been getting worse and at times I am exceeding the reccomended ibuprofen dose. It aches while sitting, exercise does nothing and is even more agonising while standing at work, and it has affected my work. (I only work Saturday and Sunday as a sales advisor and I am at college for the rest of the week).

I've had other problems such as nausie and feeling tired. I've also noticed that I bruise much easier. My injection site looks like a battle field and the slightest bump makes the area green. The arm they took the blood from for the tests is still bruised and I had it taken over a week ago now. To add to this, i've lost a kg since the last doctors readings, but can also now fit into most size 8 clothes - something which I haven't been able to do since I was like 13.

I would much appreciate some advice. Can having a 'low' HbA1c cause these, or should I go back to another doctor. I really don't feel at all healthy.

 

[hanadr]

The HbA1c of 5.9% isn't the cause of your aches, whatever your doctor thinks. There are loads of people on this forum with HbA1cs lower than that who don't have any aches. I'm ache free most of the time ( I do cause aches bu execise :lol: ) and I was 5.6% last time. Non diabetics have HbA1cs of 5.1 and they don't have aches all the time. Ask him to check his own.
It's's arrant nonsense.
Do you use Statins?
they can cause aches.
In any case, you need to look for another explanation.
Don't let your control get ruined. 5.9 is nearly Excellent and qualifies you for the 5% club.

 

[RebeccaSmith]

That's exactly what my diabetic nurse said and I don't want to be higher - i'd much rather be in with the chance of sustaining my limbs and eyesight and don't want to get into bad habits. The doctor as adimant though. I think he thought I was a total hypocondriac, and to be fair, i'm suprised the receptionists don't know my name i'm in there so often for perscriptions and the like.

Do you think it's worth visiting my actual GP and probing for more suggestions to the cause of all my bodily mishaps?
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you for putting my mind at rest. I thought I was going insane for thinking that 5.9% was still not the best result possible...Horray 5% club

 

[RebeccaSmith]

Oh, sorry forgot about the Statins. I don't even know what they are, so I guess I don't use them

 

[cugila]

Hi Rebecca.

So far you have had good advice.

My question is what, if any additional medication do you take ? Not just for Diabetes.
There are certain medications which can give various side effects such as you mention, nausea, unexplained bruising and tiredness. If you don't want to post a list on here then pm me.

Ken.

 

[RebeccaSmith]

Other medications I take are:

- over the ounter hayfever medicine, such as Clarytin and I have taken this for as long as I can remember in the Summer months.
- perscription migraine tablets, sannomigran (maker pizotifen) which I have taken for over 4 years.
- mild asthma inhalers, brycanol and simbicort. The brycanol is an imediate reliever which I haven't used in an age and i've been on the simbicort for about 2 years now, although i've been taking steroid inhalers for my whole life.
You think any of these are the causes? As i've been on them so long, I didn't think that my issues were anything to do with that as i've never experienced anything with them before. I know that my migraine tablets can cause tiredness and sleepiness, as can the hayfever medicine, but I take these at night and haven't felt the need to nap during the day because of them.

 

[hanadr]

I have been taking Clarityn( under it's generic name ( loratidine) for donkey's years for a physical allergy.
It doesn't cause aches. I'll check on the side effects of the other medicines later.
But it's unusual to get new side effects after a long time's use.
Have you started exercising more? Was it the hot weather? that made me feel awful.
Get him to look at other possibilities. It Can't be the HbA1c

 

[cugila]

Hi Rebecca.

There are too many variables regarding the drugs you are taking, complicated by the fact that you state you are taking more then the recommended dose of Ibuprofen. Not a good idea !!
Especially as an Asthmatic. If you are taking more painkillers than recommended then you quite obviously need a stronger prescription pain killer.

Please get at least a second opinion ASAP or a referral to a Specialist. I believe your drugs may need reviewing.

Ken.

 

[RebeccaSmith]

Okay, tomorrow I shall book a doctors appointment with a different doctor asap and see what they have to say. I thought that it was ludacrus for a decent HbA1C score to result in aches, pains and my other symptoms. Maybe I am being a hypercondriac, but I genuinely feel unwell.

Mmm. That's what I thought. Thank you for being of so much help. I'll let you know how I get on with the new doctor. I'm fed up of all this pain, it's doing my nut in.

Mmm. I've cut back on the iboprofen and have been trying to battle te pain without it. I hate pumping myself with drugs. God, if it wasn't for modern day drugs, i'd definately have died a long time ago.

Have a good evening.

 

[iHs]

Hello Rebecca

As you are only 17, I would say that you need your food. If you are only a size 8 you cant be eating very much?? If you are thin, then you are going to find injecting insulin fairly tender hence the bruising. I would take your consultants advice on this and start to eat more food to see if he is correct. Most people can have a fairly good active life being diabetic with an hba1c between 6 and 7and not have anything to fear. Complications tend to come if any if hba1c is above 7.1 but this can take about 10-15 years to show up anything if that. Sincerely, there's no real need for you to try and get yourself in the 5% club just because of this forum.

 

[sugar2]

Rebecca,

You are 17, a size 8 and have a HbA1C of 5.8

I am very jealous!!!!!

Seriously, good luck at the Drs. I am another one who doesn't think that it is your HbA1C that is causing the problems, as long as you are not achieving by being hypo much of the time.
I think that sometimes, the diabetic lable means that Drs don't look any further. If you weren't diabetic, what would the Dr be looking at?
Best of luck!

 

[Spiral]

Rebecca, how much over the recommneded dose of ibuprofen are you taking and how long have you been doing this for? This is a medication that can affect clotting and may be responsible for your bruising.

Your HbA1c is really good, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

You need to rotate your injection site regualry, that can cause alot of pain. My dad - an insulin dependent T2 - didn't rotate his site and got a lot of pain.

Do you know what your BMI (Body Mass Index) is? You can calculate your BMI here http://www.diabetes.co.uk/bmi.html

 

[RebeccaSmith]

Heyy. My BMI is 21.1, so im within th normal weight bracket. I only took over the reccomended dose at the weekend as I felt working wa unbearabe, I was nearly in tears at times it hurt so much - not good when you're trying to sell a £300 suit to a rich man.
I do have hypo's, but i've never needed assistance with any of them and they rarely drop below 3. I usually always pick them up at 3.9. I think I will get another doctors opinion and if they say you're okay, I guess I will just have to live with it.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi Rebecca,

I too was told by my GP's diabetes nurse that my Hb 1Ac of 5.4 was excellent and that "we need to cut back on your Insulin now" :roll:

After all the hard work I have done to get to that figure and I have lost 3 stone and already cut my Insulin down from 42 units a day to an average of 30u a day. She then said I should make an appointment with the hospital diabetes nurse to review my meds adding that she didnt know much about Insulin.
So she is the GP's diabetes nurse and admits that she knows little about Insulin :lol: Needless to say I shall not be making that appointment.


Re the Ibuprofen I am also using a steroid inhaler and also taking oral steroid for a lung condition and I was told that I should not use Ibupofen whilst on steroids. It may be fine with just the inhaler, but I would check just in case.

Good luck

 

[RebeccaSmith]

Thanks Sid. I had a appointment with a differnt doctor today, who also looked bemused by the other one telling me my HbA1c needed to be made higher... She did a more thorough examination and agreed that the bloods came back normal so cannot be anything serious. Got another blood test tomorrow to confirm this and also check for rhumatoid arthritis.
She said that ibuprofen can irritate the lungs of an asthmatic and cause weezing. It can also inflame the lining of the stomach, so she has perscribed me with a stronger anti inflammitory with a protectant that doesn't inflame the stomach, but said it may irritate the asthma... Fingers crossed everything is cool and it'll just fix itself.
A fellow member on here said it may be Addisons disease, but totally forgot to mention it, so will do that in the follow up appointment in two weeks
Thank you