Quote:
Originally Posted by NetForce
I'm 19 and i recently got diagnoced with type 1 diabetes. After 6 months of clinical tests done with drugs such as Avandia, Metformin or Diamicron, my doctor decided to put me on insulin because of my glucose remaining high.
After 5 months since i was diagnoced, i have had a wierd episode of some kind. The symptoms were simmilar to that of hypoglycemia (low-glucose) while my sugar remained high (over 16). These symptoms included racing heart, high blood pressure, cold sweats, anxiety, left hand going numb etc. It lasted about an hour. Then a couple of days later it reacurred. During that week i had problems even having a short walk... after a fiew minutes my arm was getting numb again, and my heart was racing. It was pretty scary. My doctor decided to screen me for pheochromocytoma which is a rare tumor found in the adrenal glands just above the kidneys. It causes the body to overproduce adrenalin.
After getting my results back.. it turned out negative. Most websites say that the screening should be done while an episode is happening, which i didn't do. After that week i didn't get anymore episodes (they can happen constently of once a year) My question is... should i stop screening for it?
The reason i'm so curious is because this tumor can be the cause of my diabetes... thus removing it is a cure. It is known that phochromocytoma causes diabetes-like symptoms and high-glucose in about 40% of the cases.
This get's me pretty excited... but then also scares me. I just don't know what to do, i'm worried that one of those episodes that i might get can end up being fatal.
Another thing i'd like to ask. As i'm a diabetic, i'd like to get some advice on what kind of meals i should eat and what excersises should i do. I bet there are a lot of experienced diabetics on this forum. The diabetes clinics are too short and don't really give me all the information i need. Now since i'm on insulin, carb counting is also starting to be an issue...
I'll appreciate any advice,
Thanks,
Tom
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First, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and hope you will continue close follow up. It's essential that you keep accurate records of your sugars and keep tight glycemic control.
Second, agree with the above post. Pheochromocytoma is diagnosed by 24 hour urine collection for catecholamine metabolites. I don't think you have to have it done during acute episodes. The whole point is that the tumor is secreting catecholamines outside of normal body "checks and balances," and so it continues to secrete even when you don't have paroxysmsal episodes.
I encourage anyone to get second and even third opinions. I assume you're seeing an endocrinologist already. Find another and get a 2nd opinion.