Diabetes and…

[Cheyne]

Hi @Cheyne - a brilliant exposition the sort of perspective on diabetes that one might come to when in the 70,80,90 age bracket.

I was trying to find a word to sum up this age bracket. Aged, old, mature all have connotations of one sort or another and the best I could come up with was wrinkly because Barry Cryer used to use it on "I'm sorry I haven't a clue " to describe himself and others who were physically ageing but still had their wits about them. Like you I am not physically wrinkly so if you can come up with a better word then I'll be using it.

Hi,
I have always enjoyed the title of senior since it has taken me a life time to get here. I note on my hosptal records I'm a "Senior gentleman" now. Attaining the senior title in my part of my world affords me some privilages reserved for seniors only, be they few and far between now days.
I can be heard muttering "silly old fool" at myself from time to time. Another I've heard used is fossiles, between parents and offspring.
A title with some dignity would be more applicable than wrinkly I'm sure, wrinkly just sounds so ahhh, so -----, well just not right and plain disrespectful. Or am I just old fashioned raised in a time when respect for your elders was everything.
Oh forgot, Geriatric, although distasteful to me, more accurate than I care to admit.
I do have the luck of not looking my age by a large margine, younger looking to be clear, not older!
Cheers

 

[Sarahp]

Hi,
I have autonomic polyneuropathy, T2, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, CKD and fill of osteoarthritis, they're not too bad to deal with, mostly. But throw in IBS with the neuropathy and the amount and type of foods I'm able to eat/tolerate are very few and in little amounts. This limits what can be done for any of the other health issues and is also limiting what meds I'm able to tolerate. Currently surviving on 2 spices of bread per day and copious amounts of tea. I'm 3 months into this wonderful diet and am not planning on seeing next summer.
The biggest problem I have is not being able to find a Dr that can handle multiple health issues in one person. GP's are just a waste of time, as their title suggest they are just general practitioners, not enough knowledge to do more than referrals to individual specialists who don't seem able to comprehend anything outside their chosen sphere of speciality. It takes me about a full 12 months to go from specialist to specialist to specialist etc and back again to the first specialist with none willing to cross their specialist boundaries, if only they would consult each other. End result, nothing is accomplished but lots of things are ruled out and occasionally some ideas are just plain wrong. They all seem to think because they advise for me to do this and that, that it is the fix, not bothering to consider the ramifications on/to me.
I'm down to the last blood pressure med which so far is helping but the side effect is headaches and it is known to damage my already failing kidneys. Rejected over 35 blood pressure and T2 meds. Should I feel like crap on meds or should I have some comfort without meds no matter how short this could be, that is my dilemma.
Cheers

Have you not been offered a place with your long term conditions team? I have a similar collection of illnesses at 45 and am now on their list, will be a few more months but diabetes complications since my 30’s have aided to speed up the assessment process, like you decaf tea is one of the few things not making more more poorly and waiting on diabetes review at the moment as they can’t find meds that suit my pancreas, thinking of you .

 

[Cheyne]

Have you not been offered a place with your long term conditions team? I have a similar collection of illnesses at 45 and am now on their list, will be a few more months but diabetes complications since my 30’s have aided to speed up the assessment process, like you decaf tea is one of the few things not making more more poorly and waiting on diabetes review at the moment as they can’t find meds that suit my pancreas, thinking of you .

Hi,
I have not been offered anyting but the runaround. My friend cheekily says I have been to every hospital department but maturnity recently, I'm male!
I asked for insulin on the bases that all other oral meds have debilitated me in some way or other. The worst paralized my legs from the waist down, T2 med.
The closest diagnosis I have to date is autonomic polyneuropathy which is essentially controlling the stomach and digestive system and interfering with all the things the body does automatically. What I have discovered over the years is that the stomach controls the body and brain by virtue of the chemicals it digests and send throughout the body and brain. This is what controls us. Let that get out of wack and suffer the consequences.
I was doing alright until I decided it was time to treat the BP and T2 after 15 mini strokes in a week. A rude awakening.
Until then I followed a kidney friendly diet and saw my cholesterol levels plummit to the 6.8's down from 9.8, Blood pressure started trending up from 150/95 to 170/110 and for the first time checking Bg discovered I was above the 12's continually. Since this it has all been downhill. I started the medication trip in earnest. Always the same result, damaged stomach and multiple side effects from the various meds. Fast foreward almost a year and 37 plus medications later, feeling like crap and trying to decide is it time to cause a managed termination. Yes suicide. Ten days ago stopped all medication after living on nothing but 4 slices of wholemeal bread per day and copeous amounts of black tea and skinny milk, been on it for a long time, muscle depletion happening, seems to be what the stomach will tolerate only. A great turn around and I'm feeling rejuvenated and 39 again! Had to go back on BP med which stops the disabling migraines from BP200/120 but starts the headache again, side effect plus it damages kidneys. Started back on insulin yesterday as the Bg was getting too high again. This morning still feeling youthful been eating pickled onions, fresh fruit, vegimite and a few other things the stomach finally was rejecting. All with no rejection, no stomach cramps, no feeling like vomitting, zip, nada. Trying not to push it too far though just incase I screw it up again.
Am I healed, no way, just a little relief in a long struggle.
The worst thing I find is hearing of others more youthful than myself with similar health issues. The only words of encouragement I have is to try and find what suits you and run with it. In the end you will have to mitigate your health issues to survive. I have chosen to do the least I can to get by and that is to take the hit to my kidneys in an effort to be comfortable. Where to from here, who knows, forward or nothing are the alternatives.
Take care and may my thought go with you.
Cheers

 

[Docb]

@Cheyne - senior is a good thought but that soubriquet has been rather taken over by the sporting world and applied to sports people who are trying to extend their working life by using the fact that they were once very good to attract punters to go to tournaments where the really good players are not allowed to join in. Sort of nostalgia being the new marketing opportunity.

Are you posting from New Zealand? I only mention it because most of the forum members are UK based and their reaction to your story is likely to reflect what happens in the UK where health systems might be a bit different although your reflections on being passed on from one hospital department to another I am sure a lot of us could relate to.

 

[Anxious 63]

I presume, @Anxious 63 you mean disgraceful in the sense of unacceptably poor treatment - rather than the suggestion is disgraceful and rubbish Alas I could speak at length about the lack of a holistic approach.

of course proud i was commenting in the rancid treatment or lack of it that people ae having to endure

 

[JITR]

Senior is a good thought

Elder?

 

[Docb]

Elder?

Another good thought but taken over by some of the non mainstream churches to refer to those that run them. More problematic connotations.

 

[trophywench]

My first husband was mending a Doctor's car and needing to do some welding on the floor of the boot, opened the boot lid, various cardboard boxes containing previous copies of amongst others, The Lancet. I was attracted to something on the front of the first box. An article inside entitled, "Senile Primagravidae". Wot?????
Senile is really elderly. A primagravida is a first pregnancy. Does not compute! So I read the article.

It referred to ladies over the age of 18 with a first pregnancy.

I'm WELL senile in that case!

 

[victorhamesse]

I think this is the biggest problem with healthcare providers, it's unforgivable since it's all right there on the computer screen these days. The other problem for me is the inability to talk to anyone regarding interconnected problems.

I've got so used to the absence of any joined up treatment that I have created a one page health summery from 2018 onwards. I always take this with me and offer it up at the start of any new consultation. Usually it is summarised back to me before stating the treatment being prescribed !

 

[victorhamesse]

Hi,
I have always enjoyed the title of senior since it has taken me a life time to get here. I note on my hosptal records I'm a "Senior gentleman" now.

I rather like the title "Elder" as it could imply having attained some degree of wisdom etc and so worthy of more than 30sec of the medico's attention.

 

[JITR]

Just a reminder, a diagnosis of 'dietary' T2D is actually a diagnosis of two potentially chronic disorders MAFLD (fatty liver) and diabetes.

By 'dietary' I mean the type of diabetes Professor Roy Taylor has studied and described. Thats where people gradually accumulate excess fat in the live over 10 years or so before T2D gets going. To quote, 'Show me a diabetic, and I will show you a fatty liver'.

Professor Taylor's research and the numbers demonstrate the need for a 'holistic' approach. The aim of his original study, Counterpoint, was to see if elimination of excess fat in the liver and pancreas reversed T2D. It did. In other words weight loss treats fatty liver and T2D. It can also bypass the need for T2D medication in many cases.

As we all know the numbers are staggering. As many as 1 in 3 of the population may have a fatty liver and about 40% of them may be (genetically) disposed to T2D. Diabetes UK estimates about 5.000,000 people in the UK may have diabetes of one type or another, and over 4,000,000 of them would be 'dietary' type 2.

I am particularly conscious of all this because my diagnosis was a double whammy, T2D and hemochromatosis. The GP said T2D was a lifelong condition and prescribed medication. In his book Professor Taylor told me to stop the medication (which I hadn't started) and diet. The radiologist who scanned my liver for damage said treat it (fatty liver) by diet. It did not need much joined up thinking to choose diet.

 

[Sarahp]

Hi,
I have not been offered anyting but the runaround. My friend cheekily says I have been to every hospital department but maturnity recently, I'm male!
I asked for insulin on the bases that all other oral meds have debilitated me in some way or other. The worst paralized my legs from the waist down, T2 med.
The closest diagnosis I have to date is autonomic polyneuropathy which is essentially controlling the stomach and digestive system and interfering with all the things the body does automatically. What I have discovered over the years is that the stomach controls the body and brain by virtue of the chemicals it digests and send throughout the body and brain. This is what controls us. Let that get out of wack and suffer the consequences.
I was doing alright until I decided it was time to treat the BP and T2 after 15 mini strokes in a week. A rude awakening.
Until then I followed a kidney friendly diet and saw my cholesterol levels plummit to the 6.8's down from 9.8, Blood pressure started trending up from 150/95 to 170/110 and for the first time checking Bg discovered I was above the 12's continually. Since this it has all been downhill. I started the medication trip in earnest. Always the same result, damaged stomach and multiple side effects from the various meds. Fast foreward almost a year and 37 plus medications later, feeling like crap and trying to decide is it time to cause a managed termination. Yes suicide. Ten days ago stopped all medication after living on nothing but 4 slices of wholemeal bread per day and copeous amounts of black tea and skinny milk, been on it for a long time, muscle depletion happening, seems to be what the stomach will tolerate only. A great turn around and I'm feeling rejuvenated and 39 again! Had to go back on BP med which stops the disabling migraines from BP200/120 but starts the headache again, side effect plus it damages kidneys. Started back on insulin yesterday as the Bg was getting too high again. This morning still feeling youthful been eating pickled onions, fresh fruit, vegimite and a few other things the stomach finally was rejecting. All with no rejection, no stomach cramps, no feeling like vomitting, zip, nada. Trying not to push it too far though just incase I screw it up again.
Am I healed, no way, just a little relief in a long struggle.
The worst thing I find is hearing of others more youthful than myself with similar health issues. The only words of encouragement I have is to try and find what suits you and run with it. In the end you will have to mitigate your health issues to survive. I have chosen to do the least I can to get by and that is to take the hit to my kidneys in an effort to be comfortable. Where to from here, who knows, forward or nothing are the alternatives.
Take care and may my thought go with you.
Cheers

I am sorry you are going through this but see also you might not be from the UK which might be why you have not been offered similar long term conditions support. I would still ask if there’s similar as there must surely be something similar in your country?
Please take care.

 

[Sarahp]

Another good thought but taken over by some of the non mainstream churches to refer to those that run them. More problematic connotations.

Have to say I am finding the age references hard to read given I am a younger person with active diabetes complications, having to remind myself I am a more unusual case before I react lol.

 

[manji]

I will jump in . I had a Stroke out of the blue in 2017. I was in great health but the just completing a 3mile walk . I just enjoyed walking and of course knew it was good for me. Collapsed with sent to A&E where ( I found out later ) the consultant was a newbie. Said there was nothing wrong with me. I was treated in Acute Stroke Ward 13 hours later.
Since then I have been lucky enough to receive top end Nuero Therapy after the NHS told me I would be wheelchair bound forever.
Not looking for brownie points this will come together I promise I’m now fully mobile and still improving . Still need to work on stamina and balance.
Because of the NHS disastrous treatment at the beginning of the stroke followed by a misdiagnosis of a kidney infection that nearly killed me I know have good generally treatment loads of brain scans a yearly full on health check where I stay in hospital overnight.
Finally to the main point . I have regular blood tests and in March I was flagged up as 53mmol .
Had a dismissive phone call from the Diabetes team. Luckily I have a good relationship with my GP. Spoke to her on the phone and was fuming I’d tried to explain to the diabetes team about my Stroke recovery and wanted to take that into account.
In my opinion Diabetes and Stroke recovery go hand in hand. Clearly a holistic treatment going forward.
Re ageism I’m 66 I have permanent brain damage ( I would explain how I learned to work round that but this post is long enough already ) registered disabled and receive benefits.
I have plenty examples of this but if Im in contact with a health professional that hasn’t met me I’m damn sure they think old bloke , deteriorating and even “ slow thinking “
I check regularly my NHS app ( recommended) there’s some notes from the initial conversation with the diabetes nurse saying that I appear to be “ confused “ and appears to be “ unable to understand diabetes diagnosis “
Well I was confused because she wasn’t prepared to listen to any of my questions.
Thank goodness for this forum.
Anyway I had a deluge of updates recently all my bodily functions heart, lungs, kidneys, liver , pancreas are in remarkable condition then a couple of days ago I received a report that I’d gone from 53mmol to 48mmol in three months .
It’s still frustrating when I a visit from the diabetes nurse I still had to explain the stroke and I didn’t need to increase my exercise because I already was as part of stroke recovery .
Thank you if you made it to the end of this

 

[manji]

Have to say I am finding the age references hard to read given I am a younger person with active diabetes complications, having to remind myself I am a more unusual case before I react lol.

Join in I’m a remarkably young 66 year old.

 

[s'nic]

Well I had my Liver MRI today. Apparently the MRI contrast is not iodine based (like the one for a CT scan), so it won't affect my kidneys.
The results could take up to 4 weeks, but it will be good to confirm if it is a haemangioma or something else
I just hope I won't get super fast results, cos that is highly likely to mean urgent treatment needed 😱

 

[Clare153]

Hi all, my new diabetes diagnosis joins a couple of others, Ankylosing spondylitis being the main other one.

Navigating the health care system is difficult enough, but my biggest gripe is other people tbh. I find that a lot of the time when I mention the anky spond, I get to listen to people tell me at length about their slightly arthritic knee. Some family members felt I was just making a fuss when classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to the immunosuppressive injections I take to control it, and couldn't understand how strictly I self isolated during the pandemic.

I fear that diabetes will be just as misunderstood. I've already been told repeatedly that it's "easy to sort out, just eat better", and other dismissive comments.

 

[manji]

Hi all, my new diabetes diagnosis joins a couple of others, Ankylosing spondylitis being the main other one.

Navigating the health care system is difficult enough, but my biggest gripe is other people tbh. I find that a lot of the time when I mention the anky spond, I get to listen to people tell me at length about their slightly arthritic knee. Some family members felt I was just making a fuss when classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to the immunosuppressive injections I take to control it, and couldn't understand how strictly I self isolated during the pandemic.

I fear that diabetes will be just as misunderstood. I've already been told repeatedly that it's "easy to sort out, just eat better", and other dismissive comments.

I’ve had all that. Everyone gets diabetes when they get older, or the really annoying bit more exercise and a change of diet and you’ll be fine.

 

[Sarahp]

Join in I’m a remarkably young 66 year old.

Thank you, I am 45 but diagnosed type 2 at 21 unfortunately