newby questions about diabetes

[bertbaxter]

hello everyone, i wonder if anyone here can help me answer some questions.

from late 2015 i started getting symptoms that i thought were related to a food allergy. i was bloated and gassy, and found that my sinuses and / or soft palate would swell up, leaving me unable to breathe through my nose. the GP told me to take a food diary, and look for patterns but it didn't really help. during this process i started getting neuropathy in my feet, shortly after this we discovered that i was t2 diabetic and this was confirmed in Spring 2016. Since then I have been on metformin, cut out sugar, and taken up exercise. Generally I feel much better, and have lost weight and gained energy and all that, and the symptoms went away - so i assumed that it was a diabetic symptom.

but over the last few weeks the bloating and sinus swelling has started again. it sometimes happens after food, most commonly in the evenings, but also when i haven't eaten at all recently. sometimes i'll wake up in the middle of the night unable to breath through my nose and choking. i squirt some sudafed up my nose and that soon makes the swellings go down and i can get back to sleep. sometimes i go for days without symptoms, other times it's bad all day. today i have felt great all day, but since dinner (falafels and salad) i have felt bloated and uncomfortable, but my breathing is fine. i haven't changed my diet or washing powder, have no allergies, haven't brought anything new into the house or anything else like that.

does anyone else have symptoms like this? should i be worried or is this just something that happens? if it is diabetes related, why has it come back?

thanks in advance for any information.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, Bert Baxter.
We can't diagnose in this forum. However, it's worth looking at the patient information leaflet supplied with your metformin and see if any side effects listed fit your situation.Or go straight to ask GP. If getting an appointment is difficult, then remember that most pharmacists can offer immediate consultations about medication in a private room.

 

[bertbaxter]

ok, sorry. i thought this was a diabetes support forum, my google-fu must have let me down. have a nice life and thanks for all your help.

 

[Steff]

Hi and a warm welcome to the foeum. Bert we are a very good diabetic forum who try and support each and every person to the best of our ablity. We are not allowed to give out our own personal diagnosis

 

[stephknits]

Welcome Bertbaxter, I hope you stick with us, we are just a bunch of fellow folk who happen to have diabetes, so not medical experts (unless by coincidence), but we DO offer help and support. I have not heard of the symptoms you are experiencing being related to diabetes. Weird that they have come back recently. Sorry to not be of help, but a warm welcome 🙂

 

[bertbaxter]

i wasn't asking for a diagnosis, i;ve got a diagnosis, i have type 2 diabetes. i wanted to know if this set of symptoms was common or usual or not. i don't know anyone with diabetes in the real world so i was hoping to be able to get some feedback here so that i could make an informed decision about what to do.

this has been a very annoying and negative experience and wasn't what i was hoping for with this. now i am still concerned, and also feel upset and angry. i never imagined that the charity for diabetes advice and support would be like this. my diabetic nurse is always shilling your leaflets whenever i have been in and when i turn to you for advice i get told that you won't be able to give me any. fair enough, but you really should have a notice saying that you won't discuss symptoms so don't bother asking, it's only polite! but thank you for your time anyway.

 

[stephknits]

Sorry Bert, but we don't work for the charity, so please don't feel let down by them, we are literally just people like you. Also, I did try to help in that I said I have not heard of those symptoms being related to diabetes, so I gave you my (unprofessional) opinion.
I understand that Diabetes Uk do have a helpline which you can call which is 0345 1232399 or email them helpline@diabetes.org.uk.
I apologise if you think I was dismissing your questions - I was only trying to make you see we are just ordinary folk like you, many of whom have never had any contact with diabetes uk apart from signing up to this forum.
Thefe may well be others on the forum who have eceperienced these symptoms, so it might be worth sticking around?

 

[Steff]

Yes I concur with Steph apologies if you felt a rather luke warm reception

 

[Copepod]

I'm tagging @Northerner and I hope he will reply with suggestions in the morning. I used the word "diagnosis" as short hand for identifying a medical issue, which is outside the scope of this forum. However, we can offer support and signposting to places to find answers.

 

[trophywench]

Bert - we are just a random collection of UK diabetics - a couple of our members have some medical qualifications - but the vast majority of us don't. So here's an answer for you - I've never heard of what you are describing, being described anywhere as a DIABETES symptom.

However it is something I get from time to time and at the moment I have - we (me and my GP) both think it acts kind of like a hay fever type thing - but I've tried anti histamines and they don't help at all. So I get a nasal spray medically recommended for something called 'non specific rhinitis' - it's a weak steroid thing, and one of the UK brands is called 'Beconase' - and use it night and morning when I have symptoms which usually happen spring and autumn, and helps clear it to help me breath once I lie down in bed. Typically I only use it for like 4 or 5 days at a time, so one bottle of the stuff lasts me for ages.

I do need a prescription for it each time though - so why not see your doc - ask him if it's anything to do with Metformin and if he says No, ask him if he thinks something of this nature might possibly help?

 

[mikeyB]

Bert, sorry you feel this has been a negative experience, but the advice you have been given, and was given by the first responder, is the best you can expect. Your symptoms are not associated with diabetes, nor are they a side effect of Metformin. Or at least not a known side effect, and Metformin has been used many a year.

I don't see how that answer can be a disappointment. It's due to something else, and if it distresses you so much you should see your doctor. That's what doctors do- diagnose conditions.

This may seem to you a bad start with the forum, but if you stick around you will find that everyone is friendly and helpful, and, as you are new to diabetes, you will find on the forum lots of information that can help you, and there are always folk around to answer any questions you have. This is your first question answered. There may be many more. Let's hope we can get over this, and help you along with your new way of life, which is what diabetes is.

I know getting this diagnosis is stressful, but try not to be so combative. All the advice you have received, and may receive in future is well meant. Please try and remember that.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Bert if your symptoms are nasal related and your GP can not help then ask for referral to an ENT specialist.
If tummy problems has anyone tested you for coeliac?

 

[Ditto]

Hello Bert and welcome to the forum. I hope you will stick around as this is an excellent place to glean information on our condition and for help and advice just not diagnoses because we don't have that knowledge or expertise. Having nasal problems is horrible. I had the same problem some years ago, turned out one side of my nose was completely blocked by what looked like a black thing. I thought the worst of course and presumed I was a gonner. Turned out to be a polyp completely blocking my nose and I couldn't breath and couldn't feel anything around my nose, completely numb. Had an op and never looked back. Could yours be something like that? You need ear, nose and throat dept at hospital probably.