Need some expert opinions.................

brandyxoxo25 · 10-05-2009, 12:14 AM

I recently posted that I have T2 diabetes, and on Friday found out that I had a reading of 455 with an A1C of 11.7. I was put on insulin to get it under control.
I started thinking this evening, after waking up from a nap with yet another swollen lip episode, that maybe what I have been experiencing over the last few months has something to do with my diabetes. Let me give you a brief background, and then you can tell me whether I am way off base or not.

Over the last few months I have been getting these sporatic red splotches on my skin, that almost look like they could be a bug bite, but I know they arent because they appear out of nowhere. They itch, like a hive, but are about the size of a half dollar. They go away within a day, but eventually another one will show up. Sometimes even on the bottom of my feet. Also, I will wake up in the morning on occasion and either my top or my bottom lip will be swollen. Like the nap I woke up from this afternoon. Swollen upper lip, that still hasnt gone down. I have always just attributed these things to the fact that my skin is highly sinsitive, and I am prone to allergies, but is it possible that these things are being caused by my out of control diabetes??

Looweewoo · 10-05-2009, 07:50 AM

The particulars may be different in your case, but I had something very similar happen to me. I was working in an office and started getting "Flea bites" or "mosquito bites" but we couldn't find any fleas or mosquitoes. We had exterminators in anyway but it didn't help. I ate more garlic, wore Skin-so-soft did everything I could to repel these "Mystery bugs" that kept biting me in various places. Like you said - half dollar sized welts what went down in about a day or so. Then they got worse.

I would get two or three a day, then five or ten, then sometimes I would get several on my hands, making it difficult to type or use small tools.

Finally I did some searches on the Internet, thinking I had gotten some mites or something. I found several references to "Mystery Bugs" which turned out to be PAPER DUST! Really! Because of the rise in computer use, and the reams of paper used in printing in offices, people who were allergic to Pine were getting hives from paper dust.

My symptoms had gotten worse right when the new printer/copier/huge thing got put near my door.

While it's now too late to make this long story short, I will cut to the chase. You might be having hives, an allergic reaction to some airborne or ingested proteins. Try an antihistamine lotion like benadryl and if that fixes it within a half hour or so, you are probably allergic.

amphigory · 10-05-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandyxoxo25

I recently posted that I have T2 diabetes, and on Friday found out that I had a reading of 455 with an A1C of 11.7. I was put on insulin to get it under control.
I started thinking this evening, after waking up from a nap with yet another swollen lip episode, that maybe what I have been experiencing over the last few months has something to do with my diabetes. Let me give you a brief background, and then you can tell me whether I am way off base or not.

Over the last few months I have been getting these sporatic red splotches on my skin, that almost look like they could be a bug bite, but I know they arent because they appear out of nowhere. They itch, like a hive, but are about the size of a half dollar. They go away within a day, but eventually another one will show up. Sometimes even on the bottom of my feet. Also, I will wake up in the morning on occasion and either my top or my bottom lip will be swollen. Like the nap I woke up from this afternoon. Swollen upper lip, that still hasnt gone down. I have always just attributed these things to the fact that my skin is highly sinsitive, and I am prone to allergies, but is it possible that these things are being caused by my out of control diabetes??

I forget the technical name for it (since I've not had that particular one) but that is indeed a fairly common diabetes side effect, particularly if your BG is very high. (As always, read Dr. Bernstein for the details--I believe he mentions some detail on that one in his book.)

All huge variety of skin lesions can result from diabetes--my particular afflictions are boils and psoriasis, which is a wonderful motivation to stay low carb. So long as I keep my BG's down, I get no boils, and my psoriasis tends not to flare up.

The good news is this: if you can bring your BG under control, this and every other side effect of diabetes will literally go away.

brandyxoxo25 · 10-05-2009, 11:37 AM

Thanks so much for the info! I will be getting Dr. Bernstein book this weekend. I have already started looking through his site! Great information!

NurseMonkee · 10-06-2009, 07:33 AM

Are you on any prescription meds or using any over the counter meds?

brandyxoxo25 · 10-06-2009, 01:20 PM

No, no other meds. I dont even take an oral BC. I have an IUD. If I take OTC it is usually excedrin for my headaches.

Steve Parker, M.D. · 10-13-2009, 05:38 AM

I doubt the diabetes is the cause. Ask your doctor about angioedema and urticaria. [Urticaria is a fancy name for hives.] See a dermatologist if your doctor can't figure it out soon.

-Steve

BillB · 10-13-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Parker, M.D.

I doubt the diabetes is the cause. Ask your doctor about angioedema and urticaria. [Urticaria is a fancy name for hives.] See a dermatologist if your doctor can't figure it out soon.

-Steve

OMG, an actual Doc posting in the LC / diabetes forum! I hope you stay.

(Although, I must say, my own doc, is pretty awesome. For someone with no insurance, I pretty much hit the healthcare lotto.)

--bill

Steve Parker, M.D. · 11-06-2009, 04:26 AM

BillB, you guys are helping me.

For instance,I'd never even heard of "induction flu" before I got here. And someone at this forum got me to try magnesium for my leg cramps, which worked.

They don't teach that stuff in medical school or write about it in medical journals.

Thanks.

-Steve

CookinsForMe · 11-06-2009, 07:11 AM

Steve, its great that you're learning something! I'm sure we can learn from you, like we all learn from one another.

Now, if we could just convince most CDEs that toast and orange juice aren't the best options for the breakfast of a T2.

10-05-2009, 12:14 AM	#1
brandyxoxo25 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 2,540 Gallery: brandyxoxo25 Stats: 310/292/199 WOE: Making myself healthy through LC!! Start Date: 10/02/2009	Need some expert opinions................. I recently posted that I have T2 diabetes, and on Friday found out that I had a reading of 455 with an A1C of 11.7. I was put on insulin to get it under control. I started thinking this evening, after waking up from a nap with yet another swollen lip episode, that maybe what I have been experiencing over the last few months has something to do with my diabetes. Let me give you a brief background, and then you can tell me whether I am way off base or not. Over the last few months I have been getting these sporatic red splotches on my skin, that almost look like they could be a bug bite, but I know they arent because they appear out of nowhere. They itch, like a hive, but are about the size of a half dollar. They go away within a day, but eventually another one will show up. Sometimes even on the bottom of my feet. Also, I will wake up in the morning on occasion and either my top or my bottom lip will be swollen. Like the nap I woke up from this afternoon. Swollen upper lip, that still hasnt gone down. I have always just attributed these things to the fact that my skin is highly sinsitive, and I am prone to allergies, but is it possible that these things are being caused by my out of control diabetes?? __________________ ~~Brandy~~ 310/292/199 My Road To The ME I Know I Can Be Terry-"Dr. Atkins called that first bite the kiss of death, and he knew exactly what he was talking about. If you know yourself well enough to know that you can't handle that first bite, then you can't take that first bite. That sucks, I know, but consider the alternative"

10-05-2009, 07:50 AM	#2
Looweewoo MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,324 Blog Entries: 25 Gallery: Looweewoo Stats: 420/335/325/250 - 6'2" WOE: Carnivore / T2 Diabetic Start Date: Restart 10/17/2009 The best is yet to come!	The particulars may be different in your case, but I had something very similar happen to me. I was working in an office and started getting "Flea bites" or "mosquito bites" but we couldn't find any fleas or mosquitoes. We had exterminators in anyway but it didn't help. I ate more garlic, wore Skin-so-soft did everything I could to repel these "Mystery bugs" that kept biting me in various places. Like you said - half dollar sized welts what went down in about a day or so. Then they got worse. I would get two or three a day, then five or ten, then sometimes I would get several on my hands, making it difficult to type or use small tools. Finally I did some searches on the Internet, thinking I had gotten some mites or something. I found several references to "Mystery Bugs" which turned out to be PAPER DUST! Really! Because of the rise in computer use, and the reams of paper used in printing in offices, people who were allergic to Pine were getting hives from paper dust. My symptoms had gotten worse right when the new printer/copier/huge thing got put near my door. While it's now too late to make this long story short, I will cut to the chase. You might be having hives, an allergic reaction to some airborne or ingested proteins. Try an antihistamine lotion like benadryl and if that fixes it within a half hour or so, you are probably allergic. __________________ Louis Wu : Don't get me started... We could be dreaming all the time, but we do not perceive those dreams while we are awake because consciousness (like the sun obscuring stars during the day) is much too brilliant to allow the unconscious content so much definition. - Reverend Mother Anirul

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10-05-2009, 11:37 AM	#4
brandyxoxo25 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 2,540 Gallery: brandyxoxo25 Stats: 310/292/199 WOE: Making myself healthy through LC!! Start Date: 10/02/2009	Thanks so much for the info! I will be getting Dr. Bernstein book this weekend. I have already started looking through his site! Great information!

10-06-2009, 07:33 AM	#5
NurseMonkee MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,441 Gallery: NurseMonkee WOE: Low-Carb Start Date: Summer 08	Are you on any prescription meds or using any over the counter meds?

10-06-2009, 01:20 PM	#6
brandyxoxo25 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 2,540 Gallery: brandyxoxo25 Stats: 310/292/199 WOE: Making myself healthy through LC!! Start Date: 10/02/2009	No, no other meds. I dont even take an oral BC. I have an IUD. If I take OTC it is usually excedrin for my headaches.

10-13-2009, 05:38 AM	#7
Steve Parker, M.D. Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona USA Posts: 88 Gallery: Steve Parker, M.D. Stats: 170/155/155 WOE: Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet (not Spanish) Start Date: September 1, 2009	I doubt the diabetes is the cause. Ask your doctor about angioedema and urticaria. [Urticaria is a fancy name for hives.] See a dermatologist if your doctor can't figure it out soon. -Steve

11-06-2009, 04:26 AM	#9
Steve Parker, M.D. Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona USA Posts: 88 Gallery: Steve Parker, M.D. Stats: 170/155/155 WOE: Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet (not Spanish) Start Date: September 1, 2009	BillB, you guys are helping me. For instance,I'd never even heard of "induction flu" before I got here. And someone at this forum got me to try magnesium for my leg cramps, which worked. They don't teach that stuff in medical school or write about it in medical journals. Thanks. -Steve

11-06-2009, 07:11 AM	#10
CookinsForMe Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northeast Texas Posts: 819 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: CookinsForMe Stats: 188.8/171.2/140 WOE: Lower carb, moderate fat, & workouts 6 days a week Start Date: 6/24/09 for the umpteenth time.	Steve, its great that you're learning something! I'm sure we can learn from you, like we all learn from one another. Now, if we could just convince most CDEs that toast and orange juice aren't the best options for the breakfast of a T2.