Diabetes Talking

Question:

Hi. I have some questions about diabetes symptoms and was wondering if some of you could help me out. I know someone with diabetes who really doesn’t take very good care of himself and I don’t think there is any changing that. But, anyway, I am concerned about certain aspects of his health, but I don’t have enough knowledge about diabetes to know if the problems he has are associated with diabetes or other problems. Could you please tell me if you think the following symptoms are associated with the diabetes: gum disease/tooth loss, poor vision, shortness of breath, high body temperature (gets hot easily..sweating)

Each except shortness of breath.   Other problems such as his excessive thirst or sudden craving of sweets I have read are common symptoms of diabetes, so I’m not as worried about those. I also read that diabetes slows healing down, but is that just for cuts and bruises or does it also slow the healing of colds?

Sure.  A diabetic who does not keep good control of their blood sugar feeds the diseases and infections with the excess sugar in their blood. They are, in effect, a giant petri dish. Now, here is a big concern for me lately. Does diabetes have much of an effect on the skin for any of you? This diabetic person I know, he has

[snip] What you describe does not sound like diabetic complications to me. A person that does not take care of themself when they know they are diabetic often come around when the first serious symptom appears. Unfortunately, that’s when the least help can be afforded them. Any idea why he thinks it is NOT in his best interest to take care of himself now?  Would it help for him to talk it out in alt.support.diabetes? Jude —                  - Coming Soon –  BestOrgs.NET         Oak Park, IL  708-848-0134  URL: http://www.pobox.com/~jcrouch

Response:

Sure.  A diabetic who does not keep good control of their blood sugar feeds the diseases and infections with the excess sugar in their blood. They are, in effect, a giant petri dish.

Okay, thanks. Cause I was wondering if that could be why it takes him forever to get over a cold. Plus his cuts and scrapes last a long time. He eats almost like he doesn’t have diabetes. Sometimes he’ll eat sugar free foods, but for the most part it looks like he’s on no diet at all. I guess that’s pretty harmful, but I don’t know how to get him to change his ways. What you describe does not sound like diabetic complications to me.

Darn it. I feel like I’ll never know what’s causing it for sure. I know I shouldn’t try to play doctor, but I can’t help it. I’m going to see my doctor this week, so maybe she’ll know. I really worry a lot, so I want to find out for peace of mind. A person that does not take care of themself when they know they are diabetic often come around when the first serious symptom appears. Unfortunately, that’s when the least help can be afforded them. Any idea why he thinks it is NOT in his best interest to take care of himself now?  Would it help for him to talk it out in alt.support.diabetes?

I don’t know why he is the way he is, but I know there is no changing it. Sometimes he’ll be out of both his blood pressure and diabetes medicines for over a week and not even go to the doctor to get a prescription until I raise a fit. It stresses me out, but I can’t change him, so I just worry. He won’t talk about diabetes, I’m not even supposed to know he has it really. It’s not something he talks about. The way he takes care of himself in general is ridiculous. Not only does he rarely see his regular doctor, but I couldn’t tell you when the last time was he went to the dentist or the eye doctor. So when I notice he is starting to lose teeth, or he complains about his failing eyesight (which was always bad) I don’t know if it’s from not taking care of himself, from the diabetes, or from some other condition. So I search the internet and try to find out and I know I shouldn’t, but I do. And I just worry. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Hi. I have some questions about diabetes symptoms and was wondering if some of you could help me out. I know someone with diabetes who really doesn’t take very good care of himself and I don’t think there is any changing that. But, anyway, I am concerned about certain aspects of his health, but I don’t have enough knowledge about diabetes to know if the problems he has are associated with diabetes or other problems. Could you please tell me if you think the following symptoms are associated with the diabetes: gum disease/tooth loss, poor vision, shortness of breath, high body temperature (gets hot easily..sweating) Other problems such as his excessive thirst or sudden craving of sweets I have read are common symptoms of diabetes, so I’m not as worried about those. I also read that diabetes slows healing down, but is that just for cuts and bruises or does it also slow the healing of colds? Now, here is a big concern for me lately. Does diabetes have much of an effect on the skin for any of you? This diabetic person I know, he has a couple..well I guess you’d call them age or sun spots, which I guess is natural, he’s over 50 now. But he also now has two small brown spots on the right eyelid. I don’t think they’d just appear there for no reason, but I’d like to get an idea of what could cause them. I don’t know if that could be attriuted to aging or sun exposure, since it’s on the eyelid. To make matters worse, I saw "spots on the nose, eyelids, and inside the mouth" on an AIDS symptoms list. So now I’m very concerned that the spots on his eyelid could be serious, but I am a worry-wort so I could be jumping to conclusions, like I always do. But still, I have read so many similar symptoms for both dibetes and aids, I guess because they both affect the immune system..am I right?? Has anyone else noticed that? But the small brown spots on the eylid..does anyone know if that’s rare and what could cause it, if not the diabetes. I know this is a long post with a lot of questions, but any that you could answer would be so appreciated. It’s very hard when you have a loved one who basically refuses to see the doctor (unless absolutely necessary to get a new prescription). I find myself playing doctor, wondering what’s wrong, hoping it’s nothing more than the diabtes, which I already know that he has. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response: