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Vitamin D deficiency

GBS_82_

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Location
Croydon, London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all

Once again, I would love some advice from this wonderful online community.

I was diagnosed T1 in February (after being rushed to hospital with a lovely bolt of DKA). I recovered pretty quickly but about 2 months ago became very ill again. The GP found that I had a severe vitamin D deficiency (my reading was 14 and I think it's meant to be more like 60).

The first GP I spoke to said it had nothing to do with diabetes - the second said it was directly triggered by it. My wonderful DSN said that regardless of what doctors can or can't prove, in her experience a lot of her T1 patients do experience this problem.

I was wondering if anyone here had experienced this problem? Also one of my symptoms is severe pains in my legs and feet which surprised the GP (although not my DSN). The pills I am taking have definitely improved my energy levels etc - however the leg pains are still bad. Has anyone been through this and will this get better?

I am seeing my GP again on Monday so would love to go armed with as much info as possible.

Thanks so much in advance!

Gareth x
 
Have you read up on Vit D deficiency? And the importance of taking Vit K2 with it? Otherwise the body cannot utilise the D properly. And are the tablets you have been given Vit D3 or Vit D2? The former is much more useable by the body, but often Vit D2 is prescribed, because it is cheaper.

Sorry for the barrage of questions.
I found out last year that I was v low on D, and have been supplementing Vit D3 and K2 since - and what a massive and marvellous difference it has made to me.

Totally agree with you about the energy levels.

Are you certain that the leg pains are Vit D related? If they haven't improved with supplementation, then maybe there is another reason? Have you been checked for Vit B12? And checked for neuropathy? Are you on statins? Have you been taking metformin for ages? And have you been checked out for other things? There are so many possible reasons that legs can hurt, that the list is virtually endless...
 
Brunneria - thank you so much!

My tablets are called Colecalciferol (Vit d3) 20000u caps. I have been told to take 3 once a week (so 60000u once a week).

I can't be sure that my leg pains are Vit D related but my nurse said that other T1 patients of hers have reported similar symptoms. They do not think it is neuropathy as I am only recently diagnosed and do not yet have any eye damage. But this probably is the next stage.

Thanks again!

Gareth x
 


I would add Vit K3 to that, but the 6,000 a day is around what I have been on, and just been re-tested to find I now have EXCELLENT D levels . Am over the moon. I think I may have been Vit D deficient for decades.

Vit D deficiency has a LOT of links to autoimmune problems, so there is evidence of a relationship, but I couldn't say how firm that link is.

Have you read any Mercola on the subject of Vit D? Fascinating. I will find a link.
Here you go.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/16/vitamin-k2.aspx
It was one of his articles that made me pay for private vit D testing in the first place. So glad I did.
 
Also, worth considering getting sunshine on your skin through the summe to build up your vitamin D stocks. Obviously don't get sunburned, but exercise outdoors has so many good effects, not just vitamin D, also improving mood, fitness etc.
 
copepod said:
Also, worth considering getting sunshine on your skin through the summe to build up your vitamin D stocks. Obviously don't get sunburned, but exercise outdoors has so many good effects, not just vitamin D, also improving mood, fitness etc.
Click to expand...

I am in total agreement, but the reason I was D deficient was through actively avoiding the sun, for decades. V fair skin, redheaded genes rampant in the family, and a lot of sun damage in childhood... I tried to avoid it for years. Now, of course, it is public knowledge that a slow non-burn is good for us.
 
Your pancreas processes Vitamin D, if it is wonky you get Vit d defiency, my score was 7
I was given fultium d3 20,000 and they nearly killed me, I went a lovely shade of purple and couldn't remember my own name, I had only taken 1.
So I'm now on the lowest level and have to go outside for 20 minutes totally uncovered when there is sun (doesn't matter if it is bitter cold)
I have blood test every 3 months, last one I was up to 8 whoop whoop, I have lost 2 inches in height and at risk of developing osteoporosis, just to make things a bit more dodgy, osteoporosis runs in the family. Deep joy.
 
copepod said:
Also, worth considering getting sunshine on your skin through the summe to build up your vitamin D stocks. Obviously don't get sunburned, but exercise outdoors has so many good effects, not just vitamin D, also improving mood, fitness etc.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for this. Sadly I also have vitaligo so the doctors are nervous about recommending more time uncovered in the sun.
 
Some people can have bad reaction to vit D that is prescibed in very high doses. It can cause hypercalcemia. My brotherinlaws daughter suffered it and was extremely ill. She can take vit D3 in pure liquid form of 4000iu a day. I also take it in that form too.
We both take calcium citrate and K2.
The tablets I was prescribed by my hospital had artificial sweetener in that I do not tolerate. I found just 2 drops of the vit d3 with the calc citrate and vit k2 has kept my bones great according to my dexa scan and blood result came in at 140...
 
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