Multiple Sclerosis

[GVBC]

Hi, This is my first time on the forum. I have had T1D for 26 years with no complications and a recent HbA1c of 46. I read as much as possible about this wretched disease and fight it in any way I can. I have just started using a Libre which is a very useful weapon in my arsenal. The daily graphs it produces (and my frequent scans) have shown me how my BG levels can go very high (13-15) between meals. I now anticipate the amount of carbs expected in the next meal and inject 30-60 minutes ahead with excellent results. I never vary the make-up of my meals so it is easy to predict the correct dose. Life was beginning to look up - just a little!
Then....I got the bomb shell of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis! And it's the worst type - there are no remissions - just a steady decline - walking sticks, crutches, wheelchair, all towards being a bed-ridden cabbage. MS attacks the mind as well as the body and there are no cures. Fortunately, being aged 68 the life-sentence won't be a long one!
My purpose in joining this forum is to see if there are others out there in a similar position. I cannot recall it ever being mentioned anywhere - but not being affected at the time - references may have passed me by. The Consultant at the London Hospital, that gave me the diagnosis, led me to believe that as both T1D and MS are auto-immune caused diseases they often appear in the same patient, albeit with years in between. Does anyone have any comments?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Are you saying you have progressive MS as haven't heard the worst kind before?
Hopefully I can reassure you a bit. Progressive can be at a snails pace and symptoms vary from person to person. As to how MS effects people does depend on where the lesions are, some have them on their brain as well as spine, others have one or the other.

I was given some very good advice which was …….. use it or loose it. So keep as fit as you can and walk as far as you can.

 

[GVBC]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Are you saying you have progressive MS as haven't heard the worst kind before?
Hopefully I can reassure you a bit. Progressive can be at a snails pace and symptoms vary from person to person. As to how MS effects people does depend on where the lesions are, some have them on their brain as well as spine, others have one or the other.

I was given some very good advice which was …….. use it or loose it. So keep as fit as you can and walk as far as you can.

Hi
Thanks for replying and for the care you have expressed. I was really looking for the correlation between MS and T1D and whether much work has been done on the double whammy and how to cope with it...... and to warn people to be on the lookout for early symptoms of MS. My neurologist wrongly blamed peripheral neuropathy for many months simply because of my longstanding diabetes.
Yes it is PPMS - and described by the doctors as the worst form, not that I imagine any type is anything but a nightmare for all MSers. I know that the progress (I prefer 'deterioration') is indeterminate but, given that as a carpenter I was putting roofs on houses two years ago, and now cannot make it to my front gate, snails seem to move pretty fast around here! I have just ordered a treadmill to see if I can get some other muscles (and nerve pathways) to develop to compensate, whilst I 'walk' in a safe environment. So I haven't given up. My mind is definitely being affected but I cannot rule out this being stress.
But this is a diabetes forum and I am keen to promote discussion on Diabetes with MS and learn from it.
Thanks again Sue.