Diabetes Talking

Question:

Hi Marina – Have you been on the same brand of G/CS all along, or have you changed?    If you changed, when? When did you develop the itching? If you were allergic to something in the G/CS, I would think it would manifest much sooner than it apparently has (assuming there has been no recent change in brands).    I got the impression the itchiness is a fairly recent development. It could also be coincidental, though, and have nothing to do with the G/CS.    You could be allergic to something else. But your diabetes-connection seems highly doubtful.    The "net" is a rumor-mill, and you have to be careful who you listen to if you’re in it for more than entertainment. We’ve had some very good discussions on the relationship between glucosamine and insulin-resistance here in ASA. You might try doing a search in Deja News on "diabet*" specifying ASA, also one on "insulin" in ASA (see ||||WELCOME NEWBIES, below, for instructions).    Suffice it to say there is no proof at all yet, just some speculation. You do not mention whether you’ve had your blood glucose ("BG") tested.    I’ve been testing mine about once a year, and it does not seem to be affected at all by my steady intake of G/CS.    Several diabetics taking G/CS  have posted here that their BG levels seem not to be affected, either, and a couple said their BG levels went *down* after they went on G/CS, so they are closer to normal again. FWIW, I have always had very sensitive skin.    All kinds of things make me itch.    But I cannot tell that taking G/CS has had any effect on my skin whatsoever.    I’d be looking for another cause, if I were you. HTH Cush Cush’s OA & G/CS Page http://pages.prodigy.net/cushman4/index.htm Cush’s Bad Back Page http://pages.prodigy.net/cushman4/badback.htm ||||WELCOME NEWBIES, ASA POSTING TIPS|||| http://pages.prodigy.net/cushman4/tips.htm Marina wrote  I was so happy  until I started to develop one of the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -symptoms of diabetes-severe itching. Nothing has helped the itching; no cream, powder, estrogen, etc., etc. Last time I saw my doctor, he seemed puzzled and prescribed a combination estrogen/testosterone, and that too didn’t help.  I found on the internet that the intake of glucosamine can sometimes disrupt the production of insulin

Response:

For over a year, I have taken Glucosamine/Chondroitin for a painful knee trying to postpone knee replacement as long as possible (the other one has been replaced and the surgery hasn’t been entirely successful) so I want to avoid that experience again. The glucosamine/chondroitin has worked wonders for me and although the cartilage is practically gone, I am pretty well pain free. I was so happy  until I started to develop one of the symptoms of diabetes-severe itching. Nothing has helped the itching; no cream, powder, estrogen, etc., etc. Last time I saw my doctor, he seemed puzzled and prescribed a combination estrogen/testosterone, and that too didn’t help.  I found on the internet that the intake of glucosamine can sometimes disrupt the production of insulin (that’s as much as I can understand from the medical language). I have not seen a doctor yet about my find, as I am afraid he will immediately take me off of glucosamine. I wonder if anyone else has experienced anything like that? what to do? give up the glucosamine or start taking insulin? what a choice! Other than the severe itching, especially at night, I don’t show any other diabetes symptom such as extreme thirst, weight loss (I only wish…) Anyone has experienced same symptoms? Thank you. Marina

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