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Skeletal Muscle Loss with T2?

S

StuartJones147

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi there,

I'm a 43 year old male, diagnosed T2 7 months ago but believe I could have been diabetic for longer.

For the past 28 months I have been going to see my gp complaining that I was losing skeletal muscle. Especially noticeable in my feet, forearms and face.

But I wasn't believed. I was told I was imagining it, it was just stress, go to counselling etc.

It's been unbelievable. I struggle to understand how I've be treated. Consistently patronised and condescended to.

I've asked if T2 can cause this muscle loss but I'm told that my blood sugar levels would need to be way higher to effect the muscles.

My hb1ac has been just 48-51. My bg level is usually 4-5 before eating. It never really goes too high.

I'm really running out of sanity, it's been such a battle to be believed and get answers.

Does anybody have knowledge of this kind of muscle loss with T2?

Thanks so much for reading. I will very grateful for any feedback. Thanks :)
 
I would not be too quick to blame it on diabetes. A different doctor may be in order but whatever you do it needs proper investigation.
 
I haven't heard of T2 affecting muscle mass but more experienced members may well have better info. Your numbers are good , have you changed anything? More or less exercise, change of diet, even change of job or personal circumstances. Anything that could affect you in any way. You're not nuts, hon. If it's real to you, it's real and you need an answer.
 
As I progressed to LADA I lost muscle. At the end, all of it. Are you reducing food to keep bs low? I kept reducing food and Dr s kept saying I was fine. Once I had insulin and nutrients were getting to my cells my muscle came right back. I'm not implying you're LADA but if your losing weight without any dietary changes it might be something to look into. For some reason lots of doctors don't even think about testing for LADA. Mnaynof us suffered massively because of this
 
StuartJones147 said:
Does anybody have knowledge of this kind of muscle loss with T2?
Click to expand...

Not with type II. Are you taking statins? This is something I'm trying to investigate at the moment. Some people who have been severely affected by statins have reported muscle loss. It's just difficult to track down empirical evidence.

If you, or anyone reading this, have experienced muscle pain, then look at the MHRA website. I've literally only today started looking at problems reported to the NHS Yellow Card System and have been looking at statins, muscle pain and other muscle problems.

https://info.mhra.gov.uk/drug-analy...NCOMBINED/UK_NON_000293263216.zip&agency=MHRA

This URL should give you a list of all muscle problems, and like with a directory listing, you click on the plus to expand the entries. See how you get on.
 
Hi guys, thanks for your replies. It's appreciated! :)

I'm not taking Statins and barring the dietary advice I'd been given 8 months ago on diagnosis I'd not changed too much diet or exercise wise that would contribute to the start of symptoms 2 plus years ago. Thanks for suggesting/ asking. :)

I'll look into more info on Lada, thanks.

I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps the physical changes I'm noticing on my body could actually be a loss of subcutaneous tissue rather than muscle (although I am experiencing a gradual weakness in muscle strength).

I've recently seen an article on lipodystrophy which describes to similar symptoms that I'm experiencing and one such cause was listed as poor diabetes management.

I should mention that they've also notice some thickening of the Heart muscle (sternum) and are investigating this for me too. Another cause of lipodystrophy is coronary disease so it certainly seems another avenue of possibility.

All of this is so difficult. I've literally had 2 years of being told nothing was wrong with me, being reassured, told I'm just anxious, sent to counselling... all the while being absolutely adamant that something is going on with me that needed investigating.

In this time they've eventually found the diabetes, the thickened heart, the fatty liver and it's almost been a full time job trying to get them to believe me in the first place and then to investigate further.

Not sure what questions even to ask here but appreciate the suggestions I've received.

Thanks again. :)
 
Everyone has a tendency to lose muscle after the age of 30. There have been some studies suggesting a link between a greater loss of muscle with age and Type 2 diabetes although it's complicated - lack of muscle may contribute to the development of Type 2 and/or obesity is a risk factor for both Type 2 and inactivity which itself contributes towards muscle loss. Strength training tends to reverse both age-related and inactivity-related muscle loss.

However, the effects of muscle-loss tend to be noticed first in the bigger muscles of the leg and buttocks which are involved in day-to-day activities such as walking and climbing stairs rather than the small muscles in the feet and face. If you went to your GP talking about muscle loss in the feet and face they would understandably think this was unlikely.

Subcutaneous fat-loss is also common as we age so any relationship with a disease that also becomes more common as we age such as Type 2 diabetes may just be coincidental. Very rarely, there are a few diseases which can cause subcutaneous fat loss and diabetes. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/acquired-lipodystrophy/
 
Ive also had significant muscle loss mainly fore arms calves and thighs prior to diagnosis
 
StuartJones147 said:
Hi there,

I'm a 43 year old male, diagnosed T2 7 months ago but believe I could have been diabetic for longer.

For the past 28 months I have been going to see my gp complaining that I was losing skeletal muscle. Especially noticeable in my feet, forearms and face.

But I wasn't believed. I was told I was imagining it, it was just stress, go to counselling etc.

It's been unbelievable. I struggle to understand how I've be treated. Consistently patronised and condescended to.

I've asked if T2 can cause this muscle loss but I'm told that my blood sugar levels would need to be way higher to effect the muscles.

My hb1ac has been just 48-51. My bg level is usually 4-5 before eating. It never really goes too high.

I'm really running out of sanity, it's been such a battle to be believed and get answers.

Does anybody have knowledge of this kind of muscle loss with T2?

Thanks so much for reading. I will very grateful for any feedback. Thanks :)
Click to expand...


well I can really understand if you are scared about that... wish you all the best .. hope doctors find out very soon what is the cause... and as you eat very healthy , I asume you do get adequate amounts of proteins... and all the other different nutrients...
 
StuJones73 said:
In this time they've eventually found the diabetes, the thickened heart, the fatty liver and it's almost been a full time job trying to get them to believe me in the first place and then to investigate further.

Not sure what questions even to ask here but appreciate the suggestions I've received.

Thanks again. :)
Click to expand...

Fatty liver diagnosed? Fatty liver can cause muscle loss, to what degree of fatty liver you have I don't know. People with liver diseases are often put on a higher protein diet, because protein maintains muscle mass.

It could be the result of a number things, factor in your age and diabetes. Liver disease. I wouldn't blame it solely on one thing, but these are things that are possibly worth considering I'd say.
 
Hi there,

Thank you for your replies.

@Tophat1900 Yes they found that I had a fatty liver maybe a year ago now, but there's been no real follow up. I asked my GP several times if this could be causing my symptoms but they're adamant that the blood tests and scan (even though it found a small cyst they're not concerned with). Showed there was no cause for concern.

I've thought some of my more peripheral symptoms, itching, dry skin and also some myotonia found in an emg test could possibly be caused by a liver issue. I also have the beginnings of what I've seen described as skin 'frosting' (?) around my eyebrows and scalp but told that this is my psoriasis and not related.

It's a horrible position to be in, absolutely adamant something is going on, but being reassured I'm wrong. It's an uneasy feeling of inevitability that eventually I'll be proved right somehow.

That's not a win.

Thanks again for all your advice and tips. I really appreciate it!
 
Hi there,

Thank you for your replies.

@Tophat1900 Yes they found that I had a fatty liver maybe a year ago now, but there's been no real follow up. I asked my GP several times if this could be causing my symptoms but they're adamant that the blood tests and scan (even though it found a small cyst they're not concerned with). Showed there was no cause for concern.

I've thought some of my more peripheral symptoms, itching, dry skin and also some myotonia found in an emg test could possibly be caused by a liver issue. I also have the beginnings of what I've seen described as skin 'frosting' (?) around my eyebrows and scalp but told that this is my psoriasis and not related.

It's a horrible position to be in, absolutely adamant something is going on, but being reassured I'm wrong. It's an uneasy feeling of inevitability that eventually I'll be proved right somehow.

That's not a win.

Thanks again for all your advice and tips. I really appreciate it!
 
StuartJones147 said:
Hi there,

Thank you for your replies.

@Tophat1900 Yes they found that I had a fatty liver maybe a year ago now, but there's been no real follow up. I asked my GP several times if this could be causing my symptoms but they're adamant that the blood tests and scan (even though it found a small cyst they're not concerned with). Showed there was no cause for concern.

I've thought some of my more peripheral symptoms, itching, dry skin and also some myotonia found in an emg test could possibly be caused by a liver issue. I also have the beginnings of what I've seen described as skin 'frosting' (?) around my eyebrows and scalp but told that this is my psoriasis and not related.

It's a horrible position to be in, absolutely adamant something is going on, but being reassured I'm wrong. It's an uneasy feeling of inevitability that eventually I'll be proved right somehow.

That's not a win.

Thanks again for all your advice and tips. I really appreciate it!
Click to expand...

well maybe it is time to change your GP .... if you feel that in this serious situation they just don´t take your serious..
 
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