• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Type1. Blame the diabetes

MagicFirefly

MagicFirefly

Well-Known Member
Messages
64
Location
Merseyside
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Dangerous drivers
Marmite
Anyone else always get the explanation that it's 'yoir diabetes that is causing it'?
I was diagnosed type 1 when I was 9 and I've had fairly okay to good control over the last 23yrs.
But I'm also under dermatology for a skin condition called erythema nodosum. Unable to find a definitive cause (which lead to being diagnosed with a couple other things - hyposplenism and selective IgA deficiency) they came to the conclusion the diabetes must be the cause. Where is the evidence?
The other thing, and this I'd be interested if anyone else had experienced, is pain in my calves when walking. Like cramping. I cant get very far without stopping and sitting makes it better. MRI apparently showed nothing that would cause it (though this was according to the phsyio, my own GP said the report showed an abutment of the nerve in my L4 / L5, particularly on the left) but I am to start physio for my back pain (which I also get when walking) next month. The physio just said it was diabetes related and she had referred it to endocrinology.

Apart from a little confused, I'm also peeved that my diabetes appears to be the scapegoat again.
 
Yes... when I smoked they blamed every ailment on the cigs. When I gave up smoking and put on some weight they blamed that for everything. Then I was diagnosed with T2 and now everything is blamed on that. Even stuff like arthritis. Really irritating!
 
Just a thought... have you tried magnesium for the leg cramps? Several people on this forum get leg cramps and recommended it an it's very effective.
 
I'd be annoyed too. Over the years (like you Dx at 9 and T1 for 24 yrs now) off the top of my head I've had the following blamed on "the diabetes"...

- Eczema (turned out to be stress-related)
- IBS (was also stress related and disappeared promptly with a change of career)
- Endometriosis
- Epstein-Barr Virus (this was definitely caused by kissing my then girlfriend and not the bloody diabetes!)
- Chronic fatigue (was simply anaemia - see endometriosis!)
- Weight gain (Guess what - turns out I was just eating too much!)
- Leg pain (oooh look, some non-diabetes related varicose veins, just like my non-diabetic mum and gran have)

There's probably more stuff too that I've forgotten to preserve my sanity. Try to keep pestering for treatment and further investigation if you need it. It's annoying when you're already not feeling good but it seems to be necessary sometimes unfortunately. Chin up! :)
 
My car overheated about a month ago... pretty sure it was due to diabetes! :)

I think the, it's diabetes related, is just a go to response when someone doesn't have a clue what the problem is. Rather then say they don't know.

Hope you get some answers and things get better for you.
 
where is the cramping pain in your calves?

Mine was up the outside side of the calf. Turned out to be excess pronation, and a pair of orthotic insoles made it go away overnight.
 
Last edited:
I think what really annoys me is the run around we get from GP to hospital back to GP and then usually another hospital department (X-Ray, scan or whatever) and probably another trip to the GP for results. On top of that (if it seems serious) my husband choses to take the day off to go to the hospital with me or (if its not so serious) its just under £10 return fare and an hour on the bus each way plus usually an hour waiting time. (I don't think I've ever had a hospital appointment when I've gone in on time!)

And after all that faffing about I'm made to feel I've wasted everyone's time because invariably 'its only your diabetes'.
 
Tophat1900 said:
I think the, it's diabetes related, is just a go to response when someone doesn't have a clue what the problem is. Rather then say they don't know.
Click to expand...

Yes I do agree to some extent, been on the receiving end of ''it's diabetes related'' myself, but many symptoms and conditions are connected to diabetes and we always have to be mindful of this, especially in those who's diabetes hasn't been well controlled and in those who have lived with the condition for many decades.
 
What worries me is, there could be a time when it's actually something very serious and we're told, "It's the diabetes."

I remember reading in Balance that this happened to someone who was eventually found to have cancer. Because of this I intend asking doctors what they would diagnose, if I wasn't diabetic!
 
MagicFirefly said:
I havent, I've only researched the condition itself. There was a theory that my pill was causing it but nothing changed with my skin when I changed that so back to square 1.
Click to expand...
There seems to be several skin "alterations" (their words) associated with Diabetes. At this point in time there doesn't seem to be a clear understanding in how or why, just there is an association so maybe blaming the diabetes as frustrating as it is, might have an element of truth.
 
noblehead said:
Yes I do agree to some extent, been on the receiving end of ''it's diabetes related'' myself, but many symptoms and conditions are connected to diabetes and we always have to be mindful of this, especially in those who's diabetes hasn't been well controlled and in those who have lived with the condition for many decades.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, can't disagree with that.
 
I've had better service since being diagnosed 'diabetic' as a type 2.
I think I've seen most consultants in 5 years, than I have in the rest of my life.
anything I mention when I go in gets taken seriously.

It's easy, and comforting, to convince ourselves BG is the only problem with type 2 diabetes, and so long as that is controlled, nothing else can ever happen to us.
Fortunately my HCP will investigate any other health problem I have, especially if they actually could be a symptom of diabetes, regardless of BG.

As the op has found out, they have had two other problems diagnosed, an MRI scan that has shown nerve problems, and a referral back to endocrinology. Not a bad result really.

Would they have had that service if they went in 'healthy', or would they have been dismissed with skin cream and a painkiller?

(And as to the erythema nodosum, about 50% of cases never have a reason diagnosed in 'normal' circumstances)
 
Back
Top