Hello All
It's been a while since I posted but I thought I would update you as some of the things I've discovered about T1 diabetes is scaring the hell out of me and considering all the worrying and complicated symptoms I was (and still am) experiencing I thought I would let you know in case you experience something similar.
As you know from earlier posts, I have been experiencing shortness of breath which has developed into loss of voice, cough and stomach complaints. I have spent over £600 in private referrals to see an ENT and a Gastroenterologist, by Diabetic consultant refused to help me as he felt the SOB was not diabetic related so was going to refer me to a chest specialist as he thought it was Asthma. I paid privately as NHS waiting is too long and I risk losing my job as I have been on long term sick.
I have discovered that the erractic BG and dawn phenomenon is due to delayed stomach emptying caused as a result of diabetic neuropathy and damage to the vagus nerve. Something I only recently discovered is that the vagus nerve controls automatic responses such as breathing, using your voice, heart rate and stomach as the brains sends signals through the vagus nerve to make muscles contract. When it is damaged, it struggles to send this message hence all the SOB, loss of voice in addition to stomach cramps, bloating, feeling sick etc.
My BGs are doing weird things too. One to two hours after an evening meal I hypo, then 4 to 6 hours later my BG sky rockets. Last night it was as low as 3.6mmol an hour after a meal and then it went all the way up to 24.6mmol. It's so difficult to control...I've been given a freestyle libre to use and it's my new best friend I absolutely love it and it's helped to give me the answers after all this horrible time. I am also going on a pump later this month so I'm hoping this will help get better control of BG (fingers crossed).
So if anyone finds this post and is going through similar symptoms as this then my advice is to ask your GP (if not luck with Consultant) for a referral to a Gasteroenterologist and maybe a neurologist. Don't let your Diabetic Consultant fob you off! Keep onto them and if needed make a complaint. I've had to loan money for the private referrals but if I hadn't done this I would've continued to struggle and it could've caused further complications due to the fluctuating sugar levels. This condition is difficult enough to manage, it's twice the battle when you have an unsupportive and clueless Consultant!