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Can stress/traumatic events be a cause of type 1?
- Thread starter Dale walker
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- stress ptsd
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O
Owen
Guest
Sorry, theoretically it could happen but i think I might ask at my next endocrinologist meeting.
stephknits
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
For me, like Codepod, there were no stress triggers, illness or anything
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well I was actually saying the same as how you've described it wasn't I? ie predestination not causation.
If your Beta cells are already near enough dead (and of course many of us still actually retain a minute amount of our own insulin production even after 70 years in some cases - but not anything near the amount needed to keep us alive) and then you ask em to work harder still by experiencing events which cause the BG to soar - they fail !
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
One of the theories put forward in 1972 (not specifically for me but generally) was that certain types of gastric upset might be the reason or 'a' reason. I'd had one of the same in the February of that year so I have always wondered - and again in 2016 I have seen various references to research involving gut bacteria.
Makes me chuckle - so, Messrs Medical Profession, have we really not learned anything in the last 44 years? LOL
Makes me chuckle - so, Messrs Medical Profession, have we really not learned anything in the last 44 years? LOL
AlisonM
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Same here. Although I did have the stressful childhood part and plenty of autoimmune troubles, all was relatively quiet when I started down the slippery slope to Diabetes.
O
Owen
Guest
Interesting it was campylobacter with me, before that day I did not even have a GP
LorraineP
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
When my boyfriend at the time developed glandular fever everyone told me to expect to get it too as it's known as the "kissing disease". I didn't get glandular fever, I didn't even feel remotely ill. Then a few weeks later I noticed I was losing weight, always thirsty and going to the loo a lot during the night. Of course I now know I had become a Type 1 diabetic so I believe that my over efficient immune system must have attacked the virus, saved me from glandular fever but triggered Type 1 diabetes in the process. That doesn't mean to say that stress doesn't cause Type 1, some interesting theories have been forward here, but in my case anyway I see a very clear link between exposure to a virus and the onset of the condition.
AaronH83
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I was diagnosed with Type 1 5 months after I almost died from sepsis and a heart attack, I was suffering from PTSD and depression for many years before that and I've also been diagnosed with post sepsis syndrome too. Also currently awaiting a definite diagnosis on my thyroid which seems to not be working. My endos opinion is the sepsis basically killed my pancreas
Hi Guys,
Sorry for the essay, I hope it doesn't put you off reading. I know this is a bit of an old thread, but I am trying to find some information/answers.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 after a motorbike accident 4 years ago. There is no history of any kind of diabetes in my family nor have I ever had any symptoms before that day.
I was riding home one evening when a car drove straight into the side of me at a roundabout. I waited in the road with paramedics for around 3 and a half hours for an ambulance to become available to take me to the hospital (it was a busy Friday night for them). After arriving at the hospital, while waiting to be seen by a Dr, I got the severe shakes and sweats (what I now know as the symptoms of being hypo), the nurse casually mentioned that my BG was probably a bit low having not eaten for a long time and bought me a sandwich (there was no mention or question of diabetes).
Two or three weeks after the accident, while fairly incapacitated recovering from a broken heel and a couple of fractures in my ankle, I rather quickly developed symptoms of Diabetes - I couldn't stop going to the toilet, I couldn't drink enough water, my skin was cracking etc. I had also lost nearly three stone over the course of a few weeks. At first, I assumed that this was all related to the accident, perhaps the medication was having an effect and muscle wastage from being off my feet was causing the weight loss?
After a few days of suffering, I went to my GP, he took a blood test and the next day called to say that I had developed diabetes. At this stage, my GP wasn't sure which type of Diabetes I had - I was overweight and 31 at the times, so all indications pointed to type 2, but due to the presence of Keytones in the blood test he was unsure. He referred me to the specialists at my local hospital who confirmed Type 1 and started me in insulin straight away.
Given that I was not at the typical age of T1 diagnoses (from what I gather, its typically diagnosed at a young age), I developed symptoms almost instantly following the accident, and that there is no family history of Diabetes I feel that there has to be a link between my diagnoses and the accident.
My specialists tell me that it is likely that the diabetes was underlying and that it was always going to happen regardless of the accident. I can accept that this may be the case. However, when, and more importantly if, it was going to present is always unknown - it may have never surfaced or it may have developed in a few years time. Either way, for me, it is too much of a coincidence that it decided to show shortly after the accident.
So my question here is, does anyone here know of any similar cases or have any experience with this type of diagnoses? Are there any links to physical trauma and T1 at all? I would be grateful if anyone has an opinion to offer or can point me in the direction of any studies or literature that might help.
On a side note, and perhaps more relevant to this thread; a month or two after my T1 diagnosis, I was diagnosed with PTSD. This was believed to be caused by the accident - maybe it shows that there was psychological trauma and that was the trigger and not the physical trauma? or maybe this was a result of my T1 diagnoses and a collection of events leading up to it? or maybe it is not related to my diabetes at all.
Thanks for reading, Sam.
Sorry for the essay, I hope it doesn't put you off reading. I know this is a bit of an old thread, but I am trying to find some information/answers.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 after a motorbike accident 4 years ago. There is no history of any kind of diabetes in my family nor have I ever had any symptoms before that day.
I was riding home one evening when a car drove straight into the side of me at a roundabout. I waited in the road with paramedics for around 3 and a half hours for an ambulance to become available to take me to the hospital (it was a busy Friday night for them). After arriving at the hospital, while waiting to be seen by a Dr, I got the severe shakes and sweats (what I now know as the symptoms of being hypo), the nurse casually mentioned that my BG was probably a bit low having not eaten for a long time and bought me a sandwich (there was no mention or question of diabetes).
Two or three weeks after the accident, while fairly incapacitated recovering from a broken heel and a couple of fractures in my ankle, I rather quickly developed symptoms of Diabetes - I couldn't stop going to the toilet, I couldn't drink enough water, my skin was cracking etc. I had also lost nearly three stone over the course of a few weeks. At first, I assumed that this was all related to the accident, perhaps the medication was having an effect and muscle wastage from being off my feet was causing the weight loss?
After a few days of suffering, I went to my GP, he took a blood test and the next day called to say that I had developed diabetes. At this stage, my GP wasn't sure which type of Diabetes I had - I was overweight and 31 at the times, so all indications pointed to type 2, but due to the presence of Keytones in the blood test he was unsure. He referred me to the specialists at my local hospital who confirmed Type 1 and started me in insulin straight away.
Given that I was not at the typical age of T1 diagnoses (from what I gather, its typically diagnosed at a young age), I developed symptoms almost instantly following the accident, and that there is no family history of Diabetes I feel that there has to be a link between my diagnoses and the accident.
My specialists tell me that it is likely that the diabetes was underlying and that it was always going to happen regardless of the accident. I can accept that this may be the case. However, when, and more importantly if, it was going to present is always unknown - it may have never surfaced or it may have developed in a few years time. Either way, for me, it is too much of a coincidence that it decided to show shortly after the accident.
So my question here is, does anyone here know of any similar cases or have any experience with this type of diagnoses? Are there any links to physical trauma and T1 at all? I would be grateful if anyone has an opinion to offer or can point me in the direction of any studies or literature that might help.
On a side note, and perhaps more relevant to this thread; a month or two after my T1 diagnosis, I was diagnosed with PTSD. This was believed to be caused by the accident - maybe it shows that there was psychological trauma and that was the trigger and not the physical trauma? or maybe this was a result of my T1 diagnoses and a collection of events leading up to it? or maybe it is not related to my diabetes at all.
Thanks for reading, Sam.
stephknits
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Sam, I'm afraid to say that as far as I understand it at present, you cannot know what caused you to develop Type 1, or which particular events, if any, contributed. No one knows what causes it. Making a link because of coincidence could be just that - coincidence. I guess what would be more useful is to really think about why you need to find answers? How will this improve, for you, your feelings towards living with Type 1 diabetes? Is there anything else you could do to help instead?
As I mentioned earlier - my life was just bumbling along when I was diagnosed - no stress, no trauma, no other health issues. I think we naturally want to understand and find causes for things but sometimes things just are. Good luck with the research - it is certainly very interesting and would be good to read about any papers / research done that explores this.
As I mentioned earlier - my life was just bumbling along when I was diagnosed - no stress, no trauma, no other health issues. I think we naturally want to understand and find causes for things but sometimes things just are. Good luck with the research - it is certainly very interesting and would be good to read about any papers / research done that explores this.
mikeyB
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Sam, welcome to the forum.
I agree with your consultants. Nobody really knows what triggers T1 diabetes, though it sometimes occurs following a virus infection. Even then, there’s an inevitability. And T1 is not confined to youngsters - I am one of many on the forum where T1 was diagnosed mid life.
You can look at this empirically. If trauma, or psychological trauma were a trigger for T1 the country would be awash with T1 diabetes. It isn’t. And there would have been a surge in diagnoses in WW II, and there wasn’t.
So sorry, it is, like your accident, an inevitable life event.
Still, you’ve come to the right place for help and advice - there’s hundreds of years of experience on the forum to help you along. Keep us informed🙂
I agree with your consultants. Nobody really knows what triggers T1 diabetes, though it sometimes occurs following a virus infection. Even then, there’s an inevitability. And T1 is not confined to youngsters - I am one of many on the forum where T1 was diagnosed mid life.
You can look at this empirically. If trauma, or psychological trauma were a trigger for T1 the country would be awash with T1 diabetes. It isn’t. And there would have been a surge in diagnoses in WW II, and there wasn’t.
So sorry, it is, like your accident, an inevitable life event.
Still, you’ve come to the right place for help and advice - there’s hundreds of years of experience on the forum to help you along. Keep us informed🙂
Shiv Gaffney
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
In 1973 when I was diagnosed at 8, after they looked at family history, past illnesses, etc. the only reason they could give my parents was "trauma" I had suffered 6 months previously; I put my hand against an oil tank in back garden which was powered by electricity (and was obv. live) and was flung quite a distance with some physical injuries resulting. What saved me that day was the fact I was putting my wellies on and leaning against the tank for support!
Somebody also asked a question here about type changing and while I don't have an answer this question interests me as 10 years ago I was told I possibly was misdiagnosed as T1 and could possibly be MODY as I never had DKA (followed with all tests which were "inconclusive"); then a couple of years ago told perhaps T3!! Have been told to wear T1D identification always and if admitted to state I am T1; at last appt when I asked endo he said they are still not sure!
Anyway I am not a fan of labels so just get up with treating as T1...
Somebody also asked a question here about type changing and while I don't have an answer this question interests me as 10 years ago I was told I possibly was misdiagnosed as T1 and could possibly be MODY as I never had DKA (followed with all tests which were "inconclusive"); then a couple of years ago told perhaps T3!! Have been told to wear T1D identification always and if admitted to state I am T1; at last appt when I asked endo he said they are still not sure!
Anyway I am not a fan of labels so just get up with treating as T1...
Belts are a common thing in my life but if you where in the garden it would be bad . A big shock 😱 Shiv
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