Diabetes Type 1 Support Group
Childhood","Childhood diabetes is when the pancreas in a child does not produce enough insulin on its own. In order to survive, insulin injections need to be incorporated as well as diet regulation. If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, find support and share your experiences here. Caring for a child with diabetes is challenging. We're here for you."
Last year, after my Opthamologist saw something out of the ordinary when looking into my eyes, I was sent for an MRI; and was also sent to both a Neuro Opthamologist, and a Neurologist. The MRI came out showing I have plaque on my brain, which was at first, thought to be an indication of MS (Multiple Sclerosis), and was something I could conceive of, being that my mother had also had it. As it turned out, tho, when I went to the Neurologist, he stated that the plaque on my brain was not caused by MS, but was, instead, caused by my brittle diabetes. This was the first I had ever heard of diabetes causing brain plaque, and I've been living with diabetes for nearly 35 yrs now. Has anyone else had this experience?
Have they suggested a treatment? Or is it treatable? Are there symptoms?
I'll keep you in my prayers!
Brant
I have found that Dr's are SOOOO quick to blame diabetes for everything. That's not always the case. Like for me 3 miscarriages (despite good control) and my 1st OB was convinced it was the diabetes, which it was absolutely NOT! A reproductive endo confirmed that.
Check out another neurologist if possible.
Good Luck.
'Insulin linked with decreased brain plaques in Alzheimers' https://entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/184765334.html
'Alzheimers plaques reduced by diabetes therapy' http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69056.html
'Combo of Diabetes Drugs May Protect Against Alzheimer's' http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ICAD/tb/10315
etc
I've been a brittle diabetic since being diagnosed back in 1974, and was actually under the best control during pregnancy with my first child.(That was 16 yrs ago.) As I've gotten older, as most of you might already know, I've succumbed to the complications of this demon we call diabetes. Neuropathy hasnt been too awful bad, but it is getting worse.
I really wish it were possible for me to get my bg on an even keel, tho. A couple of years ago, I was taken off the Reg and Nph regimen; and put on Lantus, taking Reg only when needed.
My latest trip to my PCP, gave me an A1c result of 9.4, but since I'd not been logging my bg scores, I showed my doc the scores as stored on my meter. After seeing that, she insisted that I begin logging everything.. BG, all food and drinks, excercise, etc., and return to see her in a couple of weeks. She wanted me to stop taking the Lantus in the morning (as I hadnt been getting up at the same time every day) and begin taking it at nite, so that I could get it done at a more consistant time. She also told me not to take any Reg insulin until then; because I'd been having too many low readings (down in the 20's to 60's).
I've been doing that for the past couple of days, and well... to be honest, I'm really not liking it too much. I've been waking up with my bg down in the low 20's , and it's been spiking up to the high 300's and was 400 the last time I ck'd it. So I think Im gonna give her (my doc) a call in the morning, to see if she still wants me to stay off the Reg insulin. (Back when I had originally been put on the Lantus, I had been taking it at nite, but had to change to the morning because of having too many lows while I was sleeping, and I really feel as if that is one of the key facters in play here, again.)
Sorry to have rambled on again.. lol.. i DO have a habit of doing that, I'm afraid. Thanks, again for all your replies (and the links, Lizzie) and for the much coveted prayers.
This past Saturday, I began experiencing a numbness in my fingertips, that by the end of that day had worked its way to my middle knuckles, and a couple of days ago, it had gotten to be half-way down my forearms. Today, it was even affecting my elbows (elbows werent numb as were my fingers, hands and forearms, but were very painful). I've not yet mentioned this to my PCP, as they currently have a referral in for me to see the Endocrinologist; so I've been trying to hold off until I see him, and hopefully, he'll be able to explain to me what is going on. I'm thinking it is one of the complications associated with neuropathy, but wont know for sure until I see a doctor.
As I previously mentioned, I became increasingly more concerned about this after having read BobbyJ's account of his experiences when he said, "Last year, much of body went numb while I was at work one morning. I had blurred and double vision, felt like I was about to pass out and the contortion seizures returned on my left side. Two hospital visits later (seven MRI's), it turned out to be MS and I've been treated for it ever since. Oops, it wasn't a TIA stroke afterall!"
The reason for this is (and if you read, and/or re-read )my original post, MS was the original culprit suspected of causing the problems I had been experiencing last year, which caused the doc to order my MRI. (I also might note that my mother had a very progressive case of MS, so that also puts me at risk for getting it.)
I am a bit curious, tho, BobbyJ, am I to understand that what you were told was brain plaque on your MRI's were actually, in fact, evidence of your having had strokes?
Thanks for lettin me ramble on again, everyone. LOL
I'm looking fwd to your replies.