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Type 1 diabetes and nut allergy

H

Hulrkz

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Pronouns
He/Him
Hello all, My 24 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13.

He has subsequently developed an allergy to nuts as well, which has raised his anxiety levels to a very high level.

Managing his blood sugar levels whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle (and dealing with his risk aversion in relation to nuts) has proven extremely difficult.

The NHS is providing counselling and support, but I (as concerned parent/father) am wondering if other Type 1 patients have similar allergies and if they can share their experiences with my son ( who lives in Sheffield).

I feel that another diabetic with similar additional nut allergy would be able to communicate with my son in a different (equal) manner?

Please let me know if advise or support is available for my son, as the long term effects of having an elevated blood sugar level of 20 and higher can not be underestimated.

He is a smart and well educated young man, with lots to life for, but the anxiety around this combination of issues is completely debilitating for him.

Thank you
 
Hulrkz said:
Hello all, My 24 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13.

He has subsequently developed an allergy to nuts as well, which has raised his anxiety levels to a very high level.

Managing his blood sugar levels whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle (and dealing with his risk aversion in relation to nuts) has proven extremely difficult.

The NHS is providing counselling and support, but I (as concerned parent/father) am wondering if other Type 1 patients have similar allergies and if they can share their experiences with my son ( who lives in Sheffield).

I feel that another diabetic with similar additional nut allergy would be able to communicate with my son in a different (equal) manner?

Please let me know if advise or support is available for my son, as the long term effects of having an elevated blood sugar level of 20 and higher can not be underestimated.

He is a smart and well educated young man, with lots to life for, but the anxiety around this combination of issues is completely debilitating for him.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum, it is always more challenging when people have multiple conditions to juggle. I know there are people here who do have various allergies or intolerances to things like gluten or lactose and do have to consider that in relation to their diet but these days food labelling is much more comprehensive.
I hope he can find a way of eating what is going to be a normal diet for him just without the nuts. Is it all nuts of just certain ones and does he have an epipen or similar or wear a medialert, just in case.
 
My sister has an allergy to nuts also, successfully just avoids them and doesn’t eat anything that says may contain nuts. When we eat out we eat at chains where their recipes don’t contain nuts. Do you want me to ask her for suggested resources - there may be Facebook groups or something?
 
Leadinglights said:
Welcome to the forum, it is always more challenging when people have multiple conditions to juggle. I know there are people here who do have various allergies or intolerances to things like gluten or lactose and do have to consider that in relation to their diet but these days food labelling is much more comprehensive.
I hope he can find a way of eating what is going to be a normal diet for him just without the nuts. Is it all nuts of just certain ones and does he have an epipen or similar or wear a medialert, just in case.
Click to expand...
Thank you, just nuts. Based on an allergy test 10 years ago. I have suggested further testing (private) to fully establish and understand all allergy issues, so that he can then manage and control it.
 
Lucyr said:
My sister has an allergy to nuts also, successfully just avoids them and doesn’t eat anything that says may contain nuts. When we eat out we eat at chains where their recipes don’t contain nuts. Do you want me to ask her for suggested resources - there may be Facebook groups or something?
Click to expand...
Thank you, bless her. Nightmare. If you could ask, that would be great! Thank you.
 
Welcome @Hulrkz 🙂 I’ve developed a number of intolerances (and fingers crossed, they stay that way rather than become true allergies), including to peanuts and all legumes, and a non-coeliac gluten problem.

It does make food-planning and eating out a pain, but, if anything, it causes my sugars to be lower not higher, as I sometimes struggle to find things to eat. Has he verbalised to you why his sugars are high? Does he carb count and adjust his mealtime insulin? Could he be suffering from burnout caused by the stress of the allergy on top of the diabetes?

One thing I do is to make sure I always have plenty of safe foods in the house, including safe snacks. I then take these with me when I go out so I know I have something to eat or to add to meals.

Does he have epipens? Are his concerns based around anaphylaxis?
 
Hulrkz said:
Thank you, bless her. Nightmare. If you could ask, that would be great! Thank you.
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Her suggestions are

Facebook group “Official allergy UK support group”

Also UK nut allergy support group on Facebook

Also to ring the Allergy UK helpline
 
Inka said:
One thing I do is to make sure I always have plenty of safe foods in the house, including safe snacks. I then take these with me when I go out so I know I have something to eat or to add to meals.
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Yes my sister does this too, eg if going out for coffee/cake, she would choose a shop that doesn’t sell nut milk or you can ask for a white americano with the milk poured directly from carton into your cup. Then she would have a biscuit or snack in her bag to have herself instead of the cafes one unless it’s marked as safe. In the car she also has a stash of snacks that are safe so that if driving somewhere she has those available.
 
Hi. It may be worth seeing the GP and finding out whether your local hospital can carry-out 'challenges' to get the body to accept nuts. My grandson had a serious milk allergy which wasn't fading and during a year he was gradually introduced to more and more milk on the skin and consuming foods containing milk in a medical environment. He is now completely free of milk allergy and eats ice-cram or whatever with no concerns.
 
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