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type 1 and addisons disease

raybee

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi My Son Has Had Addisons Disease since he was 4 years old. This we control with fludrcorticone and hydrocortisone,3 x a day .he now 9 and just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.i need advice from other people on how the two can be managed together .who else out there has both.we have a great diabetic team but have had no contact with and endocrine specialist on the matter.my hospital has asked for input on a hospital database and so far only 3 other children have both conditions been tret at 3 different hospitals but I've had currently no advive passed forward from them
If anyone can help with any advice ,information or consultant names or numbers I'd love to hear from you.hes having way to many hypos n I need help .yours raybee . Worried mum x
 
Hi @raybee
I have both conditions.
Your son would be in the honeymoon period at the moment so his pancreas is chucking out random amounts of insulin hence the hypos. Hopefully things will settle down soon for your son. Do talk to your team regarding reducing his insulin though as this will help no end.
I've had diabetes for 50 years and Addison's for about 13 years. The easiest way to manage both conditions is with an insulin pump. The Endocrinologist treating your sons Addison's should be up to speed on diabetes and the diabetes chap should be the same as well as it's all part of the endocrine system.
Having both conditions is a pain in the bum but in all honesty I can not say either has ever stopped me doing anything.

If there is anything in particular you want to know just ask and I will see if I can help.
 
Hello @raybee,
I also have type 1 and Addisons.
I would like to assure you that I live a very busy active life running my own business during the day, working in a pub a couple of evenings a week, looking after the house, two kids an two dogs.
Since diagnosis of the two conditions I have also completed a marathon and a 50k walk.
I have only ever seen my diabetes consultant in regards to the Addisons, he was the one who recognised the symptoms when I attended my six monthly check up.
Before I was diagnosed with the Addisons I was suffering from a lot of unexplained hypos, the doctors say that the lack of cortisol will make my blood sugars drop.
Now that I am on the steroids my blood sugars are a lot higher and I need more insulin to keep my bloods level.
I am also on an insulin pump which enables me to adjust my basal settings in line with my steroids.
I have found that ensuring that you spread out your steroid dosage will cover you over a 24 hour period.
Stupidly on Christmas Eve I forgot to take my hydro, we were out early and eating at different times I checked my bloods before eating, bolused for my meal but by the end of the evening I was 1.8. My husband helped me and treated the hypo but I really struggled to keep my sugars up.
It was only the next day when I was trying to work out why it was happening did I realise that I had forgotten my tablet.
So what I am trying to say is that it is important to balance the steroids and the insulin as the two together seem to be a pain in the bum!
Are you on Facebook?
There are a couple of support groups on there where you can read others experiences.
I don't read all of their posts but if you have a question or concern they are a helpful bunch who can all offer good advice when you need it.
Sorry about the long post and life story lol.x
 
Hi @raybee
I have both conditions.
Your son would be in the honeymoon period at the moment so his pancreas is chucking out random amounts of insulin hence the hypos. Hopefully things will settle down soon for your son. Do talk to your team regarding reducing his insulin though as this will help no end.
I've had diabetes for 50 years and Addison's for about 13 years. The easiest way to manage both conditions is with an insulin pump. The Endocrinologist treating your sons Addison's should be up to speed on diabetes and the diabetes chap should be the same as well as it's all part of the endocrine system.
Having both conditions is a pain in the bum but in all honesty I can not say either has ever stopped me doing anything.

If there is anything in particular you want to know just ask and I will see if I can help.
Thank you so much for your response .we are definitely on a roller coaster ride .I guess it's the honeymoon period .diabetic team have been fab but still no help or input from any endocrine doctors.in 3 weeks I've made many calls n had no feed back .so frustrating
 
Thank you so much for your response .we are definitely on a roller coaster ride .I guess it's the honeymoon period .diabetic team have been fab but still no help or input from any endocrine doctors.in 3 weeks I've made many calls n had no feed back .so frustrating
Yes it is the honeymoon period and that will settle with time, very frustrating while it lasts I would have thought.
I just take my steroids and work my diabetes around them. Addison's does not need to be an issue unless it was before.

Only difference I have found is that when I have an infection/illness or surgery then my blood sugars tend to go low instead of up and have to take extra steroids just to bring them up plus the hypo treatment. If you have a glucagon kit for diabetes read the instructions as says not to be used if adrenal compromised. So do query this if it's issued.
 
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