Styes and acne

[GalaxyLiz]

I diagnosed myself with diabetes in February and immediately went on a diet to reduce carbs, salt and fat while the NHS assured themselves of the diagnosis. Since then have had styes, acne (which I've had for years on and off) and have a bloodshot eye which I fear is retinopathy though the NHS don't seem very concerned about it although they are arranging an appointment for an eye check. I can't find any information anywhere about the timescale of any improvement of these symptoms.
As I understand it haemoglobin has a life span of 3 months and glucose attaches to it so it would seem logical that as time passes toward the 3 months the haemoglobin with the high glucose will be dying off and will be replaced by ones without high glucose. However, there is little sign of any improvement after 2 months. The NHS don't want me to test because of cost so I bought my own kit but have only been testing for a couple of weeks. Rates are between 3.6 - 5.2 which I don't think class as high.
Does anyone have any idea how soon I could expect improvement and if reduction of blood glucose slows progression of retinopathy? Sorry to bother you all but I'm unable to find information anywhere.

 

[Jamesuk9]

Hello and welcome...

Am intrigued how you arrived at a self diagnosis?

3.6 - 5.2 is indicative of nothing other than normal, in fact excellent glucose control.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

A stye or hordeolum is a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid. It is actually an abscess filled with pus and is usually caused by a staphylococcus bacteria eye infection. Styes are common with most people experiencing one or two of them at some stage in their life.

Acne, medically known as Acne Vulgaris, is a skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of hair follicles. It commonly occurs during puberty when the sebaceous (oil) glands come to life - the glands are stimulated by male hormones produced by the adrenal glands of both males and females.

Basically, neither seem to be related to diabetes in any way, even if you were diabetic.

As I understand it haemoglobin has a life span of 3 months and glucose attaches to it so it would seem logical that as time passes toward the 3 months the haemoglobin with the high glucose will be dying off and will be replaced by ones without high glucose. However, there is little sign of any improvement after 2 months.

That will only affect an HbA1c, not BG meter readings.

Rates are between 3.6 - 5.2 which I don't think class as high.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

Does anyone have any idea how soon I could expect improvement and if reduction of blood glucose slows progression of retinopathy? Sorry to bother you all but I'm unable to find information anywhere.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy
During the initial stages, retinopathy does not cause any noticeable symptoms. You may not realise that your retina is damaged until the later stages, when your vision becomes affected.

Possible symptoms of late-stage retinopathy include:

• shapes floating in your field of vision (floaters)
• blurred vision
• reduced night vision
• sudden blindness

Not sure why you should think a bloodshot eye is anything to do with retinopathy or why you should imagine your BG is likely to cause retinopathy.

unable to find information anywhere.

Try Google?

 

[GalaxyLiz]

Thanks for your help.

Diagnosis - not hard looked at all the symptoms ordered some Reagent strips and did a test which confirmed glucose in my urine.

Both styes and acne are aggravated by diabetes according to information I have found online and as confirmed by my NHS nurse.

I did realise that the HbA1c differs from ordinary testing but if the home tests I've done indicate consistently that I have low glucose levels it is likely that the next HbA1c done after the first 3 months is going to be lower too.

Regarding the retinopathy - there are pictures available from sites offering treatment showing pictures which look very like what I have. Everything I have read indicates that retinopathy effects the back of the eye but the pictures tell another story. I have tried doing Google searches but the scholarly papers are unintelligible to me and most of the others don't include any information on whether the lower glucose levels will slow the progress and information on Metformin is unclear on whether it helps or hinders or makes no difference whatsoever. Information on retinopathy says that it is made worse by having untreated diabetes and therefore I assume the high level of glucose in the blood is the cause.

Anyway thanks for your help but it seems I will just have to wait and see.

 

[Resurgam]

Why are you eating less fat?
Diabetes is only concerned with carbohydrates, fats are not involved in any way, and are actually advisable, so you don't start to break down proteins.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

fats are not involved in any way,

Beg to differ, possibly not 100% accurate. There are several sources if you Google and several explanations as to how it works including: through a series of metabolic processes that result from conditions of depleted carbohydrates, it is possible for stored fats to be broken down into glucose, which can then be converted into glycogen.

Same goes for protein. I would like to nominate myself as living proof. Low carb has kept my BG and HbA1c in excellent ranges for 3 or so years. Then my GP said you need to eat more so I upped dairy (fats). BG higher, HbA1c higher, cholesterol higher, weight higher.

and are actually advisable

Not for everyone, we really are all different. The only conclusion I can draw for ME is increased fats was a very bad idea.

 

[Tony337]

Hi Galaxyliz (love the name)
In my part of the UK i can get an opticians appointment at the drop of a hat.
These optical geniuses can tell all sorts of things diabetes and otherwise by a simple eye examination.
That would be my advice to you.

I wish you well

Tony

 

[Debzz_]

I diagnosed myself with diabetes in February and immediately went on a diet to reduce carbs, salt and fat while the NHS assured themselves of the diagnosis. Since then have had styes, acne (which I've had for years on and off) and have a bloodshot eye which I fear is retinopathy though the NHS don't seem very concerned about it although they are arranging an appointment for an eye check. I can't find any information anywhere about the timescale of any improvement of these symptoms.
As I understand it haemoglobin has a life span of 3 months and glucose attaches to it so it would seem logical that as time passes toward the 3 months the haemoglobin with the high glucose will be dying off and will be replaced by ones without high glucose. However, there is little sign of any improvement after 2 months. The NHS don't want me to test because of cost so I bought my own kit but have only been testing for a couple of weeks. Rates are between 3.6 - 5.2 which I don't think class as high.
Does anyone have any idea how soon I could expect improvement and if reduction of blood glucose slows progression of retinopathy? Sorry to bother you all but I'm unable to find information anywhere.

Have you not been diagnosed by a doctor then ? You won't be on the diabetic register if you haven't .

 

[GalaxyLiz]

Yes I have. Though I'm not especially interested in being on the register. So far the NHS haven't exactly filled me with confidence. Whilst I'm prepared to admit a certain amount of liability and acknowledge that I don't know much about genetics - I don't see how you decide what is caused by lifestyle and what is genetics just by asking if anyone in your immediate family has diabetes - they might just have the same bad lifestyle and food choices. They didn't believe me when I told them despite the classic symptoms and my having to go back with my eye problems which are also classic symptoms and could mean serious consequences, made me wait for weeks before eventually phoning in a panic and with some shamefacedness to admit they were wrong and insisting I go for another blood test immediately. The next visit to the doctor was pointless as she knew nothing. The visits with the nurse are a waste of time - they read the brochure to me! I read it myself after they gave it to me. All this at a time when there is a heavy burden on the NHS - their time could be better managed.

Rant finished - sorry to moan!

 

[Resurgam]

Beg to differ, possibly not 100% accurate. There are several sources if you Google and several explanations as to how it works including: through a series of metabolic processes that result from conditions of depleted carbohydrates, it is possible for stored fats to be broken down into glucose, which can then be converted into glycogen.

Same goes for protein. I would like to nominate myself as living proof. Low carb has kept my BG and HbA1c in excellent ranges for 3 or so years. Then my GP said you need to eat more so I upped dairy (fats). BG higher, HbA1c higher, cholesterol higher, weight higher.
Not for everyone, we really are all different. The only conclusion I can draw for ME is increased fats was a very bad idea.

Ah - I should have made it clear that I meant as part of diet - that is the input of fats as food doesn't impact on the insulin and blood glucose problems specific to diabetes.
I suspect that we don't do well with dairy products - some more than others, as it is a fairly recent - in evolutionary terms - alteration to the human diet. It is widely accepted that there are people who don't deal with lactose very well, but the idea that fats or proteins from milk could be a problem too doesn't seem to arise,

 

[Mr_Pot]

I suspect that we don't do well with dairy products - some more than others, as it is a fairly recent - in evolutionary terms - alteration to the human diet.

Except babies have always had mother's milk with lactose.