[IPu] Fw: [IP] Re: onset of symptoms/triggering event
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pam Brown" <email @ redacted>
To: <email @ redacted>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 10:28 AM
Subject: [IP] Re: onset of symptoms/triggering event
> My experience basically mirrors what Michael says, except in my case it
wasn't
> an illness that triggered the full-blown symptoms, but a medication that I
found
> out later is a steroid and impacts blood sugar. For about 7 years before
the
> triggering event, I would get severely hypoglycemic (sweating, shaking,
numb,
> tingly mouth) before dinner time on days when I had a big smoothie for
lunch. I
> would treat it by scarfing down half a box of cookies (I shudder now to
think
> what I was doing to my pancreas in my ignorance). At my yearly physical,
the
> doctor would remark that my fasting glucose was a little high, but still
within
> the normal range (I don't know what it was specifically), so he said
nothing to
> worry about. He ignored my report of hypo symptoms. Then at age 32 while
> treating endometreosis, I went on Danocrine, which is a hormone and a
steroid,
> for 3 months. Right after I finished the 3 months, the classic symptoms of
> frequent urination, unquenchable thirst, blurry visi!
> on, and
> fatigue started and my fasting glucose was 300 and I was diagnosed as
Type 1
> 1/2 (no ketoacidosis though). The antibody test was positive and I had to
start
> on insulin right away. For another year I was in the honeymoon phase
needing
> only about 16 units a day, since then I've needed about 30. I was 33 when
> diagnosed. Pam
>
> <What many people don't realize is that it takes a very long time for
> enough beta cells to be destroyed for symptoms to appear. Usually the
> symptoms pop up when an illness comes along that RAISES the body's
> need for insulin -- then, the impaired pancreas can't keep up insulin
> production and a crisis developes. Thus the confusion about the cause
> of the onset. This can occur when something like 80% of the beta
> cells are gone. Now think about how long the "honeymoon" period
> lasts. It takes that long for the remaining 20% of the cells to be
> wiped out. We're talking many months or years here people. The recent
> diabetes early intervention study suggests that it may take several
> years for the onset of symptoms after the first antibodies are
> detected. >
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