Hi I wondered if anybody has been through my current situation and had any ideas to help. I am Type 1 diabetic since 1987. I'm now 41. I am in good health. Over the past 12 months I have had constant infections ranging from UTIs to mastitis to an Ear and chest infections. As one clears up almost without fail a couple of weeks later something else begins. With Covid I seem to be only able to get appointments with my GP when I am unwell and not to discuss this ongoing issue. I am told each time you are more likely to get infections with diabetes but this is now having an oi
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Frequent infections!
- Thread starter Kim763
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What are your blood sugars like?
My understanding is you are only more likely to get infections with diabetes if you blood sugars are high for a prolonged period.
If that is the case, I would contact your diabetes team and ask for assistance. Unfortunately, you could end up in a chicken and egg situation - infections cause our blood sugars to rise and high blood sugars cause us to be more susceptible to infections. But your diabetes team should be able to provide advice on sick day management to minimise this.
If your blood sugars are not high, I would get back to your GP and demand more investigations.
My understanding is you are only more likely to get infections with diabetes if you blood sugars are high for a prolonged period.
If that is the case, I would contact your diabetes team and ask for assistance. Unfortunately, you could end up in a chicken and egg situation - infections cause our blood sugars to rise and high blood sugars cause us to be more susceptible to infections. But your diabetes team should be able to provide advice on sick day management to minimise this.
If your blood sugars are not high, I would get back to your GP and demand more investigations.
Hi Helli, My blood sugars are mostly stable, my hba1cs range from 48- 53 generally over the last 5 years. I agree it's chicken and egg and I do get spikes when unwell but this doesn't last as I tend to be able to manage it when I know it's raised due to infection .
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I was going to post similar to what @helli said. Could you be having spikes although your sugars are generally good? In the past I found post-prandial spikes made me more likely to get UTIs. If you’re confident you’re pretty much staying in range, then I’d look elsewhere for a cause.
You mention every few weeks - could the cause be hormonal in any way (if you’re female)? Have you had things like anaemia ruled out, coeliac disease ruled out, and vitamin deficiencies, amongst other things?
Don’t be palmed off with ‘it’s just diabetes’. Not everything is due to our diabetes! If it was me, I’d try to systematically rule out possible causes until I found an answer hopefully. It must be wearing getting regular infections.
You mention every few weeks - could the cause be hormonal in any way (if you’re female)? Have you had things like anaemia ruled out, coeliac disease ruled out, and vitamin deficiencies, amongst other things?
Don’t be palmed off with ‘it’s just diabetes’. Not everything is due to our diabetes! If it was me, I’d try to systematically rule out possible causes until I found an answer hopefully. It must be wearing getting regular infections.
Yes Inka it is very wearing and I feel like I have to fight hard with professionals for a resolution. I have had full blood tests done and all were normal. Unsure about Coeliac or Vit deficiencies. Would I have other symptoms with Coeliac tho.... ?
I think perhaps my range is never that stable but yes my overall hba1c seems ok, but perhaps it isn't stable enough...
I am just recovering from a nasty infection last week and am feeling very sorry for myself again. I need to do something to sort it out. Thanks for your advice.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
As I understand it, you can have ‘silent’ coeliac with no abdominal issues. It might not be likely, but I’d want it ruled out along with other obvious problems. I’d also ask for a print-out of previous test results so I knew what had been done and what my numbers were. As an example, years ago I’d been tested for anaemia, told my result was fine - which it was, but it was very near the bottom of the normal range. I was prescribed iron by a switched-on GP and felt a lot better. So now I always like to know my results exactly if only for my own reassurance.
I’ve mentioned my relative in other threads, but they weren’t well, had ‘all’ the blood tests and everything was ok - but they actually had quite a bad vitamin deficiency which wasn’t picked up because the test was never done. They had to advocate for it themselves. So, getting a print-out of what was tested is always useful if only to rule things out.
Another thought is that if you’ve been on antibiotics for any of these infections, that can mess up your good bacteria too and affect your health. So maybe good quality probiotics would be something to consider?
It’s perfectly reasonable to feel sorry for yourself. It sounds miserable for you.
I’ve mentioned my relative in other threads, but they weren’t well, had ‘all’ the blood tests and everything was ok - but they actually had quite a bad vitamin deficiency which wasn’t picked up because the test was never done. They had to advocate for it themselves. So, getting a print-out of what was tested is always useful if only to rule things out.
Another thought is that if you’ve been on antibiotics for any of these infections, that can mess up your good bacteria too and affect your health. So maybe good quality probiotics would be something to consider?
It’s perfectly reasonable to feel sorry for yourself. It sounds miserable for you.
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