| advertisement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question: From Canada:
I have had type 1 diabetes for close to three years. Approximately one year after I was diagnosed I developed fairly bad acne and some hair growth on the side of my face. This problem developed after I began using oral contraceptives. Prior to that, I had moderately bad acne and some hair growth on my face, but it became worse in the initial three months I was on the pill. I had had extremely irregular periods prior to my diagnosis with diabetes. I got my first period when I was 14 years and seven months. Following that I had three very heavy periods at three month intervals. After that, my periods just stopped. When I was 17, I went to my family doctor, who, from my recollection, did blood work. I also had an ultrasound and I was given progesterone tablets for 10 days, which induced a very heavy painful menstrual period.
When I was 17 and eight months, I began to have symptoms of diabetes. I went to the bathroom frequently and was thirsty all the time. I had several abscesses on my groin etc. My worst symptom was the severe cramping in my legs that woke me in the night. My symptoms were terrible, but I slept all the time and never did anything about it. I was symptomatic for 10 months. I lost over 60 pounds, but I had been about 50 pounds overweight. Three months prior to my diagnosis, I got my period again and after that I had periods at three-month intervals.
When my acne and hair growth developed a year later my family doctor did more blood work. When I came back, he said my blood work was consistent with PCOS and I also had an elevated cortisol level. I am now 5’ 11 inches and weigh 160 pounds. My endroconologist said the cortisol level was, in her opinion, a result of the birth control pill. Does that make sense? She also said that we can’t really accurately assess whether I have PCOS because the tests were done when I was on the pill. I have several questions. How common is PCOS in people with autoimmune diabetes? What are the implications of my insulin doses? Does the fact that I was symptomatic for so long and never went into DKA indicative of anything? My A1c was 16 something upon diagnosis. My blood glucose was 19 something mmol/L [about 450 mg/dl] and I had trace serum ketones. I have had my C-peptide level tested, but my current endorinologist has never seen it. I remember my family doctor reading it to me and he said I had antibodies and no insulin resistance. I think I am a freak with freaky diabetes, because I used to stop taking my insulin all together to lose weight and nothing really bad ever happened. I went a whole month once.
Answer:
Type 1 diabetes is associated with an inability to produce enough insulin to keep you out of diabetic ketoacidosis. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. When you lost the extra weight, the insulin resistance improved and may have allowed you to have some ovulatory periods. Whether you truly have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes is still open to debate and needs to be settled by your endocrinologist. The fact that you stop your insulin for months at a time suggest you may not have type 1 diabetes, but I would not advise it. You probably have very poor blood sugars when that occurs. You would only be hurting your long-term health.
DTQ-20040210060141
Original posting 20 Feb 2004
Posted to Diagnosis and Symptoms and Type 2
advertisement
|
|||
 |
 |
||
Last Updated: Tuesday April 06, 2010 15:09:52
This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional.
This site is published by Children With Diabetes, Inc, which is responsible for its contents.
By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Legal Notice, Privacy Policy, and Safe Harbor Policy.
© Children with Diabetes, Inc. 1995-2013. Comments and Feedback.