Diabetes Talking

Question:

Hi All, My questions are simple, but questions that the doctor doesn’t seem interested in answering or doesn’t think the questions are pertinent to my diabetes. Two changes I’ve noticed in myself in the last two years that I have been an insulin dependent diabetic. I seem to perspire a lot more.  Yes, I’m probably carrying about 30# than I should, but I’ve always been a big person.  I’m not talking about perspire when I’m doing something labor intensive or working out.  There are certain foods (pasta, corn on the cob, 1/2 baked potato, any soup ..starches, yes, sometimes I can’t stay away) that when I eat them, my system feels like it goes into overdrive, and I perspire, particulary around the head.  This can be embarrasing in a restaurant.  I’ve had my thyroid checked, and other than diabetes, I seem to be healthy as a horse. I wear a lot of baseball caps, which I’ve always done, and if I wear a light colored cap, I stain the front of the bill with my perspiration from the forehead, and it’s an embarrassing "yellow" stain on the hat.  Completely washable, yes, but after wearing the cap maybe two times, it’s ready for the wash. Am I being paranoid, has anyone else had similar side effects? I do see my doctor annually. Thanks Rick

Response:

My questions are simple, but questions that the doctor doesn’t seem interested in answering or doesn’t think the questions are pertinent to my diabetes. I seem to perspire a lot more.  Yes, I’m probably carrying about 30# than I should, but I’ve always been a big person.  I’m not talking about perspire when I’m doing something labor intensive or working out.  There are certain foods (pasta, corn on the cob, 1/2 baked potato, any soup ..starches, yes, sometimes I can’t stay away) that when I eat them, my system feels like it goes into overdrive, and I perspire, particulary around the head.

Perspiring when you eat is called Gustatory Sweating… It MAY be a symptom of Autonomic Neuropathy. Here’s an article on it. http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/pubs/neuro/neuro.htm And a quote from the article: Sweating Autonomic neuropathy can affect the nerves that control sweating. Sometimes, nerve damage interferes with the activity of the sweat glands, making it difficult for the body to regulate its temperature. Other times, the result can be profuse sweating at night or while eating (gustatory sweating). Ask your doctor to check it out. Good Luck! Jennifer

Response:

I seem to perspire a lot more.  Yes, I’m probably carrying about 30# than I should, but I’ve always been a big person.  I’m not talking about perspire when I’m doing something labor intensive or working out.  There are certain foods (pasta, corn on the cob, 1/2 baked potato, any soup ..starches, yes, sometimes I can’t stay away) that when I eat them, my system feels like it goes into overdrive, and I perspire, particulary around the head.  This can be embarrasing in a restaurant.  I’ve had my thyroid checked, and other than diabetes, I seem to be healthy as a horse.

I’ve read that one of the manifestations of autonomic neuropathy in diabetics is after sweating after or during eating.  I’m not sure if there’s any way to actually diagnose that, other than by the symptom itself.  If you want to do further study, do an internet search for autonomic neuropathy. Wendy

Response:

When I was on pills, my ears would turn a lovely shade of cranberry red after I ate.  It always delighted and entertained my coworkers, who envisioned me having a stroke on the spot. Now that I am on insulin, it’s very rare.  But I do tend to have the night sweats at times. Bev Remove the "SpamFree" for email, please.  

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